Finance Director

Do you have a heart for details and a passion for using numbers to tell stories? Are you interested  in the work of building bridges of hope for justice-involved women? Do you believe in the power of  relationship and community? Are you committed and tenacious, able to flourish within complex systems while valuing people over process? If so, Arise Collective is looking for you! 

Arise Collective is a unique organization operating at the nexus of prison chaplaincy, women’s  issues, and social justice with a mission to equip women with the tools and support they need to  heal, grow and thrive, both in prison and in the communities to which they return. The  organization celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2020 and expanded programming with a new  reentry model that provides comprehensive, holistic wraparound services for formerly  incarcerated women, including housing and access to education and employment opportunities.  Arise Collective’s work is offered using a trauma-informed, evidence-based, holistic lens. Visit  arise-collective.org to learn more.

JOB SUMMARY 

The Finance Director is a critical senior leadership role within the organization. The incumbent will lead a team that includes an external accounting firm to oversee all financial, accounting and investment activities, maintaining excellent financial transparency. They will manage the financial operations of  the organization, ensure regulatory and financial compliance, and maintain internal accounting standards. This position will work cross-departmentally on best practices financial standards and oversee all financial documentation, accounting, reporting, payroll processing, and budgets, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to both internal and external requirements. The Finance Director will be a member of the organization's leadership team and a strategic partner to the CEO, contributing thought leadership to ensure the organization’s long-term financial stability and sustainability.

PRIMARY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Financial Management (25%) 

• Conduct and oversee the day-to-day transactions required to provide a robust financial operations function, including maintaining systems for account balances, operating transactions and supporting records.
• Oversee the bookkeeping function including maintenance of the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable and grant drawdowns.
• Set up and maintain internal systems and structures that support timely and accurate  cash receipt, A/P and A/R processes and procedures.
• Work collaboratively with directors and staff on daily finance and accounting activities; ensure appropriate coding and timely submissions.
• Carry out invoice reviews, project coding, and bill pay.
• Support accounting firm and staff with financial reconciliations.
• Liaise with development staff and Bookkeeper to ensure timely and accurate revenue  and expense submissions to support month-end closing processes
• Ensure that all month-end accounting entries and transactions are completed and reviewed in a timely manner.

Financial Planning and Compliance (25%) 

• Develop and monitor the implementation of long-range financial plans in conjunction with the CEO and the Board, including establishing key financial benchmarks, plans, and targets for organizational growth in areas of donated and earned income.
• Develop, implement, and enforce financial and internal accounting policies and procedures for grants, legal standards, internal controls, and regulatory guidelines.
• Maintain financial records and prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports and financial analyses for the leadership team, finance committee, and Board.
• Assist with financial reporting at Board and other meetings, including presenting key financial artifacts that require Board approval, including the annual budget, audited financial statements, and Form 990.
• Work with the grants team to generate, analyze, and maintain timely financial reports and documentation systems for grants and contracts.
• Serve as organizational lead for annual tax preparation, external audit, and government grant single audit requirements, providing necessary documentation and supporting schedules.
• Recommend and perform analyses to support decision-making and optimize business  operations.
• Ensure a robust program of dual controls are in place and executed; establish and regularly test an organizational resiliency plan for key functions to minimize failure risk or loss of critical operational knowledge due to unplanned business interruptions.

Budget Preparation and Financial Oversight (20%)

• Establish and monitor financial benchmarks as input into the overall budget process.
• Establish and communicate guidelines for the annual budget preparation process.
• Play a robust challenge role to ensure the budget is sufficiently challenging but achievable.
• Compile the aggregate budget in consultation with the CEO, leadership team, and Treasurer.
• Monitor budgets and forecasts and provide variance reports as requested by the CEO.

Contract and Grant Support (10%)

• Conduct contract or grant budget review, approval and monitoring, budget development and monitoring, disbursement control, disbursement tracking, collaboration with applicable staff, and required financial and government reporting.
• Work with Grants Manager to create and maintain grant reporting and invoicing schedules to ensure compliance with grant  requirements and maximize cash flow.
• Work closely with program, grants, and development staff, and the accounting team, to resolve post-award issues.
• Monitor and track grant expenditures, and complete financial reports in accordance with grant requirements. 
• Prepare and submit budget-related proposal packages in funder systems, as needed.
• Assist staff with the preparation of budgets for funding applications.

Payroll, Benefits, and Insurance (5%)

• Work closely with Operations Director to ensure financial compliance with payroll to ensure that employees are paid in a timely and accurate manner, and with employee health insurance, employee retirement plans, liability insurance, property insurance and directors and officers insurance.
• Regularly review the benefits program and insurance needs.
• Coordinate preparation of the retirement plan Form 5500, W2s, and 1099s;
• Comply with federal, state, and local legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation, anticipating future legislation, enforcing adherence to requirements, filing reports, and advising leadership and management on needed actions.

Organizational Responsibilities (15%)

• Attend biweekly staff meetings and weekly 1:1s with supervisor.
• Attend relevant board meetings, retreats, and committee meetings.
• Other responsibilities as designated. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES 

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in bookkeeping, financial  management, and budgeting.
• Demonstrated proficiency with leading grant management processes and reporting;  government grant experience a plus.
• Thorough understanding of how to interpret regulations and guidelines from a wide variety  of funding agencies and use the funding mechanisms required by those agencies.
• Strong working knowledge of general accounting principles. 
• Extensive experience with calculating payroll and forecasting.
• Detailed-oriented with a commitment to accuracy and compliance. 
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines. 
• Demonstrated proficiency in use of technology including standard operating systems and Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel and QuickBooks, and other databases. 

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS 

• Inclusive and empathetic worldview with demonstrated skill working across lines of  difference.
• Financial and leadership experience within a nonprofit setting.
• Ability to communicate clearly in both oral and written forms. 
• Ability to work both independently and on a team within a sometimes high- stress  environment while maintaining policies, professional standards, and a peaceful,  compassionate attitude. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

This position requires: ordinary ambulatory skills as well as the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel,  crouch, and occasionally manipulate (lift, carry, move) light-moderate weight; hand-eye-foot  coordination; arm, hand and finger dexterity, visual acuity; and the use of auditory senses. 

WORK REQUIREMENTS 

The position’s primary purpose is to provide financial infrastructure,  management, and oversight in service to our mission to enhance program participants’ abilities to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals. It is primarily an office position adhering to standard business hours, with occasional work on evenings and weekends as financial and grant deadlines require. Staff work within a hybrid model, including work “in the field,” in the West Raleigh office,  and remote, virtual work (certain staff meetings, e.g.). Health and wellness of staff and participants is a priority. 

PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS 

Must develop and maintain excellent relationships with Arise Collective staff and board, accounting  team, funders, program participants, academic and other institutional partners, and others.  This position directly supervises a multi-service external accounting firm that currently includes a Bookkeeper, Controller, and Contract CFO. They will also work closely with our CEO, Operations Director, Grants Manager, Leadership Team, and Administrative team.