Director of Finance (Full Time, Remote)

Position: Director of Finance (Full Time, Remote)

Organization: Accelerate Change

Reports to: VP of Finance and Operations

Direct Reports: 2 Finance Managers

Location: Full-time, 100% remote position (from home or co-working space) with occasional travel once every 2-3 months (post-COVID)

COVID-19: We take Covid-19 safety very seriously. Employees must follow our Covid safety protocols and be fully vaccinated and boosted. Accommodations are provided to the extent required by law.

About Accelerate Change

Founded in 2012, Accelerate Change is a nonprofit (c3/c4) digital media lab. We work to increase civic engagement with BIPOC and low-income communities through digital media. Our programs include:

• Scaling emerging cultural media properties
• Investing in established cultural media properties
• Building influencer networks
• Leading a digital media lab
• Driving civic engagement campaigns

Learn more about our theory of change, approach, and impact at https://acceleratechange.org/about/

Our team is made up of digital media innovators and operators who bring a mix of tech, business, civic engagement, and media backgrounds. Meet our team and learn more about our culture at https://acceleratechange.org/values-team/

About the Position

Accelerate Change is seeking an adaptable leader who has proven nonprofit finance experience and excels at stakeholder management to be our Director of Finance. This role leads the Finance Department. During a time of continued growth for the organization, the Finance Director will play a critical role in building and streamlining the organization’s financial systems and processes to fuel the long-term financial health and sustainability of Accelerate Change’s impact.

Here’s what you could expect to do as Director of Finance (key responsibilities) with your team:

• Team Leadership:
  • Lead and mentor the finance team, fostering a culture of collaboration, excellence, and professional development
  • Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including the Board of Directors, auditors, bankers, and legal counsel
  • Communicate effectively with all levels of the organization, providing clear and concise financial information
• Financial Management:
  • Develop and implement financial strategies, policies, and procedures to ensure efficient and effective financial management across all entities
  • Oversee all accounting functions including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, and financial reporting
  • Prepare timely and accurate financial statements and reports for internal and external stakeholders, including the Board of Directors, donors, and regulatory agencies
  • Analyze financial data and provide insights to inform strategic decision-making
  • Oversee the processing and accounting of stock donations, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations
  • Collaborate with the development team to manage donor relationships and ensure accurate recording and reporting of donations
• Accounting: Accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash receipts, general ledger, monthly burn rates and projections, month and fiscal year end processes, and pulling transaction reports for c3, c4 and Public Benefit Corporation
• Budget: Create and facilitate the organization’s and incubated partners’ annual budgeting process
• Financial Monitoring: Monitor bank accounts and all A/R payment accounts and transactions
• Systems: Implement and manage the new accounting system, NetSuite, ensuring accurate coding and timely check deposits
• Tax Compliance & Reporting:
  • Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local tax regulations for each entity (c4, c3, and for-profit)
  • Prepare and file all necessary tax returns, including Form 990 for the nonprofit entities
  • Manage tax audits and inquiries
• Processes: Establish and enforce the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), nonprofit accounting standards, policies, and principles
• Strategy: With input from the VP of Finance and Operations, develop our strategy, priorities, and innovations to our systems and approach in finance
• Collaboration: Work in close collaboration with other Departments in the Finance and Operations area to address rapidly changing Accelerate Change and network needs that are directly or indirectly related to finance
• Leadership: Work with the Leadership Team to shape the strategy and methodology for Accelerate Change; coach, support, remove barriers for, and hold accountable the Finance Department team
• Communication: Ensure communication across the organization, network, and with external stakeholders is clear and within a timely manner
• Risk Management: Identify financial risks and develop strategies to mitigate them

We’ll also look for the Director of Finance to:

• TBD: Take on additional responsibilities and pitch in to help meet the evolving needs of our growing team. Given our lean experimentation approach and our work with partners at various stages of growth, flexibility and comfort with change are key components of our work.
• Be committed to our goal of becoming an anti-racist organization. Within your role, utilize equitable management/collaboration skills, challenge white supremacy, and pursue expansive and inclusive programming. Center our understanding that multiple systems of oppression intersect with racism and embrace that our values work is ongoing and continues to deepen, broaden, and evolve as we continuously strive to embody progressive values as an organization.
• Serve as a resource to our network of partners, including sharing best practices, training, convening, and troubleshooting. We use a co-staffing model with our partners where we’re collaborators working side-by-side to help where needed, not consultants prescribing solutions.
• Take an entrepreneurial approach to their work and learning new skills. In our fast-paced, unstructured environment, we love it when staff first try to figure things out on their own and then ask for help if they’re stuck.
• Seek out opportunities to deepen their skills on current/emerging platforms and with lean startup methodology. We take an individualized approach to growth where staff advocate for development opportunities that align with their interests and the team’s priorities.

