Assistant Controller

About The Simon Wiesenthal Center 

Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) is a global Jewish human rights organization that confronts anti-Semitism and hate, defends the safety of Israel and Jews worldwide, and teaches the lessons of the Holocaust through awareness, advocacy, justice, education, and its Museums of Tolerance. With a constituency of over 400,000 member families since its founding in 1977, the SWC has an international footprint through its Museums of Tolerance, Moriah Films, and the Digital Terrorism + Hate Project. 

Headquartered in Los Angeles, it maintains operations in New York, Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Paris, Berlin, Jerusalem, and Buenos Aires. It is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the United Nations, UNESCO, the Organization of American States, the Latin American Parliament, and the Council of Europe and maintains relationships with the highest levels of governments throughout the world. 

In 1993, the Center opened the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles to worldwide acclaim. The Museum has served as the Center’s flagship educational arm, challenging visitors to confront bigotry and racism, and to understand the Holocaust in both historical and contemporary contexts. In addition, the Center developed Moriah Media to produce theatrical documentaries to educate global audiences. Moriah has produced 17 documentaries to date, two of which have received the Academy Award for best feature documentary, The Long Way Home and Genocide.

About the Role:  

The Assistant Controller will lead the month-end, quarterly and year-end financial closes, oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, account reconciliations, fixed assets, insurance, payroll, and state/charity regulations. You will prepare audit schedules, update footnote disclosures, review tax returns, and ensure that SWC is adhering to best practices relating to internal controls. You will assist in the annual budget process for the organization, working closely with the Director, Financial Planning & Analysis, provide reports for senior management and the board and assist with special projects as needed. This highly visible position will interface with all organizational departments and levels and supervise a staff of four. 

About you: 

You love a good challenge and thrive in a fast-paced environment.  You think analytically and operationally with an eye for detail and provide meaningful financial information and analysis to management.   

This position reports to the VP/Controller, based on site in Los Angeles five days a week. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Financial Management: 

• Lead the monthly, quarterly and fiscal year-end close processes, ensuring accuracy and adherence to deadlines. 


• Review and approve reconciliations prepared by Senior Accountants to ensure accuracy and compliance with accounting standards. 


• Supervise and approve journal entries prepared by Senior Accountants and Accounts Payable, ensuring proper documentation and compliance. 


• Conduct detailed reviews of the general ledger to identify discrepancies and ensure data integrity. 


• Prepare quarterly financial statement packages with supporting schedules for management and board review. 


• Manage quarterly accruals for salary, vacation, depreciation and retirement plan contributions. 


• Perform other financial projects as directed  


• Work closely with the financial team on the implementation of new financial reporting systems  


• Ensure adherence to all bank reporting obligations under SWC’s banking arrangements 

Accounts Payable Oversight: 

• Supervise the accounts payable process, including GL coding review, approval of employee expense and credit card reports, and timely processing of invoices. 


• Ensure invoices have the appropriate documentation, approvals, and are in adherence with our internal control policies. 


• Oversee the weekly check run and review accounts payable aging to manage cash flow effectively. 

Accounts Receivables Management: 

• Monitor accounts receivables, review new pledges for accuracy and maintain aging schedules. 


• Prepare monthly pledge discount entries for future receivables  


• Approve tax receipts for donations exceeding $250. 

Audit Coordination and Compliance: 

• Coordinate and prepare schedules for annual audit fieldwork, acting as the primary point of contact for the external audit team. 


• Stay abreast of new accounting pronouncements and their impact on financial reporting. 


• Review the annual 990 tax return for accuracy and completeness. 


• Ensure compliance with state/charitable registrations, tourism tax assessments, census surveys, and FBAR reporting. 

Financial Reporting: 

• Help develop the annual budget and provide budget updates as necessary. 


• Prepare financial materials for quarterly board meetings, including supporting schedules and variance analysis 


• Review and manage state/charitable registrations for direct mail solicitations. 

Experience and Skills: 

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance; CPA and Public Accounting experience strongly preferred. 

• 7+ years of progressive experience in financial accounting and reporting. 


• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles, financial regulations, and reporting standards. 


• Proven experience in process improvement and streamlining. 


• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a team effectively. 


• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 


• Passion for the non-profit sector with experience in grant management and compliance. 


• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment with a focus on teamwork. 

Our Benefits: 

We value our people and offer a collaborative and engaging culture. As a SWC employee, you will enjoy work/life balance, generous time off and comprehensive benefits and programs.  

The Simon Wiesenthal Center embraces inclusivity and values our diverse community. We are committed to building a team based on qualifications, merit and business need. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.