Controller

Position Overview

The Major League Soccer Players Association (MLSPA) is seeking a Controller to join its growing team in-person in its Bethesda, Maryland headquarters. The Controller will work directly with the Executive Director (ED), Chief Operating Officer (COO) and external advisors in overseeing all budgeting, accounting, and financial strategy for the organization. A successful candidate will be an experienced financial professional comfortable overseeing all financial management and controls of a dynamic, growing organization.

Applicants should submit an email with the subject line “Controller” to jobs@mlsplayers.org. Please include a cover letter, resume, and list of at least two references. Candidates from diverse backgrounds are strongly urged to apply. The position will remain open until filled, and applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Organization Background

The MLSPA serves as the voice and collective bargaining representative for all Major League Soccer (MLS) players. Formed in 2003, the MLSPA ensures protection of the rights of all MLS players while also promoting their best interests and amplifying their voices. The MLSPA strives to empower players by establishing a supportive community and unified voice that positively impacts the lives of its past, current, and future members both on and off the field. The MLSPA is a democratic organization run by and for players, and ultimate control over the MLSPA rests with the players. Together, members and MLSPA staff work to collectively bargain and enforce a Collective Bargaining Agreement covering myriad issues ranging from minimum salaries, bonuses, health insurance, discipline, free agency, and retirement plans for players. To learn more, visit www.mlsplayers.org.

Position Overview

Reporting to the ED, the Controller will be responsible for oversight of all finance, accounting and reporting activities. The Controller will lead the day-to-day finance operations of a budget of over $11 million and assume functional responsibility over accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll. The Controller will ensure that the MLSPA has the systems and procedures in place to support effective player services and program implementation and conduct flawless audits. The Controller will work closely with department leaders and their staff, not only to educate them regarding finance and accounting procedures but also to explore how the finance function can support organizational operations and goals. In addition, the Controller will partner with the ED, senior leadership, and the human resources (HR) and information technology (IT) staff to enhance and better integrate finance, HR, and IT functions.

Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems, ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain internal control and safeguards for receipt of incomes, expenses, program budgets, and actual expenditures.
• Maintain and balance cash flows to meet short and long-term organizational needs and optimize investment.
• Manage tax compliance, including Form 990, Department of Labor Form LM-2, 1099s and other required returns.
• Coordinate all audit activity.
• Consistently analyze financial data and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements; monitor progress and changes and keep senior leadership abreast of the MLSPA’s financial status.
• Assist MLSPA leadership in the annual budgeting and planning process; administer and review all financial plans and compare to actual results with a view to identify, explain, and correct variances as appropriate.
• Support the ED and COO in engaging the MLSPA Executive Board around issues and trends in financial operating models and performance.
• Manage and track the performance of invested assets in keeping with policies and investment guidelines.

Qualifications

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a mature leader with five to eight years of accounting and finance experience, ideally beginning in accounting and audit, followed by experience gathering, evaluating, presenting and reporting financial information to executive teams and external stakeholders.

The Controller will ideally have experience in a complex nonprofit with multiple programs and service areas.

Other qualifications include:

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and unwavering commitment to the MLSPA’s mission; a proactive, hands-on strategic thinker who will own, in partnership with the ED and COO, the responsibility for finance.
• Minimum of a BA in finance or accounting; CPA and/or MBA preferred.
• Solid experience coordinating audit activities and managing reporting, budget development and analysis, accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, payroll, and accounting for investments.
• Working knowledge of accounting fundamentals and US GAAP.
• Technologically savvy with experience selecting and overseeing software installations and managing relationships with software vendors; advanced knowledge of accounting and reporting software.
• Experience with QuickBooks, NetSuite, Workday and other accounting systems.
• Solid Excel skills (e.g., pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and financial modeling).
• Keen analytic, organization, and problem-solving skills that allow for strategic data interpretation versus simple reporting.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; experience in effectively communicating key data, including presentations to senior management, board or other outside partners.
• Ability and desire to translate complex financial concepts to individuals at all levels including finance and non-finance managers.
• Knowledge of tax compliance and reporting requirements (state and federal) is a plus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working with non-profit organizations and/or labor unions.
• Familiarity with professional soccer and MLS in particular.
• Multilingual (Spanish/French/Portuguese in particular).

Travel and work hours

• Occasional travel and extended work hours may be required.

Salary and benefits

Compensation commensurate with experience: $125,000 – $155,000, along with a strong benefits package.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The MLSPA is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and our team members are people with different strengths, experiences, and backgrounds who share a passion for positively impacting the lives of past, current, and future players in MLS. Our diversity includes race, gender, age, disability status, national origin, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, socioeconomic background, and many other parts of one’s identity. Our team members’ diverse backgrounds and diverse points of view are key to our success, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility. The MLSPA strongly encourages applicants from all backgrounds.