Position Purpose

Working as part of the Finance team and reporting to the Senior Vice President, Finance, the Director, Accounting is responsible for leading the Foundation's accounting operations and financial reporting activities. The Director oversees the monthly and annual financial close processes, ensures the timely and accurate preparation of financial information, maintains a strong internal control environment, and provides leadership for the Foundation's accounting team and financial systems.

This position directs the day-to-day operations of the Finance Department, supervises accounting and gift processing personnel, and serves as the primary accounting resource for financial reporting, audit activities, investment accounting, budgeting support, and financial system administration. The Director, Accounting partners closely with the Grants & Funds Manager to ensure grants, restricted funds, and related financial activity are accurately accounted for and reported.

The Director, Accounting is expected to drive continuous improvement in processes, systems, controls, and staff development while providing operational leadership. This role is key in the financial reporting process by preparing monthly financial statements and ensuring compliance with applicable accounting standards.

Direct Reports: Accounting Specialist, Gift Processing Associate, Gift Processing Specialist, Senior Accountant

Key Responsibilities

1. Expectations for All Managers

Working closely with the Leadership Team:

• Develop and Influence Culture: As a manager, realize the importance of modeling and influencing Riley culture. Exhibit trust, innovation and inclusion.
• Lead the Way and Be Accountable: Manage staff in planning and organizing projects. Develop goals and accountabilities. Follow Foundation performance management practices and meet Human Resources deadlines. Model the way.
• Hire the Best: Have up-to-date job descriptions for all direct reports. Follow Foundation hiring practices. Prepare and participate in new employee orientation.
• Guide Your Staff: Set clear expectations and high standards of performance. Provide training, coaching, feedback and corrective action when necessary.
• Engage Your Staff: Be approachable to direct reports and others. Use forms of recognition to thank employees within your team and across the Foundation. Collaborate across the Foundation.
• Create a Best Practice Operation: Stay up to date on best practices. Effectively allocate resources.Manage budget as necessary.Establish metrics to minimize costs and maximize impact.
• Manager Training: Actively participate in all Manager Briefings and use the skills and behaviors identified.

1. Financial Reporting and Close Management

• Day-to-Day Activities: Oversee and evaluate the day-to-day operations of the Finance Department including cash, accounts payable, cash receipts, gift processing, journal entries, investments, account reconciliation, fixed assets, etc.
• Pledges: Review pledge receivables reconciliation, and complete net present value calculations for multi-year pledges.
• Gift income: Reconcile gift income as recorded in Salesforce and reported as production in the fundraising results to amounts reported in the financial statements.
• Payroll: Lead the payroll processing process and ensure payroll is completed accurately and timely.
• Financial Close: Lead and manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes. Monitor close deadlines and coordinate work assignments to ensure timely completion.
• Financial Statements: Ensure consolidated and entity financial statements are completed accurately and timely. Analyze financial results and investigate unusual fluctuations or discrepancies. Ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), nonprofit accounting standards, and Foundation policies.
• Review: Review account activity to ensure coding errors are identified and expenses are recorded in the appropriate month.
• Policies and Procedures: Develop and maintain accounting policies and procedures.
• Other Reports and Analysis: Assist in the preparation of financial reports and analysis to Foundation leadership, Board Committees and Board of Governors.

1. Internal Controls and Compliance

• Internal Controls: Maintain a strong internal control environment designed to safeguard Foundation assets and donor resources. Monitor segregation of duties, approval controls, and other key financial safeguards.
• Compliance: Monitor compliance with established accounting policies and procedures. Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, regulatory requirements, and Foundation policies.
• Assess: Evaluate existing controls and implement enhancements where needed. Identify operational risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Documentation: Assist in developing and documenting accounting and operational procedures.

1. Systems and Processes

• Financial systems: Administer the financial systems of the Foundation, ensuring users are trained to effectively utilize the system to improve reporting, analysis and distribution of information.
• HRIS: Working with Administration, oversee the data integrity of the HRIS system to ensure a timely and accurate payroll, reconciliation of benefit enrollments to vendor invoices, and transfer of 401(k) contributions, FSA/HSA contributions, garnishments, etc.
• Processes: Ensure workflows and processes are efficient and well documented. Ensure internal controls are in place for all significant accounting processes.
• Policies: Develop financial policies for the organization to ensure good stewardship of the Foundation's assets, including policies for employee expense reimbursements, travel and entertainment expenses, and fixed asset purchases. Review accounting policies on an annual basis and recommend changes where indicated.

