Chief Financial Officer

The Vera Institute of Justice is an independent nonprofit national research and policy organization in the United States, and a leader in criminal justice research.

About the Organization

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they're fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn't determine freedom; fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.

Vera has a staff of 240 people, has headquarters in Brooklyn, New York and offices Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody respect, independence, collaboration, commitment, anti-racism, and equity—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace. We value a range of experiences in people's educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

About the Role

What You'll Do

The Chief Financial Officer will oversee a current team of 11 and has two direct reports – Director of Finance and Operations Manager. Under a philanthropic (contributed revenue) model, the CFO will ensure accurate and defensible projections, model the budget across multiple years, and be responsive to the incoming revenue. They will support an organizational budget of $50M. Mission critical objectives for the CFO in year one include:

• Evaluate, refine and perfect revenue reconciliation, budget management and other processes to improve foresight and decision-making
• Evaluate Institute cost structures and processes and produce recommendations for greater performance and efficiencies
• Assess staffing and capacity of finance team to ensure high functioning in new business model
• Establish routine forecasting capability and processes

Reporting directly to the President & Director, Nicholas Turner, and joining as a member of the Leadership Team, the CFO will be the organization's key financial leader, responsible for providing strategic counsel, driving the effective delivery of financial strategy, management, and planning, and championing and rallying the team on driving business priorities, managing through from conception to execution. The CFO will maintain the highest level of confidentiality of all information to which they have access.

Key Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership

• Serve on Vera's leadership team, developing and executing organization-wide strategies
• In close working partnership with the President, shape the Institute's financial strategy
• Manage financial capital and communicate capital requirements / implications of business decisions to President and the board
• Communicate effectively with Vera's Board of Trustees, especially the Finance & Investment and Audit & Risk Committees, to ensure all Board members clearly understand the organization's strategy, financial health and sustainability
• Conduct meaningful proactive analysis to improve key business decisions focusing on management of working capital, use of financial vehicles, and others
• Provide useful financial insights to help make better decisions about formulating and executing business strategy
• With the support of the Director of Finance, and in partnership with the Chief of Staff, drive the annual budget process

Financial Management and Oversight

• Serve as the organizational leader in all areas of finance and budget management
• Support leadership team, Board, program, and development teams through financial modeling and data-driven analysis
• Ensure effective cash flow management and support the Finance & Investment Committee in managing organization's board designated fund and endowment
• Establish and strengthen internal processes required to manage the fiscal health of the organization, such as monthly revenue reconciliation and monthly monitoring and reporting
• Ensure the integrity, accuracy, and usefulness of all financial reports
• On behalf of the finance committee, manage the relationship with the investment manager and ensure the investment approach aligns with organizational values

Team Development and Management

• Lead the finance team, providing strategic direction, coaching and supervision to direct reports
• Promote a team-oriented culture of high performance and continuous improvement that values a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; encourage ongoing education and professional development
• Create a culture of service excellence; supporting the finance team to work in partnership with staff across the organization to understand budgeting and reporting, as needed

Who You'll Work With

• You will report to President & Director, Nicholas Turner.
• You will supervise a current team of 11 and have two direct reports – Director of Finance and Operations Manager.

Required Skills and Experience

• At least 15 years of financial management experience, with at least 5+ years in a senior leadership capacity
• Strong track record operating in a non-profit with a philanthropic (contributed revenue) business model and organizational budget of at least $20M
• Experience managing teams of 10 or more; effectiveness in building a positive, results-oriented culture and creating structures to support the high-level performance of a diverse team guided by principles of fairness and equity
• Experience partnering with an executive team and knowledge of working with a Board
• A demonstrable capacity for analytical and strategic thinking and ability to integrate a high-level vision with a tactical execution
• Advanced degree, preferably in accounting, finance, or other business / operations focus area; in lieu of degree requirement, applicable work or life experience may be considered
• Demonstrated skill at navigating complex organizations and strong collaborative and people skills
• Ability to embrace and communicate Vera's vision and goals, reflecting a dedication to social justice, equity and inclusion
• Commitment to leading by example, including demonstrating and fostering a sense of urgency, strong commitment/accountability, and sound decision-making to achieve goals
• Strength in encouraging and inspiring colleagues and team to stretch beyond what they think they can accomplish
• Ability to adhere to a code of conduct with a moral compass focused on the highest level of integrity and ethics

Salary

The compensation range for this position is $240,000 - $250,000. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute's total compensation package for employees.

Work Environment

Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Benefits

As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera's benefits offerings, click here.

• Health Care Plan (medical, dental, and vision)
• Paid Time Off (vacation, personal, sick, and holidays)
• 403(b) Plan
• Student Loan Repayment
• Professional Development Training
• $2,000 Annually for Education Costs and Fees (relevant to Vera work)
• Paid Family Leave (after 6 months)
• Commuter Benefits

Qualified individuals please apply: https://www.on-ramps.com/jobs/3169

Our Commitment to Race, Equity, and Inclusion

Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status.

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission.