Controller in Renton, Washington at BrightSpark Early Learning Services
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Job Description
Position: Controller
Hiring Salary Range: $116,869.00-$146,086.00
FLSA Status: Exempt
Report To: Finance Director
AGENCY SUMMARY:
BrightSpark Early Learning Services is dedicated to strengthening early childhood education and supporting children, families, and communities through high-quality programs and services. The organization partners with families, educators, and community stakeholders to ensure young children have access to strong early learning opportunities that support long-term success.
As the organization continues to grow in both program scale and funding complexity, particularly through federal and grant-funded programs, BrightSpark is investing in strengthening its financial leadership and systems to support long-term sustainability.
The Controller will play a key leadership role in helping ensure the organization’s financial operations remain strong, transparent, and aligned with its mission.
of our children.
OPPORTUNITY:
BrightSpark Early Learning Services is seeking a detail-oriented and systems-minded Controller to lead the organization’s core accounting operations and ensure the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of its financial data.
This role serves as the operational backbone of the finance function, overseeing financial reporting, month-end closing, audit readiness, and grant financial compliance. The Controller will partner closely with the Finance Director and broader team to ensure financial systems and processes are strong, consistent, and scalable.
This is an ideal opportunity for someone who enjoys owning the details while improving systems and building structure in a growing, mission-driven organization.
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS:
This is an opportunity to play a key role in strengthening the financial foundation of a mission-driven organization supporting children and families.
The Controller will help ensure BrightSpark’s financial operations are accurate, reliable, and positioned to support continued growth and impact.
As BrightSpark continues to grow in complexity, particularly through federal and grant-funded programs, the organization is strengthening its financial operations.
The Controller plays a critical role in ensuring:
- Financial data is accurate, timely, and audit-ready
- Reporting is clear and actionable
- Systems and workflows are consistent and scalable
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- What you’ll be responsible for:
- Financial Close & Reporting (30%)
- Own the accuracy and reliability of the organization’s financial reporting.
- Financial Close & Reporting (30%)
You will:
- Lead monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes
- Oversee general ledger activity and reconciliations
- Produce and review financial statements and reports
- Ensure timely and accurate internal and external reporting
- Audit & Compliance (25%)
- Ensure strong financial compliance and audit readiness across the organization.
You will:
- Lead preparation for annual audits and serve as primary liaison with auditors
- Oversee compliance with GAAP and federal funding requirements
- Manage financial reporting for audits (A-133, Form 990, 401k, etc.)
- Ensure documentation and processes meet compliance standards
- Grant Financial Management (20%)
- Support the organization’s complex grant-funded environment through accurate tracking and reporting.
You will:
- Oversee grant billing, tracking, and reporting
- Ensure proper allocation and use of restricted funds
- Partner with program teams on grant budgets and financial reporting
- Support compliance with federal grant requirements
- Systems, Controls & Process Improvement (15%)
- Strengthen financial systems, controls, and workflows.
You will:
- Maintain and improve internal controls and accounting policies
- Identify and implement process improvements to reduce inefficiencies
- Support financial systems (NetSuite, grant systems, etc.)
- Ensure processes are well-documented and consistently followed
- Team Support (10%)
- Support the day-to-day success of the finance team.
You will:
- Supervise and support accounting staff
- Ensure team members have clarity, resources and accountability
- Promote cross-training and continuity across roles
- Partner with the Finance Director on team development
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE:
- Successful candidates in this role will help ensure that:
- Leadership has clear financial insights to guide strategic decisions
- Financial processes are efficient, reliable, and transparent
- Grant funding and regulatory compliance remain strong and well managed
- Finance systems and reporting processes continue to improve
- The finance team is supported, engaged, and collaborative
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Minimum Qualifications
- The successful candidate will bring strong nonprofit financial leadership experience along with the ability to translate complex financial information into actionable insights.
- Strong candidates will typically bring:
- Strong understanding of GAAP and financial reporting
- 5+ years of experience in nonprofit accounting in a $5M+ organization
- 5+ years leading or supporting audit processes
- 5+ years grant accounting & complex multiple source funding structures
- 3+ years of experience managing or mentoring accounting staff
- 3+ years of experience with ERP-level financial systems
- Candidates who thrive in this role will likely bring:
- Month-end close is efficient, accurate, and predictable
- Financial reports are clear, reliable, and trusted by leadership
- Audits and compliance processes are well-managed and low-stress
- Grant financials are accurate and aligned with funder requirements
- Systems and workflows are continuously improving
- The finance team operates with clarity, consistency, and accountability
WHY THIS ROLE IS EXCITING:
This is an opportunity to play a key role in strengthening the financial foundation of a mission-driven organization supporting children and families.
The Controller will help ensure BrightSpark’s financial operations are accurate, reliable, and positioned to support continued growth and impact.
COMPETENCIES:
- Core Competencies -
- Mission-driven: Demonstrates commitment to the mission and values of the mission.
- Equity mindset: Demonstrates the values of anti-racism; fosters an inclusive environment that facilitates diversity.
- Communication: Uses skillful written and oral communication with internal staff, teams, and community served; demonstrates empathy and listening.
- Adaptability: Adapts and responds to change; proactively seeks opportunities to be supportive of change that serves our mission
- Ownership and quality of work: Manages own work and work of teams when relevant, ensuring delivery of successful outcomes.
- Leadership Competencies -
- Decision-making: Structures and facilitates decision-making processes; makes decisions responsibly to improve organizational health and impact; gathers and weighs all sorts of data (qualitative, quantitative, historical, etc.)
- Supports the development and motivation of others: Actively supports the development and motivation of others to maximize individual, team, and agency impact.
- Continuous-improvement mindset: Identifies strategies to improve the organization’s impact; sets course and drives implementation.
COMPENSATION:
- Hiring Salary Range: $116,869.00-$146,086.00
- FLSA Status: Exempt
- This is a full-time salaried position requiring work during BrightSpark Early Learning Services Business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 am-5 pm, and requiring a willingness to work some evenings and weekends.
BrightSpark will determine the specific salary for the successful candidate based on factors including, but not limited to, the available budget, prior experience, skills, and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total compensation package.
Other components of the total compensation package may include participation in group life, health and dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program(s), paid time off, and paid holidays.
BENEFITS:
BrightSpark Early Learning Services’ benefits package includes employer-paid top-tier medical, dental, and vision insurance plans for employees, 21 days of PTO per year in addition to 11 paid holidays, 3 paid floating holidays, birthday holiday, and one week-long office closure at year-end, Refresh Fridays in July (BrightSpark Early Learning Services Closure Days), flexible work environment, employer-paid life insurance, short-term disability/illness leave accrual, and 401k with 3% employer match.
WORK LOCATION:
- This position is a Hybrid position.
- Hybrid positions at BrightSpark require at least two days in the office per week. These days may vary based on individual positions and departmental needs.
- BrightSpark Early Learning Services employees in all types of work positions (hybrid, community, etc.) must attend training, meetings, events, or other work commitments at various BrightSpark Early Learning Services office locations or off-site locations in Washington State, including the New Employee Orientation in Renton, Washington.
EQUAL EQUITY EMPLOYER:
BrightSpark Early Learning Services is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity among our staff. We strongly encourage people of color, immigrants and refugees, people from the LGBTQ community, people with disabilities, and people from other historically marginalized groups to apply.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION & QUESTIONS
- To learn more about BrightSpark Early Learning Services, please visit www.BrightSpark.org
- BrightSpark Early Learning Services is a grant-funded nonprofit organization. This and all positions are contingent on grant funding being in place and may end upon funding expiration.