The Organization – Mellon Foundation
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.
Position Overview
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.
How to Apply
Please direct all applications, nominations, and inquiries for the position to the search firm at the contact information below:
Please submit materials at: MellonController@KornFerry.com
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.