The Global Leadership Network (GLN) is a $17.7 million nonprofit organization with 50+ full-time staff, with the office located in South Barrington, Illinois, and employees located across the United States. The GLN’s purpose is to introduce more people to Jesus and fully follow Him. They accomplish this by serving pastors and equipping churches to inspire Kingdom-oriented leaders around the world through the Global Leadership Summit and other leadership development resources. The Summit is attended by 60,000+ leaders in 400 sites (primarily churches) throughout the United States. In addition, it is translated into 60+ languages for more than 123 countries, reaching over 240,000 international leaders.
The GLN's new Controller will collaborate across the organization and be responsible for the day-to-day accounting, month-end close, financial reporting, managing the external audit process and compiling the audit report, and coordinating system and product integrations. The ideal candidate has experience working with a CPA firm and organizations of $20 to 50MM.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Founded in 1992 as the Willow Creek Association, the Global Leadership Network (GLN) serves pastors, churches, and Kingdom-oriented leaders through world-class leadership experiences and resources. GLN is committed to a singular idea: that inspired, encouraged, and equipped Christian leaders create thriving local churches and communities where more people come to know and follow Jesus.
Hosting the world’s largest annual leadership event, the Global Leadership Summit (GLS), the GLN reaches hundreds of thousands of leaders around the world. In addition, the GLN has several targeted ministry initiatives to reach key populations, including:
GLS Next Gen reaching 26,000 global leaders between ages 12–22.
Prisons Ministry serving inmates in more than 200 facilities in the U.S.
Ministry Connect delivering the Summit to at-risk populations through partner organizations.
Women Leaders Network encouraging leaders in cohorts around the world.
While the GLN seeks to inspire and equip Kingdom-oriented leaders in all spheres, the organization’s focus and passion is the pastor of a local church. They believe that the local church is the hope of the world. God ordained the church to be the body of Christ, as each one of us is called out to live as people of faith in our world.
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) is a two-day, world-class leadership event attended by 60,000+ leaders at 400 sites (primarily churches) throughout the United States. The Summit is also translated into 60+ languages and held in over 800 sites in 123 countries reaching over 240,000 international leaders from September to April.
GLS is a resource for both the local church—to raise up their leaders, engage seekers, and drive transformation in their communities—and local business leaders to grow in their innovation and leadership. The GLN also provides tailored experiences and resources to inspire and equip pastors/church leaders, the next generation, women leaders, and leaders in prisons.
The GLS has featured some of the most gifted and experienced global leaders in the world as key speakers, including Craig Groeschel, Patrick Lencioni, Erwin McManus, Andy Stanley, Carly Fiorina, Jeffrey Immelt, former President George W. Bush, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, John Maxwell, Gary Haugen, Seth Godin, Albert Tate, Ron Howard, Jossy Chacko, Bob Iger, Tony Dungy, Jack Welch, Christine Caine, Louie Giglio, Henry Cloud and Jim Collins—to name a few.
Recognized as a transformative experience, the GLS provides immeasurable potential to all those who attend, both in-person and virtually.
LEADERSHIP, STAFF AND STRUCTURE
In May 2023, David Ashcraft was named as President/CEO of the Global Leadership Network. Prior to coming to GLN, David led LCBC Church in Pennsylvania for 32 years, growing it from 150 attendees in 1991 to become the largest church in the northeastern United States, averaging 22,000 each Sunday across 19 sites.
Under David’s leadership, a six-member Executive Team leads GLN’s day-to-day operations and 50+ staff. The 2025 budget anticipates $17.7 million in revenue, with 50% from Summit registrations, 40% from contributions, and the remaining 10% from sponsorships, products, and other income.
The Controller position reports to GLN’s CFO, Arlis Whalum, CPA. Arlis has served as a CFO to leading organizations, including the NAACP, and as an auditor with Ernst & Young, among other firms. She serves as Board Treasurer and Director of Leadership Development at a 3,000+ member church. Ms. Whalum has been CFO with the GLN since 2020.
The Controller will lead a team of two, that includes a Staff Accountant and Senior Accountant, and work closely with the International Accountant and VP of Human Resources who also report to the CFO. In addition, this role collaborates across the organization.
This role will be responsible for all day-to-day accounting, including the month-end close process, all financial reporting, including budget/forecast coordination, management of the external audit process, compilation of the external audit report, coordination of accounting system integrations, and new product integrations.
The top attributes needed are:
Financial Acumen: Knowledgeable about accounting procedures and processes
Organized: Detail-oriented and timely
Manager: A team developer
Relational: Able to communicate well
Mission-Minded: Passionate about using their gifts for GLN’s global Kingdom impact.
The ideal candidate might be serving as an assistant controller of a $20 to 50MM organization, for perhaps two or three years, who is ready to move into the controller role; and have three to four years experience with a CPA firm. The preferred relational style for this role is someone who is respectful, fun, strong, and an excellent communicator. Words that describe the candidate’s key traits, gifts, or abilities include: “attention to detail,” “timely,” “enjoyable to work with,” “organized,” “communicative,” and “resourceful.”
OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES
Every role in every organization has both opportunities and challenges. We profile these here, based on interviews of those who work closely with this role, to guide candidates who may consider if these are the kinds of opportunities and challenges that suit them best.
OPPORTUNITIES
The Controller will have opportunities to:
Demonstrate competency and win the confidence of a detail-oriented, hands-on CFO who brings a background in auditing and excels at finding problems to be solved
Improve processes, prioritization, and communication so other GLN teams can work more productively with the accounting function.
Grow in their career while developing their team’s promotability
Enjoy a culture where people value fun, resilience, and excellence, as demonstrated by high employee retention rates.
CHALLENGES
Some challenges include the need to:
Display both strong attention to detail and strong relational and communication skills.
