Controller

The Texas Tribune seeks a Controller to lead the organizations accounting operations and help ensure strong financial stewardship across the newsroom and business teams. This person will oversee core accounting functions including financial reporting compliance and day-to-day financial processes ensuring accuracy and efficiency in support of the Tribunes mission. They will work closely with the CFO and collaborate across teams to maintain transparent reliable financial systems that support a growing nonprofit newsroom.

This role oversees core accounting functions including general ledger accounts receivable accounts payable payroll monthly close audit budgeting support and cash management. The Controller directly supervises the Staff Accountant and Accounts Receivable Specialist fostering a collaborative high-performing finance team.

The successful Controller will bring rigor transparency and operational excellence to the finance function. They will combine strong technical accounting skills with a practical collaborative approach suited to a dynamic nonprofit news environment.

Key Responsibilities:

Accounting & Financial Operations

• Manage all accounting operations including general ledger journal entries reconciliations accounts payable accounts receivable payroll coordination and fixed assets.
• Lead monthly and annual close processes to ensure timely and accurate financial statements.
• Prepare internal financial reports variance analyses and dashboards for the CFO and leadership team.
• Maintain accounting systems chart of accounts and financial workflows to support operational efficiency and growth.
• Monitor cash flow liquidity and banking activity; assist CFO with forecasting and treasury management.
• Track and report restricted and unrestricted funds in accordance with nonprofit accounting standards.
• Support accounting for multiple revenue streams such as contributions memberships subscriptions digital and events.
• Ensure proper allocation of shared costs across business lines.

Compliance & Controls

• Maintain strong internal controls and accounting policies.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP nonprofit accounting standards and applicable federal/state regulations.
• Coordinate annual financial audit and preparation of schedules workpapers and auditor requests.
• Support preparation of IRS Form 990 and other required filings in partnership with external tax advisors.
• Manage out of state employee payroll tax/benefit requirements sales tax or other indirect tax compliance where applicable.

Budgeting & Strategic Support

• Partner with the CFO on annual budgeting forecasting and long-range financial planning.
• Provide department leaders with budget-to-actual reporting and financial guidance.
• Analyze trends in revenue expenses staffing and program investments to inform decision-making.
• Recommend process improvements and scalable systems as the organization grows.

Team Leadership

• Supervise mentor and develop the Staff Accountant and Accounts Receivable Specialist.
• Establish clear priorities workflows and accountability across the accounting team.
• Promote a service-oriented detail-focused and mission-aligned team culture.

Qualifications:

Required

• Bachelors degree in Accounting Finance or related field.
• 7 years of progressive accounting experience with at least 2 years in a supervisory role.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting principles including fund and grant accounting.
• Experience managing month-end close audits and financial reporting.
• Proficiency with accounting systems and advanced Excel skills.
• Strong organizational skills attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally with non-finance staff.

Preferred

• CPA or CPA candidate.
• Experience managing the finances of a growing and changing organization..
• Experience with ERP/accounting platforms such as QuickBooks Sage Intacct NetSuite or similar.

The salary for this position will depend on experience. The minimum is $115000.

Location

Austin TX- Remote- Candidate must reside in the Austin MSA

Benefits

This job is full-time and has the following benefits:

• Medical vision and dental insurance
• A cellphone stipend
• 20 days of paid time off each year
• Up to 16 weeks of paid family leave plus four weeks of additional job protection
• 401(k) matching
• Support for professional training and attending industry conferences
• Remote work flexibility

How to Apply

Submit your application by June 8th along with a résumé and cover letter summarizing your previous experience and telling us why you want to work at our award-winning news Texas Tribune is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate on the basis of race religion color national origin gender sexual orientation age marital status veteran status or disability status.
We cant wait to hear from you!

About The Texas Tribune

Heres what you should know about the Tribune. From day one weve had disruption innovation and risk-taking in our DNA. Were ambitious as all get out but still have the punch-above-your-weight mentality of a scrappy start-up. We believe we can meet the demands of our audience and our own expectations for excellence without breaking the bank or our staff. We understand not everything is a story for us we have to make choices but were always looking to expand our boundaries.

Were non-profit because the challenging economic reality for media these days obligates us to find a different way reliable and sustainable to fund serious journalism. Were nonpartisan because we live in the United States of Confirmation Bias and we dont need to be part of the problem. We dont need to be yet another source of information affirming the voices and perspectives that are already in peoples heads. At the same time nonpartisan is not non-thinking. We call B.S. when B.S. needs to be Texas Tribune seeks to ensure that its newsroom and its news coverage reflect Texas by including a wide range of perspectives from people of different backgrounds ideologies and experiences.
Learn more about The Texas Tribune here.