Director of Finance, READI National Center for Safe Communities

Director of Finance, READI National Center for Safe Communities

Summary :

HA is looking for a Director of Finance responsible for the oversight of the financial performance of one of their key programs, READI.

The Director of Finance will report to the HA CFO and lead an internal team of two Financial Analysts responsible for financial and accounting functions including : financial reporting, strategic business planning and financial analysis.

In addition to reporting to the CFO of HA, they will be a hands-on strategic partner to READI’s executive leadership and management.

In working with READI’s leadership, they will play a critical role in partnering on strategic direction to enhance quality programming and build internal and external capacity.

Please refer to detailed Responsibilities and Core Competencies below.)

Heartland Alliance ( HA ) advances human rights and champions human dignity by providing services and promoting solutions to achieve social, racial, and economic justice.

Society benefits when all people can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. HA is comprised of five operating entities that share a mission to address the root causes of poverty, generate social change, and inspire people to build better lives not only for themselves but for their communities.

The READI program includes READI Chicago ( READI Chicago ) and READI National Center for Safe Communities ( The Center ).

READI Chicago is an innovative response to gun violence in the City of Chicago that works towards safer communities by addressing trauma and increasing opportunity among men most likely to experience gun violence.

The Center partners with cities and organizations to strengthen the community violence intervention sector through systems change, program innovation, field support and knowledge sharing.

Key Areas of Expertise :

• Strong financial knowledge and advanced data analytic skills including robust excel knowledge
• Strategic business focus and an understanding of non-profit federal regulatory requirements and financial compliance
• Expertise in managing multiple grant funded contracts both private and public partnerships and engaging utilization mechanisms for financial management
• Ability to cultivate good working relationships with internal and external staff and partners
• Understanding of how to structure and manage a well-functioning team driving operational efficiency and results

Individual accountabilities and work volume will be established through the development of annual Success Objectives, within the framework outlined below.

Please refer to detailed Responsibilities and Core Competencies below.)

Responsibilities :

Financial Reporting and Compliance (50%) :

Prepare financial statements and schedules in support of the monthly close, annual audit and government & other regulatory agency audits;

effectively manage relations with auditors and regulatory agencies

• Prepare and review monthly financial reports for corporate and program management, including financial statements, forecasts, actual to budget analyses, accounts receivable, identifying financial / operating risks and other key financial insights
• Oversee cash management and the timely preparation of cash reconciliation and forecasts
• Develop procedures for new funding sources and changes in monitoring requirements
• Ensure allocation methodology meets federal regulatory requirements; costs are coded to the correct cost centers, and READI personnel are accurately recording time and effort
• Oversee invoice coding and adhering to allowable budget protocols
• Maintain knowledge of financial compliance requirements

Strategic Leadership :

• Provide program leadership with financial information and contract utilization analysis to ensure success of financial audits and compliance with local, state, and federal budgetary, contractual, and reporting requirements
• Effectively work with program leadership by providing timely financial information and analysis involving individual and group data presentations and clear communication
• Recommend modifications to existingprograms or projects based on sound financial analysis
• Attend and represent the program at internal and external meetings, as requested by program leadership
• Co-develop, analyze and evaluate program-related business plans; translate programmatic initiatives into a financial narrative
• Maintain a thorough understanding of contractual obligations and other pertinent matters

Budgeting :

• Collaborate with the READI leadership to prepare the annual budgets for all funding sources and potential funding sources
• Analyze operations, trends, costs, revenues, financial commitments, and obligations, to project future expenses and financial position
• Develop, maintain, and analyze budgets and forecasts
• Strengthen the capacity of program personnel to participate in budgeting and forecasting
• Recommend and establish budget strategies

Collaboration :

• Establish and collaborate with program leadership on financial management and budget development for individual program funding sources
• Serve as the liaison with donors and HA’s internal development division on private revenue tracking and reporting
• Manage a contract and financial reporting system to ensure that the contract billing and collection schedule are followed and that financial data and related cash flows are steady and support operational requirements
• Oversee management of sub-recipient budgets, quarterly advance payments, spending and trends
• Serve as financial liaison with sub-recipients including providing technical assistance on managing a budget and understanding and managing discretionary funds, etc.
• Prepare periodic communications to sub-recipients to ensure accurate and timely reporting while all expenses are approved and accounted
• Prepare timely and accurate responses to requests from funders and partners

Supervisory :

• Oversee the activities of an internal team to ensure the accurate and timely processing of all transaction cycles
• Plan, assign, and direct work; appraise performance; addressing complaints and resolving personnel concerns

Competencies :

• Working industry knowledge of non-profit programs
• Ability to adhere to HA’s environmental, health and safetypolicies
• Entrepreneurial confidence and willingness to lead and execute
• Proven competency to build relationships and form collaborations with a diverse staff population
• Demonstrated capability to navigate a large and complex organization
• Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as organizational skills
• Work independently with little supervision; possess a self-motivated disposition; identify opportunities for improvement and recommend effective changes, all while achieving key objectives resulting in desired outcomes
• Excellent strategic planning, critical thinking, analytical, and persuasion skills
• Ability to manage multiple detailed task and projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines with frequent interruptions
• Proven aptitude for work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues in a multitude of communication methods

Qualifications : To perform this role successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily.

The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and / or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education : Bachelor’s degree and seven years of accounting experience is required. Credit toward years of experience may be given if higher degree obtained.

Nonprofit accounting, cost accounting and experience with public and private revenue streams highly preferred.

• Experience : Experience developing, managing, scenario planning, forecasting and evaluating multi-million dollar budgets and revenue streams within a matrixed leadership structure
• Commitment to social justice and equity : Passionate about social justice, ending poverty, and advancing racial and gender equity
• Language Skills : Ability to read, analyze, summarize, and interpret research from a variety of disciplines.
• Time Management : Ability to prioritize tasks, manage time and complete projects in a fast-paced, changing environment with minimal supervision.
• Computer Skills : High Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word . Proficiency in Microsoft Access, Internet Explorer, Outlook / Exchange;

Windows operating systems; and other software routinely used by HA.Experience with Financial Edge is highly preferred.

Other Skills : Experience working with multiple stakeholder groups in communities, strong verbal and written communication skills, strong ability to translate standard financial reporting and concepts to non-financial based program staff, and ability to work collaboratively and shepherd projects in a fast-paced environment

Physical Demands : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to handle or feel or reach with hands and arms.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and / or move up to 10 pounds.

Work Environment : The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Heartland Alliance makes all hiring and employment decisions without regard to race, creed, color, age, gender, marital or parental status, religion, ancestry, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, immigrant status, political affiliation or belief, ex-offender status (depending on the offense and position to be filled), unfavorable military discharge, membership in an organization whose primary purpose is the protection of civil rights or improvement of living conditions and human relations, or HIV injection, in accord with the Organization's AIDS Policy Statement of September, 1987.