Director of Finance & Accounting

POSITION: Director of Finance and Accounting

REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director

CLASSIFICATION: Exempt

SUPERVISES: Finance Department

LOCATION: Chicago, Illinois

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Responsible for the efforts, results, and success of the organization’s finance department. Provides financial advice and support to help senior executives make key decisions. Professional with knowledge of all accounting, financial and business principles.

There are 6 major duties and responsibilities in the role of the Director of Finance and Accounting:

1. Fiscal operations and internal controls;
2. Grant financial management;
3. Organizational budgeting, forecasting and long-term planning;
4. Financial reporting;
5. Annual audit;
6. Organizational leadership.

Expanded description of each of them are outlined below.

Fiscal Operations and Internal Controls

• Directly supervise finance team and provide oversite of all day-to-day financial operations, including payroll, billing and vouchering, general ledger management, property accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting, etc.
• Assure adherence to monthly accounting cycles, and support finance team to meet deadlines.
• Monitor cash flow and manage cash balances, accounts, and other financial transactions.
• Update and oversee adherence to financial policies and procedures agency wide.
• Conform to Uniform Guidance and GAAP and assuring HOW’s operations, policies and practices are in compliance with federal, state and city statutory regulations and legislation.
• Seek out methods and practices to minimize financial risk.
• Create and maintain relationships with service providers and contractors, including banking institutions.
• Hire, train and develop employees who will be an asset to the finance department with support from human resources.

Grant Financial Management

• Develop tools and work in partnership with programs to track and assure timely expenditure of funds and to maximize grant utilization.
• Developing funder budgets and submit budget revisions as needed to maximize utilization of grants.
• Oversee submission of monthly, quarterly and annual reporting to public and private funders.
• Assure controls are in place to identify and track eligible expenses.
• Oversee and manage successful completion of audits by funders, including HUD, Chicago Department of Family and Supportive Services, Illinois Department of Human Services, Illinois Housing Development Authority, and other as needed.
• Develop and maintain expertise in funder requirement and regulations as they impact HOW’s fiscal operations.
• Understand and train staff on expense eligibility and fiscal compliance of HOW’s government funders.
• Work in collaboration with Leadership and Management Team to assess new funding opportunities and develop budgets and forecasts as needed to assess fiscal feasibility of and apply for new funding sources.

Organizational Budgeting, Forecasting and Long-Term Planning

• Spearhead development of annual organizational budget, working collaboratively with the Executive Director, the Leadership Team, and various departments to develop a comprehensive budget.
• Develop cash flow budgets and projections, working with Executive Director to address risk.
• Work in partnership with Housing Department to develop annual budgets for HOW’s properties and create long-term asset management plans.
• Interpret complex financial information and provide updates, forecasts and information as needed.
• Analyze the financial climate and market trends to assist senior executives in creating strategic plans for the future.

Financial Reporting

• Develop and review monthly financial statements.
• Prepare official reports on a monthly and annual basis.
• Provide financial reports to departments and Leadership Team to support the oversee their adherence of department and funder budgets.
• Develop timely organizational financial statements for Board of Directors.
• Development timely quarterly financial statements for each of HOW’s properties.
• Manage finance department budget.

Annual Audit

• Engage auditing firm selected by Board of Directors to obtain a clean annual audit of organizational finances.
• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director, finance team and other departments to successfully complete audit, including Single Audit, and meet organizational and funder deadlines.

Organizational Leadership

• Actively participate in HOW’s Senior Leadership Team.
• Participate in all Board of Directors meetings.
• Direct and attend monthly Board Finance Committee meetings.
• Participate in staff meetings and staff development opportunities.
• Work with Executive Director, Board of Directors and Leadership Team to assess new opportunities for grown and expansion.
• Provide fiscal oversite and analysis to all organizational operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

• Minimum one-year experience in a social service-related position
• Strong understanding and ability to implement and utilize Uniform Guidance
• and GAAP.
• Proficient with accounting systems; experience with YARDI Voyager system a plus.
• Excellent mathematical skills including financial modeling and forecasting.
• Highly proficient with Microsoft Excel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal and team-building skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, cooperative relationships with widely diverse groups and individuals both within and outside the organization.
• Ability to analyze, synthesize and present data.
• Excellent planning, organizing and problem-solving skills.
• Superior attention to detail and integrity.
• Thorough understanding of business principles and practices.

POSITION REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Degree in accounting, business, finance or a related field; advanced degree preferred
• Non-profit accounting experience required; real estate or asset management experience strongly preferred.
• Three years of progressively increasing leadership experience preferably in a non-profit or accounting setting.
• Proficient in using technology as a management reporting tool.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS INCLUDE:

• Must have secure home internet connection and cell phone
• Must have a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance and a reliable car
• Must pass applicable background checks
• Ability to lift 25 pounds, and walk up and down stairs
• Must complete and pass CANTS screening

STARTING SALARY: Commensurate with experience.

WORK SCHEDULE: Full-time; regular business hours with occasional nights and weekends.

• HOW is an Affirmative Action, Equal-Opportunity Employer.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive, and employees shall perform other duties as appropriate. HOW reserves the right to revise or change job duties as needed. This job description does not constitute a written or implied contract of employment. All employees must pass applicable background checks.