Application Guide

How to Apply for Vice President, Controller

at Muscular Dystrophy Association

🏢 About Muscular Dystrophy Association

MDA is America's largest voluntary health organization focused on neuromuscular diseases, combining research, healthcare, and advocacy to improve lives. Working here means directly contributing to life-changing advancements for conditions like muscular dystrophy and ALS, with a mission-driven culture that values impact over profit.

About This Role

As VP, Controller, you'll lead all accounting and finance functions, ensuring financial integrity and regulatory compliance for a national nonprofit. Your work directly supports MDA's mission by enabling effective resource allocation and transparency, impacting millions of patients and families.

💡 A Day in the Life

Start with a morning check-in with your finance team via video call to review month-end progress. Midday, you'll analyze cash flow projections and review a draft of the quarterly financial statement. Afternoon includes a meeting with the audit committee to discuss internal control improvements and a one-on-one mentoring session with a senior accountant.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Muscular Dystrophy Association Is Looking For

  • A CPA with a master's degree and 5-10 years of people management experience in a nonprofit setting.
  • Deeply knowledgeable about GAAP, Form 990 preparation, and single audits; hands-on with accounting software like NetSuite or Blackbaud.
  • A strategic leader who can mentor a team while also diving into month-end close processes and internal controls.
  • Passionate about MDA's mission and comfortable working remotely with cross-functional teams across the U.S.

📝 Tips for Applying to Muscular Dystrophy Association

1

Highlight your nonprofit experience specifically, including any work with Form 990, single audits, or grant accounting.

2

Quantify your leadership impact, e.g., 'Managed a team of 10, reduced close time by 20%.'

3

Demonstrate familiarity with remote work tools and processes, as this role is fully remote.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize internal controls and compliance achievements, not just general accounting.

5

Include a cover letter that explicitly connects your personal values to MDA's mission (e.g., a family member affected by a neuromuscular disease).

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your nonprofit-specific experience with financial reporting, audits, and regulatory filings like Form 990.', 'Your leadership philosophy and examples of developing finance teams in a remote or hybrid environment.', "Your understanding of MDA's mission and how your financial stewardship can directly support research and patient services.", 'Your proficiency with accounting systems and any experience implementing or improving them.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review MDA's latest annual report and Form 990 to understand their revenue sources (e.g., fundraising, grants) and expense allocation.
  • → Read about MDA's current research initiatives and advocacy efforts to speak knowledgeably about their impact.
  • → Look into MDA's remote work culture and any recent news about leadership or financial challenges.
  • → Familiarize yourself with neuromuscular diseases and MDA's specific programs (e.g., summer camps, care centers).
Visit Muscular Dystrophy Association's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Describe a time you improved internal controls at a nonprofit. What was the outcome?
2 How would you handle a discrepancy in grant reporting that could affect funding?
3 What's your experience with remote team management? How do you ensure accountability and collaboration?
4 Walk me through the steps of preparing a Form 990 and the key areas you focus on.
5 How do you stay updated on GAAP changes affecting nonprofits, and how have you implemented them?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention nonprofit accounting or MDA's mission.
  • Overemphasizing for-profit experience without drawing parallels to nonprofit financial management.
  • Neglecting to discuss remote work experience or your plan for managing a distributed team.

📅 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 Muscular Dystrophy Association!

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