Stamford, CT, USA

Full-time

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Type: Full-time/Exempt

Location: Stamford, CT

To Apply: Please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected]

Overview of the Organization

buildOn is a not-for-profit organization working to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education. buildOn is not a charity, it’s a movement. In the United States, we run intensive service learning programs in 40 under-resourced, urban high schools in seven major cities. Through these programs, buildOn empowers youth to transform their communities through high-impact service. Over the last 27 years buildOn has empowered more than 100,000 urban youth to contribute more than 2.0 million hours of service that has touched the lives of more than 1.0 million people living below the U.S. poverty line. 97% of these youth graduate high school and nearly all of these go to college, even though 40% of the kids going to the same schools drop out.

Teams of buildOn students from our programs also fan out across the world to help build schools in the economically poorest countries on the planet. We have now built nearly 1,300 schools in Haiti, Nicaragua, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Malawi and Nepal. More than 2.0 million children, parents and grand-parents have attended these schools so far, while more than 160,000 attend buildOn schools every day. 50% of all students are girls or women. Most importantly, community members have organized leadership committees and contributed more than 2.0 million volunteer work days to literally build their schools.

Areas of Responsibility:

Key Responsibilities

Develop and implement a vision for the U.S. and global finance team in alignment with the strategic plan
Provide leadership, direction and supervision to financial and human resources staff and oversee the day-to-day operations of the buildOn finance function.
Provide leadership to the Data and Operations function which is responsible for the collection, analysis and reporting of data in all countries and all departments, using the Salesforce platform. The operations function is also responsible for technology and facilities.
Work with department heads to develop the annual and three-year budget for approval by the CEO and the national Board of Directors
Generate monthly financial statements and reports which analyze all expenses, revenues and the balance sheet for whole organization, each region, each country and each department.
Generate a monthly financial dashboard which accurately forecasts cash position, revenue and expenses; help CEO and Board of Directors to “see around the corner”
Provide leadership to a growing Human Resources department by overseeing staff, payroll and benefits administration and 403(b) plan management
Manage the buildOn Fund Acting as an Endowment under the guidance of the Finance Committee
Foster a culture of boundary spanning and collaboration across departments, regions and countries with the goal of increasing organization-wide financial transparency and ownership
Ensure that the necessary systems and controls are in place to maintain compliance with the highest ethical standards as well as all applicable laws, regulations and requirements of funders
Work closely with the Development Team to provide the necessary financial analysis and support for revenue generation
Strengthen internal controls to manage cash flow, protect financial assets and ensure a focus on efficiencies and cost savings where possible
Lead the annual audit process and act as primary liaison to the Audit Committee of the Board and the audit firm
Prepare and manage all tax submissions to the IRS, including the Form 990
Manage insurance programs for both domestic and international programs, liability, directors and officers and worker’s compensation; negotiate annual renewals with vendors
Ensure financial controls and procedures are streamlined and clear to all so as to ensure proper checks and balances and best practices

Skills/Experience:

Required Qualifications

Passion for and commitment to the mission and core values of buildOn
Grit, resilience and tenacity around achieving our mission
Track record of leading by example with ability to “role up your sleeves” and “hustle” when necessary to reach key goals
10+ years of senior financial leadership experience in a nonprofit or business environment; experience in an international nonprofit a plus
Strong leadership skills featuring a collaborative style and an entrepreneurial spirit, along with demonstrated experience leading teams to excellent results
Highly strategic mindset, including the ability to develop and execute plans for growth and reach those goals
Strong organizational and financial management skills and excellent budgeting and business planning skills; experience with nonprofit/fund accounting a plus
Ability to manage complex financial operations in a decentralized, high-growth organization
Exposure to Human Resources (HR) and an ability to provide strategic leadership in the HR Department
Familiarity with US GAAP, International Reporting Standards (IFRS) and International Accounting Standards (IAS) a plus
Strong affinity for technology and experience working with financial systems; knowledge of Salesforce and MIP a strong plus
Excellent written and oral communication skills and an ability to connect with and present to a variety of stakeholders including staff, leadership and the Board of Directors
Bright and compassionate with grit, a drive to excel and an unwillingness to give up
Reserves of energy, a good sense of humor and an ability to understand and respect the perspectives of others
Bachelor’s degree in relevant field; CPA or Master’s preferred