Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a strategic and operational mission-driven executive responsible for overseeing PAWS Chicago’s finance department and partnering with program operations teams, with a focus on the organization’s financial health and sustainability, mission efficiency and effectiveness, managerial and financial analysis and reporting, and operational integrity. This executive has the granular grit to work with the trees and the strategic gravitas to expand and navigate the forest.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the CFO serves as a key member of the Executive Team and a trusted advisor on financial and operational planning, strategy and operations, analysis, risk management, and organizational performance. The CFO ensures that PAWS Chicago’s financial systems, staffing, policies, and practices support long-term mission impact, transparency, and accountability while enabling innovation and growth across programs and operations.

• Liaise with Board of Directors, and Board committees, including Executive Committee Audit Committee, and Finance Committee. Attend Board meetings as requested and present financial information and analysis.
• Partner with the Executive Director and Executive Team to develop and execute financial strategies and operating plans that support PAWS Chicago’s mission, strategic plan, and long-term sustainability. This will include short- and long-term financial planning and optimization.
• Oversee the development and maintenance of documentation for organizational financial policies, SOP’s, procedures and systems with an eye to best practice and internal controls.
• Provide financial analysis, forecasting, and scenario planning to support informed decision-making at the executive and board levels.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner on organizational growth, capital investments, and resource allocation.
• Support Executive Director on long-term strategic and operational planning and execution.
• Continue to develop finance team’s expertise and professional skills, ensuring their growth and development, with an eye towards succession planning across the department.
• Explore implementation of Balanced Scorecard and other planning and strategy tools.
• Lead and oversee strategic and organizational projects as requested.

• Oversee all financial operations, including standard management and board reporting, planning and budgeting, for cash flow and other cash management functions, balance sheet/debt instruments, and internal controls.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and transparent financial statements in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards. Ensure accurate and timely reporting of functional expenses.
• Lead the development and management of the annual operating, capital and all funds budgets, monitoring performance and variances throughout the year.
• Oversee bank accounts, cash management, and interface with investment advisors, ensuring appropriate tracking and reporting of all funds, restrictions and endowments.
• Oversee financial systems and general ledger by being a hands‑on operational lead, supporting and guiding the finance team as needed with maintaining books and records.

• Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local financial, tax, and regulatory requirements, including nonprofit reporting obligations.
• Oversee annual audits and work closely with external auditors and finance committees to ensure strong governance and financial accountability.
• Identify and manage financial risks, implementing policies and controls that safeguard organizational assets.
• Future state:
  Work with Audit Committee to help develop and oversee an Internal Audit function that reports to the Board of Directors Audit Committee.

• Oversee accounting/financial systems and infrastructure, tools, technology and processes to support efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
• Partner with operations, development, and program leadership to ensure financial practices align with organizational needs and priorities.
• Manage capital…