Department: Webb Business Office Location: Claremont, CA/Onsite Employment Type: Full-Time/Exempt
Summary:
The Webb Schools are a distinctive independent boarding and day school grounded in excellence, authenticity, and purpose, dedicated to educating thoughtful, engaged, and principled leaders. Our close-knit, mission-driven community values trust, collaboration, and a shared commitment to excellence.
As Controller, you will play a meaningful role in supporting The Webb Schools’ mission by overseeing the financial operations of the school and the affiliated Ray M. Alf Museum. This position is responsible for financial reporting, internal controls, compliance, audits, payroll, and accounting systems, while serving as a trusted partner to senior leadership. The Controller helps safeguard institutional assets, strengthen financial governance, and support thoughtful, long-term financial planning.
MISSION – Culture & community
The Webb Schools are committed to fostering an inclusive school community characterized by openness, acceptance, and empathy, where all members are valued, respected, and supported. Our community is strengthened by the diverse views, beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Embracing diversity in all its many forms is essential to our mission: in particular, our call is to provide an exemplary learning community that nurtures future leaders who will act with honor and moral courage and serve with a generous spirit.
Key Responsibilities:
Specific responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
Direct day-to-day accounting operations for a nonprofit educational institution and affiliated museum, overseeing the general ledger, subsidiary ledgers, payroll, receivables, payables, and fixed assets.
Maintain full responsibility for accurate and timely financial reporting in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.
In collaboration with HR, Lead payroll preparation and audit processes for faculty and staff, ensuring compliance with federal and California employment regulations.
Serve as the primary liaison for external auditors; coordinate annual audits, prepare schedules, and address findings to strengthen internal controls.
Design, implement, and monitor internal control frameworks to safeguard institutional assets and reduce financial risk.
Partner with leadership and the CFO to monitor budgets, analyze variances, and support forecasting and long-range financial planning.
Core Competencies & Attributes
Nonprofit & Fund Accounting
Endowment & Gift Accounting
GAAP Compliance & Financial Reporting
Complex Accounting Systems (ERP)
System Implementations & Upgrades
Internal Controls & Risk Management
Audit & Regulatory Compliance
Budgeting, Forecasting & Variance Analysis
Payroll & Benefits Accounting
Fixed Assets & Depreciation
Required Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, finance or related field of study.
Experience: Minimum 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, and 3+ years in a leadership capacity in accounting, preferably in a nonprofit or educational environment. Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and audit requirements. Experience managing complex accounting operations, including payroll, fixed assets, endowment & gift accounting, and regulatory reporting. Experience in accounting system implementations, conversions, or major upgrades. Demonstrated ability to design and enforce internal control systems.
Ability to thrive in a collaborative, community-oriented setting
Preferred Qualifications:
Education: MBA or master’s degree in accounting, finance, or similar field of study
Certification: CPA or CMA certification
Experience: 15 or more years’ progressive accounting experience and 5+ or more years as a Controller in an independent school, educational, or mission-driven environment. Experience supporting boards, finance committees, or executive leadership. Change management and process automation experience. Experience with Blackbaud and ADP highly desired,
