Vice President Finance

The North Coast Waterfront Development Corporation (NCWDC) is dedicated to transforming Cleveland's Downtown Lakefront into a vibrant and accessible destination for residents,business, and recreation. We are a nonprofit organization established in collaboration with key regional stakeholders, including the City of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and the Greater Cleveland Partnership. Our mission is to implement a unified vision for the Lakefront and drive the execution of catalytic projects that will reshape the city.

The Vice President, Finance is a key strategic leader responsible for stewarding the organization’s financial health, ensuring strong fiscal management, and supporting mission-driven decision-making. This role oversees all financial operations—including budgeting, accounting, audit, grants management, financial reporting, risk management, forecasting, and compliance—while partnering with senior leadership and the Board of Directors to guide long-term financial sustainability.

The Vice President, Finance ensures a high level of integrity, transparency, and accountability in all financial practices in alignment with nonprofit regulatory requirements and organizational values.

• Serve as a strategic partner, providing financial insights to support mission-aligned decisions.
• Lead multi-year financial planning, forecasting, modeling, and scenario planning.
• Develop financial strategies that support organizational growth, sustainability, and impact.
• Present financial results, risks, and opportunities to the Board of Directors and Finance/Audit Committees.
• Manage a New Community Authority, providing budgets, reports, and negotiating agreements with future development partners.

• Oversee day-to-day financial operations, including accounting, budgeting, cash flow, payroll, and purchasing.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, IRS nonprofit regulations, state requirements, and grantor standards.
• Lead, prepare, or oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Manage the annual audit process, acting as primary liaison with external auditors.
• Oversee internal controls, safeguarding organizational assets and ensuring financial integrity.

• Lead the development, monitoring, and management of the annual operating budget.
• Provide budget-to-actual reporting, variance analysis, and recommendations to leadership.
• Develop revenue and expense projections to support grants, fundraising strategies, and strategic initiatives.
• Lead process to build new accounting and budget tracking systems.

• Oversee financial administration of grants and restricted funding, ensuring accurate allocation, reporting, and compliance.
• Collaborate with development, programs, and operations teams to support grant proposals, financial reporting, and funder requirements.
• Ensure timely submission of all regulatory filings, including IRS Form 990, state registrations, and compliance documents.
• Oversee organizational insurance needs, risk management strategies, and contingency planning.
• Ensure financial systems, technology, and processes are efficient, scalable, and accurate.
• Recommend and implement process improvements to strengthen financial operations.
• Oversee accounting and invoicing systems.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive finance leadership experience, preferably in a nonprofit organization.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards (FASB, Uniform Guidance, etc.).
• Experience managing audits, financial forecasting, budgets, and grants.
• Skilled at communicating complex financial information to non-financial audiences.
• Strong analytical, strategic planning, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proficiency with financial systems (e.g., Quick Books, Sage Intacct, Blackbaud Financial Edge).

• CPA, MBA, or related advanced degree.
• Experience working with a Board of Directors and Finance/Audit Committees.
• Experience with federal and/or multi-fund grant management.
• Strategic and operational financial leadership.
• Integrity, ethics, and sound judgment.
• Collaboration and cross-functional partnership.
• Clear and compelling communication.
• Relationship building and stakeholder engagement.
• Change management and process improvement.
• Equity-centered and mission-driven decision making.
• Hybrid work environment.
• Occasional evening or weekend hours for Board meetings or key events.

Compensation for this role will be determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, and overall qualifications, within the established salary range $,000.