Controller, Finance & Banking, Financial Manager

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All legitimate communication from our recruitment team will come from an official calstart.org email address. We will not text you about a role you have not applied to or shown interest in. We will not perform any interviews via text or Zoom chat. CALSTART does not ask for fees or personal information such as social security numbers or bank details during the recruitment process.

CALSTART is a mission-driven industry organization focused on transportation decarbonization and clean air for all. For over 30 years, it’s been CALSTART’s mission to develop, assess, and implement large-scale, zero-emission transportation solutions to mitigate climate change and support economic growth. CALSTART works with businesses, organizations, governments, and communities to create real-life impact toward clean air and equitable access to clean transportation for all.

CALSTART provides scientific, technical and policy support for regulatory development and clean technology and infrastructure acceleration.

The Controller plays a critical leadership role in ensuring the financial integrity and operational excellence of CALSTART’s accounting and finance functions. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, this position oversees all financial accounting and contract billing activities, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations, funding terms, and internal policies.

You will be responsible for the accurate and timely preparation of financial reports, the management of government contract billing, and adherence to accounting standards set by FASB and the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200). Acting as CALSTART’s subject matter expert in financial accounting, government contracts, and payroll, you’ll provide guidance across teams to ensure fiscal discipline, transparency, and accountability.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on financial leader who excels at balancing strategic oversight with detailed execution. You’ll partner closely with the CFO, project managers, and business development teams to ensure contract compliance, optimize reporting systems, and strengthen internal controls.

This role also serves as CALSTART’s primary liaison to funding agencies, auditors, and regulatory bodies, ensuring that CALSTART maintains its strong reputation for financial compliance and stewardship across its expanding portfolio of federally funded programs.

This is a hybrid role. The requirement will be to be in the office in person in Pasadena, CA one day a week, and on occasion two days a week, depending on workload.

• Oversight and management of monthly closing activities to ensure timely and accurate preparation of financial reports.
• Financial accounting and reporting:
  Oversight of monthly closing activities to ensure timely and accurate preparation of financial reports.
• Reviewing journal batches, preparing correcting entries as needed.
• Reviewing recorded revenue, ensuring that revenues are consistently recorded in accordance with current promulgated revenue recognition rules.
• Review reconciliation of all real accounts and selected nominal accounts, directing follow up as necessary.
• Ensuring compliance with lease reporting requirements per the FASB.
• Supporting the Accounting Director in reviewing reconciliation between job cost ledger and general ledger, directing corrections as necessary.
• Working in conjunction with contract billings, ensuring that revenues are consistently recorded in accordance with current promulgated revenue recognition rules.
• Risk Management: In collaboration with the Accounting Director, assists the CFO in documenting agency risk assessment.
• Government and Other Funding Sources: In collaboration with the Accounting Director, designs and maintains a process for monitoring project status at macro level.
• Meets with appropriate operations staff regarding project status, recommending corrective activities as needed.
• In conjunction with Accounting Manager – Contract Billings/Management, communicates with project managers on project status.
• Cash Management: Monitors daily transactions, ensuring all transactions cleared are in…