Controller/Director of Finance

Position Overview

Now Hiring: Controller / Director of FinanceFull-Time | Finance & Accounting LeadershipLocation: Miami, FL | HybridCompetitive Salary, Commensurate with Experience

Lead Financial Integrity. Strengthen Operations. Support a Mission That Matters.

The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) is seeking an experienced and highly hands-on Controller / Director of Finance to oversee the Foundation’s accounting operations and help ensure the accuracy, integrity, and responsible stewardship of its financial resources.

DRIF is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to funding and advancing research focused on discovering a biological cure for diabetes. Through strategic philanthropy, donor engagement, scientific collaboration, and public awareness, the Foundation supports groundbreaking research while inspiring hope for millions of individuals and families affected by diabetes.

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Controller / Director of Finance will own the day-to-day accounting function, oversee financial reporting and internal controls, and support budgeting, cash management, grant accounting, audits, and nonprofit compliance.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The Foundation operates with a lean accounting structure, so the successful candidate must be comfortable both overseeing the accounting function and personally performing critical accounting responsibilities—including journal entries, account reconciliations, month-end close, supporting schedules, audit preparation, and financial analysis.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced nonprofit accounting professional who enjoys owning the details, improving processes, working independently, and serving as a trusted financial partner to organizational leadership.

What You’ll Do

Accounting & Financial Operations

• Manage daily accounting operations, including general ledger activity, accounts payable, bank activity, and cash management.
• Maintain accurate and complete financial records in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.
• Prepare and record journal entries, accruals, adjustments, and other accounting transactions.
• Review deposits, vendor payments, credit card activity, bank transactions, and recurring accounting activity for accuracy, completeness, and proper coding.
• Monitor cash, account balances, grant activity, and restricted funds to ensure appropriate classification and reporting.
• Prepare account reconciliations and investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Maintain detailed supporting schedules and documentation for balance sheet accounts and other financial activities.
• Partner with gift processing, operations, development, and other departments to resolve transaction-related questions and issues.
• Coordinate with outsourced accounts payable resources to ensure timely and accurate processing.

Financial Reporting & Month-End Close

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes, including reconciliations, accruals, adjustments, and supporting schedules.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial statements and internal financial reports for the COO and executive leadership.
• Prepare and review reconciliations for cash, investments, receivables, payables, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, restricted funds, grants, and other balance sheet accounts.
• Identify unusual activity, variances, and potential accounting issues and recommend appropriate corrections or follow-up.
• Develop financial reports, dashboards, and analyses that help leadership understand financial performance and budget results.
• Ensure accounting records are accurate, complete, and properly supported.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Cash Management

• Support and help lead the annual budgeting process by preparing schedules, compiling departmental inputs, and assisting with analysis and consolidation.
• Monitor actual results against budget and provide clear explanations of material variances.
• Prepare cash flow updates and monitor available cash, reserves, and investment activity.
• Support forecasting and scenario planning based on operational needs.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen cost controls, and optimize the use of financial resources.

Audit, Compliance & Internal Controls

• Coordinate the annual independent audit, including preparing schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation and serving as the primary day-to-day contact for auditors.
• Support tax filings, regulatory reporting, grant reporting, and other required financial documentation.
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls, financial policies, procedures, and documentation.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, IRS requirements, grant requirements, donor restrictions, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Monitor restricted funds, donor-designated funds, and grant-related activities to ensure appropriate accounting and reporting.
• Safeguard the Foundation’s financial assets and ensure responsible stewardship of philanthropic resources.

Systems, Processes & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Maintain and improve accounting systems, reporting tools, and finance workflows.
• Provide practical financial guidance to staff regarding coding, documentation, invoices, donor restrictions, grants, and budgets.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Development, Gift Processing, and other teams to ensure accurate and timely financial information.
• Identify and implement process improvements that strengthen accuracy, efficiency, documentation, and accountability.
• Prepare financial information and supporting materials for the Finance Committee, Board of Directors, executive leadership, and other stakeholders.

Team Leadership

• Lead and mentor an outsourced accounts payable team member and collaborate closely with gift processing and operations colleagues.
• Provide training and support to staff regarding financial policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• Collaborate across departments to align financial operations with organizational priorities.

What We’re Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting or financial management experience.
• 3–5+ years of direct nonprofit accounting experience.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting principles, IRS regulations, grant compliance, and financial reporting requirements.
• Demonstrated experience with:
  • General ledger accounting
  • Journal entry preparation
  • Account reconciliations
  • Accounts payable and accounts receivable
  • Month-end and year-end close
  • Audit preparation
  • Financial reporting
• Experience managing grant accounting, restricted funds, donor-designated funds, and philanthropic revenue reporting.
• Strong understanding of donor restrictions, nonprofit revenue recognition, net asset classifications, and nonprofit financial statements.
• Experience supporting annual budgets, budget-to-actual reporting, and cash flow monitoring.
• Exceptional analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and professionally to both finance and non-finance audiences.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and commitment to responsible stewardship of organizational resources.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA or equivalent certification
• Experience with Blackbaud Financial Edge or similar nonprofit financial systems.
• Experience within healthcare, biomedical research, higher education, or other mission-driven nonprofit organizations.

The Ideal Candidate

The successful Controller / Director of Finance will be:

• Hands-on: Comfortable personally performing accounting responsibilities rather than relying exclusively on a large support team.
• Detail-oriented: Committed to accurate, complete, and well-documented financial records.
• Accountable: A dependable steward of financial information who follows through and builds trust.
• Analytical: Able to identify discrepancies, understand financial trends, and solve problems proactively.
• Collaborative: Comfortable partnering with leadership and non-finance colleagues across the organization.
• Process-minded: Always looking for ways to improve accuracy, efficiency, documentation, and internal controls.
• Adaptable: Comfortable working independently within a lean accounting structure where ownership and initiative are essential.
• Mission-driven: Inspired by the opportunity to support groundbreaking diabetes research through sound and responsible financial management.

Why Join DRIF?

At DRIF, your financial expertise directly supports an important mission: advancing the search for a biological cure for diabetes.

As Controller / Director of Finance, you will play a critical role in ensuring that philanthropic resources are managed with accuracy, integrity, and accountability, helping the Foundation maximize its ability to fund scientific progress and make a meaningful difference in the lives of people affected by diabetes.

Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.

This role requires the ability to reliably commute to offices and work-related meetings and may involve travel for meetings, conferences, and site visits. Additional hours may be required during peak periods.