Director of Finance (Job ID: 2024-3355)

Overview

Join one of the most influential, most quoted and most trusted think tanks!

The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Our mission is to conduct in-depth research that leads to new ideas for solving problems facing society at the local, national and global level.

We bring together leading experts in government and academia from all over the world, rooted in open-minded inquiry and representing diverse points of view, who provide the highest quality research, policy recommendations, and analysis.

Research topics cover a full range of public policy issues in economics, foreign policy, development, governance and metropolitan policy.

With fair and transparent business practices, clear communication, mutual respect, and a collaborative atmosphere that offers both professional and personal development opportunities, Brookings offers an inclusive and welcoming workplace that values the efforts of all contributors.

The Brookings Metro program delivers research and solutions to help metropolitan leaders build an advanced economy that works for all.

To learn more, please visit brookings.edu / metro. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com / brookingsmetro.

Position Location : This position is hybrid. Hybrid positions combine regular in-person presence at our Washington, DC office with the option of at least two days of remote work each week.

Vaccine Policy : Brookings requires all staff to submit proof of complete vaccination against COVID-19 to be in Brookings buildings.

Individuals that (i) have a qualifying medical condition that contraindicates a COVID-19 vaccination, or (ii) who object to being vaccinated based on a sincerely held religious belief, may request a reasonable accommodation.

Brookings policies on masks and other pandemic mitigation measures will continue to be informed by DC and CDC guidelines.

Responsibilities

Ready to contribute to Brookings success?

The Director of Finance in Brookings Metro (Metro) serves as Senior Financial Officer (SFO) providing financial management and analysis and reports to the Vice President and Director of Brookings Metro (VP).

The Director of Finance is responsible for working with program leadership, scholars, and development to inform and support the strategic direction of the program.

The director is lead for the finance in the program, ensuring accurate and timely budgeting, compliance with Brookings policies, and the generation of financial analyses that drive good strategy development and operational decision making;

oversight of program financial systems; and financial project management for the program budget; serve as honest broker between the program and central finance.

The Director of Finance serves as the lead member of a flexible finance team; supports all financial and budget matters for the program;

and serves as backup for other team members as needed.

Financial Administration (45%)

Consults with Metro’s VP on the maintenance of day-to-day financial management of Metro, using judgment to provide and reconcile both Metro and Institutional perspectives;

provides regular status updates and reports any financial or process anomalies to the VP.

• Advises Metro management on program financial matters and strategic use of program restricted and unrestricted funds.
• Oversees and manages budgets of projects, portfolios, initiatives, and centers within the program.
• Approves and monitors program expenditures against budget, including labor cost allocations. Oversees monthly and annual financial closeout processes in collaboration with Central Accounting.
• Oversees the development of medium and long-term funding plans, working closely with the program’s VP, Senior Director of Development, and relevant program personnel.

Provides budget insights for all program development plans.

• Advises program management and portfolio leads on program financial matters and use of program funds and ensures compliance with Brookings policies including procurement, and expense / revenue recognition.
• Directs the preparation of the program’s annual and quarterly budget submissions for consolidation into the institutional budget for submission to Office of Planning and Analysis.
• Manages the Financial Manager and other finance staff as assigned, as they provide functions relating to grants management, invoicing, labor cost allocations and timesheets , contracting, and general administrative support.
• Ensures direct report(s) are working productively and are receiving regular, constructive feedback on performance. Provides vision for how the department contributes to the goals of the program and develops / deploys to goals that will achieve that vision.

Grants and Funding Management (30%)

• Reviews operational demands of funds, report results to program management, suggests strategic and updated approaches to funds management.
• Serves as a financial liaison within the program and bridge between the program, other programs, and central Brookings personnel / processes, ensuring efficient generation of finance materials and compliance with policies.
• Monitors rates of specific grant spending on monthly basis, including labor cost allocation and non-labor expenses; provides regular financial reports to project directors, program management, and other Brookings departments as required.

Works with program portfolios to help them manage spending and consolidates cross-portfolio information into financial risk reports for program executive team.

• Oversees the processing of new revenue through required approval processes. Collaborates with relevant program, accounting, and grants administration staff to ensure high quality grant and award management process;
• ensures program accounting allows for effective funder financial report requests, approvals; distributes financial reports from accounting to funders;

prepares budget information for invoices, coordinates invoice information with accounting as needed. Oversees Accounts Receivables for the program, revenue recognition, and compliance with grant terms and ensures the work of grants administration aligns with program allocation of revenue and grants milestones progress.

Supports program development staff on reporting deadlines and any other needed post-award communication; determines reprogramming requirements and extension requests;

works closely with relevant program and Institutional staff on reporting and audit issues.

• Determines the need for and manages grant modifications; manages grants through use of journal entries for moving funding / overspending and unfunded dollars, ensuring expense compliance with grant requirements and expected financial performance.
• Creates and submits requested financial reports, annual budgets, fundraising reports, and any other reports specifically required or requested by project funders.
• Maintains hard copy and electronic files; resolves payment and accounting issues that may arise.

Proposals and Development Support (15%)

• Prepares, or oversees the preparation of, budgets, the review of proposals, and ensures alignment between proposal scope, budget, and the proposal’s stakeholders.
• In collaboration with program development staff and project scholars, creates and / or modifies budgets per funder requests;

maintains involvement in proposal process from idea to inception; coordinates proposal subcomponents with other institutions as needed.

• Provides development staff and program portfolios with cross-proposal and cross-portfolio financial opportunities and risks, derived from insights developed through a deep understanding of programmatic work and funder interest.
• Serves as a backup to the development staff to ensure proposal and / or funding agreement language does not violate Brookings’s policies and practices, especially as related to independence, conflicts of interest, and non-lobbying.

Purchasing and Contract Management (10%)

• Manages and reviews expenditure documentation on wide range of financial transactions (including invoices, travel expense reports, petty cash requests, cash advance requests, check requests, library purchases, procurement items, etc.).
• Oversees P-card(s) management; approves and codes transactions as necessary; reviews and approves reports.
• Tracks and ensures correct financial coding on all transactions handled for program including labor cost allocations.
• Prepares, writes, and approves research and service contracts; reviews and provides input into MOU agreements; schedules and manages timely contract payments.
• Guides contracts through SharePoint approval process; monitors and tracks approvals; provides staff reminders and field inquiries.
• Manages routine contract financial issues prior to Metro’s approval in SharePoint; addresses any issues raised to ensure that execution-ready contracts are submitted for review.
• Maintains hard copy and electronic files; resolves payment and accounting issues that may arise.

Qualifications

Ready to make an impact? In this role, you will support Brookings values of collegiality, respect, inclusion, diversity and community, and bring the following qualifications :

Education / Experience Requirements :

Bachelor’s degree required. Experience with spreadsheet, accounting, and budgeting software required. Experience working in a non-profit financial setting, with understanding of culturally diverse business environments, required.

Minimum 8 years of experience in administrative capacity, including a minimum of five years finance and / or budget experience.

• Supervisory experience preferred. Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) and professional level of discretion required;
• with excellent teamwork abilities. Must possess flexibility to assist and work with team members in fast-paced environment;

excellent organizational skills are a must. Strong proficiency in Excel required. Ability to learn and adapt to new business practices and software applications required.

Must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.

Knowledge / Skill Requirements :

Familiarity with Workday and Concur systems preferred. Experience working in a nonprofit, or academic environment preferred.

Prefer experience with major accounting and financial software system transitions.