Director of Finance
Full-time, exempt
Salary Range : $190,000-$210,000
Candidate must live in Washington State or California to be eligible.
Build Magic Cabinet's First In House Finance Function
Magic Cabinet is seeking its first in-house Director of Finance.
Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you'll build the financial systems, processes, and partnerships that support a growing philanthropic foundation. You'll lead the transition of key financial operations from an external financial partner to an internal team while serving as a strategic partner to the Executive Team and Board.
This role combines financial leadership with organizational building. You'll strengthen the systems that support a $30 million and growing operating budget, help leaders make informed decisions, and create the financial foundation for Magic Cabinet's next chapter.
If you enjoy building systems that help organizations grow, translating financial information into strategic insight, and working collaboratively to strengthen an organization's ability to serve its mission, we'd love to hear from you. Please review the key responsibilities and qualifications and if you'd like to apply please note the directions at the end of this post.
Director of Finance responsibilities include:
Financial Management and Reporting
- Manage the ongoing relationship with Magic Cabinet's external financial vendor, ensuring accuracy of monthly reports, timely communication, and accountability to deliverables during the transition period;
- Provide executive-level financial analysis and strategic recommendations to the COO, Executive Team and Board Finance Committee, translating complex financial information into clear organizational insights;
- Review and interpret financial reports produced by the external vendor, identifying discrepancies, flagging risks, and translating findings for the COO, Executive Team, and board finance committee;
- Direct organization funds management strategy ensuring long-term financial sustainability across operating, endowment and grantmaking funds;
- Monitor cash flow across restricted and unrestricted fund structures, including grantmaking pools and endowment, in coordination with the external vendor;
- Provide executive oversight on tax filings and required regulatory reporting and fiduciary obligations in partnership with external accountants;
- Lead the annual audit process, serving as the primary internal point of contact with external auditors.
Systems Transition and Infrastructure Build
- Lead and advance an in-progress, phased transition of key financial operations from an external vendor to internal management, including accounts payable/invoicing, corporate card management, and payroll;
- Some transitions are already underway; this role is responsible for picking up where work stands, driving each stage to completion, and leading subsequent phases;
- Oversee implementation and ongoing management of Bill.com, BambooHR and QuickBooks Online (QBO) as each comes online;
- Develop and document financial policies, procedures, and internal controls in support of each transition;
- Provide strategic leadership in partnership with the COO to ensure financial systems align with organizational priorities and long-term operational strategy, ensuring systems are integrated, staff-ready, and built for scale;
- Identify and implement ongoing process improvements to support organizational efficiency as the budget and team grow;
As systems transitions are completed, this role is expected to take on full accounting and financial reporting functions currently managed by the external vendor, including general ledger, monthly close, and financial reporting.
Budgeting and Financial Planning
- Lead the annual organizational budget development process in partnership with the COO and department leads;
- Monitor and report on budget performance throughout the year, including variance analysis and projections;
- Develop multi-year financial strategy, modeling, scenario planning, and forecasting to inform executive and board decision-making;
- Support financial dimensions of grant management, including funder-specific compliance, reporting, and drawdown.
Payroll and Compliance
- Lead payroll processing once transitioned internally, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with state and federal requirements across California and Washington;
- Maintain compliance with applicable nonprofit financial regulations and funder contractual requirements;
- Serve as the organization's primary resource on tax and financial compliance matters.
Administrative Duties
- Utilize standard business software, including spreadsheets, accounting platforms, project management tools, video conferencing, and collaborative documents;
- Actively participate in internal meetings and training.
- Actively participate in self- and peer- review processes.
- Actively participate in operational systems and procedures, such as expense tracking and documentation.
- Build collaborative relationships across departments to strengthen financial stewardship.
- Represent Finance in cross-functional organizational planning.
- All Magic Cabinet staff members are encouraged to participate in the betterment of Magic Cabinet's procedures and processes.
