Chief Financial Officer

GENERAL SUMMARY: 

In keeping with the Mission Statement and Principles of Covenant House New Orleans (CHNO), the Chief Financial Officer is responsible for overall strategic and visionary management of the organization’s accounting and finance activities including reporting, budgets, investments, cash management, audits, and asset management as well as procurement and Human Resources. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the CFO is expected to work collaboratively with all members of the executive team to ensure the safe, efficient and sustainable operations of the organization.  

The ideal candidate will: 

• Have direct experience expanding Finance operations from the ground up, as well as developing, leading, and supporting a budding team.  

• Serve a critical leadership role in implementing CHNO’s strategic planning initiatives. 

• Possess and model a high degree of professionalism, diplomacy, influence, business acumen, and integrity while balancing confidentiality and trust. 

• Foster a healthy, cohesive team environment by leading with high emotional intelligence, integrity, effective communication and counsel, setting clearly defined expectations, and promoting efficiency, diversity, ownership, and accountability.    

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Organizational Leadership, Strategic Management and Policy Development 

• Oversee the infrastructure needed to support the growth and financial stability of the organization.  

• Working collaboratively with all members of the executive leadership team and key stakeholders both in and outside of the organization, execute the annual strategic planning/budget process. 

• Build trust and rapport with other executives by demonstrating your expertise, reliability and commitment to the organization's mission.  

• Foster open and honest communication to establish a solid foundation for collaboration. 

• Advocate for the importance of finance in driving organizational success. 

• Educate other executives, organizational leaders, and staff about the value that finance brings to the table and how it can support the initiatives and goals. 

• Provide direction, oversight and management of policies, procedures and protocols to properly execute activities and requirements related to assigned areas of responsibility. 

• Make recommendations for appropriate organization structure and design for efficient and effective operations and oversee the operational management accordingly. 

• Allocate necessary resources to execute aspects of the plan to meet program’s objectives. 

• Consistently evaluate program’s success or otherwise and identify and/or execute corrective measures accordingly. 

• Continuously invest in building strong relationships with other executives. 

• Regularly engage in one-on-one meetings, attend cross-functional meetings, and seek opportunities to collaborate and support each other's initiatives. 

Board Management 

• Attend and present at CHNO Board meetings and Board Finance committee meetings. 

• Serve as CHNO Board of Directors treasurer. 

• Interface with the Board of Directors through various committees and task forces as needed and informed by CHNO Board of Director Bylaws.  

• Liaise with the Board of Directors and Finance Committee to prepare all financial materials and supporting documents for the Board. 

Operations and Administration 

• Understand the need for technology changes to improve the accounting and financial reporting, increase security in the system and provide current technology to improve efficiency and effectiveness. 

• In collaboration with CEO and executive leaders, develop and manage the annual operating and capital budgets. 

• Reviews and monitors insurance coverage and renewal for risk management. 

• Serve as key stakeholder for the annual budgetary process, assist the leadership team, managers, and Board committees in preparation of budget and make recommendations for improvement when appropriate. 

• Manage requisition and approval of all expenses within areas of responsibility. 

Talent Management 

• Work with the Chief Operating Officer on the recruitment, management, and retention of committed and quality workforce for their department. 

• Supervises and oversees department of accountants, accounts payable, grants management, and other Finance related staff. 

• Oversee the goal setting process for the Finance team to inform annual staff performance evaluations and ensure routinized progress to goals monitoring towards achieving CHNO Strategic Plan goals 

Accounting and Finance 

• Oversee and ensure the prudent fiscal management of the organization to enable a positive and strong financial position. 

• Manage effective internal controls and ensures compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and applicable federal, state, and local regulatory laws and rules for financial and tax reporting 

• Oversee and/or initiate budget amendments as necessary.  

• Direct and oversee all aspects of the financial audit and ensure a timely completion of the annual independent financial audits and preparation of IRS Form 990. 

• Develop, evaluate, monitor and communicate long and short-term financial objectives and metrics ensuring consistency and alignment with overall strategic goals and objectives. 

• Analyze financial information and trends to make recommendations to CEO on findings and recommend corrective measures as necessary. 

• Collaborate with executive leadership team to enable data-driven decision-making 

• Ensure the organization can access accurate and timely financial data and analytics to inform strategic choices. 

• Produce monthly financial statements along with analyses showing results in comparison to budget, historical performance and identifying trends, including but not limited to budget to actuals for departmental leadership use in budget monitoring throughout each fiscal year. 

• Manage the Organization’s cash management, balance, and daily deposits for payment of payroll, accounts payable, investment opportunities or required borrowing. 

• Provide oversight and direction for the organization’s procurement and contracting policies and protocols in compliance with established regulatory and organizational guidelines and expectations.  

• Ensures flow of accounting information with Covenant House International Finance Department. 

Grant Funding and Reporting 

• Oversee the preparation of budget for grants and ensure protocols are in place for adequate reporting, including but not limited to the collection and management of data necessary for grant reporting. 

• Provide oversight and management of grants in accordance with applicable compliance guidelines and expectations. 

• Develop and oversee compliance and reporting of government grants. 

• Manages monthly close in a timely manner including preparation, review and posting of all journal entries, cash receipts and donations, disbursements, account reconciliations and analysis.  

QUALIFICATIONS: 

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance and CPA required. 

• Ten (10) years of progressive accounting and financial management experience, with five (5) years of increasing responsibilities for multi-faceted direction and planning in a senior management and departmental supervisory role, preferably in a nonprofit organization, required. 

• Demonstrable passion for Covenant House New Orleans’ mission; a self-starter who works both independently and collaboratively alongside interdependent teams with proven relationship building, time management, and deadline sensitivity skills. 

• Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting a strategic vision into an operational model. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required 

• Knowledge of Lawson financial management system and MS Office expertise required. 

• Business Transformation and Growth skill set. 

• Knowledge of strategic planning and analyses, budgetary processes, resource allocation and evaluation. 

• Demonstrated knowledge and intuition of current and future organizational needs, challenges and opportunities and the ability to capitalize and/or mitigate issues accordingly. 

• Demonstrated ability in creating and maintaining an organizational culture that attracts, motivates, and retains a diverse and talented staff to meet objectives and provide efficient program execution. 

Business Management and Execution 

• Extensive business and financial acumen. 

• Demonstrated understanding of effective governance. 

• Sound and logical judgment, critical thinking and reasoning. 

• Ability to utilize a mixture of evidence-based analysis, wisdom and judgment to effectively make decisions. 

• Effective and innovative problem solving and conflict resolution skills and behaviors. 

Interpersonal 

• Consistent demonstration of ethics, integrity, fairness and trustworthiness. 

• Excellent oral, written, and public communication skills. 

• Effective, supportive and positive interpersonal communication skills and behaviors. 

• Effective and adaptive leadership competencies and behaviors capable of team building, guiding, motivating, and leading. 

• Ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion consistent with CHNO’s guiding principles and values. 

• Strong degree of self-discipline, self-confidence and self-development. 

Program Specific 

• Deep understanding of and experience with financial and grants management audits and accounting; experience with OMB Circular A-133 and State Legislative Audits required. 

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and their application not-for-profit industry required. 

• Knowledge of Government Auditing Standards, Federal Single Audit Guide, State of Louisiana Audit Guide and Compliance Supplement for State Single Audits. 

• Knowledge in grant funding, reporting and management. 

• Knowledge of structuring and directing budget preparation process in order to produce a budget report which is intuitive for its users, yet it meets specific financial objectives of an organization. 

• Ability to adjust schedule to support Agency needs, deadlines, or special circumstances which may include working or being available by phone outside of normal business hours, and Holidays and/or weekends as needed. 

• Possess a current state of Louisiana Driving License and have a clean driving record. 

• Pass federal, state, and local background investigation. 

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required 

Business Transformation and Growth 

• Knowledge of strategic planning and analyses, budgetary processes, resource allocation and evaluation. 

• Demonstrated knowledge and intuition of current and future organizational needs, challenges and opportunities and the ability to capitalize and/or mitigate issues accordingly. 

• Demonstrated ability in creating and maintaining an organizational culture that attracts, motivates, and retains a diverse and talented staff to meet objectives and provide efficient program execution. 

• Strong organizational skills, presentation and public speaking skills, excellent written communication skills, follow-through, and attention to detail. 

• Maintain a positive and friendly attitude and ability to adhere and hold staff accountable to CHNO Code of Conduct.