What We’re Looking For

• Commitment to social change. Accelerate Change is a progressive workplace focused on civic engagement with BIPOC and low-income communities. You have a demonstrated commitment to this work and you’d like to be part of a team of people who do, too.
• 5+ years experience with key responsibilities: We’re looking for someone who has at least five years of experience with finance and accounting functions. We’re most interested in candidates who have finance and accounting experience in roles with nonprofit organizations.
• Attention to detail: One of your strengths is your keen attention to detail. While none of us are perfect, you have a track record of delivering error-free work and you take pride in your precision as a finance and accounting leader.
• Stakeholder communication: You’re a pro at providing written and verbal updates and communicating with key stakeholders effectively. You enjoy blocks of time where you’re head down in financials as much as you enjoy blocks of time where you’re in meetings with colleagues, and you’re okay with having both of those time blocks during any given day.
• Solution finder: You know that there are some things in finance and accounting that are inflexible as part of accounting standards and compliance. Outside of those areas, you enjoy (not just tolerate!) tapping into your creativity to identify solutions that advance an organization’s impact and positively affect the work experience of your teammates. You’re no stranger to the mindset of finding a way to get to “yes” (consistent with accounting standards and compliance) in response to organizational needs, even if it’s “yes, and…” or “yes, but not quite yet.”
• Interest in digital media: You are interested in the power of digital media for organizing and social change. You regularly engage - personally or professionally - with many of the following and are interested to learn more about Accelerate Change’s work with others on this list: TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Facebook Messenger, podcasts, streaming shows.

Benefits

• $90,000 - $110,000 salary range, with exact salary depending on experience and new staff rarely starting at the top of the range.
• Flexibility for work and life: Unlike a lot of places, we actually believe that people should only work 40 hours each week, except for occasional sprints that require more time in a week. We also trust everyone to make a schedule that works for them, as long as you’re able to join all necessary meetings. Want to work more one day and less the next? Fine by us. Work better in the middle of the night than during the afternoon? Go for it. Need to shift your hours to be able to pick up your kid from school? All good.
• Health care at the beginning of your employment with individual premiums fully covered and cost-share for dependents. Vision and dental plans are available at-cost to the individual.
• 401K contributions and matching program available at the beginning of your employment.
• 15 paid vacation days, 6 paid holidays, 3 paid floating holidays each year and 7.5 paid sick days each year
• Professional development funds, with renewal of funds each fiscal year
• Cell phone and internet reimbursement (or co-working reimbursement): We acknowledge that working from home requires using your own internet and phone for work purposes so we offer a set reimbursement amount for cell phone and internet usage. If working home isn’t for you, we also have the option for folks to rent a co-working space and get reimbursed for their monthly costs.

Benefits

• $90,000 - $110,000 salary range, with exact salary depending on experience and new staff rarely starting at the top of the range.
• Flexibility for work and life: Unlike a lot of places, we actually believe that people should only work 40 hours each week, except for occasional sprints that require more time in a week. We also trust everyone to make a schedule that works for them, as long as you’re able to join all necessary meetings. Want to work more one day and less the next? Fine by us. Work better in the middle of the night than during the afternoon? Go for it. Need to shift your hours to be able to pick up your kid from school? All good.
• Health care at the beginning of your employment with individual premiums fully covered and cost-share for dependents. Vision and dental plans are available at-cost to the individual.
• 401K contributions and matching program available at the beginning of your employment.
• 15 paid vacation days, 6 paid holidays, 3 paid floating holidays each year and 7.5 paid sick days each year
• Professional development funds, with renewal of funds each fiscal year
• Cell phone and internet reimbursement (or co-working reimbursement): We acknowledge that working from home requires using your own internet and phone for work purposes so we offer a set reimbursement amount for cell phone and internet usage. If working home isn’t for you, we also have the option for folks to rent a co-working space and get reimbursed for their monthly costs.