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Queens Community House

Chief Financial Officer

Queens Community House, Forest Hills, NY, United States


About the Organization: Queens Community House (QCH) is a multi-site, multi-service settlement house that serves the diverse neighborhoods of Queens. We serve residents of all ages, races, faiths, and ethnicities while supporting the viability of the borough as a whole. QCH was formed in 1975 (as Forest Hills Community House) to help heal the wounds of a neighborhood conflict. Over four decades, our reach and breadth have grown; today we offer a broad network of comprehensive services at 40 sites in 15 neighborhoods (https://www.qchnyc.org/map-services) allowing us to impact individuals, families, and entire communities. We are committed to a holistic approach that deals with immediate needs as well as the barriers that may impede personal, family, and community stability. We recognize the interconnected relationship between housing, health, employment, education, self-esteem, and financial well-being, and ensure all participants in every program have access to a full range of resources to help them achieve wellness and life-long security. Each year, our programs help thousands of our neighbors to thrive in school, make healthy life choices, succeed in educating themselves, become engaged citizens, stabilize their housing situations, and make the most of their senior years. Our Mission: Queens Community House provides individuals and families with the tools to enrich their lives and build healthy, inclusive communities. Watch our Mission Video here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzsW2vhnh8w) . Our Vision: Queens Community House envisions Queens as an empowered community that values diversity, respect, and mutual responsibility. In this community, ALL people are actively engaged, feel supported, have a voice, and experience equal access to opportunities. About the Position: Queens Community House is in a very strong fiscal position, having more than doubled in size in the nearly ten years the current Executive Director has been in place and having achieved healthy surpluses every year over that entire period. With a current annual budget of nearly $40M, QCH is funded primarily through City and State government contracts. QCH currently outsources most of its finance and accounting needs to BTQ Financial, which has served QCH for more than 10 years. QCH is now seeking to hire its first-ever Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead a strong, strategic finance and accounting function. The CFO will report to the Executive Director and serve as part of QCH’s eight-person Executive Team. The CFO will be responsible for overseeing QCH's fiscal operations, and achieving excellence in overall financial management. Key responsibilities of the CFO will include the following: Organizational Leadership & Strategy Drive long-term development and leadership of QCH’s financial strategy, in partnership with the Executive Director and Board of Directors; set appropriate financial targets and benchmarks to ensure continued financial sustainability. Serve as lead liaison to the Board’s Finance and Audit Committees, and support other committees as needed. Participate in QCH’s strategic planning processes to establish and monitor multi-year, detailed financial models and ensure progress towards annual goals and capital projects. Partner with the Executive Director and Executive Team to communicate with public and private funders, elected officials, and community leaders on the delivery of high-quality services relevant to communities that QCH serves. Interact with government agencies and other funders and support colleagues on contract/grant negotiations, billing and audits; ensure effective delivery of high-quality services while maximizing line-item reimbursement contracts and performance-based contracts. Financial Analysis & Systems Improvement Forecast, monitor , and communicate regularly with departmental and program leaders on budget challenges and opportunities; coordinate budget development and modifications. Create and refine systems to update budgets and variances and provide accurate financial information to guide organizational decision-making, strategic plans and financial best practices; provide recommendations to the Executive Team and Board based on financial analyses and projections, cost identification and allocation, and revenue/expense analysis. Oversee analysis of contract spending, variances, and projections, to ensure decision-makers have accurate information; develop and implement dynamic systems for personnel allocations and tracking. Management & Supervision Advise the Executive Director on the optimal size, systems and structure of in-house and outsourced finance and accounting resources; build, develop, and empower a strong team of internal and outsourced resources in an equitable and inclusive manner; work with the Executive Director to engage the Board in major decisions regarding the structure of QCH fiscal operations. Supervise staff currently working on accounts payable and receivable, and contract management. Candidate Requirements: The successful candidate will possess, at a minimum, a majority of the following skills and attributes: Strong alignment with QCH’s mission; an unwavering commitment to seeing Queens as an empowered community that values diversity, respect, and mutual responsibility, where ALL people are actively engaged, feel supported, have a voice, and experience equal access to opportunities. 10+ years in progressively responsible financial leadership roles, including management experience in complex nonprofit organizations; experience creating and managing a budget of at least $15 million with multiple funding streams. Previous experience as a Controller overseeing government-funded nonprofit audits is preferred. MUST HAVE significant experience in government grant accounting; strongly prefer direct experience with NYC and NYS government contracts specifically: budgeting, vouchering, multi-site allocations, indirect cost rates, and financial reporting, including agencies such as NYC DYCD, DOE , or Department for the Aging; direct experience managing private foundation grants: utilization, restriction and release rules, and grantor reporting, also strongly preferred. Exceptional people and relationship management skills; experience in building and retaining strong teams and managing external resources and vendors. Excellent communication, partnership and collaboration skills with the proven ability to work across teams and build consensus. Strong analytical skills and an ability to articulate variances between projected and actual results, as well as to interpret cash-basis activities and reflect them in an accrual-based accounting reporting structure. Exceptional systems and process orientation and a track record of designing and implementing system improvements. Ability to handle complex challenges with tact and diplomacy and to balance multiple demands on time and attention. Willingness to roll up sleeves and dig into the details to get things done. Community-minded, patient, creative, flexible, and compassionate. A demonstrated commitment to integrity and consistent modeling of ethical behavior and decision making. Bachelors or Masters degree in Finance or Accounting preferred. CPA is a “nice to have” but not a requirement. Location: Queens, NY. Executive Team members are currently expected to work a minimum of three days per week in the office, one of which is typically Tuesday. QCH recognizes that “life happens,” and offers the flexibility to work less than three days in the office in any given week, as needed. Compensation and Benefits: Queens Community House is offering a competitive salary range of $180,000-$220,000, commensurate with experience. In addition, QCH provides a comprehensive benefits package that includes: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Paid Family Leave, 403b Retirement Plan with matching employer contributions, up to 27 days of annual leave (22 days in your first year), 12 sick days, Specified Federal Holidays off, and professional development, training, and networking opportunities. Of note, QCH supplements the New York State Paid Family Leave benefit to ensure our team members receive full pay during their approved leave. Queens Community House, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. QCH is a Drug-Free Workplace.