Vice President, Finance / Controller (Chicago/Hybrid)

Work. Serve. Thrive.

Imagine a place where your talent can make a meaningful difference in peoples' lives. Working at Feeding America is a uniquely rewarding experience in which our employees work together as vital parts of a much larger mission. We are innovative, mission-focused, diverse, collaborative, values-driven and focused on results.

Feeding America is the nation's largest charity and the leading domestic hunger-relief charity in the United States. Our mission is to feed America's hungry through a nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country in the fight to end hunger.

Learn more about Feeding Americahere.

This position is based out of Feeding America's Chicago office. At Feeding America, we believe in offering a flexible work environment. Employees can be in the office an average of 2 days a week (when not travelling for work) and work from home on other days. Employees also have access to a 30-day "work anywhere" program during the course of each calendar year that can be combined with PTO and/or holidays.

The Opportunity

The Vice President, Finance / Controller leads all day-to-day operations of the accounting department, including accounting ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financials. Oversees accounting for cash and equivalents, investments, fixed assets, accounts receivable and payable, and leasing obligations. Builds and maintains strong working relationships with treasury and banking partners, external and internal auditors, and other finance, technology and risk management service providers. Provides strategic leadership of audit activities (including the annual audit and Form 990), external reporting requirements, and internal control and risk management processes to safeguard and strengthen the organization.

Compensation

Here at Feeding America national organization, equality is central to our mission and is an integral part of our compensation policies and structures. As such, we maintain transparent salary ranges and clearly defined practices for how our team, including new hire salary offers, moves through these ranges. You can expect us to offer the best salary up front based on these clearly defined pay practices with little room for negotiation. We make exceptions for highly experienced (multiple years of at-level experience) new hires in accordance with our pay practices. Once hired, employees have the opportunity to progress through salary ranges via regular merit increases and step promotions.

Salary Range: $220,000 to $250,000 Based on Experience

Responsibilities:

Accounting Operations and Financial Reporting

• Lead all accounting operations, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting across accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems in full compliance with U.S. GAAP and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee month-end and fiscal year-end close processes, driving consistency, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Manage all tax and regulatory reporting, including federal, state, and local filings (e.g., IRS Forms 990/990T, charitable registrations, gift annuity filings).
• Remain current on emerging accounting standards and pronouncements, assessing implications and ensuring their appropriate application to Feeding America's financial statements and filings.
• Partner with the Financial Planning and Reporting team to develop accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports that meet internal and external stakeholder needs.

Audit, Controls, and Risk Management

• Lead and coordinate the annual external audit, including preparing required workpapers and serving as primary liaison to external auditors.
• Maintain and continuously strengthen an effective system of internal controls over financial operations and reporting.
• Conduct bi-monthly payroll audits in collaboration with Human Resources to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Support the CFO in preparing materials and engaging the Board's Audit & Risk Management Committee on trends, financial operating models, and risk considerations.
• Provide leadership in facilitating the organization's risk management processes, including the operational risk assessment, the disruptive risk identification process, and the strategic-planning risk process; ensure risks are consistently assessed, documented, and integrated into financial and organizational decision-making.
• Partner with the Vice President, Legal Counsel to oversee business insurance management, ensuring coverage aligns with organizational needs, emerging risks, and regulatory requirements.

Treasury, Cash Management and Banking Relationships

• Optimize banking relationships and oversee treasury activities, including cash positioning, cash flow management, and investment-related accounting processes.
• Develop and implement strategies that strengthen liquidity, enhance cash management efficiency, and support organizational financial health.

Systems, Processes, and Operational Effectiveness

• Oversee the structure and performance of the accounting department, ensuring roles, workflows, and processes are designed to achieve annual goals and long-term priorities.
• Analyze existing processes and systems; partner with the CFO, IT, and administrators to streamline workflows, leverage technology, and establish standard operating procedures that improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Serve as the business owner for financial systems, guiding system enhancements, data governance, and future modernization or implementation efforts to ensure the accounting function is well supported.
• Assess, develop, and where needed, draft and update accounting policies and procedures to strengthen accounting effectiveness, support consistency, and guide staff.

Required Experience and Qualifications:

• 10+ years of successful senior financial management experience is required with some prior non-profit finance experience preferred
• Expertise in U.S. GAAP, nonprofit financial reporting, and regulatory requirements, including Not-for-Profit Corporation Law.
• Direct and concise communication skills. Active listener. Ability to translate complex financial concepts to individuals at all levels including finance and non-finance managers.
• Recognized success in developing and monitoring systems to manage both internal operations and programmatic work that involve high levels of collaboration, particularly with program directors and other senior leadership.
• Strong technical fluency with financial systems, ERP platforms, reporting tools, and data governance principles, with a demonstrated ability to drive modernization, standardization, and process improvement.
• Demonstrated experience in enterprise risk management
• Keen analytic, organization, and problem-solving skills that support and enable sound decision making in a complex organization; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems.
• An accessible, visible, and flexible management style that inspires trust and confidence in staff to work hard and well together.
• CPA is required.

1. Fosters an Enterprise Mindset
2. Fosters an Open and Supportive Environment
3. Leads with Accountability
4. Collaborates Internally and Externally
5. Focuses on People and Teams
6. Manages Organization and Business Complexity
7. Communicates with Impact and Influence