Director of Finance

Democracy Forward seeks an experienced and high-integrity Director of Finance to join our Executive Office. The Director of Finance will report to the Chief of Staff in the Executive Office and be responsible for managing the organization’s finances. The Director of Finance will supervise the work of an outside accounting team and partner with the General Counsel to ensure regulatory and tax compliance, support development initiatives, and serve as an advisor to the CEO and President. The Director of Finance will also support a partner organization for part of their time. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Serve as the primary financial advisor the the CEO and Chief of Staff.
• Lead a team of outside accountants and budget consultants to forecast expenses and develop annual budgets for the CEO and President and the Board of Directors. 
• Work closely with the Executive Office to support annual audits and oversee annual tax filings.
• Partner with General Counsel to implement internal controls and ensure tax and regulatory compliance.
• Serve as the organization’s primary point of contact with financial institutions.
• Work with outside accountants to prepare monthly journal entries, maintain cost allocation spreadsheets, and update the Executive Office on financial matters, as appropriate.
• Work with Operations team to ensure processing of accounts payable and payroll and review accounts receivable. 
• Provide training to client staff to ensure internal controls are properly implemented and followed.
• Review monthly bank reconciliation, monitor daily bank balance and cash flow, and analyze results of financial statements and significant variances in budget.
• Conduct forecasting and trend analysis as requested and support budget planning to include analysis of opportunities for headcount growth or reduction as needed.
• Other duties as assigned by CEO or Chief of Staff.

Qualifications 

• Degree in Accounting or Finance from an accredited university. Masters in accounting/ business and/or a CPA/CMA a plus.
• 10-15 years of accounting experience in a non-profit environment and familiarity with IRS regulations related to 501(c)(3) organizations.
• Experience with and commitment to creating an inclusive culture
• Excellent judgment, flexibility, and emotional intelligence
• Experience building, growing, and managing teams 
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
• Superb interpersonal skills with the ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Service-orientated, self-starter who possesses strong project management and system and problem-solving skills 
• Must be able to effectively prioritize and manage multiple tasks to ensure deadlines are met and work is complete and accurate 

This position is based in the Washington, DC area and candidates must work in Democracy Forward’s Washington, DC offices as needed. This position reports to the Chief of Staff. 

The salary range for this position is $140,000 - $160,000 plus excellent benefits. Compensation is commensurate with experience. 

Democracy Forward is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals. We strongly encourage people of color; lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities; and veterans to apply. Please note that all lawyer positions require a law degree and active membership in the bar of a state or the District of Columbia. 

Not sure you meet all of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement.  If you believe that you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you are new to mission-based legal and policy work, returning to work after a gap in employment, or simply looking to transition or take the next step in your career path, we welcome the opportunity to have you on our radar.  Please include in your cover letter the nature of your interest in legal and policy work promoting democracy and progress and what you hope to bring to our team and the role for which you are applying.