Controller

Sunlight reflection may be the only available option, alongside dramatic emissions reductions, adaptation, and rapid scaling of carbon removal, to rapidly limit many climate impacts over the coming decades.  But we don’t know nearly enough about it to make a scientifically-informed decision about potential deployment – and we’re not on a trajectory for rapid, legitimate decision making.

Reflective is a philanthropically-funded initiative to develop the necessary knowledge base and do the requisite technology research and development, urgently and responsibly. 

What you'll do

As Reflective's Controller, you'll own the financial backbone of the organization — running our financial controls, leading budgeting and forecasting, managing all cash in and out, overseeing spend and contracts, and producing the reporting leadership, the Board, and our funders rely on. This is a hands-on, build-it role: you'll put in place the systems and discipline that let us move quickly and responsibly with significant capital, and you'll be the person who knows, at any moment, where we stand financially.

Responsibilities

Financial Planning, Forecasting & Reporting

• Partner with the CEO and leadership team on the financial side of fundraising including building and maintaining the annual operating budget.
• Build dashboards and reporting cadences that allow for timely, accurate financial reporting for leadership, the Board, funders, and the broader team.
• Own cash-flow forecasting, runway modeling, and runway risk flagging — surface trade-offs early.
• Track actuals against budget by function and program, and surface variances early.Own cash-flow forecasting, runway modeling, and budget to actuals reporting and flag risks and trade-offs early.
• Translate the strategic plan and program roadmaps into financial plans, scenarios, and re-forecasts as priorities shift.
• Meet restricted-fund and funder reporting obligations credibly, not just procedurally.

Financial Management & Administration

• Manage all cash inflows and outflows — incoming grants and donations, vendor payments, and outgoing grant disbursements — and ensure commitments are tracked, paid correctly, and reflected in forecasts.
• Manage financial administration across the lifecycle of all external relationships from contracting to ongoing payments, invoices, and financial reporting across grant agreements (inbound and outbound), vendor and consultant agreements, statements of work etc.
• Hold function and program leads accountable to their budgets.
• Oversee banking relationships, payment controls, and treasury management.
• Build repeatable contracting processes and templates, and interface with external counsel on terms, compliance, and risk.

Financial Controls & Oversight

• Own accounting operations end-to-end — general ledger, month-end and year-end close, reconciliations, and the integrity of our books.
• Design, document, and enforce internal controls and approval workflows for expenses, corporate cards, reimbursements, and procurement that scale as we grow.
• Manage the external accounting relationship and lead the annual audit and 990 processes.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and the requirements of restricted and unrestricted philanthropic funding.

Who you are

Minimum Qualifications

• You have 6+ years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including a controller, assistant controller, or equivalent senior role.
• You've owned the full accounting cycle — close, reconciliations, audit, and reporting — for an organization, not just a piece of it.
• You have deep, hands-on expertise in financial controls, budgeting, forecasting, and cash management, and strong command of GAAP.
• You're exceptionally organized and detail-oriented, with strong documentation practices, while moving at the pace this organization requires.
• You have excellent judgment — you're usually right, you know which details matter, and you pivot quickly when something's off.
• You're a clear communicator who can translate financial complexity into plain language for non-finance colleagues, the Board, and funders.
• You're low-ego, high-trust, and solution-oriented in the face of complexity and rapid change.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA, or an MBA / advanced finance degree.
• Experience with nonprofit and fund accounting, grant administration, and the annual 990 and audit processes.
• Experience standing up finance systems and controls from scratch, or scaling them through rapid growth.
• Experience managing contracting and procurement, and working with external counsel.
• You've worked at an organization that deploys capital externally (grantmaking, VC, government grant programs) or builds in the physical world (hardware, manufacturing, research).
• This role can be fully remote, but we have a preference for candidates who can work in-person from the SF Bay Area office 3 days per week. 

Not needed

• A scientific or technical background — just an interest in science and a passion for Reflective's mission.
• A nonprofit résumé. Reflective is technically a nonprofit, but it doesn't feel like one — mission fit and rigor matter more than sector pedigree.

Location 

Our goal is to hire the right person for the role regardless of location, but we have a slight preference for candidates who can work from our Bay Area office 2-3 days/week. However, the role can be fully remote and we are open to candidates based anywhere in the world who can overlap with our core working hours (9am-1pm PST). We may be able to sponsor visas for US-based foreign nationals and have a moving stipend to support candidates who would like to relocate to the Bay Area. 

Regardless of location, we love seeing each other in person and believe regular co-location helps improve collaboration and team culture. As such, we plan regular team co-working weeks, typically in the Bay Area.
Compensation and Benefits

We are committed to providing competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits to our employees. We offer fixed salary levels based on experience and role to minimize biases in compensation and to ensure team members are paid the same for doing the same work.

We expect this position to be a regular, full-time position, with an annual salary between $140,000 and $180,000 USD, depending on level of experience. In addition to salary, we offer a comprehensive set of benefits to all full-time employees:

• Medical, dental, vision insurance    
• 401(k)
• Professional and personal development
• Generous paid time off and sick leave, including 12 weeks paid parental leave
• Flexible working hours  

How to Apply & Interview Process

We encourage anyone who is interested in this role to apply, regardless of whether you feel you meet 100% of the qualifications. The top candidates will bring their own unique perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds from a variety of industries along with many but not necessarily all the skills listed above. We offer professional learning and training opportunities to help you develop skills you may not have had the opportunity to cultivate yet.   

We are accepting applications between now and August 9th at midnight PST. Our interview process includes the following: 

• First round interview (30-45 min)
• Take home assessment (max 2 hours)
• Panel interview (1-1.5 hr)
• Final round interview (30-45 min)

We are hoping to make an offer by early October or sooner and will kickoff the above interview process once all applications have been received and reviewed. 

Diversity

At Reflective, recruiting, hiring, mentoring, and retaining a diverse workforce is critical to our success.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. 

Reflective is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.