Director of Finance

Organizational Overview

At the California Black Power Network, we build Black political power and work to create deep, systemic change to impact the lived realities of Black people in California. The network is composed of local and regional grassroots, community-based organizations in key regions of the state. It aims to increase the power-building capacities of member organizations, encourage growth and collaboration within the ecosystem of Black-led organizations across the state, and make substantial, measurable progress on key issues. Whether it is homelessness and gentrification, mass incarceration and criminalization, deep educational inequities, rampant health disparities, the widening economic and wealth inequality gap, tax policy inequities -- Black communities across California are disproportionately impacted. At the heart of these conditions is persistent and enduring systemic and anti-Black racism. A key question is what will make this moment different in addressing the longstanding issues of systemic and anti-Black racism.

Position Description

The Finance Director is a strategic and operational leader responsible for overseeing all financial functions of the organization, including accounting, budgeting, grant management, payroll, banking, and compliance. This role serves as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, ensuring financial integrity, transparency, and alignment with organizational goals. This position manages accounting staff , while reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer.

Key Duties & Responsibilities:

Team & Organizational Leadership

1. Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to strategic decision-making, organizational planning, and growth initiatives.
2. Manage accounting staff by delegating tasks, setting clear expectations, providing constructive feedback, identifying training opportunities, fostering a positive team environment, resolving conflicts, and ensuring compliance.
3. Update and implement financial policies and procedures that align with both organizations’ missions while, maintaining and improving financial controls to ensure compliance and safeguard assets.
4. Administer payroll processing, including salary allocations, benefits, and tax filings.
5. Co-develop, implement, and promote a culture of transparency, communication, collaboration, and teamwork across the operations team.
6. Recruit, develop, and manage a multidimensional team of finance and accounting staff, fostering talent development, identifying skills gaps, and addressing hiring or contracting needs.
7. Ensure compliance with campaign finance laws and lobbying restrictions specific to 501(c)3 with (h) designation activities.
8. Manage project tracking and task assignments, ensuring the finance and accounting team members stay on schedule, meet deadlines, and manage organizational priorities effectively.

Banking and Treasury Management

1. Serve as a liaison with all banking institutions.
2. Negotiate banking services, fees, and terms to ensure cost-effective and efficient operations.
3. Monitor daily cash balances across all accounts to ensure accurate financial reporting.
4. Ensure sufficient liquidity for operational needs while optimizing interest-bearing opportunities.
5. Open, close, and maintain bank accounts as needed for both entities.
6. Ensure proper documentation and internal controls for all banking activities to maintain compliance and minimize risk.
7. Serve as an approver for invoice payments and expense reports.

Financial Management & Budgeting

1. Review the financials at month-end to ensure that the transactional work was recorded accurately.
2. Prepare reconciliation schedules for each of the balance sheet accounts
3. Maintain and update the annual budget in collaboration with directors and managers, aligning with CBPN’s strategic goals
4. Prepare month-end financial reports (Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss, Aged Accounts Receivable, Aged Accounts Payable), and work with the accounting team to prepare cash flow projections.
5. Create detailed financial packets for the Senior Management Team, including budget-to-actual comparisons, cash flow summaries, and narrative analysis.
6. Coordinate annual audits and prepare supporting documentation. Provide oversight and guidance to the accountant and consultants during the audit process, ensuring accurate financial records, timely submissions, and adherence to all audit requirements and deadlines.
7. Perform budget forecasting and financial analysis to monitor performance, identify trends, and mitigate risks.
8. Monitor organizational expenses, provide variance analysis, and ensure alignment with allocated budgets and funding restrictions.
9. Ensure that expense and invoice tracking are completed accurately, on time, and in compliance with financial policies.
10. Oversee quarterly tax remittance, ensuring accurate and timely filing of federal and state payroll taxes.
11. Conduct regular assessments of financial workflows, identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, and implement data-driven strategies to streamline processes

Grant Management

1. Oversee grant budgeting, compliance, and reporting, ensuring timely and accurate submissions aligned with funder requirements.
2. Complete quarterly grant spending and expense allocation tracking and provide updates to the COO.
3. Record grant pledges as receivables to reflect expected funding and align with donor restrictions and document all incoming deposits to ensure accurate coding and reconciliation..
4. Set up each grant as a customer and assign related activities under specific projects to track income and expenses accurately.
5. Manage the release of donor-imposed restrictions and ensure proper accounting treatment.
6. Oversee and document all incoming deposits to ensure accurate coding and reconciliation.
7. Collaborate with the COO and accounting staff to manage donor contributions and restricted funds.
8. Track and report on grant expenditures and financial performance, providing support for reporting with relevant financial data and insights.
9. Maintain an organized grant tracking system, ensuring all relevant deadlines, documents, and communications are efficiently managed and accessible.

Qualifications & Skills

1. Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in nonprofit financial management, including leadership roles.
2. Proven experience managing multi-entity financial operations, including restricted funds, grant compliance, and board reporting.
3. Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and 501(c)(3)/(c)(4) compliance requirements.
4. Demonstrated success in team leadership, including supervision, mentorship, and performance management of accounting staff.
5. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration (required). CPA, CMA, or MBA (preferred but not required).
6. Previous experience with payroll administration systems
7. Technology Skills: Demonstrated success leveraging technology independently in a fully remote environment and proficiency in Google Workspace, Zoom, QuickBooks Online, Expensify, Bill.com, and other tools.
8. Experience in strategic planning and cross-departmental collaboration, driving alignment and execution of organizational objectives.
9. Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and develop practical solutions.
10. Ability to translate financial data into actionable insights for senior leadership and the board.
11. Skilled in developing and implementing financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.
12. Experience negotiating banking relationships and managing treasury functions.
13. Excellent communication and remote team coordination skills, fostering collaboration and efficiency in distributed work environments.
14. Proven experience in onboarding, leading, and managing remote teams
15. Strong knowledge of California financial laws and nonprofit financial regulations
16. Deep commitment to racial justice and social equity, with a passion for advancing Black political power and systemic change.

Employee Compensation, Benefits, and Perks

• Fully covered medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Full-time remote work with some in-person events and meetings
• Eligibility to participate in 401(K) Plan
• Paid vacation based on years of service; sick, family, and medical leaves in accordance with California laws
• 15 paid holidays in addition to the end-of-year office closure between Christmas and New Year's.
• Eligibility for a pre-tax flexible spending plan (FSA) for health care, child care, and public transit commuter expenses
• Group term life insurance
• Staff development opportunities