Nonprofit Remote Digest - Issue #758
Our mission is to conserve the world’s bats and their ecosystems to ensure a healthy planet.
Bat Conservation International / Ending Bat Extinctions Worldwide — www.batcon.org Bats are vital to our world’s ecosystems and economy, We’re working worldwide to ensure the survival of these extraordinary mammals.
Director of Finance
Status: Full Time, Salaried
Reports to: Chief Operations Officer (Michael Nakamoto)
Supervises: Financial Analyst and Accounting Contractors
Key Relationships: Chief Operations Officer, Operations Team (Finance, People, IT), Development Team, Auditors, Board Audit Committee.
Salary: $90,000 - $110,000 annually + benefits
BCI and our Mission
Bat Conservation International (BCI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the protection of bats and their habitats in the United States and around the world. BCI has grown in its impact and size in recent years. BCI has recently launched a new strategic plan, branding, and several new projects in the United States and beyond. The organization's budget has grown from $4 million to $9 million over the last five years and will continue to grow. BCI's Operation's team plays a critical role in sustaining the organization and contributing to its growth.
BCI is largely a virtual organization with satellite offices in Washington, DC, and Austin, TX. The Finance Director can work remotely from anywhere in the United States. Candidates in the Washington, DC, and Austin, TX metropolitan areas will have the option to work in the office and have opportunities to interact in person with many of their colleagues. BCI's core hours are 10:00 am to 3:00 pm local time Monday through Friday. However, BCI has a flexible work schedule policy, where staff have the flexibility to adjust their schedules for work demands and personal needs.
Primary Responsibilities and Expectations
The Director of Finance will lead the finance team, manage the overall suite of financial processes and systems, coordinate the organizational budget process, maintain financial compliance, oversee cash and investments, and ensure sound organizational administration.
Lead the Finance Team
Leads and empowers the Finance Team to timely perform all financial activities, maintain financial compliance, and meet external and internal financial reporting needs.
Ensures timely and accurate posting of financial transactions, month-end reconciliation and closing, external and internal financial reporting, and financial compliance filings.
Manage financial processes and systems
Implements and maintains proper systems, procedures, and internal controls to support effective finance and accounting operations, maintains compliance with GAAP and US federal reporting requirements, honors donor intent, and achieves successful audits.
Serves as the overall business owner for BCI financial and accounting systems.
Implements process improvements that result in more timely and accurate financial reporting, simpler processes for staff, and easier access to meaningful financial information for staff
Conducts training for staff on finance and accounting policies, procedures, and tools as needed.
Lead the organizational budgeting process
Leads the organizational budget process, monitors organizational progress against the budget, analyzes budget & forecasting variances, and BCI's overall financial position.
Maintain financial compliance
Ensure BCI honors donor intent in its use of funds to conserve bats and their ecosystems.
Maintains BCI financial compliance by timely completing financial audits, 990 filings, charitable registration filings, NICRA filing, and any other compliance-related activity.
Arranges for and coordinates all necessary audits. Acts as the main contact with external auditors during audit fieldwork.
Manage cash and investments
Manages BCI's cash and investments across various bank accounts and in accordance to BCI's investment and distribution policy and donor intent.
Ensures effective cash management practices and maintains a healthy cash flow. Conducts daily cash management and accounts payable duties.
Coordinates with the Development team and executes the sale of stock gifts received.
Provide sound administration
Leads organizational administrative tasks, including but not limited to contracts, vendor agreements, legal records, legal registrations, business insurance, certifications, and memberships.
Maintains organizational records, including but not limited to legal and compliance, vendor contract agreements, leases, certifications, memberships, and property rights.
Provide organizational leadership
Provides leadership in maintaining strong internal communications with staff at all levels throughout the organization, promoting a positive and supportive work environment.
Engages in special projects and/or fulfills other duties as may be assigned by the Chief Operations Officer.
This Job is for you if you:
Have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance (or equivalent informal/formal experience). Advanced degree or certification is a plus
5+ years of progressive experience in accounting and/or auditing, including 3+ years of experience in managing day-to-day accounting functions.
Knowledge of general accounting principles and practices, budget management, accounting report generation and utilization, and financial analysis
Exposure to nonprofit accounting, federal grants, and contracts
Knowledge of grants and contracts
Possess strong problem-solving, analytical, and communication skills in English
Detail-oriented able to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
Are proficient in Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office products
Are proficient with financial management software
Are comfortable communicating using Zoom and Slack
Ready to Lead and Have Skills Needed
BCI needs an experienced team member who has an understanding of how to timely manage an organization's annual and monthly accounting cycle. You will have progressive experience (formal or informal) in accounting and or/auditing, including experience in managing day-to-day accounting functions. You will also have experience in project management and a strong track record of timely managing projects. Experiences does not mean older, more, or bigger, just that when you read the responsibilities above, you have done about 70% or more of the things listed.
Personable: Appreciation for communicating by Zoom, Slack, and email most of your workday is ideal. This does not mean that you have to be an extrovert; it means that you may be spending a lot of time communicating with different people every day. BCI will provide a laptop computer and the necessary tools to do the job.
Mindful: An ability to find the interdependencies in each activity and plan accordingly is important. You must have the ability to determine what is urgent and what is important every day. For example, you must balance between ensuring the core financial activities happen on schedule and improving how the financial systems and processes meet staff needs.
Detail-oriented: You like charts, graphs, spreadsheets, and lists, and using them to meet goals. You will be highly organized, deliver high-quality work on time and have an eye for simplicity and efficiency.
Team Player: BCI's success is based on how we work collaboratively and collectively. We need someone who enjoys working collaboratively and problem-solves with team members across the organization to achieve BCI's mission.
Motivated: We are not looking for someone that necessarily has experience in conservation or knowledge of bats. However, we are looking for someone motivated to create and contribute to positive social and environmental impact. BCI is looking for someone that feels empowered to design and implement changes.
Lifelong Learner: You will have the ability to learn new systems, processes, and procedures. BCI is looking for a Finance Director that can understand business needs, staff needs, and identify process improvements, while possessing a learner's mindset.
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI)
BCI is deeply committed to JEDI and embeds JEDI-centered practices in the conservation work and organizational culture. BCI is determined to be an employer of choice and believes that the best organizational performance will come from a safe, diverse and inclusive work environment. Read more about our JEDI statement at www.batcon.org/about-us/justice-equity-diversity-and-inclusion/.
Salary and Benefits
$90,000 to $110,000 annually depending on location and experience, full-time salaried. Paid biweekly electronically or via check.
Compensation package includes generous paid vacation and sick time; 401(k) plan with employer match; Health, dental, and vision insurance plan.
Organizational culture that supports staff well-being and professional development.
How to Apply
If you have 70% or more of the skills needed, we encourage you to apply. Candidates interested in this position should send their resume. Candidates that make it to the next step in the recruiting proccess, will be asked to answer a few brief questions in writing.
The deadline to apply for this position is March 21, 2022. Interviews will begin on March 23, 2022 with an ideal start date in April.