Director of Finance & Operations

THE ROLE

This position oversees all financial aspects of the organization, drives the financial strategy and planning, and is responsible for assessing the financial performance of the organization in collaboration with Executive Directors. The Finance and Operations Director has a broad knowledge of non-profit accounting, financial, and business principles. They will be responsible for day-to-day functions, and also for setting strategies thatguide the organization towards profitability and long-term success. The Director will be able to position WAISN to respond to opportunities and to mitigate risks. This is an opportunity to contribute to the strategic, multi-year growth of a mission-driven organization that will be implementing a 5-year strategic plan that includes growing a portfolio to subgrant to organizations and reaching a team of 32 people in 2025.

The key responsibilities will include accounting, grant management, budgeting, reporting, and cash management. They will steer our efforts to strengthen policies, processes, and systems that enhance organizational impact.

The person in this position also leads the People-Operations Department, directly supervising the Operations Manager who supervises the Operations Coordinator and the Culture & Wellness Coordinator. This team manages all organizational infrastructure, including employee policies, benefits, employee lifecycle, technology, and logistics for all events.

The Director will be part of the senior leadership team of WAISN and therefore in charge of modeling and creating an organizational culture that leans into conflict as an opportunity to transform relationships and grow close. The Director, understands their positionality in an organization led by directly-impacted immigrants that is predominately queer, transgender and gender non-conforming. This position reports to the Executive Directors.

WAISN employees are currently located across the state of Washington and do not share a centralized office. Staff members are required to live in Washington state. Staff members are not required to work in person when handling day-to-day role responsibilities but will be expected to gather for events such as staff retreats and other all-staff meetings throughout the year. It is expected that the Director of Finance and Operations has a secure, and distraction-free workspace where they can hold confidential conversations and safely store WAISN documents.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Leadership and Management 60%

• Coordinate with an outsourced accounting firm to handle all aspects of accounting.
• Ensure timely collection of income and payment of expenses.
• Serve as advisor and thought partner to Executive Directors on financial and compliance matters.
• Financial forecasting and analysis – evaluate impact of new opportunities for WAISN (e.g., earned revenue, program expansion, strategic partnerships) ensuring that investments align with financial strategy and business plans. Identity risk, opportunities, and trends.
• Develop a cash management plan and investment strategies.
• Maintain and communicate financial policies and processes; ensure all staff are equipped to follow processes.
• Manage annual budget process and mid‐year forecasting.
• Manage year-end closing process and audit preparation.
• Coordinate with an independent CPA firm on annual audit and preparation of Form 990.
• Distribute monthly financial statements and analysis to the Executive Directors and Board.

Operational Leadership and Management 20%

• Collaborate with Executive Directors, other staff, and consultants to define needs and build systems to meet finance, operational, and technology needs.
• Build a strategic roadmap for infrastructure, systems, and tools that streamline operations and allow the organization to function efficiently.
• Oversight and collaboration with Operations Manager on projects as needed (insurance, benefits, technology, payroll, contract and vendor management)
• Collaborate with and provide leadership to the Operations Manager and Culture & Wellness Coordinator to support the organizational employee lifecycle, including job postings and recruitment strategy; onboarding; performance management.
• Collaborate with Operations Coordinator (supervised by Operations Manager) on vendor contracts and large events logistics (staff retreat, advocacy day, Pride parade)
• Model organizational expectations for all managers (i.e. protocols for team meetings, journaling, reflection.)

Grants Management 20%

• In collaboration with the Development team and the Executive Directors, support grant management: building grant‐specific budgets and reports, creating invoices to funders, and handling post‐award financial procedures to ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
• Establish and maintain effective systems for tracking the use of restricted funds and expenses associated with specific programs and projects; maintain detailed records of restricted gifts and grants received, uses of restricted funds, and remaining balances of all restricted funds.
• Maintain knowledge of funder requirements to ensure that expenditures are aligned with grant, project, and program budgets.
• Implement procedures to communicate, educate and ensure compliance with grant regulations throughout the organization.
• Develop systems to successfully subgrant to organizations and provide timely payments.

EXPERIENCE

Lived experience brings unique knowledge, insights and perspectives that are invaluable for organizational growth and sensitivity. WAISN honors the value that lived experience can offer in a workplace. Candidates with some or all of the following experience are encouraged to apply:

• Minimum of five (5) years of accounting and budget management leadership experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of leadership or supervisory experience
• Minimum of three (3) years of senior/director-level staff experience.
• Experience working with government grants subject to periodic audits
• Minimum of six (6) years of work experience in non-profit organizations.