Miscellaneous
- Additional duties or special projects as assigned.
Employee must:
- be able to work a flexible schedule with occasional work early mornings, evenings and/or weekends.
- be able to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time at home office or events.
- have the ability to operate standard office equipment.
- be able to travel as needed, both locally and to other state(s).
We are committed to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals. If you require an accommodation to perform an essential job function, let us know.
We recognize that both professional and lived experiences shape how individuals contribute to this work. We strongly value candidates whose experiences inform their understanding of inequity, power, and community-led change, and whose perspectives strengthen our ability to partner with communities.
People come to this work through many paths. If this role resonates with you, we encourage you to apply-especially if you come from communities historically underrepresented in philanthropy and nonprofit leadership.
You are well qualified if you have:
- A minimum of seven years of progressive experience in financial management, accounting, or a related field, with at least three years in a senior or leadership capacity, and a track record that peers and supervisors would describe as exceptional;
- Demonstrated experience managing organizational budgets with restricted and unrestricted fund structures, including grant compliance and funder reporting;
- Hands-on experience with accounts payable, payroll processing, and financial system implementation or migration;
- Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit tax compliance, including familiarity with private foundation rules, tipping risk, and IRS compliance requirements; a CPA or equivalent technical background is strongly preferred and may be required depending on candidate experience.
- Experience managing nonprofit audits and tax reporting;
- Ability to translate financial complexity into clear, actionable information for executive and board audiences;
- Comfort operating as a sole in-house finance leader, managing multiple priorities independently, and building systems with minimal precedent to draw from.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in a private foundation, family foundation, or comparable philanthropic or mission-driven environment;
- Background in Big 4, financial services, or another high-rigor financial environment, with a commitment to applying that excellence in service of community;
- Experience with QuickBooks Online (QBO), Bill.com or comparable platforms;
- Experience managing payroll or financial systems transitions;
- Multi-state financial management experience, particularly in California and Washington.
Competencies and Mindset:
- Able to establish trust and communicate directly and clearly;
- A skilled collaborator who is comfortable working across functions and in team-based settings;
- Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and a strong command of financial process;
- Demonstrated ability to work independently with significant autonomy, exercising sound judgment in ambiguous situations and knowing when to escalate;
- Goal-oriented with a deep commitment to accuracy and continuous improvement;
- Aware of societal and personal bias, comfortable engaging in dialogue surrounding its presence, and committed to dismantling its influence;
- Excited about joining a growing foundation building something new, and energized by the prospect of growing into expanded responsibility over time;
Passion for:
- The power of philanthropy to deepen community impact
- Racial, social, environmental, and economic justice
- Locally inclusive communities and the nonprofit sector
The Magic Cabinet provides all full-time employees with:
- Medical insurance is covered at 100% for you
- Generous dental and vision care stipend for you and your dependents
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Parental leave program
- The ability to work from the office or home
- Home office stipend for internet and other home office needs
- Foundation-paid continuing education and networking opportunities
Cover Letter Instructions
Please submit a cover letter (no more than two pages) alongside your resume. We use cover letters as a meaningful part of our evaluation, so please take the time to be thoughtful and specific.
In your letter, we ask that you address the following:
- Your interest in this role and in Magic Cabinet. What draws you to this work, and to this moment in the organization's development?
- Your financial background and range. Describe the environments in which you have worked, the complexity of budgets and systems you have managed, and share specific examples of financial infrastructure you have built or significantly improved. What does your track record tell us about the kind of financial leader you are?
- The perspective you bring from lived experience and/or sustained direct engagement with historically underserved or marginalized communities. This role requires someone who can hold financial rigor and mission alignment simultaneously. We are interested in how your background and experiences shape the way you approach your work and show up as a colleague.
We welcome candidates to address these in whatever order and depth feels most authentic to them.
Application deadline: 12:00pm (Noon) on August 17th, 2026
