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Financial Controller at Centre for Effective Altruism. Remote Location: Remote - Global. About CEA. The Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA) stewards the movement of people putting effective altruism principles into practice to solve the world's most pressing problems. We’re working to build a flourishing future by applying evidence, reason, and compassion to challenges like global poverty, animal suffering, and existential risks.. Our work centers on growing and supporting a global community of people who rigorously analyze where they can do the most good – and take action on those insights. Current strategic priorities include increasing understanding of effective altruism and its principles, growing the number of people who are motivated by EA principles to take significant action to address pressing problems, and diversifying funding sources for high-impact work.. We had significant success in 2025, building momentum within CEA. Our headcount grew from 42 to 66 core staff. Program participation (e.g., events, courses, groups) . grew. by 20-25% year over year. We . merged. with . EA Funds. and are rapidly scaling up our capacity for grantmaking and associated fundraising: our first Fund staffed with full-time employees (. EA Animal Welfare Fund. ) raised almost as much as the previous three years combined.. In 2026, we’re maintaining ambitious . momentum. while building the foundations for a step-change in the wider EA ecosystem’s growth trajectory from 2027 onwards.. About the finance team. CEA’s finance team manages the systems that move money into, within, and out of the organization across our US and UK entities. We handle finances for both our own operations and our grantmaking, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting, payments, and compliance, with a focus on clear processes, accurate records, and giving CEA leadership the information needed to make good decisions.. About the role. CEA is at an important inflection point. We grew from 42 to 66 staff in 2025, merged with EA Funds, and are planning to grow headcount by over 50% in 2026. We're planning on exiting the fiscal sponsorship relationship that has handled much of our financial infrastructure, and as such we're building the systems, controls, and team we need for long-term independence. CEA can only get where we want to go if we get finance right.. We're looking for a Financial Controller to own the integrity of CEA's financial records and lead our accounting, compliance, and payments functions across our US and UK entities. This is a senior, hands-on role with real scope: you'll manage the close process, oversee external bookkeepers, lead audits, and build out the accounting and payments team as we scale. You'll also serve as CEA's primary NetSuite administrator and work closely with the Head of Finance on multi-entity consolidation and evolving internal controls.. This role is right for you if you bring both technical depth and operational judgment – you’re someone who cares about getting the details right and can see the bigger picture of what a well-run finance function makes possible. You're comfortable with complexity (multiple entities, jurisdictions, currencies, fund types) and energized by the opportunity to design and refine processes from the ground up.. CEA has an annual operating budget of over $25M and manages significant and growing grantmaking fund flows. The right candidate will find this a genuinely interesting financial environment and will be excited to support the infrastructure that makes ambitious, high-impact work possible. We're already experiencing remarkable growth: one of our core grantmaking funds, the EA Animal Welfare Fund, has received over $30M in the first half of 2026 alone, tripling its full-year 2025 total. We're planning significant fundraising expansion in the years ahead, which means this role has real growth potential. As CEA scales, we anticipate that the finance function will grow with it: more complexity, larger fund flows, a bigger team to lead. For the right person, this role will be an opportunity to grow into a more senior finance leader and help to manage the team as the organization's needs and ambitions expand.. Key responsibilities. Accounting and financial record keeping. Own the month-end and year-end close process across CEA’s US and UK entities, ensuring accurate and timely completion. Oversee and manage external bookkeeping teams, reviewing their work for accuracy, completeness, and adherence to accounting standards. Maintain and improve the chart of accounts and general ledger structure in NetSuite, including setting GL strategy for new funds and system coding to ensure proper oversight of restricted funds. Perform and review multi-entity consolidation across US and UK operations, including intercompany eliminations and currency translation. Ensure all financial transactions are recorded correctly and in compliance with US GAAP and UK accounting standards as applicable. Oversee the accounts payable function, ensuring vendor invoices, grant disbursements, and other outgoing payments are properly authorized, accurately coded, and processed in a timely manner. Compliance, audit, and statutory reporting. Project manage and own the annual audit process for all entities, including preparation of financial statements, audit deliverables, and coordination with external auditors. Ensure compliance with regulatory filing requirements across jurisdictions, including 501(c)(3) obligations (Form 990), UK annual reporting, and other statutory filings. Work with external tax advisors on the preparation and submission of tax filings, including UK VAT and corporation tax, maintaining accurate records and documentation. Establish and maintain robust financial controls over the payment cycle, including segregation of duties, approval workflows, and reconciliation procedures for all payment channels including Payhawk. Own the implementation of audit recommendations and continuously improve financial processes and internal controls. Identify and mitigate financial risks, ensuring that processes, systems, and controls are robust and compliant with applicable regulations in both the US and UK. Financial systems and process improvement. Serve as the primary NetSuite administrator for the accounting function, owning system configuration, workflows, and data integrity. Own the administration and control framework for Payhawk, including card issuance policies, spending limits, expense categorization rules, and integration with NetSuite to ensure accurate and auditable records. Identify and implement