Value GLN’s mission and Kingdom impact above maximizing compensation available in for-profit roles
Complete, lead and develop a team that prioritizes and partners well. This includes bringing focused attention to accounting while serving teams across the organization.
Bring for-profit expertise but also know or learn nonprofit accounting requirements.
POSITION PROFILE
Job Title: Controller
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
Location: Chicagoland preferred/Hybrid
PURPOSE
The Controller administers the accounting and financial activities of the organization, while working closely with the Chief Financial Officer. The ideal candidate will have a combination of strong technical skills and a high level of business acumen. He or she will ensure the reliability, accuracy, and timeliness of the GLN’s financial and management reporting.
The Controller will manage the review, analysis, and documentation of processes, procedures, and internal controls. The ideal candidate has excellent communication skills, enjoys a fast-paced environment, is organized, detail-oriented, and timely, and brings a hands-on approach to working with all GLN team members.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Daily Financial Transactions & Month-End Close
Manage all day-to-day financial operations, including timely deposits, disbursements, and AR collections.
Manage the 4-day month-end close process for timeliness, accuracy, and proper support.
Ensure that all financial transactions are properly supported, classified, and authorized
Maintain the chart of accounts to support the organization’s strategic direction and needs.
Ensure timely communications with the GLN team.
Review general ledger activity for accuracy, completeness, and reasonableness, interpreting trends or deviations and making recommendations for corrective action.
Review the balance sheet to identify issues and verify the propriety of general ledger accounts.
Internal Controls, GAAP, Policies, Processes and Documentation
Maintain internal controls and safeguards for all receipts, disbursements, and financial software.
Ensure compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
Collaborate with the entire staff to document processes and identify controls for recording revenue and expenses.
Financial Reporting & Analysis, Forecasting, Budgeting and Audit Management
Provide timely and accurate monthly financial reports to management and all business units.
Prepare forecast P&L and cash flow.
Collaborate with the GLN team to analyze accounts and research financial variances.
Manage the annual budget process -- software instructions, data entry, data explanations, reporting, and presentations.
Prepare work papers, supporting schedules, and draft external year-end audit report.
Work with the Chief Financial Officer to create projection models.
Prepare ad hoc financial reports and summaries for the executive team, Finance Committee, and Board.
Perform other analysis work as needed.
OTHER FINANCE & ACCOUNTING RESPONSIBILITIES
Provide accounting support for the Summit donation process.
Manage the sales tax process.
Work with the International team to ensure signed agreements for all country funding and documentation of funding deviations between actual spend and budgeted expectations.
Complete special projects and present recommended findings in a clear and concise manner to help drive the mission goals of the organization.
Identify inefficiencies where accounting can support the organization and assist in driving improvements and change.
Identify accounting and financial opportunities by researching and interpreting data.
Complete other duties as assigned by the position’s manager.
Actively participate in one-on-one meetings with manager, team, all-staff, and cross-functional meetings, as needed.
QUALIFICATIONS
Essential Job Knowledge / Job Requirements: Education, Credentials, Experience
Undergraduate degree (BA/BS), preferably in accounting/finance, required.
CPA, preferred.
3-4 years of audit experience with a CPA firm.
Minimum 5 years experience in increasing fiscal responsibility in corporate accounting and minimum 5 years in a leadership role.
Controller experience in a non-profit environment or service industry, a plus.
Payroll and benefit administration experience, a plus.
International accounting experience, a plus.
A vital relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and an active participant of a local church that holds to a historic, orthodox understanding of biblical Christianity
Attributes
Experienced Leadership
Desire to make a positive difference in the environment and culture of the team and the organization.
Demonstrated leadership, team motivation, high performance, integrity, and commitment to getting the job done right.
Instilling an unwavering devotion to personal ownership of objectives, deliverables, and performance across the team is a must.
Inspiring leader with whom people naturally want to work.
Creative approaches to hold functional heads accountable.
Results-Oriented Performance
Demonstrated ability to be thoughtful and creative while working towards meaningful impact.
Demonstrated success in working across functional groups to achieve key operational goals that have financial implications.
Operationally savvy, skilled, and experienced in working with cross-functional teams in a dynamic organization.
Partnership with CFO
Proven ability to engage all relevant members of a leadership or executive team to align financial execution with short and long-term strategic and financial plans.
Ability to provide the Chief Financial Officer with complete visibility over the financial reporting process.
Relevant Skills for Success
Excellent negotiating and communication skills.
Hardworking and flexible.
High emotional intelligence
Able to balance the needs of a dynamic, high-growth organization with the overarching requirements of fiscal responsibility.
Self-starter, diligent, and solutions-oriented.
Good written and verbal communication skills.
Detail-oriented for accuracy of output.
Technology & Software
Strong data analytical skills with Pivot Tables, Queries, What If analysis.
Sage Intacct experience, a plus.
Nexonia and Bill.com experience, a plus.
ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
Others—We set aside our personal preferences and put others before ourselves. We exist to serve others.
Excellence—Excellence matters to God, so we do the best with what we have available to us right now.
Authenticity—We commit to being real with each other, so we speak with one another openly and honestly.
Relationships—We practice care and respect and enjoy working with each other.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary: Commensurate with responsibilities and size of the organization, $115–$120,000 annually.
Benefits: GLN ’s comprehensive benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, life insurance, retirement savings with company match, generous paid time off, mental health counseling reimbursement, and more. View their Benefits Summary
Job Status: Full-time, exempt
Reports to: Chief Financial Officer
Vacation: Fifteen (15) to twenty (20) vacation days plus the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day off, plus five (5) ministry days.
Hybrid Work Schedule: 3 to 6 days in the office per month; additional as needed.
To learn more about the Global Leadership Network, please visit their website at www.globalleadership.org.
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The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.