Centre for Effective Altruism
Finance
FinancialController
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“Financial Controller at Centre for Effective Altruism. Skills: Accounting, Financial Control, NetSuite Administration. Own month-end and year-end close process. Oversee external bookkeeping teams”
What You'll Achieve.
Own integrity of financial records; Lead accounting, compliance, and payments functions; Manage close process; Oversee external bookkeepers; Lead audits; Build out accounting and payments team; Increase efficiency; Strengthen controls; Support organizational growth; Ensure accurate and timely completion; Ensure vendor invoices, grant disbursements, and other outgoing payments are properly authorized, accurately coded, and processed in a timely manner; Ensure processes, systems, and controls are robust and compliant
Industry & Context.
come to the table with solutions
Travel 2-3 trips annually, Work in time zones between UTC-8 and UTC+2
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
Significant experience in an accounting or financial controller role, technical knowledge of US GAAP and/or UK accounting standards, hands-on experience managing the close process, preparing financial statements, leading audits, Demonstrated compliance expertise in at least one jurisdiction (US or UK) in the non-profit context, Experience managing or supervising staff, Experience designing or overseeing accounts payable controls, Experience with multi-entity consolidation, Proficiency with accounting software, advanced spreadsheet skills, attention to detail, organizational skills, ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines, communication skills
Nice to Have
working familiarity or willingness to develop expertise in the other jurisdiction, track record of developing team members, maintaining high performance standards, payment approval workflows, ideally across multiple payment methods and currencies, intercompany transactions and currency considerations, NetSuite experience strongly preferred, Professional accounting qualification (e.g. CPA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or equivalent experience, Experience working across both US and UK accounting and compliance frameworks, Familiarity with grantmaking operations, fund accounting, restricted fund management, Experience with expense management platforms (Payhawk or similar), corporate card programs, Experience implementing process improvements and system enhancements, Interest in or familiarity with effective altruist cause areas and issues
What You'll Do.
Own month-end and year-end close process
Oversee external bookkeeping teams
Maintain and improve chart of accounts
Perform multi-entity consolidation
Ensure financial transactions are recorded correctly
Oversee accounts payable function
Project manage annual audit process
Ensure compliance with regulatory filing requirements
Work with external tax advisors
Establish and maintain financial controls
Own implementation of audit recommendations
Identify and mitigate financial risks
Serve as primary NetSuite administrator
Own administration and control framework for Payhawk
Identify and implement process improvements
Develop and maintain financial systems
Directly manage finance associates
Provide coaching and feedback
Plan for and support growth of finance function
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Collaborate with Head of Finance on strategic projects; Coordinate with grants team and operational functions
Communication Scope
communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders
Process & Methodology
Project manage annual audit process
Full Job Description
ABOUT CEA The Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA) stewards the movement of people putting effective altruism principles into practice to solve the world's most pressing problems. We’re working to build a flourishing future by applying evidence, reason, and compassion to challenges like global poverty, animal suffering, and existential risks. Our work centers on growing and supporting a global community of people who rigorously analyze where they can do the most good – and take action on those insights. Current strategic priorities include increasing understanding of effective altruism and its principles, growing the number of people who are motivated by EA principles to take significant action to address pressing problems, and diversifying funding sources for high-impact work. We had significant success in 2025, building momentum within CEA. Our headcount grew from 42 to 66 core staff. Program participation (e.g., events, courses, groups) grew https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/NKrpEdg7wAgcoHNRG/cea-is-growing-again-25-more-people-engaged-with-our-1 by 20-25% year over year. We merged https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/BLvTcMMEQGFYsh6Jw/ea-funds-and-cea-are-merging with EA Funds https://funds.effectivealtruism.org/ and are rapidly scaling up our capacity for grantmaking and associated fundraising: our first Fund staffed with full-time employees (EA Animal Welfare Fund https://funds.effectivealtruism.org/funds/animal-welfare) raised almost as much as the previous three years combined. In 2026, we’re maintaining ambitious momentum https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/Dy4iGHbAkKAQ4t2Dw/building-sustainable-momentum-progress-report-on-cea-s-2025 while building the foundations for a step-change in the wider EA ecosystem’s growth trajectory from 2027 onwards. ABOUT THE FINANCE TEAM CEA’s finance team manages the systems that move money into, within, and out of the organization across our US and UK entities. We handle finances for both our own operations
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