In 2016, we launched Save the Children’s first global strategy, Ambition for Children, and a three-year work plan for 2016-18 to drive implementation across our entire global organization. We organized our global strategy around three ‘breakthroughs’ for children that we want to catalyse by 2030: ending preventable child deaths; ensuring that every child learns; and ensuring that violence against children is no longer tolerated. As we embark on our 2019-21 global work plan, the challenges facing children, and our mission, are as urgent as ever. Our breakthroughs – survive, learn, protect – respond to the most critical issues affecting children, and are a compelling cause behind which people will give their support.
Based in our Fairfield, CT office, the Chief Financial Officer of Save the Children US plays a critical leadership role in the achievement of this strategy, both within the US and across the Save the Children global movement, ensuring world-class and well-coordinated financial, risk management and audit functions that contribute to excellent financial operations. The CFO is a member of the Agency’s Senior Management Team (SMT) whose mission is to help steer the overall strategy and impact of the organization.
The Chief Financial Officer reports to the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer and will work closely with Chief Executive Officer and the SMT. The Chief Financial Officer manages all aspects of finance, and is responsible for creating and maintaining a strong control environment across the agency. The departments the CFO manages are Financial Planning and Analysis, Financial Operations (Accounting, Reporting and Tax, Payroll, Accounts Payable), Global Finance and Revenue (Donor Billing/accounts receivable, Grants Accounting, and all Revenue Processing), Grants and Contracts Policy and Compliance, Financial Architecture, Risk, Innovation and Treasury. This role is the executive lead for the Investments, Audit and Finance Committees of the Board.
This role will contribute to the development and implementation of a business strategy and establishing a culture of strong financial and cost control and appropriate risk management, and will drive a robust financial planning and analysis function to provide real-time insights to the leadership team and Board of Directors.
Organizational Leadership
- Develop and deliver on annual goals in 2019-2021 Save the Children’s global strategy, ensuring balanced focus on innovation, thought leadership, results data, and financial growth. This role works closely with finance colleagues in the Save the Children Federation, including Save the Children International.
- Provide direct supervision and development of a team of five direct reports, with a total responsibility for approximately 50 finance division staff, located in Washington, DC, Fairfield, CT, Lexington, KY, and remote locations, ensuring the cultivation of a highly motivated and engaged team culture that is congruent with Save the Children’s core values of ambition, accountability, collaboration, creativity and integrity.
- Set direction and provide financial oversight for about 30 additional staff members carrying out financial functions in other divisions
- Foster a culture of collaborating, learning, and adapting within the Finance Division and other departments within Save the Children US, encouraging coordination and cross-functional work for improved quality and impact.
- Embrace, create the conditions for, and insist upon a harassment-free workplace that is safe for both our employees and the people we serve
- Ensure SCUS’ operational model optimizes capacity across Member and SCI levels, improves positioning for competitive procurements, achieves efficiencies, and maintains accountability to our donors
Financial Leadership
- Build up a robust financial planning and analysis function to provide real-time insights regarding organization financials in collaboration with IT and other teams to ensure the improvements are achieved and realized in a cross-functional environment.
- Run a clear corporate business financial cycle, encompassing strategic planning, budgeting and reporting.
- Maintain an appropriate financial model for Save the Children US that aligns resources to our shared Save the Children International financial strategy, but also collaborates, impacts and influences financial and strategic management decisions throughout the Save the Children Association (SCA) as a member and stakeholder.
- Provide critical analytical perspectives and executive financial summaries and guidance to important strategic decisions, including M&A activities and significant capital investments
- Liaise with and support the Chairs of the Audit, Finance, and Investment Committees of the Save the Children US Board of Directors, as well as the SCA/SCI CFO and management team.
- Meaningfully participate in the Global Finance Leadership Team, which, for the global movement, sets strategy and priorities for the finance function, overseas implementation of finance initiatives, overseas the global annual budgeting process, and ensures sound financial practices.
- Advise the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer on developments in financial management practices and reporting, including potential and actual changes in accounting principles as well as tax, regulatory and reporting requirements for government-funded organizations; advise leadership on ways to improve the efficiency of the organization’s financial practices.
- Manage the accounting systems, processes and procedures to record, monitor and report on the organization’s assets and liabilities in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and all regulatory requirements.
