Chief Financial Officer
Position Summary
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Chief Financial Officer will oversee and direct all Foundation Finance activities and lead the organization’s financial planning, regulatory compliance, contract management, and sustainability efforts. This includes overseeing all financial and accounting functions, as well as coordination of annual audit reports. The organization seeks a creative visionary who strives for continual growth, constantly looking to improve processes and overall productivity.
The LFA CFO is a hybrid position who is expected to maintain a presence in the Washington DC office of the Foundation, but with the flexibility to work from home two days a week.
Position Duties and Responsibilities
Financial and Operational Management
- Oversee and direct all finance functions and projects to support the financial management and integrity of the Lupus Foundation of America.
- Build business models and forecasting tools that allow for robust scenario planning and real-time decision-making.
- Communicate effectively with the Foundation’s Board of Directors, ensuring all Board members clearly understand the organization’s financial health and sustainability.
- Build the capacity of the Foundation Board and appropriate Board committees to provide effective oversight and guidance to Foundation staff on financial analysis, decision-making, and reporting.
- Work closely with relevant Board committees to develop, implement, and monitor an effective investment strategy for budget reserves.
- Provide staff support to the Finance and Audit Committees of the Board.
- Communicate effectively the organization’s financial strategy to partner, funders, auditors, and internal staff.
- Collaborate closely with the development team to support revenue operations and provide appropriate financial documentation and reporting for estate planned gifts, ensuring accurate and timely information is available to donors and their advisors.
- Develop, foster and maintain collaborative approach in relationships with both internal and external constituencies.
- Develop and implement systems and processes for aligning changes in grant funding with changes in the organization’s consolidated budget.
- Manage spending against federal, local, and donor-restricted contributions and grants.
- Ensure compliance with financial and contract reporting requirements for private or public funding, licensing, or regulatory agencies.
- Develop and implement activities-based costing processes to inform budget decision-making.
- Working with the Controller, manage and oversee all financial and business planning activities of Lupus Foundation of American (LFA) and Lupus America Communities (LAC)., including:
- Direct and administer all financial plans.
- Establish and maintain appropriate financial policies and internal accounting controls and oversee accounting systems, payroll and related procedures.
- Review and analyze financial reports.
- Lead and support organizational budgeting, projections and forecasting process.
- Direct the preparation for independent audits and required tax filings.
- Manage accounting of intercompany activity and related cash settlements with LAC.
- Oversee budget planning and manage cash flow.
- Responsible for managing, reviewing, and providing oversight on contracts to ensure compliance and alignment with organizational goals.
- Establish and maintain fiscal relationships including banking, investments, IRS, relevant State agencies, and independent auditors.
- Oversee the maintenance and renewal of all state business licenses and ensure the organization’s tax-exempt status is upheld in compliance with federal and state regulations.
- Be a hands-on leader in implementing and maintaining the IT solutions to support financial management.
Strategic Leadership
- Partner with the President and CEO on all operational and strategic issues as they arise; provide strategic recommendations based on financial analysis and projections, cost identification and allocation, and revenue/expense analysis.
- Participate in the ongoing strategic planning process as an integral member of the senior management team.
- Support senior leadership, Board, program and development teams through financial modeling and data-driven analysis.
- Engage the senior leadership team to align financial management with short- and long-term financial planning and projections.
- Oversee long-term budgetary planning and cost management in alignment with the Foundation’s strategic plan.
- Provide executive management with advice on the financial implications of business activities.
- Ensure credibility of the finance group by providing timely and accurate analysis of budgets, financial trends, and forecasts.
- Other duties as assigned.
Talent Management & Operational Support
- Develop and manage finance and HR staff and ensure support for operational functions.
- Engage other members of the senior management team to facilitate cross-department collaboration that ensures all financial, IT, and HR solutions positively support the Foundation’s evolving strategy, operational delivery, and data collection needs.
- Oversee all benefits negotiations, providing competitive packages for the Foundation’s employees.
- Review all formal finance, HR (including payroll), and IT-related procedures, processes, and administration, recommending system implementation, improvement and planning.
- Oversee the Foundation’s physical infrastructure, physical facility, and system maintenance (phone system, security, supplies, etc.).
Candidate Qualifications
- Strong financial fluency and demonstrated ability to conduct financial analysis and support strategic decision-making.
- Must be a team player and is mindful of the need to work effectively with all levels of the organization in a collaborative style and with a service-oriented approach.
- Ability to communicate successfully across teams in a national, virtual organization.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a hybrid team environment.
- Ability to acquire understanding and absorb new information rapidly.
- Outstanding organizational and project management skills with high attention to detail.
- Entrepreneurialism and resourcefulness, with the ability to deliver results in a growing, deadline-driven, fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills, as well as excellent follow-through skills.
- Analytical and capable of bringing creative approaches to his/her role and responsibilities.
- Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting a strategic vision into an operational model.
- A hands-on manager with integrity and a desire to work in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
- Deadline-driven, with a proven track record of meeting financial reporting and compliance deadlines.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. Experience with donor databases and nonprofit financial systems, such as Blackbaud, MIP or Sage, a plus.
- Minimum of eight years of progressive leadership experience.
- CPA and/or advanced degree preferred.
- Demonstrated success leading teams, serving as a coach and mentor to staff in a range of functional areas.
- Experience with or exposure to the nonprofit sector in a similarly significant and complex organization is preferred.
- An understanding of organizational development, human resources, and program operations.
- A “hands-on” knowledge of how to effectively work with and manage diversity in the workplace.
- Demonstrated commitment to the social sector with a passion for the organization’s mission.
POLICY ON PLACEMENT AND RECRUITMENT
The Batten Group and Lupus Foundation of America are equal-opportunity employers committed to the principles of non-discrimination in the workplace. Candidates will not be discriminated against based on the age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other basis that is prohibited by federal, state, or local law.
