Application Guide
How to Apply for Controller
at Unite America
🏢 About Unite America
Unite America is a unique non-partisan venture fund investing in election reforms to make government more representative. Unlike typical nonprofits, it operates with a venture capital mindset, funding candidates and campaigns for systemic change. Working here means contributing to a mission that transcends party lines, with a lean, high-impact team.
About This Role
As Controller, you'll lead all accounting operations across multiple entities, ensuring GAAP compliance and audit readiness. Your work directly supports the financial integrity of a fast-growing philanthropic fund, enabling strategic decisions that advance democratic reforms. This is a hands-on role building processes from scratch in a remote, startup-like environment.
💡 A Day in the Life
Your day starts with reviewing cash positions and approving wire transfers across entities. Mid-morning, you might dive into month-end close tasks, reconciling accounts and reviewing journal entries. Afternoons often involve strategic work: updating the board on financials, collaborating with the CFO on budget variances, or refining internal controls for a new grant program.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who Unite America Is Looking For
- A proactive accountant with 5+ years of experience, including leading month-end close and financial reporting for multi-entity organizations.
- Deep knowledge of GAAP and internal controls, with a track record of implementing policies in high-growth or startup settings.
- Comfortable working remotely and autonomously, with strong communication skills to liaise with non-finance stakeholders.
- CPA preferred, but not required if you have equivalent experience building accounting functions from the ground up.
📝 Tips for Applying to Unite America
Tailor your resume to highlight experience with multi-entity consolidation and process-building, not just routine accounting.
In your cover letter, explicitly connect your past work to Unite America's mission of nonpartisan reform—show you understand their venture philanthropy model.
Mention any experience with nonprofit accounting or fund accounting, as it's a plus for this role.
If you have experience with remote work or distributed teams, emphasize your self-management and communication skills.
Prepare a brief example of a time you improved a financial process or implemented new controls, as this role values initiative.
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
['Your experience leading month-end close and financial reporting for multiple entities, with specific examples of improving accuracy or timeliness.', "How you've built accounting policies and internal controls from scratch in a previous role, especially in a high-growth or startup context.", "Your alignment with Unite America's mission—explain why nonpartisan election reform matters to you personally or professionally.", 'Your ability to work independently in a remote environment, with examples of managing priorities and communicating across teams.']
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Read about Unite America's portfolio of candidates and reforms to understand the impact of your financial work.
- → Review their financial statements (if available) to see the complexity of their entities and revenue streams.
- → Understand the venture philanthropy model—how they fund grantees and measure success beyond financial returns.
- → Check out recent news or blog posts about their election reform campaigns to speak knowledgeably about their mission.
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't focus solely on nonprofit accounting—emphasize your ability to build processes in a fast-paced, growth environment.
- Avoid generic statements about 'attention to detail' without concrete examples of improving financial reporting.
- Don't overlook the remote aspect—failing to address how you stay productive and communicate in a remote setting can hurt your candidacy.
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!