Controller

The Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) is seeking an experienced and strategic Controller to lead the Museum’s financial management and accounting operations. This senior leader will oversee a $35 million annual operating budget, as well as the Museum's investment portfolio, ensuring financial integrity, transparency, and compliance while providing the insights and reporting that support sound institutional decision-making.

Working closely with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), executive leadership, and the Board of Trustees, the Controller will play a critical role in financial planning, reporting, governance, and long-term stewardship of the Museum’s resources. The position oversees general ledger operations, financial controls, endowment and restricted fund accounting, treasury and cash management, audits, tax compliance, and grant-related financial requirements.

The Controller will also lead and develop a talented Finance team, championing operational excellence and continuous improvement while identifying opportunities to strengthen systems, processes, and internal controls. This is an opportunity for a seasoned financial leader to bring their expertise to a dynamic nonprofit institution and help shape the financial infrastructure that supports PEM’s mission and future.

What You’ll Do

• Lead financial reporting and accounting operations in accordance with US GAAP and FASB standards.

• Provide accurate, timely financial statements, dashboards, forecasts, and analysis to management.

• Oversee annual audits, IRS Form 990 preparation, regulatory compliance, and grant-related financial requirements.

• Direct accounting and reporting for PEM’s investment portfolio, endowments, restricted funds, and other net assets.

• Lead treasury, cash management, liquidity forecasting, and working capital activities.

• Partner with Development and other departments on gift accounting, revenue recognition, and grant compliance.

• Support the CFO with long-range financial modeling, capital budgeting, and annual budget development.

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Finance team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

• Evaluate financial systems, policies, and internal controls and identify opportunities to modernize and improve processes.

What You Bring

We are looking for a collaborative, analytical, and experienced financial leader with 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, including supervisory responsibility in a complex institutional environment. The ideal candidate will bring:

• A bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field; a master’s degree is preferred.

• CPA certification is highly preferred; comparable certifications and extensive progressive experience may be considered.

• Deep expertise in nonprofit fund accounting, endowment administration, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance.

• Demonstrated success leading teams, developing staff, and building strong financial operations.

• Advanced experience with ERP financial systems, Excel modeling, and financial management tools.

• The ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for executive and board-level audiences.

• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

If you are a strategic financial leader who thrives at the intersection of mission, stewardship, and operational excellence, we invite you to consider joining PEM and helping advance the Museum’s financial strength and long-term success.  The hiring range for this role is $170,000 to $194,400 commensurate with experience.