Vice President of Finance

TITLE: Vice President of Finance
DEPARTMENT: Admin/Executive Leadership
REPORTS TO: President & CEO
STARTING SALARY: $98,000, plus commensurate with experience
DATE: February 2024

Mission:

Through advocacy and analysis, Latino Policy Forum builds a foundation for equity, justice, and economic prosperity for the Latino community. By catalyzing policy change, the Forum works to improve education outcomes, advocate for affordable housing, promote just immigration policies and strengthen community leadership. 

Job Summary:

The Vice President of Finance (VP) works closely with the President & CEO to ensure that strategies are effectively executed to accomplish the Forum’s mission. The VP leads and manages all financial aspects of the organization and is responsible for monitoring the organization’s overall financial health, performing effective risk management, and planning the Forum’s financial strategy. In addition, the VP is a collaborator and works with other executive team members and the Board to ensure that information is available on a timely basis to make informed decisions.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Strategic Leadership

• Support the CEO in the implementation of financial and non-financial organizational strategies.
• Leads financial analysis and decisions that drive organizational strategy.
• Understand and execute priorities of the organization as directed by the President & CEO.
• Study long-range economic and philanthropic trends and projects impact on future growth.
• Analyze internal operations and identify areas for cost reduction and process enhancement.
• Identifies opportunities for expansion.
• Manages financial engagement with the board of directors.

Development, Growth & Expansion

• Supports other senior management within the organization in achieving their programmatic objectives.
• Ensure that revenue opportunities are aligned with the organization’s vision and in compliance with any funder requirements.
• Performs risk management through analysis of liabilities and investments and evaluate and manage capital structure and fundraising initiatives.

Financial Statements

• Accountable for the timely preparation of financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for the annual audit. This includes statement of financial position, statement of activities, statement of functional expenses, statement of cash flows and any other required schedule.
• Accountable for ensuring completion of the annual financial statement audit.
• Collaborates with program teams to prepare and ensure contract/grant compliance and reporting.
• Prepare and present financial statements and information to the Finance Committee
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulatory entities (ex: Financial Accounting Standards Board, Internal Revenue Service, state attorney general)

Budget

• Manage the budget process to ensure budgets are timely prepared within the limits of the organization.
• Work in partnership with senior managers and directors to identify cost reductions and efficiencies when developing department budgets.
• Present final annual budget to President & CEO and Finance Committee for approval and ensure any necessary updates are made before presentation to the Board.
• Monitor actual expenses during the year to ensure departments stay within approved budgets.
• Prepare all grant related budgets and reports, participate in managing relationships with funders.

Treasury

• Forecast the cash flow needs of the organization considering short-term needs and long-term strategic plans.
• Monitor investments and provide recommendations on the investment and classification of cash balances in excess of short-term needs. For example, based on the organization’s strategic direction and cash flow needs, recommendations can be made for funds to be held for long-term reserves, capacity building and/or growth.
• Manage relationship with financial institutions and evaluate raising capital outside traditional lines of credit.

Financial Leadership

• Hire, train, and lead the accounting and finance team.
• Ensure optimal use of resources, including the accounting system and third-party outsourcing.
• Develop/update policies and procedures, including accounting and investment, reporting and internal controls.
• Manage and monitor all aspects of organizational financial performance.
• Ensure compliance with all appropriate legal, financial, accounting, and government, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Other

• Work with Associate Director of Operations to assess and ensure cyber and IT safety.

Required skills and qualifications:

• Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in accounting preferred
• Certified Public Accountant preferred
• Five or more years of experience in executive leadership roles
• Possess knowledge of all aspects of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
• Nonprofit knowledge (industry and accounting)
• Excellent leadership and management skills, with steadfast resolve and personal integrity
• Understanding of advanced accounting and regulatory issues
• Excellent strategy, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work well with President & CEO, Board members and other senior management members
• Exceptional verbal, written, and visual communication skills