Finance Manager

Position Summary:

Are you an experienced finance professional with strong technical expertise and a passion for social progress? If so, Democracy Forward Foundation is hiring a Finance Manager to join our team. The Finance Manager will play a critical role in managing the organization’s financial operations, providing analysis, and supporting leadership with timely insights. This role is ideal for a candidate with nonprofit finance experience who is ready to step into a senior individual contributor or emerging manager capacity.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, the position will oversee core financial management functions, including budgeting, forecasting, reporting, grant compliance, and audit coordination. Ideally, candidates will be equally comfortable rolling up their sleeves for day-to-day accounting and elevating to deliver clear analysis that informs decision-making at the leadership level. This role offers the opportunity to pair your financial expertise with meaningful work in a values-driven organization. You’ll help ensure strong stewardship of resources and enable our programs to thrive, while contributing to a collaborative and equity-centered workplace.

Democracy Forward Foundation’s office is located in Washington, DC; the employee is expected to be in the office an average of 2 days per week. While candidates in the DC area are preferred, remote candidates outside of the DC area will also be considered. If a candidate is outside of the DC area, travel to DC is expected 1-2 times per quarter. 

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Management & Reporting:

• Drive the annual budgeting process and develop quarterly forecasts.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual management reporting in compliance with nonprofit accounting standards.
• Review monthly bank reconciliation, monitor daily bank balance and cash flow, and analyze results of financial statements and significant budget variances.
• Monitor financial performance, analyze variances, and provide actionable insights to leadership.
• Identify risks and opportunities to budget targets and recommend corrective actions.
• Maintain strong internal controls, policies, and procedures to ensure fiscal integrity.

Grant & Compliance Oversight:

• Support requests for financial material from the development team for potential funders.
• Prepare and monitor grant budgets, ensuring compliance with funder requirements.
• Produce timely financial reports and invoices for grants and contracts.
• Support restricted fund tracking and allocations, ensuring accuracy and transparency.
• Coordinate annual audit and tax filings, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Provide training to staff to ensure internal controls are properly implemented and followed. 

Operations & Oversight: 

• 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.
• Ensure timely and accurate processing of accounts payable and payroll and review accounts receivable.
• Oversee day-to-day financial operations including payroll, fellowship stipends, and banking relationships.
• Support cash flow management and investment policy implementation.

Qualifications:

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA, CFA, or MBA preferred).
• 5+ years of progressive experience in accounting and financial management; nonprofit experience strongly preferred.
• Sophisticated understanding of GAAP and nonprofit financial compliance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; proven ability to translate financial data into actionable insights.
• Excellent communication skills, with ability to present complex financial information clearly to non-finance colleagues.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and familiarity with nonprofit financial software (e.g., Intacct, QuickBooks, or similar).
• Commitment to the mission of advancing equity and strengthening communities.

The salary range for this position is $85,000-$110,000 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.