process improvements that increase efficiency, strengthen controls, and support organizational growth. Develop and maintain financial systems, templates, and documentation to create scalable and repeatable processes. Team leadership and management. Directly manage finance associates responsible for payments processing, bookkeeping support, and day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring appropriate controls, review processes, and segregation of duties are in place across the payments function. Provide coaching, feedback, and professional development support to direct reports, ensuring a high standard of performance and accuracy. Plan for and support the growth of the accounting and payments function as organizational needs evolve, including scoping new roles and onboarding new hires. Stakeholder coordination. Serve as the primary point of contact for external bookkeepers, auditors, and tax advisors across jurisdictions. Collaborate with the Head of Finance on strategic projects, including multi-entity consolidation, policy implementation, and organizational growth planning. Coordinate with the grants team and other operational functions on payment scheduling, disbursement execution, and compliance requirements. What we’re looking for. We want a Controller who uses financial data to tell a clear story, someone who can help program directors understand what's working and what isn't, catch problems early, and come to the table with solutions.. We also want to invest in you. If you're working toward a CPA, ACA, ACCA, or CIMA or want to, we'll support that.. You might be a great fit for this role if you have:. Significant experience in an accounting or financial controller role, ideally within a US 501(c)(3), UK charity, or complex multi-entity organization. Strong technical knowledge of US GAAP and/or UK accounting standards, with hands-on experience managing the close process, preparing financial statements, and leading audits. Demonstrated compliance expertise in at least one jurisdiction (US or UK) in the non-profit context, with working familiarity or willingness to develop expertise in the other. Experience managing or supervising staff, with a track record of developing team members and maintaining high performance standards. Experience designing or overseeing accounts payable controls and payment approval workflows, ideally across multiple payment methods and currencies. Experience with multi-entity consolidation, including intercompany transactions and currency considerations. Proficiency with accounting software (NetSuite experience strongly preferred) and advanced spreadsheet skills. Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment; multiple entities, currencies, fund types, and competing deadlines don't rattle you. Strong communication skills, with the ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance stakeholders, translating numbers into stories that help people make better decisions. (bonus) Professional accounting qualification (e.g. CPA, ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or equivalent experience. (bonus) Experience working across both US and UK accounting and compliance frameworks. (bonus) Familiarity with grantmaking operations, fund accounting, and restricted fund management. (bonus) Experience with expense management platforms (Payhawk or similar) and corporate card programs. (bonus) Experience implementing process improvements and system enhancements to support financial control and scalability. (bonus) Interest in or familiarity with effective altruist cause areas and issues. If this sounds like you, and you're excited about using your financial expertise to help us achieve our mission of doing as much good as possible, we hope you'll apply.. If you're excited about this work but unsure whether you're fully qualified, we'd strongly encourage you to err on the side of applying! We're also open to hiring at a more junior / individual contributor level for candidates with strong accounting experience but with less experience in leading a team, or who aren’t interested in managing staff. This version of the role would sit one grade lower on the compensation band.. Other information. This is a full-time, remote position. We are only able to consider candidates who can work in time zones between UTC-8 and UTC+2.. Start date: . As soon as possible. Reports to: . Cole Varvel, Head of Finance. Compensation:. Standard level. US. : total compensation package of $131,988, comprising a base salary of $119,989, and a 10% unconditional 401k contribution.. UK. : total compensation package of £79,402, comprising a base salary of £72,184, and a 10% pension contribution.. Other locations. : For candidates outside the US and UK, we base compensation on our UK salary structure and adjust for the cost of employment and fixed local benefit costs to create an equivalent package. For candidates interested in a more junior, individual contributor role:. US. : total compensation package of $109,867, comprising a base salary of $99,879, and a 10% unconditional 401k contribution.. UK. : total compensation package of £66,095, comprising a base salary of £60,087, and a 10% pension contribution.. Other locations. : For candidates outside the US and UK, we base compensation on our UK salary structure and adjust for the cost of employment and fixed local benefit costs to create an equivalent package. Benefits in the US/UK . include private health insurance, flexible work hours, a $6,000 / £5,000 annual professional development allowance, a $6,000 / £5,000 mental health support allowance, extended parental leave, ergonomic equipment, 25 days of paid vacation, and more.. This role will involve travel. . There are likely 2-3 trips annually to attend team retreats and other events, including international trips. . We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusion and encourage individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences to apply. We especially encourage applications from self-identified women and people of colour who are excited about contributing to our mission. The Centre for Effective Altruism is an equal opportunity employer. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, or have any other questions about applying, please contact . [email protected]. .. CEA participates in E-Verify for US employees.. We are committed to protecting your data. See our . privacy policy. for more information.. Evaluation plan. We expect the interview process to include the following steps, subject to minor changes:. Application. Test task 1. Short interview. Test task 2. Final interviews (3–4, non-sequential). Reference checks. Offer