Director, Accounting & Finance

Director, Accounting & Finance

Democrats for Education Reform (DFER) is seeking a Director of Accounting & Finance to direct and oversee all aspects of the finance and accounting functions for our multi-entity organization which includes a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and Political Action Committee (PAC). This includes direct responsibility for accounting, finance, cash flow, budgeting, internal and external audits, and legal and management reporting. The Director of Finance is a key strategic partner to the executive team, providing the financial insight necessary to advance the organization's mission.

You will:

• Lead efforts to manage the organization's financial resources, supporting its commitment to advancing its mission through strategic fiscal planning, strong financial reporting and analysis.
• Sustain robust financial systems and internal controls to safeguard assets, ensure compliance, and provide accurate and timely financial data to support strategic decision-making.
• Provide strategic financial guidance and support to the executive leadership team, department heads, and program staff on budgeting, forecasting, and fiscal management.
• Lead the annual audit and 990 preparation process, serving as the primary liaison with external auditors.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic partner by developing and delivering forward-thinking, usable financial reporting and dashboards that translate complex data into actionable insights for program, development, and advocacy staff.
• Continuously evaluate the status of short and long-term strategic financial objectives and provide advice on the financial implications of business activities.
• Provide timely and accurate analysis of budgets, financial trends and forecasts.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with senior executives so as to identify their needs and provide responsive reporting and financial strategies.
• Manage cash flow and forecasting; optimize the handling of banking relationships and initiate appropriate strategies to enhance cash positions.

Multi-Entity Financial Management, Accounting, and Controls

• Ensure that effective internal controls are in place and ensure a safeguarding of assets, compliance with GAAP and applicable federal, state and local regulatory laws and rules for financial and tax reporting.
• Maintain a cost sharing allocation model to accurately distribute costs across the entities; ensure proper implementation of cost share and grant agreements; establish processes to monitor the program activity for compliance with grant agreements.
• Maintain separate financial records for each entity while producing consolidated financial statements for organizational leadership and the Board.
• Manage intercompany transactions, allocations, cash settlements and transfers, ensuring they are properly documented and comply with all legal restrictions.
• Ensure the timely and accurate processing of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and support the Development team with grants administration.
• Ensure cash flow is appropriate for the organization's operations for national, the states and projects (including fiscal sponsors).
• Partner with external auditors to execute the annual audit process and prepare and file all required regulatory reports, including Form 990, Form 990-T, Form 1120-POL, and state charity and PAC reports in a timely and accurate manner.

Multi-Entity Budget & Management Reporting

• Manage processes for financial forecasting, reporting, including leading the annual organization budgeting and planning process
• Prepare monthly financial statements, financial packages, and other informational reports/analysis.
• Monitor financial performance against budget, analyze variances, and provide actionable insights to support national departments, state chapters, and special projects.
• Provide financial data and analysis to support grant proposals and donor reports for the Development team and to ensure programmatic compliance.

Team & Systems Management

• Manage and develop the finance and accounting team, fostering a culture of high performance and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate, implement, and manage financial systems and software (such as Netsuite)…