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Director of Finance

About Black Futures Lab

The Black Futures Lab (BFL) works to make Black communities powerful in politics. Black Futures Lab transforms Black communities into constituencies that wield independent, political power at the municipal, state, and federal level. The problems communities face are complex; the solutions to those problems require imagination, experimentation, and political power. Black Futures Lab advances strategies that help imagine the alternatives everyone deserves, while building political power at the local, state, and national level in order to implement those alternatives.

The Black to the Future Action Fund (B2F) is a 501(c)4 that works to transform Black communities into constituencies that build independent, progressive, Black political power in cities and states. We work to enact policy that improves the lives of Black people. We work to ensure that Black people have what all people deserve–dignity, safety, and power.

To make Black communities powerful in politics, Black Futures Lab:

  • Educates, Activates, and Motivates Black Voters
    • Black Futures Lab engages Black voters over the long term, empowering Black voters to share the policy discussions that affect their lives. BFL energizes Black communities to hold elected leaders, officials, and decision makers accountable for implementing policies that improve the lives of Black people.
  • Builds the Capacity of and Invests in Black Organizing Infrastructure
    • Black Futures Lab is committed to building power – and that takes resources. In partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, BFL’s Black Organizing Innovations Project awards grants to community organizations working to engage and activate Black communities. Recent grantees have received between $125,000 – $250,000 in key states such as Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Louisiana, and California.
  • Collects and Uses Relevant Data to Transform Communities
    • Black Futures Lab has launched the Black Census Project 2022, the largest survey of Black people in the United States in 157 years. The information gathered from the Census will be used to identify priority issues for Black communities, inform public policy, and shape an agenda created for Black people, by Black people.

The Opportunity

The Black Futures Lab is hiring for the Director of Finance, however, this is a shared position with the Black Futures Lab’s sister organization, Black to the Future Action Fund.

BFL is seeking a Director of Finance to join the organization during a time of pivotal growth. Reporting directly to the Principal, the Director will play a key role in helping BFL realize its mission by providing strategic and tactical leadership in all areas of finance.

The Director of Finance manages all financial activities for the organization, including but not limited to preparing, reviewing, and tracking organizational and department budgets, and overseeing cash flow. The Director of Finance also oversees all investment activities.

Responsibilities

Budget Planning and Development

  • Develop financial strategy for the organization.
  • Lead annual budget planning and monthly forecast process with fiscal sponsor to ensure proper reporting.
  • Prepare monthly and quarterly reporting packages for Principal, senior management, and Advisory Boards (B2F and BFL).
  • Work closely with BFL and B2F fiscal sponsors to align management and oversight systems.
  • Support creation of board and senior management presentations providing an overview of the organization’s results and updates to the financial budget for Board meetings.
  • Support department heads to oversee and monitor program budgets.

Financial Monitoring and Oversight

  • Manage and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local law requirements for all 501c3, 501c4, and PAC expenditures and subsequent reporting.
  • Develop and implement internal controls and financial governance of the organization, in coordination with fiscal sponsor(s).
  • Work with the Administrative team to develop and implement tools to improve reporting and analytics for revenue and key expense items, financial statements, and key metrics.
  • Oversee and lead the annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the Principal; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and, as appropriate, keep senior leadership team informed of the organization’s financial status.
  • Produce, analyze, and present financial reports; communicate monthly and annual financial statements, and oversee all financial accounting; Manage organizational cash flow and forecasting.
  • Provide financial insight into strategic decision-making throughout the organization.
  • Coordinate and lead the annual audit process, liaise with external auditors as necessary, prepare and file annual reports.
  • Oversee fiscal sponsor accounting and ensure alignment and accuracy.
  • Oversee cash flow management.
  • Assess, manage, and minimize financial risk to the organization.
  • Analyze complex financial data.

Fundraising Support

  • Work directly with the Principal to design and implement fundraising strategies.
  • Develop organizational budgets as needed for grant applications.
  • Monitor organizational budgets for grant requirements.
  • Oversee financial reporting for grant requirements.
  • Promote and ensure a culture of financial transparency, consistent communication, and meaningful collaboration with colleagues.

 

Candidate Profile

While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, a successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

Financial Expertise & Management

  • Experience compiling financial statements, with accompanying disclosures, and presenting this information to various internal and external stakeholders.
  • Exposure to and depth of knowledge in federal, state, and local regulations applicable to all organizational activities on both the 501c3 and 501c4 side.
  • Ability to provide oversight in the areas of grants, fiscal sponsorship, risk management, contracts, and other complex financial transactions.
  • Experience managing annual audit as well as other external reporting, rating, and compliance processes and procedures.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead the day-to-day management of finances including receivables, payables, payroll, and contracts.
  • Aptitude for maintaining internal financial controls, policies, and procedures adequate to safeguard BFL’s assets.
  • A high bar for fiscal responsibility and controls – staying on top of trends and models best practices in financial management, risk management, and compliance.
  • Excitement to build systems and processes with the ability to take a long-term, thoughtful approach to achieving organizational goals.

Relationship Builder, Collaborator and Communicator

  • Strong commitment to BFL’s mission and values.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced, complex organization where a commitment to excellent service is expected.
  • Excellent track record of building and sustaining excellent relationships both internally and externally.
  • Aptitude for managing relationships with programs, third party vendors, staff, lawyers, and other key constituent groups.
  • Strong contributor to fostering an organizational culture of collaboration and partnership.
  • Enthusiasm to proactively solve problems and collaborate with a variety of different colleagues and partners.
  • Ability to prioritize competing projects and multi-task across a broad spectrum of collaborators, based in various office locations or working remotely.
  • Very strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, external partners, and donors

In addition, strong candidates will offer:

  • Proven experience leading a finance function, particularly in a non-profit organization.
  • Minimum of 5 years hands-on experience with accounting and financial management.
  • Ability to design, manage, and implement strategy, paired with strong analytic skills.
  • Strong knowledge of accounting principles and proficiency in accounting software.
  • Impeccable verbal, written, research, communication, and deck creation skills and experience.
  • Demonstrated alignment with Black Futures Lab / Black to the Future Action Fund’s mission, and a strong commitment to racial and/or social justice.
  • Able to work independently in a face-paced environment, with a proactive approach.
  • Commitment to confidentiality and ability to exercise absolute discretion.

Compensation & Benefits

Pay for this position is commensurate with experience and responsibilities. The estimated salary range for this position is $135,000 – $150,000. This position comes with medical and dental benefits, generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays. This position is full-time.

Work Environment

Due to COVID-19, all work is being conducted remotely until further notice. Office hours are 10 am – 6 pm local time. Work hours may be adjusted to accommodate team members in other time zones. In-person quarterly meetings are required.

Contact

Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Chartise Clark and Tracy Michelle León of Koya Partners have been exclusively retained for this search.

To express interest in this role please submit your materials here. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.