Assistant Controller

About us: 

Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) is a global Jewish human rights organization that confronts anti-Semitism and hate, defends the safety of Israel and Jews worldwide, and teaches the lessons of the Holocaust through awareness, advocacy, justice, education, and its Museums of Tolerance. With a constituency of over 400,000 member families since its founding in 1977, the SWC has an international footprint through its Museums of Tolerance, Moriah Films, and the Digital Terrorism + Hate Project.  

Headquartered in Los Angeles, it maintains operations in New York, Chicago, Miami, Toronto, Paris, Berlin, Jerusalem, and Buenos Aires. It is an accredited Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) at the United Nations, UNESCO, the Organization of American States, the Latin American Parliament, and the Council of Europe and maintains relationships with the highest levels of governments throughout the world.  

In 1993, the Center opened the Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles to worldwide acclaim. The Museum has served as the Center’s flagship educational arm, challenging visitors to confront bigotry and racism, and to understand the Holocaust in both historical and contemporary contexts. In addition, the Center developed Moriah Media to produce theatrical documentaries to educate global audiences. Moriah has produced 17 documentaries to date, two of which have received the Academy Award for best feature documentary, The Long Way Home and Genocide.
 

Simon Wiesenthal Center (SWC) is a global Jewish human rights organization that confronts anti-Semitism and hate, defends the safety of Israel and Jews worldwide, and teaches the lessons of the Holocaust through awareness, advocacy, justice, education, and its Museums of Tolerance. With a constituency of over 400,000 member families since its founding in 1977, the SWC has an international footprint through its Museums of Tolerance, Moriah Films, and the Digital Terrorism + Hate Project.  

About the role:  

The Assistant Controller will oversee the organization’s financial close processes, accounts payable, reconciliations, payroll, and compliance functions. This highly visible role interacts with all departments and levels within the organization and supervises a team of five. You will ensure adherence to best practices in financial controls, prepare audit schedules, review tax filings, and support budgeting and financial reporting for senior management and the board. Additionally, you will play a key role in special projects and system improvements. 

About you: 

You love a good challenge and thrive in a fast-paced environment.  You think analytically and operationally with an eye for detail and provide meaningful financial information and analysis to management.   

This position reports to the VP/Controller, based on site in Los Angeles five days a week. 

Responsibilities: 

Financial Management: 

• Lead monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial close processes, ensuring accuracy and timely reporting. 
  


• Review and approve reconciliations and journal entries, ensuring compliance with accounting standards.
  


• Analyze general ledger details, identifying discrepancies and maintaining data integrity.
  


• Prepare financial statements, supporting schedules, and board materials.
  


• Oversee annual accruals and financial projections.
  


• Partner with the financial team on system implementations and process improvements.


• Ensure compliance with banking reporting requirements. 

Accounts Payable Oversight: 

• Supervise accounts payable processes, including invoice submissions, GL coding, invoice approvals, and expense reports. 
  


• Ensure adherence to internal control policies and documentation requirements.
  


• Manage cash flow effectively through accounts payable aging reviews and check runs. 

Audit, Compliance, and Reporting: 

• Lead audit preparation by drafting schedules and serving as the primary liaison for external auditors. 
  


• Prepare annual financial statements, ensuring compliance with footnote disclosures and reporting standards.
  


• Stay updated on evolving accounting regulations and assess their impact on financial reporting.
  


• Review annual tax filings to confirm accuracy and completeness.
  


• Oversee compliance with state/charitable registrations, tourism tax assessments, census surveys, and FBAR reporting. 

Experience and Skills: 

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance; CPA and public accounting experience preferred. 
  


• 5+ years of progressive experience in financial accounting and reporting
  


• Expertise in accounting principles, financial regulations, and reporting standards.  


• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  


• Proven leadership in managing financial processes and teams.
  


• Exceptional communication skills with the ability to collaborate across departments.
  


• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment with a focus on teamwork. 

Our Benefits: 

We value our people and offer a collaborative and engaging culture. As a SWC employee, you will enjoy work/life balance, generous time off and comprehensive benefits and programs.  

The Simon Wiesenthal Center embraces inclusivity and values our diverse community. We are committed to building a team based on qualifications, merit and business need. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.