Director of Finance

Overview

This role oversees the organization’s day-to-day financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting, financial reporting, cash flow, grant finance, compliance, audits, and financial systems. The position is hands-on, with responsibility for financial analysis, reconciliations, reporting, and process improvement to support accurate, timely, and reliable financial management.

The Director of Finance partners closely with the Executive Director, program leaders, and department teams to provide financial insights for operational decisions, resource allocation, risk management, and organizational sustainability. The role maintains effective financial controls, monitors funding and liquidity, and ensures compliance with donor requirements, applicable regulations, and organizational policies.

Supervision includes the Finance Officer (as applicable) and management of the Operations Manager, who coordinates organizational and program operations. The role collaborates across functions while maintaining clear accountability for financial oversight and approvals, distinct from operational, HR, IT, and Legal responsibilities.

Responsibilities

Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Analysis

• Lead the annual organizational budgeting process in collaboration with program and department leaders, aligning resources with available funding and organizational priorities.
• Prepare periodic forecasts, budget-to-actual analyses, financial projections, and scenario models to assess funding changes, staffing, operating costs, and organizational sustainability.
• Analyze revenue, expenditures, restricted and unrestricted funding, cost recovery, and financial trends; identify variances and recommend corrective actions.
• Maintain consolidated organizational and project budgets and provide timely financial reports, analysis, and recommendations to the Executive Director and leadership team.

Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Systems

• Manage day-to-day accounting, including general ledger oversight, journal entries, account reconciliations, accounts payable and accounts receivable, and month-end and year-end close.
• Prepare or coordinate accurate and timely financial statements, management reports, supporting schedules, and reconciliations.
• Maintain accounting structures, cost allocation methodologies, financial records, and reporting systems to ensure data integrity and reliable financial information.
• Improve accounting, budgeting, reporting, and financial workflows; develop practical tools and procedures that strengthen accuracy, efficiency, and internal controls.

Cash Flow, Treasury, and Financial Risk Management

• Prepare and maintain short- and long-term cash flow forecasts and monitor liquidity, cash balances, receivables, payables, and funding requirements.
• Develop financial scenarios to assess delayed donor payments, funding reductions, restructuring, and changes in operating costs; recommend appropriate cash conservation and expenditure controls.
• Monitor foreign currency balances, exchange rate impacts, and other financial exposures; maintain accurate bank reconciliations and supporting documentation.
• Identify and communicate financial risks, funding gaps, and liquidity concerns to the Executive Director and leadership team.

Grants, Contracts, Compliance, and Procurement

• Develop and monitor budgets for grants, contracts, subawards, and proposals in collaboration with program and business development teams.
• Monitor expenditures, funding restrictions, cost allocations, indirect cost recovery, grant balances, and award requirements to ensure appropriate financial management and timely reporting.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, U.S. government award requirements, Uniform Guidance, donor regulations, contractual obligations, and organizational policies.
• Maintain financial controls, procurement policies, approval thresholds, and documentation standards; review significant purchases, vendor agreements, consulting contracts, and subawards for budget impact, financial risk, and compliance.
• Coordinate with the Operations Manager and program teams on procurement and contract administration, maintaining clear accountability for financial review and approval; coordinate legal review with qualified counsel as needed.

Audits, Tax Filings, and External Reporting

• Coordinate annual financial statement audits, applicable federal single audits, donor audits, and other external financial reviews.
• Prepare or coordinate audit schedules, workpapers, reconciliations, grant documentation, and responses to auditor requests.
• Facilitate preparation and filing of IRS Form 990 and other applicable tax and regulatory reports, working with external advisors as appropriate.
• Track audit findings, coordinate corrective actions, maintain organized supporting documentation, and ensure required filings and reports are completed accurately and on time.

Organizational Coordination, Leadership, and Board Support

• Serve as the primary contact for day-to-day financial questions, providing practical guidance to program teams, budget holders, and department leaders on budgeting, expenditures, cost allocations, donor requirements, and financial procedures.
• Coordinate with HR on payroll budgeting, personnel cost allocations, and staffing forecasts; collaborate with Operations and other functional teams on organizational processes with financial implications.
• Provide the Executive Director and leadership team with financial reporting, forecasts, scenario analyses, and recommendations to support operational decisions and long-term financial sustainability.
• Prepare financial materials for the Board of Directors and Finance Committee, including financial statements, budget updates, liquidity reports, forecasts, and audit information.
• Track outstanding financial tasks, approvals, reporting requirements, and corrective actions, and coordinate follow-up on leadership and Board decisions.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in finance or accounting, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash flow management, and internal controls.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration or a related field, CPA, or equivalent professional credential preferred.

Additional qualification areas:

• Experience managing diverse revenue streams, particularly social impact investments, foundation funding, and fee-for-service or other earned income.
• Demonstrated experience managing nonprofit finances, including restricted funding, grant accounting, cost allocations, indirect cost recovery, and donor financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting, grant compliance, and U.S. government and institutional donor requirements.
• Experience coordinating annual financial statement audits, IRS Form 990 filings, and other applicable regulatory reporting.
• Ability to develop financial models, analyze complex financial information, identify risks, communicate actionable recommendations, and administer accounting systems and reporting tools.
• Experience supervising finance personnel and working effectively with senior leadership, program teams, and cross-functional colleagues.
• Proficiency in QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, and other financial reporting, data analysis, or business intelligence tools.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex financial information to non-financial audiences.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Demonstrated integrity, discretion, confidentiality, sound judgment, and strong relationship-building skills.

Compensation & Benefits

• Status: Exempt
• Career level: Level 5, M2/P4

Location & Work Environment

• Fully remote in United States
• Expected office hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

Physical demands and work environment notes:

• Specific vision abilities required: normal color perception and close vision for use of computer terminal and reading printed and electronic materials.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• Regular exposure to the risk of radiation from regular exposure to computer VDTs.

Other

This job description is not intended to describe, in detail, every task that may be assigned; duties may change as business needs change.