Controller
We're looking for a finance controller who is as passionate about precision as they are about impact. You'll bring the rigour of clean closes and smooth audits, paired with the insight to turn numbers into clear, strategic guidance. You'll help shape the financial backbone that keeps Prevail strong and ready to scale – so together we can deliver bold, lasting change for millions of children.
Note - we're open to hiring at either Manager or Senior Manager level depending on experience.
About Prevail Fund
Prevail is a new organization that helps field implementers and philanthropists pursue ambitious social change. We work with private philanthropists to fund specific initiatives. Rather than diversifying across multiple causes, we prioritize deep, strategic investments in proven solutions with the potential to reshape global norms.
Prevail provides patient capital to implementers – primarily in the form of grants that grow over time as our partner organizations scale. In addition to funding, Prevail also offers a suite of systems and talent development services designed to address common growth barriers and prepare partner organizations for accelerated scale.
For example, our first fund aims to improve foundational education for over 25 million children across 10 national governments in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
In our first two years, we've:
* Secured our ambitious fundraising target
* Partnered with 25 organizations across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa
* Hired 30+ mission-driven team members globally
* Run dozens of execution projects to strengthen key functions for our partners, including hiring key roles
The role
You will be instrumental in managing Prevail's $55 million budget and building our internal finance operations to meet our goal of disbursing over $1.2 billion in funds over the next decade.
This role forms the foundation of our work, ensuring that our global cohort of partner organizations and team members are properly supported to deliver impactful primary educational programs to 25 million children in the Global South.
You will lead Prevail's internal finance operations ensuring our systems stay accurate, audit-ready, and scalable as we grow. You'll develop and tighten policies and controls, lead annual audits across multiple entities, and deliver clear, decision-oriented reporting. You'll also support budgeting, forecasting, and treasury and cash planning.
Working with Isabel, Head of Finance, you will:
* Lead internal finance operations. Own the monthly and year-end close, consolidations, reconciliations, and allocations, ensuring our books are accurate, timely, and reliable as we scale.
* Run audits and compliance. Lead our annual audits, 990s and regulatory filings ensuring a smooth process and clean outcome.
* Drive operational excellence. Refine financial policies, systems, and processes to boost efficiency, adaptability, and alignment with organizational growth.
* Oversee restricted fund and net asset accounting. Make sure donor reporting ties back seamlessly to the GL and that restricted funds are tracked clearly and consistently. Monitor compliance with grant terms, manage cost allocations, and prepare audit-ready net asset rollforwards.
* Manage functional expenses and cost allocations. Ensure expenses are accurately allocated across program, G&A, and fundraising, applying consistent, supportable methodologies for shared and indirect costs.
* Support planning and insight. Produce reliable budgets, forecasts, and cash planning reports that help our team and board make sound decisions.
* Cost-effectiveness development and analysis. Build cost measurement tools and advanced models, perform financial analyses across investments, and identify strategic opportunities for partners to improve cost efficiency and impact.
* Manage and mentor. Supervise the Finance & Accounting Associate, ensuring tasks are completed accurately and developing their skills as we grow
* Contribute beyond the core. Take on other finance-related projects as they arise, improving the way our finance function supports Prevail's mission.
About you
You'll thrive in fast-pace environments and bring:
* Experienced finance leader. You have 8+ years of relevant experience (as a controller/ accounting/audit experience). Experience in the development space is an asset but not required.
* Detail-oriented. You are meticulous about getting the numbers right, with a track record of running clean closes and successful audits.
* Systems and Process Innovator. You're always thinking about how systems can be optimized for efficiency and effectiveness. You have a keen eye for detail and a focus on building financial systems that scale and support strategic growth.
* Analytical and Insightful. You can move easily from reconciliations to financial analysis, surfacing clear takeaways that help teams and leadership act.
* Collaborative Leader. You work well with diverse teams and build strong relationships with both internal stakeholders and external partners. You can adapt quickly to new challenges and environments.
* Growth Mindset. You're open to feedback, adapt quickly, and are motivated to keep learning
* Nice to haves: CPA, ACCA, CFA, chartered accountant, experience with multi-entity structures and international non-profits.
* Global Experience. Ideally you've worked with global teams across multiple timezones, countries, and you understand how to navigate local contexts
* Humility. You bring humor, patience, and a humble approach to service. You are ready to grow by acting on frequent, intensive feedback from your colleagues.
* Fast and adaptable. You move fast, and thrive in high-pace environments. You are effective at managing competing priorities and tight deadlines. You can quickly pivot based on new information.
Why you'll love working at Prevail
* Drive real impact. Your work will directly enable large-scale social change.
* Build something meaningful. Help mobilize philanthropic capital that will impact millions of lives.
* Join a supportive, world class team. We're a team of professionals who have successfully scaled operations across the world, and value humility, ownership, and collaboration.
* Professional growth. We invest in your development through regular feedback, career progression frameworks, and a learning budget.
* Flexibility: Work remotely from anywhere in a timezone between -5 UTC (EST) and +5.30 UTC (IST), with opportunities to travel and connect in person.
What we offer
* Fully remote position, with opportunity to travel 2-4 times per year.
* Full time, permanent contract.
* Competitive salary based on experience, skills and location. We share salary bands with candidates; final offers are based on interview performance.
* Meaningful benefits. Health insurance and wellness benefits, home workspace or co-working stipend, plus a generous learning and development budget.
* Growth opportunities. We deeply care about investing in our team's professional development. You'll receive strong manager support, targeted feedback, performance support, clear pay progression, upwards or lateral mobility.
* Flexible leave policy. Including 25 days PTO, plus public holidays.
Location & start date
This is a fully remote position. For timezone purposes, candidates must be based within -5 UTC (EST) and +3 UTC (EAT) and legally eligible to work in their country. We're particularly interested in candidates from the Global South. Preferred start date: as soon as possible.
Application process
Our hiring process is thorough but efficient. Successful candidates will go through;
* An initial conversation with the people team minutes)
* Skills assessment (60 minutes)
* Hiring Manager interview minutes)
* Take-home exercise (4-5 hours)
* Panel interview (90 minutes) and 1:1 conversations with the rest of the team
Ready to join us?
If you're excited to help us scale, apply using the link below. We review every application and aim to invite successful candidates for an informational call within 3 weeks.
For more information
You can find a bit more information about Prevail Fund and what to expect from our recruitment process here.
* Note: If you currently work for one of Prevail's partner organizations, we'd love to consider you for this role as long as you can provide their express permission. If this applies to you, please ask them to confirm this with us. Thank you