Controller

Controller

The Opportunity
The Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization primarily
dedicated to supporting higher education, arts and culture, and
humanities research in the United States. It provides grants and
funding to universities, museums, libraries, and other cultural
institutions to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion and
advance scholarly research and public engagement in the arts and
humanities. The foundation’s initiatives often focus on areas such
as education, conservation, digital humanities, and social justice.
Overall, its goal is to enrich and strengthen American society’s
fabric through its education and culture investments.

In recent years, Mellon has expanded on these core principles by
actively prioritizing social justice across all of its grant
making. This strategic shift builds on its long history of
advocating for and investing in expanded access to higher
education, humanities, and the arts. The vision for Mellon’s future
centers on justice in all that we do—rooted in the Foundation’s
historic belief in the transformative power of the arts and
humanities.

The Controller, reporting to Chief Financial Officer Sepi
Sepasi, will play a key role in the organization’s financial
management and reporting. This position oversees financial
reporting, annual audits, accounting operations, investment
accounting, grants accounting, procurement, accounts payable,
travel management, and treasury. It is responsible for ensuring the
accurate and timely recording of financial transactions and
providing strategic financial guidance to support decision-making
processes.

The successful candidate will have 10+ years in a senior‐level
finance or accounting position with deep experience in building a
high-performing finance team and function, including strategic
planning and execution, financial reporting, investment accounting,
grants accounting, procurement, and other financial operations;
will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills; will
have a demonstrated track record of success in a role of analogous
complexity in academia, government, or the private sector; and a
commitment to the Foundation’s mission. A bachelor’s degree in
accounting, finance, or related field and CPA or CMA certification
are required.

The Mellon Foundation has retained Korn Ferry, a national
executive recruiting firm, to assist with this search. All
nominations, inquiries, and application materials should be
submitted in confidence to Korn Ferry. Korn Ferry will begin
reviewing applications immediately and continue to accept
applications and nominations until the position is filled.

Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries for
the position to the search firm at the contact information
below:

Please submit materials at: [email protected]

Vickie Antolini, Senior Client Partner
Megan Maxwell, Senior Associate
Lindsay Conklin, Project Coordinator

Mellon Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and
is committed to providing competitive and equitable
compensation within the philanthropic sector. The estimated salary
range for this role is $300,000 – 375,000. The amount of pay
offered will be determined by a number of factors, including but
not limited to qualifications, unique skills, credentials or
experience that is expected to impact the candidate’s contribution
to the role. We will also consider market data as well as the
Foundation’s internal pay equity framework. Mellon is an equal
opportunity employer and offers a generous total reward package
that provides base salary as well as a comprehensive benefits
program, and an excellent working environment.