1. Budgeting and Financial Planning Support

• Budget Coordination: Coordinate the annual budgeting process and maintain the budget development calendar to ensure departmental submissions, reviews, approvals, and presentations are completed according to established timelines.
• Budget Tools: Develop and distribute budget templates, instructions, assumptions, and supporting schedules for use by department leaders.
• Consolidation: Compile and consolidate departmental budget submissions into the Foundation's annual operating budget. Review budget submissions for completeness, reasonableness, mathematical accuracy, and consistency with established budget guidelines.
• Analysis: Prepare detailed budget schedules, supporting analyses, staffing summaries, and trend reports for review by the Senior Vice President, Finance. Develop budget-to-budget, budget-to-actual, and trend analyses to support leadership decision-making during the annual planning process.
• Department Support: Assist department leaders with budget questions, account coding, forecast preparation, and interpretation of financial information.
• Presentation Materials: Prepare budget presentations, schedules, and supporting materials for executive leadership, the Finance Committee, and the Board of Governors.
• Forecasting: Monitor budget performance throughout the year and prepare periodic forecasts, variance analyses, and financial projections for management review.
• Strategic Partnership: Partner with the Senior Vice President, Finance to evaluate budget assumptions, organizational priorities, staffing plans, and strategic initiatives impacting financial performance.

1. Payroll Oversight

• Approve: Review and approve bi-weekly payroll processing to ensure employee compensation is accurate, complete, and processed in accordance with established deadlines. Review payroll reports for accuracy and investigate unusual or inconsistent items prior to payroll approval.
• Documentation: Verify supporting documentation for payroll changes, including new hires, terminations, pay rate changes, benefit deductions, paid time off, and other personnel actions. Maintain appropriate documentation supporting payroll approvals and compliance requirements.
• Compliance: Ensure payroll transactions comply with Foundation policies, applicable laws, and internal control requirements. Coordinate with Human Resources and payroll providers to resolve payroll-related questions, discrepancies, or processing issues. Ensure segregation of duties and proper authorization controls are maintained throughout the payroll process.
• Process Improvements: Monitor payroll processes and recommend improvements to strengthen efficiency, controls, and accuracy.
• Annual: Assist with year-end payroll reporting activities and audit requests related to payroll.

1. Audit, Compliance and External Reporting

• Audit Coordination: Coordinate and manage the annual financial statement audit, including development of audit timelines, preparation of schedules, compilation of supporting documentation, and monitoring progress toward completion.
• Audit Support: Serve as the primary day-to-day contact for external auditors and coordinate responses to audit requests, inquiries, testing procedures, and supporting documentation needs.
• Tax Support: Prepare, compile, and provide financial information, schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation necessary for completion of the Foundation's Form 990 and other tax filings. Support the Senior Vice President, Finance during the review process and assist with implementation of any reporting recommendations.
• Compliance Filings: Coordinate and complete required tax, regulatory, and compliance filings, including property tax filings, charitable registrations, and other applicable reporting requirements.
• Issue Resolution: Research technical accounting, audit, and compliance matters and develop recommendations for resolution. Escalate significant issues to the Senior Vice President, Finance as appropriate.

1. Investment Accounting and Reporting

• Investment Accounting: Oversee the accounting and financial reporting of the Foundation's investment portfolio, ensuring all investment transactions are accurately recorded in accordance with applicable accounting standards and Foundation policies.
• Reconciliations: Review and approve monthly investment reconciliations, including custody statements, investment manager reports, and related general ledger accounts.
• Financial Reporting: Ensure investment activity, including investment income, realized and unrealized gains and losses, management fees, and alternative investment activity, is accurately reflected in the Foundation's financial statements.
• Endowment Allocations: Coordinate and oversee the allocation of investment income, realized gains, unrealized gains, spending distributions, and related investment activity to donor-restricted endowment funds, quasi-endowments, and other investment pools in accordance with Foundation policies.
• Executive Partnership: Partner with the Senior Vice President, Finance to support investment reporting, spending policy calculations, endowment reporting, liquidity monitoring, and other investment-related initiatives.

1. Financial Systems Leadership

• Systems Administration: Serve as the Finance Department's subject matter expert for financial systems, donor systems, and related integrations, ensuring reliability, functionality, and effective utilization.
• System Enhancement: Lead the implementation, testing, and optimization of system enhancements, upgrades, and process improvements that support Finance operations.
• Data Integrity: Ensure the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of financial and operational data across all finance-related platforms.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement opportunities to improve workflows, reporting capabilities, automation, and the use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.
• Training & Vendor Management: Maintain system documentation, provide user training and support, and coordinate relationships with software vendors and implementation partners.

10. Reports, Analysis, and Special Projects

• Financial Analysis: Prepare financial analyses, management reports, dashboards, and other reporting to support decision-making by leadership, committees, and departmental stakeholders.
• Board Support: Develop schedules, supporting materials, and presentations for executive leadership, the Finance Committee, Audit Committee, and Board of Governors as requested.
• Special Projects: Lead and participate in special projects, initiatives, and organizational priorities assigned by the Senior Vice President, Finance.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, strengthen controls, enhance reporting capabilities, and streamline Finance Department operations.
• Strategic Support: Support the implementation of strategic initiatives through financial analysis, project coordination, reporting, and operational execution.

11. Administrative

• Meetings: Prepare for and actively parti