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Associate Director, Affiliate Finance Operations

New York, New York, United States

ABOUT THE JOB

The ACLU seeks applicants for the full-time position of Associate Director, Affiliate Finance Operations in the Affiliate Support & Nationwide Initiatives (ASNI) department of the ACLU’s National office in New York, NY. This is a hybrid role that has in-office requirements of two (2) days per week or eight (8) days per month. 

The Affiliate Support and Nationwide Initiatives Department (ASNI) builds state capacity and strengthens the connections between the ACLU and its network of 54 state affiliates and their 1,500 staff members across the country. Their work constitutes an unparalleled bulwark defending and advancing our civil liberties and civil rights. ASNI staff lead efforts to build program, build organizations, and drive resources to key battles across the country, positioning the nationwide organization for future challenges.

As a key leader strengthening the financial backbone of our nationwide network, the Associate Director, Affiliate Finance Operations will ensure affiliates are equipped with the tools, practices, and support they need to thrive. By fortifying financial systems and amplifying the impact of national investments, this role helps safeguard the long-term power and sustainability of our collective fight for justice.

WHAT YOU'LL DO 

Reporting to the Senior Advisor, Affiliate Finance Operations, the Associate Director will monitor affiliate financial practices, recommend new and best practices in affiliate financial operations (particularly accounting, internal controls, and risk management), evaluate the impact of national grant-making on affiliate budgets and capacity, and advise on financial systems and process changes that affect affiliate operations. The Associate Director will work closely with Senior Advisor, Affiliate Finance Operations and staff in the National Finance and Development Departments.

YOUR DAY TO DAY

Affiliate Financial Strategy & Trend Analysis

  • Analyze affiliate financial trends across the network and maintain a national perspective on budget health, reserve levels, revenue diversity, and risk indicators;
  • Monitor affiliates with deficit budgets, providing assistance to the Senior Advisor as to longer-term solutions;
  • Provide assistance on affiliate allocations of national subsidies;
  • Maintain a lens on certain affiliate practices that provide a measure of nationwide financial strength – this would include pro bono legal services provided to affiliates, foundation grants to affiliates, and reserves;
  • Help assess potential organizational risk by reviewing annual management letters from affiliate auditors;
  • Propose best practices and process changes that strengthen affiliate internal controls, accounting practices, and risk management; In consultation with the Senior Advisor, advance best practices in Department programs with affiliate finance staff.

Grant Management & Systems Alignment

  • Review affiliate grant reports as to budget spends and provide regular updates to the ASNI Director;

Affiliate Support & Capacity Building

  • In consultation with the Senior Advisor, provide technical assistance to affiliate finance teams on internal controls, fiscal policies, c3/c4 allocations, financial dashboards, and vendor management;
  • Co-lead affiliate learning communities for finance staff and board treasurers;
  • Maintain an enduring library of training resources;
  • Liaise with affiliate leadership to onboard new financial staff, including key National policies and nationwide systems;

Data, Reporting & Communication

  • Advise department staff on financial metrics included in annual survey of affiliates; help compile and clean data for use in reports;
  • Collect, validate, and analyze financial data from annual affiliate surveys, audited financials, IRS 990s, governance letters, and other key sources;
  • Contribute qualitative and quantitative insights to build internal reports, dashboards, and presentations for the ASNI Director and senior leaders;

Internal Partnership & Influence

  • In consultation with the ASNI Director, communicate emerging financial trends and risk areas across the network to internal stakeholders;
  • Serve as a liaison between affiliates and National departments planning fundraising, finance, or operational changes that affect affiliate workflows;
  • Partner with National colleagues to ensure new policies and systems reflect the realities and constraints of affiliates’ operations;
  • Act as an ambassador for ASNI, helping national staff understand affiliate needs and the importance of decentralized strength;

FUTURE ACLU'ERS WILL 

  • Be committed to advancing the mission of the ACLU
  • Center and embed the principles of equity, inclusion and belonging in their work by demonstrating commitment to diversity with an approach that respects and values multiple perspectives
  • Be committed to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and conflicts

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

  • Experience in public/non-profit financial management
  • Experience with time- and purpose-restricted funding requirements
  • Excellent Microsoft Excel skills
  • Strong verbal/presentation and written communication skills
  • Ability to gain credibility and respect with internal and external audiences
  • Excellent track record of working with diverse teams
  • Highly organized with attention to detail
  • Willing to conquer the “small tasks” with an understanding of their vital importance in the success of the organization
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to engage stakeholders at all levels
  • Commitment to the mission of the ACLU.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to diversity within the office using a personal approach that values all individuals and respects differences in regard to race, ethnicity, age, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, disability and socio-economic circumstance.
  • Commitment to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

  • Master’s degree in accounting, Finance, or Business/Public Administration

COMPENSATION

The ACLU is committed to equity, transparency, and clarity in pay. Consistent with our compensation philosophy, there is a set salary for each role based on geographic work location. The annual salary for this position is $137,206 (Level - F), reflecting the salary of a position based in New York, NY.  Salaries are subject to a regional pay adjustment if authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.  
 
For details on our pay structure, please visit: https://www.aclu.org/careers/ACLU_Geographic_Pay_Structure-July_2024.pdf

WHY THE ACLU

For over 100 years, the ACLU has worked to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States. Whether it’s ending mass incarceration, achieving full equality for the LGBTQ+ community, establishing new privacy protections for our digital age, or preserving the right to vote or the right to have an abortion, the ACLU takes up the toughest civil liberties cases and issues to defend all people.

We know that great people make a great organization. We value our people and know that what we offer is essential not just their work, but to their overall well-being. 

At the ACLU, we offer a broad range of benefits, which include:

  • Time away to focus on the things that matter with a generous paid time-off policy
  • Focus on your well-being with comprehensive healthcare benefits (including medical, dental and vision coverage, parental leave, gender affirming care & fertility treatment)
  • Plan for your retirement with 401k plan and employer match
  • We support employee growth and development through annual professional development funds, internal professional development programs and workshops

OUR COMMITMENT TO ACCESSIBILITY, EQUITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Accessibility, equity, diversity and inclusion are core values of the ACLU and central to our work to advance liberty, equality, and justice for all. For us diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion are not just check-the-box activities, but a chance for us to make long-term meaningful change.  We are a community committed to learning and growth, humility and grace, transparency and accountability. We believe in a collective responsibility to create a culture of belonging for all people within our organization – one that respects and embraces difference; treats everyone equitably; and empowers our colleagues to do the best work possible. We are as committed to anti-oppression, anti-ableism, and anti-racism internally as we are externally. Because whether we’re in the courts or in the office, we believe ‘We the People’ means all of us.

With this commitment in mind, we strongly encourage applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.    

The ACLU is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please email benefits.hrdept@aclu.org. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

 

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