Controller/Accounting Manager

School Controller/ Accounting Manager

Full-time/ Full year

We are seeking a dedicated, community-minded, and hands-on Controller to manage all financial and business operations for our non-profit high school. In this small-team role, you will roll up your sleeves to handle daily bookkeeping while providing the financial clarity needed to support our educational mission. You will own everything from tuition collection and accounts payable to non-profit fund accounting, board reporting, and annual audit preparation.  This is an excellent opportunity to develop within a stable, long standing, private Catholic college preparatory school.

Located in Portland, Maine, Cheverus High School is a Private Catholic College Preparatory School sponsored by the Society of Jesus. We seek to hire and retain faculty and staff members who are passionate and proficient in their fields, who understand and embrace our school’s mission, and who are committed to leading students in co-curricular activities. Successful candidates will demonstrate a capacity for professional collaboration and continued growth in their respective areas. We seek employees who desire to help us promote and live our Jesuit, Catholic tradition; however, employees do not need to be Catholic to work at Cheverus. Prospective employees who understand and support our mission to be an inclusive and diverse community are encouraged to apply.

Core Responsibilities

Non-Profit Accounting & Fund Management

• Execute fund accounting processes, carefully tracking restricted, temporarily restricted, and unrestricted revenue.
• Maintain the general ledger with clean records, recording everyday transactions, and completing timely month-end closes.
• Reconcile donor databases with the accounting system to ensure fundraising records perfectly match financial reports.

Tuition, Payroll, & Daily Operations

• Oversee enrollment contracts, tuition billing and fee collections, serving as a compassionate yet structured point of contact for families regarding payment plans.
• Process bi-weekly payroll and manage benefits administration for faculty, staff, and hourly school personnel.
• Execute accounts payable (A/P), verify department budgets, and reconcile school credit cards and reimbursement requests.
• Monitor daily cash flow, especially through seasonal cycles, to ensure steady operating liquidity throughout the school year.

Board Reporting & Audits

• Prepare financial statements monthly including balance sheet, income statement and departmental budget performance for the President, CFO and the Board of Trustee’s Finance Committee.
• Assist with the annual operating budget in close collaboration with academic department heads and school leadership.
• Lead annual audit preparation, acting as the primary point of contact for external auditors.

Required Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Experience: 4+ years of professional accounting experience, with a heavy preference for backgrounds in non-profits, independent schools, or small-business environments.
• Technical Mastery: Solid understanding of non-profit accounting standards (FASB/GAAP) and net asset classifications.
• Software Skills: Experience with non-profit accounting platforms (e.g., Sage, Blackbaud Financial Edge) and tuition management portals (e.g. FACTS).
• Completion and approved Criminal History Background Check (CHRC) with the Department of Education. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience managing school-specific operations like student billing, financial aid allocations, or vendor contracts.
• Active CPA or accounting certifications are a plus, but practical non-profit experience is valued most.

Key Competencies

• Mission-Driven Mindset: Passion for supporting a student-centered educational environment and working with a diverse community.
• Discretion & Confidentiality: Absolute integrity when handling sensitive student financial aid files and employee payroll records.

• Adaptable Autonomy: Comfort wearing multiple hats in a small office environment where no task is too small. 

Cheverus Tuition Discount:

Tuition Discount: This position qualifies for a dependent student tuition discount benefit of 50% during the first three years of employment and 100% thereafter.

To apply please visit our Employment Opportunities Page on our Cheverus High School Website.