- Ensure the process and timely preparation of all financial statements and reporting, including regular financial statements to management, regulatory agencies and the Board.
- Serve as the primary interface with the external auditor and auditing partner; oversee the annual audit of the organization’s financial statements by its external auditors on a timely basis.
- Maintain responsibility for cash flow and cash forecasting in partnership with Save the Children International.
- Oversee the development of business cases and appraisals for investment initiatives with active monitoring of return on investment.
- Lead the development and reporting against the financial portion of the agreed upon Key Performance Indicators/scoreboard for SC-US and SCI.
- Fifteen or more years of substantive experience in financial management;
- A record of accomplishment in leveraging technology and systems (and upgrading when appropriate) to drive automation and efficiencies across the organization. An ability to access and share real-time data to influence collaborative debate and decision-making is critical.
- Excellent analytical, conceptual thinking, interpersonal, strategic planning and project management skills.
- Solid GAAP and reporting skills coupled with strong analytical and budgetary experience. Experience with USG funding and its compliance regulations, as well as experience in A133, NICRA, and OMB circulars, is a plus.
- Ability to communicate high-level strategic vision as well as the details associated with variances against budgets/forecasts to the leadership team and to the Board of Directors.
- Demonstrated success as a hands-on, proactive and engaged partner to management and will have contributed to the overall strategic and operational dialogue of a significant organization or division.
- The successful candidate will be comfortable in an interdisciplinary and high-performing environment that reflects the professionalism and standing of Save the Children US in the philanthropic community
- Must have a track record of partnering across an organization and listening to the point of view and perspective of multiple stakeholders.
- A person who recognizes the potential of Save the Children and is attracted to and is passionate about its mission.
- The ability to forge collaborative relationships with the operational and programmatic sides of the organization is essential to this role.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively and closely with Senior Management colleagues as well as a Boards of Trustees.
- Must have the highest integrity, sound judgment, and a demonstrated respect for diversity in all forms.
- Ability to convey Save the Children's vision and generate commitment to Save the Children ideals and programs from a wide variety for external donors, as well as internal staff.
- Entrepreneurial, high-energy, yet pragmatic leadership style to excite and motivate a team, as well as the ability to hire, train, motivate and retain a strong management staff to help him/her build a fundraising organization seen as a great place to work; able to lead by example rather than hierarchy.
- Well-honed strategic thinking skills and the ability to be flexible and adaptable in order to revise strategies as necessary.
- Model a balance of self-confidence and humility; who will argue persuasively for one’s view but in the face of new information, business realities, and compelling logic will be open to modification and compromise.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in a global NGO, corporate finance organization within a global corporation or government contractor is preferred
- Ideally has served in a position with significant Board of Directors exposure
- Experience in a geographically dispersed and matrixed organization of similar size and complexity is highly preferred.
- A CPA, MBA, or equivalent is highly desirable.
- Aetna Medical and Dental insurance with a concierge service
- Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
- Vision Insurance
- Life insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Commuter Benefit Program
- Vacation and Sick leave
- Paid holidays
What makes us special!
- Generous Retirement Savings with matching company contributions of up to 8%
- Family Leave – 10 additional days of paid time off for you to use to care for your family members
- Additional Maternity and Paternity Leave – 30 days where parents can take additional paid leave (beyond short-term disability and FMLA) at the birth or adoption of a child during that critical first year!
- Critical Child Illness Leave – We hope you never have to use it, but we will provide an additional 30 days of paid leave per year should your dependent child be faced with a critical illness.
- Pet Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Identity Protection, Home, Auto and additional Life insurances
- Summer Fun Fridays – During the summer months, early release at 1:30 pm every other Friday!
- Volunteer Day – One paid day a year to support the causes that matter to you!
- Ergonomic Options – Every employee at our HQ offices has the option of a sitting/standing desk
- Leadership and Employee Development Training, including:
- Our remarkable in-house CORE, Senior Management Development, and Leadership Development Programs
- Language learning opportunities
- Continuous Improvement skill development programs
- Brown Bag information sharing sessions
- Work hard/Play hard! We make sure there’s ample opportunity for fun, engagement, and celebration while you work, such as networking events, March Madness, World Cup, Dodgeball Tournaments, Take Your Child to Work Day, Founder’s Day, and our annual Day of Service