Finance Director

Title: Finance Director

Reporting to: Vice President of Development and Finance

Supporting: ELM and the ELM Action Fund

Salary Range: $100,000-120,000

The Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) and the ELM Action Fund (ELM AF) are committed to advocating for policy and building political power in Massachusetts to meet the scale and urgency of our environmental challenges. The Finance Director will be an integral member of a collegial and effective 20-person advocacy team. Read our purpose, mission, vision, and values for ELM and the ELM Action Fund.

The Finance Director position is a significant opportunity for an experienced non-profit professional to lead all aspects of budgeting, accounting, audit and financial systems and processes for a vibrant environmental organization with a focus on climate solutions. We seek a strategic and visionary partner to help our growing organization maintain our financial health.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Financial Leadership and Oversight

• Lead the annual process to create budgets for ELM (a 501(c)3) and the ELM Action Fund (a 501(c)4).
• Conduct an analysis of Finance systems and processes and present recommendations to the Leadership Team for improvements
• Drive the creation of expense and revenue budgets for organizational priorities to inform communications to potential funders and assess progress toward goals
• Produce quarterly reports analyzing the financial health of the organization and projecting possible budget scenarios to inform hiring, expense management and fundraising
• Serve as staff liaison to the Board Finance and Audit Committees, including all preparation and management of monthly Finance Committee meetings and quarterly Board meetings
• Collaborate with the Board Investment Committee to advise on management of the Board Designated Fund
• Provide information and strategic guidance to the Leadership Team to inform organizational strategy
• Collaborate with other team leads to ensure alignment and transparency across all functions

Financial Operations

• Oversee day-to-day accounting operations (performed primarily by the Finance Manager), including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and budgeting
• Ensure efficient functioning and documentation for all financial systems including receipts, disbursements, billing, bookkeeping, budgeting, and accounting
• Maintain and update financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance and operational excellence
• Lead a monthly process to update revenue and expense budgets
• Track and report revenue and expenses for organizational priorities
• Manage restriction release for restricted grants and contributions
• Oversee contract billing and collection
• Lead monthly and annual close
• Leverage technology and automation to streamline processes and reporting, as appropriate

Compliance

• Lead and manage the annual audit process
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of all lobbying activities
• Partner with the Operations Team to maintain all required employee files in an organized and secure manner
• Ensure compliance with insurance, 403b, and IRS policies and adherence to GAAP
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting on grants

Staff Management

• Supervise and mentor the Finance Manager, fostering professional growth and development

Operations

• Advise and collaborate with the Operations Director on HR policies and procedures, benefits, contracts with external vendors, and employee onboarding
• Other responsibilities, as needed

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA or MBA preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in financial management, preferably within the nonprofit sector
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles, including GAAP and fund accounting
• Experience with budgeting, audit, payroll, accounting, contract management and compliance
• Proficiency with financial and payroll software, including QuickBooks, iSolved, and Bill, and advanced Excel skills
• Strong organizational and analytical skills, attention to detail and ability to balance competing priorities to meet critical deadlines
• Ability to communicate, both orally and in writing, financial concepts in a clear and compelling manner
• Experience interacting with Board members preferred
• Experience with a 501(c)4, Political Action Committee, and Independent Expenditure Political Action Committee preferred
• Experience managing and mentoring staff preferred
• Commitment to ELM’s mission and values

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary range of $100,000-120,000, depending on experience. ELM provides 6 weeks paid time off per year in addition to holidays and the days between Christmas and New Years, health and dental insurance, Health Savings Account, and a 403(b) retirement plan with organizational match.

This full-time role requires occasional morning and evening commitments outside of the standard 9-5 office hours. This position is based in Boston, MA. ELM supports a hybrid work environment.

To Apply:

Please fill out our optional demographic survey, then submit your resume and responses to the two following questions. Your response to each question should be no more than 250 words. In lieu of answering these questions, you can submit a cover letter with your resume.

• Why do you want to work with ELM? This can include (but not limited to) what inspires you about our values, how you connect to our mission, what projects excite you, or what you like about our approach to environmental policy and advocacy.
• Based on your work and personal experiences, what makes you a good fit for this position? This can include (but not limited to) what past experiences (professional or otherwise) relate to this job’s responsibilities, what skills you are excited to share, or other reasons you are a great candidate for this role.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Research suggests that qualified women, Black, Indigenous, and Persons of Color (BIPOC) candidates may self-select out of opportunities if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage individuals who believe they have the skills necessary to thrive to apply for this role.

ELM is an equal-opportunity employer and we strongly encourage applications from all interested candidates. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, creed, religion, personal appearance, national origin, citizenship, age, gender, or sexual orientation.

All offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a background check.