Director of Finance

Job Title: Director of Finance
Career Level: Level 5, M2/P4
Department: Business Operations
Location: Remote in United States
Work Location Fully Remote
Status: Exempt
Supervisor: Executive Director
Supervises: Finance Officer and Operations Specialist, or other assigned finance personnel

GENERAL FUNCTION

The Director of Finance oversees the organization's day-to-day financial management, including budgeting, forecasting, accounting, financial reporting, cash flow, grant finance, compliance, audits, and financial systems. This is a hands-on role requiring direct execution of financial analysis, reporting, reconciliations, and process improvement to ensure accurate, timely, and reliable financial management.

Working closely with the Executive Director, program leaders, and department teams, the Director of Finance provides financial insights to support operational decisions, resource allocation, risk management, and organizational sustainability. The position maintains effective financial controls, monitors funding and liquidity, and ensures compliance with donor requirements, applicable regulations, and organizational policies.

The Director of Finance supervises the Finance Officer, as applicable, and manages the Operations Manager, who coordinates organizational and program operations. The role collaborates across functions while maintaining clear accountability for financial oversight and approvals, distinct from operational, HR, IT, and Legal responsibilities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The following duties are essential to the position. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Financial Planning, Budgeting, and Analysis

• Lead the annual organizational budgeting process in collaboration with program and department leaders, aligning resources with available funding and organizational priorities.
• Prepare periodic forecasts, budget-to-actual analyses, financial projections, and scenario models to assess funding changes, staffing, operating costs, and organizational sustainability.
• Analyze revenue, expenditures, restricted and unrestricted funding, cost recovery, and financial trends; identify variances and recommend corrective actions.
• Maintain consolidated organizational and project budgets and provide timely financial reports, analysis, and recommendations to the Executive Director and leadership team.

Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Systems

• Manage day-to-day accounting, including general ledger oversight, journal entries, account reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, and month-end and year-end close.
• Prepare or coordinate accurate and timely financial statements, management reports, supporting schedules, and reconciliations.
• Maintain accounting structures, cost allocation methodologies, financial records, and reporting systems to ensure data integrity and reliable financial information.
• Improve accounting, budgeting, reporting, and financial workflows; develop practical tools and procedures that strengthen accuracy, efficiency, and internal controls.

Cash Flow, Treasury, and Financial Risk Management

• Prepare and maintain short- and long-term cash flow forecasts and monitor liquidity, cash balances, receivables, payables, and funding requirements.
• Develop financial scenarios to assess delayed donor payments, funding reductions, restructuring, and changes in operating costs; recommend appropriate cash conservation and expenditure controls.
• Monitor foreign currency balances, exchange rate impacts, and other financial exposures and maintain accurate bank reconciliations and supporting documentation.
• Identify and communicate financial risks, funding gaps, and liquidity concerns to the Executive Director and leadership team.

Grants, Contracts, Compliance, and Procurement

• Develop and monitor budgets for grants, contracts, subawards, and proposals in collaboration with program and business development teams.
• Monitor expenditures, funding restrictions, cost allocations, indirect cost recovery, grant balances, and award requirements to ensure appropriate financial management and timely reporting.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, U.S. government award requirements, Uniform Guidance, donor regulations, contractual obligations, and organizational policies.
• Maintain financial controls, procurement policies, approval thresholds, and documentation standards; review significant purchases, vendor agreements, consulting contracts, and subawards for budget impact, financial risk, and compliance.
• Coordinate with the Operations Manager and program teams on procurement and contract administration, maintaining clear accountability for financial review and approval. Coordinate legal review with qualified counsel as needed.

Audits, Tax Filings, and External Reporting

• Coordinate annual financial statement audits, applicable federal single audits, donor audits, and other external financial reviews.
• Prepare or coordinate audit schedules, workpapers, reconciliations, grant documentation, and responses to auditor requests.
• Facilitate preparation and filing of IRS Form 990 and other applicable tax and regulatory reports, working with external advisors as appropriate.
• Track audit findings, coordinate corrective actions, maintain organized supporting documentation, and ensure required filings and reports are completed accurately and on time.

Organizational Coordination, Leadership, and Board Support

• Serve as the primary contact for day-to-day financial questions, providing practical guidance to program teams, budget holders, and department leaders on budgeting, expenditures, cost allocations, donor requirements, and financial procedures.
• Coordinate with HR on payroll budgeting, personnel cost allocations, and staffing forecasts, and collaborate with Operations and other functional teams on organizational processes with financial implications.
• Provide the Executive Director and leadership team with financial reporting, forecasts, scenario analyses, and recommendations to support operational decisions and long-term financial sustainability.
• Prepare financial materials for the Board of Directors and Finance Committee, including financial statements, budget updates, liquidity reports, forecasts, and audit information.
• Track outstanding financial tasks, approvals, reporting requirements, and corrective actions, and coordinate follow-up on leadership and Board decisions.

In all duties, uphold Internews' Core Values and demonstrate commitment to fostering a culture of Belonging, Dignity, and Justice.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Experience: 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in finance or accounting, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, cash flow management, and internal controls.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required. Master's degree in Business Administration or a related field, CPA, or equivalent professional credential preferred.
• Revenue Management: Experience managing diverse revenue streams, particularly social impact investments, foundation funding, and fee-for-service or other earned income.
• Nonprofit Finance: Demonstrated experience managing nonprofit finances, including restricted funding, grant accounting, cost allocations, indirect cost recovery, and donor financial reporting. Accounting and Compliance: Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting, grant compliance, and U.S. government and institutional donor requirements.
• Audits and Regulatory Reporting: Experience coordinating annual financial statement audits, IRS Form 990 filings, and other applicable regulatory reporting.
• Financial Analysis and Systems: Ability to develop financial models, analyze complex financial information, identify risks, communicate actionable recommendations, and administer accounting systems and reporting tools.
• Leadership and Collaboration: Experience supervising finance personnel and working effectively with senior leadership, program teams, and cross-functional colleagues.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in QuickBooks, Microsoft Excel, and other financial reporting, data analysis, or business intelligence tools.
• Communication: Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, including the ability to explain complex financial information to non-financial audiences.
• Organizational Effectiveness: Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Professional Judgment: Demonstrated integrity, discretion, confidentiality, sound judgment, and strong relationship-building skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS and WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met or may be encountered by an employee performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include normal color perception and close vision for use of computer terminal and reading printed and electronic materials. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to the risk of radiation from regular exposure to computer VDTs.

Expected office hours are generally Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.

The above noted job description is not intended to describe, in detail, the multitude of tasks that may be assigned but rather to give the associate a general sense of the responsibilities and expectations of their position. As the nature of business demands change so, too, may the essential functions of this position.