Job Information
New Leaders Executive Director, Finance in United States
Our Mission
At New Leaders, we develop transformational, equity-minded school leaders and advance policies and practices that ensure high academic achievement for all children—especially students of color and students from communities with lower incomes.
Position Details
The Executive Director, Finance will be based o u t of a home office located anywhere within the contiguous United States (Pacific, Mountain, Central, and Eastern time zones) or United States territories that fall within the Atlantic time zone.
Position Overview
The Executive Director , Finance serves as the second-in-command to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and with the support and oversight of the CFO is responsible for the strategic direction and operational results of all financial functions, including financial planning, analysis, and accounting. As New Leaders expands its programming and products and diversifies its revenue base, the Executive Director , Finance will support the CFO in ensuring that the organization’s financial functions reflect a great er level of s ophistica tion . The Executive Director , Finance will support financial sustainability by providing insightful reporting and analysis of both historical and projected financial information to inform decision-making. Acting as a key thought partner to the CFO and senior leadership, the Executive Director , Finance will continuously b uild fin ancial capacity and enhance operational efficiency across the Finance team and processes and, by extension, the organization. The Executive Director , Finance, will lead the reworking and documentation of financia l processe s by l everaging technology to drive improvements , thereby ensuring the Finance team is equipped to meet the organization’s financial sustainability goals.
The Executive Director, Finance reports to the Chief Financial Officer.
Specific Responsibilities
Strategic Financial Leadership and Operations
Support the CFO in cash flow planning and forecasting, providing regular updates on cash flow to support organizational liquidity and financial stability.
Direct treasury operations ; sup port investment and banking relationships and oversight .
E nsure that internal controls are robust and that compliance with regulations is maintained across all financial activities. L ead the enforcement of finance policies and procedures and internal controls, including analyzing, maintaining , documenting, and updating all finance policies, procedures, and internal controls. Oversee implementation of new and existing finance policies, procedures, and internal controls with the Finance team. Report any internal controls issue to the CFO.
Support the CFO in providing regular updates to the Board of Directors and Board Finance Committee.
Support the CFO in operationalizing the annual internal budgeting process.
Partner with the CFO in developing key financial performance metrics for the organization and monitoring and reporting on progress against those metrics.
Partner with the CFO on executing the organization's multi-year financial strategy.
Identif y and lead initiatives in pursuit of the organization’s strategic goal of financial sustainability.
Partner with the CFO to p rovide strategic financial insights and recommendations to guide executive leadership decision-making.
Financial Reporting and Management
Lead the design, enhancement, and continuous improvement of financial processes and systems to meet organizational needs , including in the areas of cash management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, month-end close, financial reporting, and financial operations . Drive automation and technology-driven improvements to streamline processes and enhance accuracy. Ensure financial systems and processes are aligned with organizational goals and support sustainable growth.
Develop and maintain Profit & Loss (P&L) statements and ensure they are aligned with the strategic financial goals of the organization.
Build financial models to support decision-making and provide accurate short-term and long-term forecasts across multiple types of funding sources, including federal, state, and local government ; private foundations ; earned revenue ; and others . Engage with the External Relations team and other teams to ensure the accuracy of forecasts . Support the strategic goal of financial sustainability through informed, data-driven insights.
Accounting, Audit , and Compliance
Manage annual external audit s, interfacing with external auditors, responding to requests and inquiri es from the auditors, coordinating across teams to collect and provide accurate information in a timely manner , and supporting the CFO in in teracting with the Board Audit Committee .
Oversee internal accounting, ensuring compliance with GAAP , and updating internal processes as needed in alignment with new pronouncements and IRS updates .
Review and approve all journal entries.
Lead revenue recognition and recording processes. Coordinate with other teams on accounts receiv able aging.
Provide timely and accura te financial reports to the CFO, Chief Executive Officer, and management. Oversee all areas of the monthly, quarterly, and yearly closing process es . Research and correct discrepan cies a ccording to GAAP.
Oversee the preparation of the annual Form 990.
Manage the preparation and submission of the annual indirect c ost rate proposal to the federal government.
Oversee updates to and compliance with New Leaders’ financial accounting manual.
Collaborative Performance
Support a collaborative team culture that operate s effectively within the organization's values and culture.
Model behaviors of a high-performing, results-driven team member.
Serve as a key liaison between finance and other departments to ensure alignment with business goals and effective communication of financial data.
Perform s other duties as assigned.
Qualific atio n s and Competencies
Educational Background: Bachelor’s degree required ; degree in accounting, finance, or a related field strongly preferred .
Professional Experience:
A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience required .
A minimum of 4 years of n on- p rofit accounting experience required .
CPA certification required .
Proven experience as a financial leader or senior finance manager with at least 3 years in a similar role.
Equity-Driven: Demonstrated ability to work well with people from a wide diversity of demographic and cultural characteristics. The ideal candidate must be capable of achieving results while maintaining an inclusive, collaborative leadership style.
Mission Alignment: Passionate belief in academic excellence for every student, aligned with New Leaders' mission.
Strong background in process improvement and demonstrated ability to rework and optimize financial operations.
Experience overseeing cash flow management, treasury operations, and investment management.
Expertise in financial reporting, P&L preparation, and financial forecasting.
Extensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, with an emphasis on Not-for-Profit Revenue Recognition.
Strong understanding of internal controls, compliance, and risk management.
Demonstrated success in coaching and leading finance teams toward high performance and operational effectiveness.
Proficient in ERP systems, financial modeling, and technology solutions for finance.
Experience working with high-level accounting software.
An understanding of internal control procedures including experience in maintaining and documenting accounting procedures.
Strong interpersonal skills, ability to communicate and manage well at all levels of the organization and with staff at remote locations.
Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work with multiple partners and peers across the organization to achieve project and operational results.
Effective problem-solving skills and the ability to exercise sound judgment and decision making.
High level of integrity and dependability with a strong sense of urgency and results-orientation.
Travel may be required on occasion aligned to New Leaders’ Travel and In-Person Activities policy.
Nice-to-Have
Experience with financial system design and optimization, including ERP implementation or system upgrades.
Knowledge of federal grant requirements and experience with management of federal grants strongly preferred.
Physical Requirements
The employee's routine activities involve sitting, talking, hearing, and using hands for tasks like typing, filing, and handling objects. Visual acuity is necessary for keyboard use, data analysis, transcribing, computer terminal viewing, and extensive reading. The role may involve ordinary ambulatory skills for visits to other locations or the ability to perform activities like standing, walking, lifting, carrying, and moving light-weight items. Proficiency in hand-eye coordination, along with dexterity in arms, hands, and fingers for tasks like grasping, operating standard office equipment, and learning technical information, is essential.
What We Offer
Employees may be eligible for merit awards, bonuses, and/or commissions depending on their role, organizational guidelines, and individual performance.
Employees regularly scheduled to work 20 or more hours per week are eligible to participate in the New Leaders Health Benefits and Wellness Program .
M edical plan options, dental care, and visi on
401K plan for eligible employees
G enerous paid-time-off ( PTO) benefits
Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
New Leaders is an equal opportunity employer. New Leaders evaluates applicants for employment on the basis of qualifications, merit and work-related criteria and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, mental or physical disability, handicap, pregnancy, childbirth, medical condition, marital or familial status, family responsibilities, veteran status, personal appearance, political affiliation, matriculation, or any other characteristic protected by law in administration and operation of its Programs and activities, including admission or access thereto, or treatment or employment therein. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of such status and will not be discriminated against based on such status.