Pillar Search & HR Consulting is honored to partner with Sandy Hook Promise on the hiring of their new Controller. This is hybrid role with days in office in Newtown, CT.
About Sandy Hook Promise
Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the lifesaving, evidence-informed Know the Signs prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships.
SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
Commitment to Belonging, Community, Engagement, and Respect
SHP strives to ensure its culture and work environment reflect the values of belonging, community, engagement and respect. They actively seek to understand and respond to the diverse perspectives and lived experiences of individuals across socioeconomic backgrounds, rural and urban communities, and diversity of thought, in addition to traditional protected categories. They are committed to ensuring that every SHP employee feels heard, valued, and a true sense of belonging. SHP encourages individuals who share their commitment to these core values and to their mission to apply.
Location
The candidate will need to commute to their office in Newtown, CT as needed.
About the Role
The Controller position leads the accounting function at SHP for both the 501(c)3 Sandy Hook Promise Foundation and the 501(c)4 Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund. The Controller manages all accounting operations, ensuring transactions are recorded properly and books are maintained according to mandated standards.
The Controller’s core responsibilities include overseeing the general ledger, managing the month-end and year-end financial close processes, and ensuring the integrity of the financial statements. They ensure strict compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The team is also responsible for tax compliance, preparing and filing corporate tax returns. Finally, the Controller designs and monitors internal controls over financial processes and financial reporting to safeguard company assets and prevent material misstatement.
This position reports to the CFO and will work closely with other members of the SHP organization to ensure our financial systems and processes meet their needs and support the organization’s mission.
Job Responsibilities
Lead the day-to-day financial operations of SHP as follows:
- Lead the operations of the accounting department, including the design of an organizational structure adequate for achieving the department’s goals and objectives.
- Responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of all financial records for two legal entities in compliance with GAAP and meets the needs of the organization’s business leaders and Board.
- Administer and identify additional ways to leverage accounting software systems; currently SAGE Intacct, Concur, Paycom to increase productivity while maintaining accuracy.
- Lead the annual financial statements audit and filing of 990 tax returns for Foundation and Action Fund in coordination with our external auditing firm.
- Manage month-end and year-end close procedures to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting. Ensure deadlines are met.
- Develop and maintain financial policies, controls, and procedures to minimize risk and ensure compliance. Ensure finance and accounting SOP’s (standard operating procedures) are complete and up to date.
- Verify, approve and transmit payments up to payment approval limit per Financial Commitment Policy. Primary backup to CFO in initiating large payments.
- Primary backup to Payroll Manager for Payroll Processing and CFO for payroll approval.
- Oversee monthly Bank and Investment account reconciliations.
- Prepare reporting and analysis for senior management as directed.
- Comply with federal, state and local reporting requirements and tax filings.
- Ensure professional development for Finance and Accounting team members
Qualifications
- 10+ years’ experience in accounting or finance, with experience in Non-Profit Accounting a plus
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or business-related discipline; CPA, MBA or CMA degrees a plus
- Proficient in managing accounting systems and experience in implementing new accounting/financial systems a plus
- Experience in managing financial statement audits and the preparation of tax returns
- Experience managing a finance team.
- Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Excellent business acumen, creative problem solver
- Extremely organized and detail oriented
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Work independently and within a team environment
Benefits and Salary Range
The salary range for this position is $147,000-$150,000 dependent on experience and qualifications. Please note: SHP uses a structured internal rubric to guide salary placement and ensure equitable pay. Typically, new hires are placed at the start of the salary range to ensure equity with current employees, and as a practice, we do not negotiate salaries.
SHP offers a competitive benefits package, including:
- Unlimited PTO
- Flexible schedules
- Paid holidays and 10 days of sick leave
- Paid parental leave
- Health, dental, and vision
- Employer paid life insurance and short- and long-term disability
- 401k match
- Professional development stipend
- Wellness & mental support
- Employer Paid Employee Assistance Program
Our organization operates within a distributed workforce, allowing for location flexibility across the country for most positions. We provide remote office support for all staff, which includes a laptop, home office reimbursement, and monthly cell phone reimbursement up to $50 & internet reimbursement up to $40.
To Apply
Sandy Hook Promise has partnered with Pillar Search & HR Consulting on the search for its new Controller. Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their resume and cover letter via email to jo**@**********ch.com. No calls, please.
The deadline to apply is March 8, 2026.
Equal Opportunity Employment
SHP is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. They strive to be an employer of choice: where a diverse mix of talented people want to come and do their best work. SHP does not make employment related decisions based on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status, or any other protected characteristic. They are focused on promoting multiculturalism and inclusion so that all SHP employees feel valued and respected. They believe deeply that a diverse workforce comprised of people of all beliefs, backgrounds, and life experiences who seek to prevent gun violence and stop the tragic loss of life will make SHP a stronger, more effective organization.
