Become Part of Our Team

Achieving the Dream is being assisted by Academic Search in filling this position. Prospective candidates may arrange a confidential discussion by contacting Dr. Shirley Robinson Pippins at [email protected] or Andrea Cowsert at [email protected]. Applications and nominations should be submitted electronically to [email protected].

Applications must include a cover letter that addresses the expectations and responsibilities discussed in the leadership agenda above; a curriculum vitae; and a list of at least five professional references with contact information, including telephone and email, and a note indicating the candidate’s working relationship with each. References will not be contacted without the explicit permission of the candidate. This position is open until filled, but only applications received by August 15, 2024, can be assured full consideration.

Achieving the Dream is committed to creating and maintaining a diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. ATD strongly encourages applicants from diverse and historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the role.

Employment policies and decisions at ATD are based upon merit, qualifications, performance, and business needs. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), gender identity or expression, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, legally protected genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

Job Overview

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for the development of ATD’s financial management and operations strategy and contributes with other senior leadership to the development and implementation of the organization’s strategic goals. In addition to the strategic components, the CFO will be charged with developing and implementing business processes, leading and mentoring the finance team to support the organization, and building the budgets, analyses, and forecasting that support the management team, CEO, and Board in their respective financial and fiduciary responsibilities. The CFO is a member of the President’s Cabinet, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer. The CFO supervises the Controller and Accounting Manager.

Financial Planning and Strategy (50%)

• Advise members of the leadership team on financial planning, budgeting, cash flow, and policy matters in support of the organization’s mission and aligned with the strategic plan.

• Oversee long-term budgetary planning, including leading annual budgeting process.

• Develop and utilize forward-looking, predictive models and activity-based financial analyses to provide insight into the organization’s operations and business plans.

• In coordination with consultants, leadership, and services management, support development of organizational pricing strategy.
• Develop and implement tools and systems to provide critical financial and operational information to make actionable recommendations on both strategy and operations.
• Work collaboratively with unit leaders to strengthen financial literacy across the organization.
• Effectively communicate and present critical financial matters, including quarterly financial statements and budgets, to the Audit & Finance Committee and Board.

Accounting (40%)

• Oversee preparation and maintenance of regular financial planning reports, actuals vs. budget, and cash flow planning and forecast.

• Partner with the Controller to lead the annual audit, 990 submissions, and grants accounting.
• Oversee cash, investment, asset management, and banking relationships.
• Oversee the accounting department to ensure proper maintenance of all accounting systems and functions, identifying opportunities to automate where appropriate.
• Partner with Controller to ensure maintenance of appropriate internal controls and financial procedures.
• Review all month-end closing activities including general ledger maintenance, balance sheet reconciliations, and overhead cost allocation.
• Oversee and guide essential reporting and support for grants management, including designing program budgets, forecasting spending, and providing decision support to program management to ensure compliance with donor and contract requirements.

Team Management & Other (10%)

• Mentor and develop the team of direct reports, managing work allocation, training, problem resolution, performance evaluation, and the building of an effective team with a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Remain up to date on nonprofit audit best practices and ensure legal and regulatory compliance regarding all financial functions.

• Collaborate with the COO to develop and implement financial policies and procedures that align with the organization’s values and strategic goals.

Position Details 

Position Type:                    Full Time, Exempt

Salary Grade:                     10

Reports To:                         COO

Salary range:                      $165k-$180k

Work Location:                  Silver Spring, Maryland/Hybrid

Travel:                                  Minimal

Competencies: 

Collaboration: Demonstrates respect, humility, and willingness to collaborate when seeking to understand others and making decisions.

Equity Mindset: Models appreciative inquiry to gain understanding and awareness of others’ cultural identity and practices. Creates safe and constructive forums for sharing diverse perspectives and opinions.

Systems Thinking: Defines the system and one’s role in the system. Sees relationships and the dynamic elements of the holistic system and executes work accordingly. Influences the system and maps connections to ATD’s external landscape.

Learning Orientation: Embraces challenges, new ideas and different perspectives as an opportunity to learn; continually seeks out and applies new learning to activate change or improvements.

Skills/Qualifications/Experience

• A minimum of a BS; a CPA is preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive professional experience in a senior management role ideally with both external audit and in-house financial management experience in a nonprofit organization with at least a $10M budget, and familiarity with complex revenue streams, including customizable fee for service, contracts, grants, and events.
• Commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.
• Experience working with information technology staff to manage finance and accounting software packages.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, team management, and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent analytical and abstract reasoning skills, plus excellent organization skills.
• Experience in a senior financial-management role, partnering with executive staff, resulting in the development and implementation of financial management strategies.
• Significant experience in or knowledge of nonprofit accounting, including sophisticated fund and grant accounting, compliance, and reporting.