Controller

JOB SUMMARY

Description: The Biggs Museum of American Art is seeking a detail-oriented, experienced, and practical Controller to lead the Museum’s day-to-day accounting and financial reporting functions. This position will manage core accounting operations, including reconciliations, payroll coordination, restricted fund tracking, month-end close, financial reporting, audit preparation, vendor records, and budget support.

The Controller will play an important role in strengthening the Museum’s financial systems as the Biggs prepares for a major campus expansion, a growing operating model, and increased reporting needs related to programs, grants, restricted funds, capital projects, earned revenue, and board oversight. This is a hands-on position for someone who is comfortable both managing the details and helping leadership see the larger financial picture.

The ideal candidate will bring strong nonprofit accounting experience, sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to translate financial information into clear, useful reports for staff leadership, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Trustees.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field required; equivalent professional experience may be considered
• CPA preferred but not required
• Minimum of five years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in a nonprofit, museum, cultural organization, education, or mission-driven setting
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting, fund accounting, restricted funds, financial reporting, internal controls, and audit preparation
• Experience with QuickBooks required
• Experience with payroll systems required; Paychex experience preferred
• Experience working with donor, ticketing, membership, or CRM systems preferred; Salesforce experience a plus
• Strong Excel skills required, including comfort managing complex spreadsheets and reconciliations
• Experience preparing monthly financial statements, budget reports, and board or committee financial materials
• Experience supporting annual audits, Form 990 preparation, 1099s, W-2 coordination, W-9 tracking, and insurance audit requests
• Ability to manage confidential information with discretion and professionalism
• Strong organizational skills with close attention to accuracy, deadlines, and documentation
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with staff, board committee members, auditors, vendors, and consultants
• Comfort working in a small organization where the Controller must be both strategic and hands-on
• Interest in helping improve systems, documentation, financial processes, and reporting practices over time

Organizational Structure: Reports to the Deputy Director. Works closely with the Executive Director, Board Treasurer, Finance Committee, external auditors, payroll provider, banking partners, insurance providers, retirement plan contacts, and staff across departments.

Schedule: Full-time, exempt, salaried position. The schedule is primarily weekday hours, with occasional evening availability for Finance Committee or Board meetings. This position is based in Dover, Delaware. Some schedule flexibility may be considered, but regular on-site presence is required.

Responsibilities

• Manage the Museum’s day-to-day accounting operations and ensure accurate, timely financial records
• Maintain the general ledger in QuickBooks and ensure transactions are properly coded, documented, and reconcile
• Reconcile bank accounts, credit card accounts, and other balance sheet accounts on a regular schedule
• Process payroll through Paychex twice each month and record payroll activity accurately in the accounting system
• Coordinate retirement contributions after each pay period and update annual retirement changes in payroll records
• Ensure annual retirement paperwork is distributed and tracked appropriately
• Enter and reconcile daily Veevart revenue activity in QuickBooks, including admissions, memberships, contributions, program revenue, retail activity, and other receipts as applicable
• Track, update, and reconcile restricted funds, including grants, donor restrictions, board-designated funds, and other designated accounts
• Maintain restricted fund schedules and ensure they tie accurately to the general ledger
• Track and update capital expansion financial activity, including project-related expenses, pledges, payments, restricted gifts, and reporting needs
• Prepare monthly financial statements and supporting reports for staff leadership, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Trustees
• Support annual budgeting and periodic budget revisions in collaboration with the Executive Director and department leaders
• Provide department-level budget support and help staff understand revenue and expense activity related to their areas
• Assist with cash flow tracking, forecasting, and financial planning as needed
• Maintain vendor records, including W-9 collection and 1099 preparation
• Assist with insurance audit needs and provide required documentation
• Coordinate audit preparation, including schedules, reconciliations, documentation, and responses to auditor requests
• Work with the Executive Director and Finance Committee to strengthen internal controls, documentation, and financial procedures
• Help improve financial systems so the Museum can manage a larger campus, more earned revenue, restricted funds, grants, programs, rentals, and capital activity
• Attend Finance Committee meetings and other internal meetings as needed
• Support grant reporting, capital campaign reporting, and donor-restricted financial reporting as needed
• Maintain organized financial records, files, schedules, and documentation
• Communicate clearly and professionally with staff, vendors, auditors, board members, and financial partners
• Other duties as assigned, including cross-departmental support and financial process improvements connected to the Museum’s growth

Compensation

The position offers a salary range of $75,000 to $85,000 annually commensurate with experience, along with subsidized insurance benefits, IRA match, PTO, and other benefits outlined in the employee handbook.

Apply
Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Nancy Bissonnette at nancy.bissonnette@thebiggsmuseum.org with the subject line “Controller.” Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No phone calls please.

Finalists may be asked to complete a brief skills exercise related to nonprofit accounting, financial reporting, reconciliation review, restricted fund tracking, and/or budget analysis. The exercise is intended to help assess practical experience and will be designed to reflect the type of work required for the position.

About working at the Biggs Museum of American Art

The Biggs Museum of American Art, located in the heart of downtown Dover, Delaware, is a vibrant hub for regional art and cultural engagement. Dedicated to transforming the community through the art of our region, the museum celebrates discovery, fosters collaboration, and remains open to all.

Home to an exceptional collection of American fine and decorative arts, The Biggs showcases works spanning the Colonial era to the present, with a special emphasis on Delaware Valley artists and the rich artistic heritage of the Mid-Atlantic region. Alongside its permanent collection, the museum presents innovative temporary exhibitions, community programs, and educational initiatives that connect audiences of all ages to the transformative power of art.

As a cultural cornerstone of Dover’s lively downtown, The Biggs serves as a catalyst for learning, civic pride, and economic vitality, hosting everything from hands-on family programs and wellness events to special exhibitions featuring national and regional artists. Through partnerships with organizations, schools, and fellow museums, The Biggs advances the arts as essential to civic well-being and community life.

We believe that creativity has the power to improve individual lives and the well-being of a community. As part of that belief, The Biggs is committed to achieving diversity and inclusion in its hiring practices, governance, programming and engagement with the community. We are an equal opportunity employer regardless of, race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, military status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any other characteristic that is protected by law.