Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Chiefs for Change is seeking a Director of Finance to lead the organization's finance function, ensuring its financial health and strategic direction. This role involves overseeing financial planning, compliance, and reporting while collaborating with senior leadership to align financial strategy with the organization's mission-driven objectives.
Responsibilities
- Set and steward the organization’s multi-year financial strategy, building and maintaining models that connect long-range goals to annual operating plans
- Develop scenario and sensitivity analyses to inform leadership decisions on growth, investment, staffing, and program expansion
- Position the finance function to scale—anticipating the systems, staffing, and controls needed as the organization grows in size and complexity
- Support the Chief Strategy and Network Officer and the leadership team in developing and executing multi-year financial strategies and sustainability plans
- In collaboration with the leadership team and the development team, lead the annual budget development process, aligning financial planning with organizational priorities
- Own the annual budget end-to-end—reviewing the build, refining assumptions, and presenting the budget to the Board for approval on the organization’s annual cycle
- Monitor and report financial performance, ensuring adherence to budget and identifying areas for optimization
- Develop and maintain financial forecasting models to support strategic decision-making
- Oversee all aspects of financial operations, including accounting, accounts payable, and accounts receivable
- Ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, grant requirements, and internal policies
- Prepare accurate and timely financial reports for internal and external stakeholders, including the Board of Directors
- Serve as the primary financial liaison to the Board and its finance/audit committee, translating financial performance into clear, decision-ready insight
- Manage the relationship with the organization’s retained accounting partner, setting clear scope, service levels, and deliverables and holding the partner accountable for quality and timeliness
- Preserve the segregation-of-duties strength of an independent external accounting function while maintaining clear in-house ownership of financial decisions and oversight
- Coordinate the division of responsibilities between in-house staff and outsourced providers, adjusting the model as organizational needs evolve
- Oversee external auditors, banking partners, and other financial vendors to ensure cost-effective, high-quality service
- Establish written protocols and enforce internal controls to safeguard organizational assets
- Maintain compliance with grant funding and philanthropic restrictions, providing required reporting and documentation
- Conduct periodic financial audits and implement findings to improve financial management practices
- Partner with the leadership team to align development strategies with organizational goals
- Supervise finance team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performing team culture
- Partner with the Development team to ensure effective grant management and alignment with organizational goals
- Provide financial guidance to leadership and staff to enhance organizational decision-making
- Lead initiatives to optimize financial systems and processes, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness
- Actively contribute to cross-departmental projects, leveraging financial expertise
Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field
- 8 to 10+ years of progressive experience in financial management in a nonprofit setting, with at least 5 years in a financial leadership role
- Experience owning an organizational budget through a Board approval cycle and presenting financial information to a Board or governing body
- Experience managing outsourced accounting providers, auditors, and other financial vendors
- Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit financial management, including grant compliance and fund accounting
- Proficiency in financial management software (e.g., QuickBooks, NetSuite, etc.) and tools
- Strong ability to manage projects, resolve conflicts, and build collaborative working environments
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts to a non-financial audience
- Ability to translate long-term goals into actionable plans to ensure successful completion of financial goals
- Demonstrated ability to adapt strategies quickly to meet the evolving needs of the organization, particularly in response to organizational shifts or economic challenges
- Strong decision-making skills, with a proven ability to anticipate challenges and develop agile solutions that align with organizational goals
- Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Nonprofit Management, or a related field
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification
- Experience building multi-year financial models and supporting organizational growth or scaling
Company Overview