Application Guide

How to Apply for Controller

at New York Cares

🏢 About New York Cares

New York Cares is New York City's largest volunteer organization, mobilizing over 60,000 volunteers annually to address pressing community needs. As a mission-driven nonprofit with a strong reputation for impact, working here means contributing to meaningful social change while being part of a collaborative and dynamic team.

About This Role

As Controller, you will lead all accounting operations for a high-volume nonprofit, ensuring financial integrity and compliance. Your work directly supports the organization's ability to scale volunteer programs and maximize donor impact, making this role critical to strategic decision-making and long-term sustainability.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might start by reviewing cash positions and approving wire transfers, then meeting with the accounting team to review month-end progress. Afternoon could involve a call with the CFOO about budget variances, followed by reviewing a grant financial report. You might end the day by testing a new QuickBooks integration with Salesforce to streamline donation tracking.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who New York Cares Is Looking For

  • A CPA with 5+ years of controller experience in the nonprofit sector, ideally at a similarly sized or larger organization.
  • Deeply knowledgeable about nonprofit accounting (GAAP, fund accounting, grant tracking) and experienced with MIP and QuickBooks.
  • A proven leader who has supervised accounting staff and can mentor a team while managing month-end close and audits.
  • Comfortable with integrated financial systems (Salesforce) and able to streamline processes for efficiency.

📝 Tips for Applying to New York Cares

1

Tailor your resume to highlight nonprofit accounting experience, especially fund accounting and grant management.

2

In your cover letter, explicitly mention your experience with MIP and QuickBooks, and any familiarity with Salesforce.

3

Quantify your achievements: e.g., 'Reduced month-end close from 15 to 10 days' or 'Managed a $10M audit without findings.'

4

Research New York Cares' recent financial reports (Form 990) to understand their revenue streams and funding sources.

5

If you have experience with 403(b) audits or Form 990 preparation, emphasize that prominently.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for nonprofit mission and alignment with New York Cares' volunteer-driven impact.", 'Specific examples of leading audits, implementing internal controls, and improving financial reporting.', "Your technical proficiency with MIP and QuickBooks, and how you've used them to streamline accounting operations.", 'Your leadership style and experience developing staff in a nonprofit finance environment.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review New York Cares' latest Form 990 and audited financial statements on their website or Guidestar.
  • → Read their annual report to understand programmatic focus and funding sources (corporate, foundation, individual).
  • → Look up recent news or press releases about New York Cares to understand current initiatives and challenges.
  • → Explore their volunteer programs to grasp the scale and complexity of operations (e.g., number of projects, volunteers served).

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe your experience with year-end close and audit preparation for a nonprofit of similar size.
2 How do you stay current with nonprofit GAAP and ensure compliance with grant restrictions?
3 Walk me through how you would improve the month-end close process at New York Cares.
4 Tell me about a time you identified a control weakness and how you addressed it.
5 How do you prioritize tasks when managing multiple deadlines (e.g., month-end, audit, budget)?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Failing to demonstrate nonprofit-specific knowledge (e.g., fund accounting, grant tracking) in your application.
  • Overlooking the importance of technology skills: not mentioning MIP, QuickBooks, or Salesforce experience.
  • Being too generic about leadership—provide concrete examples of staff development and process improvement.

📅 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:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to New York Cares!

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