Jobs With Justice

Finance Director

Based in Washington, DC

 

Job Description
Jobs With Justice is a national network of local coalitions comprised of labor unions, worker centers, community, faith-based, and student organizations. We work locally and nationally to reduce inequality by expanding opportunities for workers to organize and to bargain collectively. The national staff provides strategic support to over 20 autonomous local affiliates, builds networks on common issues, shapes public discourse and leads strategic campaigns to build power for working people. Jobs With Justice is committed to winning real change for workers by leading campaigns that combine innovative communications strategies, solid research and policy advocacy, grassroots action, and coalition building.

Position overview:
The Finance Director is responsible for the efforts, results, and success of the organization's finances. They balance long-term projections with the short-term needs of the organization to ensure solvency, providing financial advice and support to help senior management make key decisions. They oversee the application of the values and priorities of Jobs With Justice to its financial strategies, policies and systems. The Finance Director will take a bird's eye view to provide strategic oversight while also paying attention to details. This person will manage a team that ensures that the finances of Jobs With Justice Education Fund (c3) and Jobs With Justice (c4) and all associated entities are in compliance with all laws and policies that govern them.

Preference for this position to be based in Washington, DC but we are willing to consider remote work arrangements.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage and supervise the execution of the day-to-day functions of the Finance Department, including overseeing financial staff and the facilitation of recurring tasks such as ensuring accuracy of financial statements, tracking financial data, invoicing, etc.
• Be responsible for the development and implementation of the organization's core financial processes including budgeting, forecasting, asset management, and multi-year aggregate expenditure planning.
• Interpret complex financial information and provide updates and information as needed to the management team. Make financial information easily digestible and accessible to the staff and board.
• Monitor cash flow, accounts, and other financial transactions.
• Ensure that all the organization’s financial practices are in line with statutory regulations and legislation. Ensure organization remains in compliance with all local, state and federal regulatory bodies.
• Analyze the financial climate and market trends to assist senior management in creating sustainable strategic plans.
• Under the direction of the Executive Team ensure organizational compliance with collective bargaining agreement between unit staff and management staff as it relates to the Finance Department.
• Support executive team in developing economic proposals/recommendations when in negotiations with the bargaining unit.

Detailed areas of work currently include:
Financial Strategy

• As a partner to the senior management, department directors and board leadership, assess organizational performance against both the annual budget and JWJ’s long-term strategy.
• Develop tools and systems to provide critical and timely financial and operational information and make actionable recommendations on financial management, strategy, and operations.
• Engage the board of directors and the finance committee around issues, trends, and changes in the operating model(s) and operational delivery.
• Assist in establishing yearly finance and operations objectives, and selecting and engaging outside consultants (auditors, investment advisors, etc.).
• Facilitate long-term budget planning and cost management in alignment with JWJ’s strategic theory of change, especially as the organization considers new programs and funding sources.
• Protect and manage organizational assets and accounts as well as ensuring the proper security checks and balances are in place to protect the organization’s assets.
• Ensure the Finance Department policies and procedures manual is updated and is accurately being utilized.
• Ideate, test, and assess innovative strategies and experiments as a part of the Ford Foundation’s Building Institutions and Networks (BUILD) initiative to improve the organization’s ability to better leverage financial analysis, build stronger financial systems and enable financial growth for the long-term.

Financial and Administrative Management

• Establish investment and financial management policies that comply with applicable regulations and best practices and are approved by the National Board(s).
• Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems, ensuring compliance with applicable Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain internal control safeguards, keep financial protocols updated and ensure they are followed.
• Facilitate audit and Form 990.
• Manage cash flow and forecasting.
• Develop a reliable cash flow projection process and reporting mechanism that includes a minimum cash threshold to meet operating needs.
• Optimize the handling of banking and investment relationships and initiate appropriate strategies to enhance and protect cash positions.
• Facilitate annual budget process and the implementation of budgets to monitor progress and present financial metrics both internally and externally.
• Oversee JWJ group exemption process to ensure compliance and help build the capacities of our National Network.
• Build relationships and work directly with our National Network to provide ongoing support including assessing the current financial practices of our Network members to provide tailored, in-depth capacity building.
• Establish a set of best practices to build Network’s ability to improve financial oversight as it pertains to fiduciary responsibility and protection of assets.
• Oversee risk management and legal activities, guarantee compliance with all relevant regulations by ensuring that all program-related functions are conducted in compliance with regulations of the IRS and other agencies to which JWJ is accountable.

