Join Our Team

At the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, we believe play is powerful. It builds brains, strengthens families, and connects communities. We are a nationally recognized children’s museum deeply committed to creating high quality hands-on experiences that inspire a lifelong love of learning for every child. Our team creates spaces where families explore together and children chart the course of their own learning. If you want your work to matter in real and lasting ways, you might belong here.

Controller

Full-Time | Exempt
Salary: $58,000–$80,000
In-person | Topeka, KS

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center seeks a Controller to oversee the organization’s core accounting functions and ensure financial accuracy, consistency, and compliance for a mid-sized, public-facing nonprofit.

This role is responsible for the full accounting cycle, including month-end close, financial reporting, grant and restricted fund tracking, and payroll oversight. The Controller serves as the internal financial steward of the organization, maintaining strong systems, clear documentation, and reliable reporting for leadership and the Board of Directors.

This position is ideal for an experienced accounting professional who values structure, precision, and steady operational rhythms. The role offers an organized, predictable workflow while still being part of a team whose work makes a meaningful difference, all in a fun environment with an adjustable daily schedule.

Core Responsibilities

Accounting & Financial Management

• Own the monthly close process, including bank and credit card reconciliations
• Review and approve transactions entered by staff for accuracy and proper coding
• Prepare and post journal entries, including accruals, depreciation, allocations, and restricted funds
• Maintain the general ledger and chart of accounts in QuickBooks Online
• Reconcile point-of-sale activity to bank deposits and revenue records
• Ensure internal controls and consistent accounting practices are followed

Financial Reporting & Oversight

• Prepare monthly financial statements for leadership and the Board of Directors
• Produce budget-to-actual reports with clear variance explanations
• Maintain standardized reporting formats, schedules, and documentation
• Respond to routine financial questions from leadership and internal stakeholders
• Support audit preparation and serve as the primary accounting liaison

Grants & Restricted Funds

• Track restricted grants and contributions
• Monitor spending against grant budgets and timelines
• Prepare financial reports for funders (financial data only)
• Ensure proper revenue recognition and documentation in compliance with grant requirements

Payroll & Compliance

• Process payroll using an automated payroll system
• Review payroll for accuracy, compliance, and completeness
• Maintain payroll records and required documentation
• Prepare payroll-related journal entries and reconciliations

Operational & Systems Support

• Oversee vendor contracts, insurance, utilities, and service agreements
• Support capital project accounting and fixed asset tracking
• Monitor operational expenses for alignment with the approved budget
• Provide guidance to staff on financial processes and coding standards
• Identify and implement improvements to workflows, controls, and systems

Schedule & Work Environment

• Monday–Friday, flexible hours
• Full-time exempt, In-person role based in Topeka, KS

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 4–7 years of accounting experience with ownership of month-end close
• Strong working knowledge of accrual accounting
• Experience preparing financial statements for leadership or boards
• High attention to detail, organization, and follow-through

Preferred

• CPA
• Nonprofit accounting experience
• QuickBooks Online proficiency
• Experience with grants or restricted funds
• Experience with automated payroll systems
• Audit preparation experience

Benefits and Salary

• Generous paid leave policy, including holidays.
• Company- paid short-term and long-term disability.
• Group medical insurance with 50% of the employee’s premium paid.
• Simple IRA Retirement Savings Plan with 3% matching.
• Salary range: $58,000–$80,000, commensurate with experience

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume and brief cover letter describing relevant experience to [email protected] with the subject line Controller Application – [Last Name]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

We appreciate every application, however, due to the number of submissions, we are unable to respond individually. Candidates selected to move forward in the process will be contacted.

The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences.

Considering relocation? Visit https://choosetopeka.com/ for tons of reasons to make Topeka home.