Finance Director

Summary: Spotlight PA is seeking a finance director to lead accounting and financial operations for the nonprofit newsroom and ensure it can grow sustainably. The mission of Spotlight PA is to hold powerful private and public forces to account by producing nonpartisan journalism that gets results and serves the public good. Spotlight PA has the largest collaborative local journalism network of its kind in the United States, with stories regularly republished across 125+ partner newsrooms, allowing our vital reporting to reach Pennsylvanians in all corners and drive positive change. Launched in 2019 under a parent organization, Spotlight PA transitioned to a fully independent nonprofit organization in 2023. Since then, accounting has been handled by an outsourced firm. Spotlight PA is currently in an exciting period of growth and we are seeking to bring all operations and expertise in-house. Spotlight PA is supported primarily by foundations and individuals and does not currently receive government grants.

What you’ll do: The finance director will report to the CEO and work closely with other senior leadership and the Board of Directors to maintain the organization’s financial health, provide accurate reporting and analysis, and ensure fiscal compliance. The finance director will manage all day-to-day accounting and bookkeeping responsibilities in addition to producing monthly reports, cash flow forecasts, annual budgeting planning, and audit compliance. The finance director will also support longer-term strategic financial planning and liaise with Spotlight PA’s investment management firm. Key responsibilities include:

Financial Management

• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive internal control and financial policies and procedures to safeguard the organization’s assets and ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards to support the growth and mission of Spotlight PA
• Manage day-to-day financial operations, including bank reconciliation, recording and reconciling accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, tracking of restricted grants, revenue recognition, and general ledger maintenance
• Prepare and maintain an annual budget in collaboration with CEO, Deputy Director and the Board of Directors

Financial Reporting

• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and ad-hoc reports for the executive team, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders including actual-to-budget analysis and monthly cash flow forecasts
• Analyze finance trends and provide insights to help guide decision-making and strategic planning
• Oversee the preparation of grant proposal budgets to support fundraising efforts and grant financial reports to ensure compliance with donor requirements
• Serve on the finance committee of the Board

Audit and Tax Compliance

• Coordinate the annual audit process, including liaising with external auditors to ensure all financial records are complete, accurate, and in accordance with GAAP
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing non-profits, including charitable organization registrations (BCO-10), tax filings (IRS Form 990, sales tax), and other reporting obligations (annual reports)

Strategic Planning and Team Leadership

• Collaborate with the executive team to develop long-term financial strategies aligned with the organization’s mission and goals, including investment opportunities
• Provide documentation, training, and support on financial policies and procedures to staff to ensure understanding and adherence
• Liaise with the investment management firm and provide support as necessary

Cash and Risk Management

• Develop and maintain short and long-term cash flow forecasts to support decision-making and long-term financial sustainability
• Monitor cash flow and oversee the maintenance of adequate liquidity for operational needs
• Identify financial risks and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring the organization’s financial stability

Who we’re looking for: The finance director should be extremely detail-oriented, with strong ethical standards and at least 5-7 years of financial operations and management experience in a nonprofit environment. We are looking for someone comfortable with both day-to-day bookkeeping and maintaining three- to five-year financial forecasting to ensure Spotlight PA’s high-quality journalism can thrive in Pennsylvania. Spotlight PA has a $4 million budget and is expanding to an organization with 35 full-time staff members this year, with more growth planned for the next few years.

Experience

• Minimum 5-7 years of financial operations and management experience in a nonprofit organization
• Demonstrated experience with budgeting, financial analysis, and reporting
• 2-plus years concurrent experience with Quickbooks Online Plus or Quickbooks Online Advanced

Skills

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly to non-financial stakeholders
• Strong knowledge of financial software and tools, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to adapt quickly to new systems

The job is remote, though candidates based in Pennsylvania are preferred. The job is full-time, and includes benefits. This position is budgeted for a salary of $90,000-$100,000.

Applicants should include a resume and a one-page cover letter answering the following prompt: 1) Describe your prior experience with bookkeeping, accounting and/or financial management for nonprofits and how it helped drive sustainability or growth.

We know not everyone reading this will fit exactly what we’ve described. We encourage everyone to apply who shares our passion for indispensable journalism and our drive to create a sustainable business model to support it. Spotlight PA is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture, and we especially encourage people from marginalized and underrepresented backgrounds to apply, including people of color, women, people from the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities.