Chief Financial Officer; CFO

Position Summary

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as a strategic partner to the President, DESC executive leadership team, and Board of Directors providing financial stewardship and operational leadership for a dynamic nonprofit organization funded by federal, state, and private sources. The CFO is responsible for ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements, driving financial innovation, and fostering a culture of collaboration across departments.

This role oversees all financial functions, including budgeting, grant management, accounting, procurement and reporting, while leading a comprehensive finance team that includes four functional leaders.

• Partner with the President and Board of Directors to develop and execute financial strategies aligned with the organization’s mission and long-term goals.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to support innovation, revenue diversification, and organizational growth.
• Oversee all accounting, budgeting, cash management, and financial reporting functions, ensuring accuracy and transparency.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and private funding requirements, including grant reporting and audits.
• Develop and maintain internal controls to safeguard assets and ensure adherence to GAAP and nonprofit best practices.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a finance team that values and demonstrates collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Work cross-functionally with program and operations teams to align financial planning with organizational priorities.
• Implement technology-driven solutions to streamline financial processes and enhance reporting capabilities.
• Identify opportunities for grant optimization and resource allocation to maximize impact.
• Prepare and present financial reports to the Board of Directors, funders, and regulatory agencies as requested.
• Serve as a key liaison with leadership and financial institutions.

• Strategic Financial Planning
• Regulatory Compliance
• Leadership & Team Development
• Innovation & Technology Integration
• Collaboration & Relationship Building

• Audit Success Rate: 100% compliance with federal, state, and private funding requirements; clean audit reports annually.
• Grant Reporting Accuracy:
  Timely and error-free submission of all grants financial reports (target: 100% on time).
• Budget Variance:
  Maintain actual expenses within ±5% of approved budget.
• Process Efficiency Gains:
  Implement at least 2 technology-driven improvements annually that reduce reporting time or manual work by 20%.
• Cost Optimization:
  Achieve annual cost savings or resource reallocation of at least 5% without compromising program quality.
• Employee Engagement Score:
  Achieve a team engagement score of 80% or higher in annual surveys.
• Staff Development:
  Ensure 100% of finance team members complete at least one professional development activity per year.
• Board Satisfaction:
  Positive feedback from the Board on financial reporting clarity and timeliness (target: 90% satisfaction).
• Timely Reporting:
  Deliver monthly financial reports prior to the end of the following month-end.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive financial leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a nonprofit setting.
• Expertise in managing federal, state, and private funding streams and compliance requirements.
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting standards and grant management.
• Proven ability to lead teams and foster a collaborative, innovative work environment.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.

• This role is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement and requires a combination of on-site and remote work. Schedule will be determined by departmental and operational needs.

• Background check and drug screen required.