Human Resource Management

• Stay current on finance related HR best practices, laws and regulations to ensure the organization remains in compliance and in good standing with relevant regulatory agencies.

Staff Management

• Oversee areas of work of the staff under their direct supervision.
• Ensure staff members they supervise receive timely and appropriate training and development.
• Establish and monitor departmental staff performance and development goals, assign accountabilities, set objectives, establish priorities, conduct annual performance appraisals, and administer salary adjustments.

How Responsibilities will be met:

• Regular meetings with the Executive Team to ensure aligned priorities, what is urgent and what can wait.
• Consult with the Executive Team on major decisions.
• Work with the Management Team to develop and track budgets, and ensure they have clarity on the financial health of the organization to inform their areas of work.

Signs we are on track: A successful Finance Director

• National office and organizations in the network are growing sustainable infrastructures, thriving in financial health.
• JWJ/JWJEF is compliant with all IRS regulations throughout the network.
• JWJ/JWJEF carries fully balanced budgets.
• The finance work of the organization is informing and being informed by the other areas of work within the organization.
• Communicates about and documents work, outcomes, updates, and developments in a timely and strategic way.
• Successfully transfers knowledge and skill in order to build the capacity of local coalitions and national staff.
• Effectively communicates and collaborates within the JWJ staff teams, and local affiliates and external partners in a complex environment.
• The Director and Departmental staff are accountable for and follows through on agreed upon work plans and actions.

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in managerial/supervisory role in Finance.
• Certified Public Accountant accreditation.
• Advanced degree or other relevant certification/continuing education completion in finance related field.
• Demonstrable passion for JWJs mission; a leader with integrity and a desire to work in a dynamic environment.
• Basic understanding of collective bargaining—both in the traditional US context and beyond.
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement best practices in financial management.
• Solid knowledge of non-profit organizations, GAAP standards, and fund accounting.
• Expert level experience in managing and operating QuickBooks and related finance software/systems
• Several years’ experience managing and growing the finances of 501c3 and 501c4 organizations with comparable budgets or larger.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills, and exceptionally detail oriented (e.g., notices when codes are off by one number or the wrong name is listed), but can also see the big picture (notices trends in spending or income that may have implications for the project).
• Strong analytical skills and experience transforming a strategic vision into an operational model. Previous experience in operational oversight a plus.
• Experience working in an organization with a union collective bargaining agreement is a plus.
• Ability to work with a geographically dispersed set of colleagues from multiple locations and offices.
• Demonstrated ability to operate in a fast-paced environment independently and collaboratively.
• Experience building and maintaining relationships with people from diverse backgrounds and social movements, including historically underrepresented communities.
• Models transparent and accountable decision-making.

Salary: Between $106,000-$130,000, negotiated based on experience and Management Team norms and practices.

Benefits: Generous benefits package that includes paid vacation, medical, dental, and retirement benefits.
This is a management level position and is not a part of the staff bargaining unit. The Finance Director is accountable to and supervised by the Deputy Director for Organizational Strength.

To Apply:
Email your résumé, cover letter and references to info@jwj.org.

Jobs With Justice Education Fund is an affirmative action employer and strongly encourages people of color, women, l/g/b/t/q individuals, those with disabilities, and those with working class backgrounds to apply. Frequently cited statistics show that people of color, women, trans, and non-binary people, as well as other structurally marginalized groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. JWJ encourages you to break that statistic and to apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications.