Creative Financial Staffing
Chief Financial Officer
Creative Financial Staffing, Chicago, IL, United States
Our client is looking for a Chief Financial Officer to join their team.
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, providing strategic financial direction to support the organization's mission and long-term sustainability. The CFO will oversee all financial operations, including budgeting, financial planning and analysis, accounting, risk management, and compliance. The ideal candidate will be a hands-on, participative manager who leads and develops internal teams to support finance, business planning, and budgeting.
Key Responsibilities:
Financial Strategy & Leadership
- Develop and execute financial strategies to support the organization's goals and objectives.
- Collaborate with the CEO and senior leadership on long-term financial planning and sustainability.
- Serve as a financial advisor to the CEO, Board of Directors, and executive team, offering insights on financial implications of key decisions.
- Oversee the organization's financial health, including cash flow, grants management, forecasting, and financial reporting.
- Ensure timely and accurate preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, budgets, and reports.
- Present financial reports to the Board of Directors and key stakeholders.
- Ensure the organization is in compliance with financial regulatory standards and nonprofit accounting practices, including GAAP.
- Lead the annual budgeting process in collaboration with department heads and ensure alignment with the organization's strategic goals.
- Monitor organizational performance against the budget and provide analysis and recommendations to management.
- Lead and coordinate annual audits and liaise with external auditors.
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal financial regulations and reporting requirements.
- Oversee risk management processes, including insurance, tax filings, and legal compliance.
- Manage internal controls and safeguard the organization's assets.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the finance and accounting team to foster a high-performance culture.
- Establish and maintain sound financial policies, procedures, and systems across the organization.
- Work with program staff to develop grant budgets and oversee financial reporting for funders.
Qualifications:
- Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required. Master's degree (MBA or equivalent) or CPA preferred.
- Experience: At least 10 years of senior financial leadership experience, with a preference for experience in nonprofit finance.
- Proven experience overseeing financial strategy, budgeting, and compliance in the nonprofit sector.
- Knowledge of nonprofit financial management practices, including restricted and unrestricted funds management, and experience with grant and contract accounting.
- Strong understanding of GAAP for nonprofits and familiarity with auditing standards.
- Hands-on experience with financial software and proficiency in Excel.
- Exceptional leadership, team-building, and communication skills.