Finance Director

Position: Finance Director

Status: Full-Time (40 hours per week, full benefits)

Reports to: Co-Founder and COO

Salary Grade: Director

Salary Range: $110,000-130,000

Location: Remote (Hybrid if in DMV region)

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Position:

The Finance Director (FD) is a one-person department that oversees all accounting functions for both Issue One 501(c)(3) and Issue One Action 501(c)(4) and maintains an orderly system of controls over all transactions. The FD will be responsible for producing monthly financial reports, maintaining an adequate system of accounting records, and implementing a comprehensive set of controls and budgets. The FD will manage the month-end and year-end closing process and ensure all financial information remains accurate and meets all regulatory requirements.

The FD will be a pivotal member of the operations and executive teams and must be comfortable thinking strategically to implement large projects, while also being comfortable with completing small, menial bookkeeping tasks. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working independently at nearly all times, but also able to work collaboratively when the situation requires it, including staffing our Board finance committee and collaborating with external partners as needed. This position reports directly to the COO and has no direct reports.

Responsibilities:

Financial Management and Reporting

• Develop Issue One's annual budget, as well as programmatic budgets for each department.
• Regularly provide budgetary forecasts, including calculating and analyzing budget variances, advising senior staff on cause, potential impact, and possible solutions.
• Create a monthly reporting package for the treasurer, COO, and CEO that provides a clear picture of the organization's financial health and provides recommendations as necessary.
• Ensure completion of monthly bank reconciliation and support month-end and year-end close processes.
• Partner with the development team to ensure accuracy and co-understanding of revenue. Input revenue information into QuickBooks Online.

Operations and Vendor Management

• Lead and manage the entire accounts payable process, from reviewing invoices to initiating payments.
• Serve as primary administrator for the Bill.com platform, managing expense reimbursements, vendor payments, and approval workflows while overseeing all expense management processes.
• Work with the VP of People and Culture and COO to conduct semi-monthly payroll and complete monthly retirement payroll processing.
• Collaborate with the VP of People and Culture to evaluate, select, and implement an integrated HRIS and payroll platform to streamline payroll processes and enhance overall employee experience.
• Manage relationships with external institutions, including banks, insurance agencies, auditors, and financial consultants.

Compliance and Regulatory

• Manage compliance of local, state, and federal government reporting and tax filing, and advise organization leadership on related regulatory matters.
• Manage the financial complexities of dual-entity structure, including proper expense allocation between 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities and maintaining required firewall compliance.
• Stay current on regulatory changes affecting advocacy organizations and implement necessary adjustments to financial processes and reporting.
• Oversee external annual audit process (from preparation through final report development) and be the primary contact for the audit firm.

Program and Grant Management

• Provide oversight of any finances associated with fiscal sponsorees.
• Allocate payroll and any indirect costs based on staff allocation of time to IO's various programs and areas of focus.
• Assist in the oversight of grant management and reporting requirements for multiple funders, ensuring timely and accurate submission of financial reports.

Strategic and Administrative

• Assist COO and Board Treasurer with finance committee meetings by drafting agendas, minutes, and providing any requested documents.
• Be responsible for all organizational insurance policies, including workers' compensation, liability, directors' and officers' (D&O), and other relevant policies.
• Design, implement, and optimize the organization's financial management tools and policies to mitigate risk and enhance the accuracy of reporting.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in nonprofit financial management required.
• BS/BA in accounting or related field of study is highly desirable; CPA designation is not required.
• Experience participating in large-scale organizational financial projects such as system implementations, audit processes, or multi-entity compliance initiatives.
• Experience managing financial operations for dual-entity nonprofit structures strongly preferred.
• Experience with nonprofit organizations focusing on politics, advocacy, or democracy reform is a plus.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated experience in nonprofit finance with substantial knowledge of 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) compliance requirements, including Form 990 preparation, lobbying expenditure tracking, and political activity limitations.
• High proficiency in QuickBooks Online and Excel strongly preferred.
• Experience with budget development and management required.
• Experience with grant management and multi-funder reporting requirements preferred.
• Proven ability to develop and implement financial management plans, budgets, and compliance frameworks.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential, including the ability to present complex financial concepts to diverse audiences, including board members, senior leadership, and external stakeholders.
• Enthusiastic communicator and presenter with the ability to translate financial data into actionable insights.

Management and Professional Skills:

• Proven detail-oriented management skills, including financial process management and vendor relationship oversight.
• Demonstrated ability to manage details, solve problems, and follow through on assignments with minimal direct supervision.
• Organizes and plans financial processes while enforcing compliance policies and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to be entrusted with sensitive financial information and conduct daily activities with the utmost professionalism and integrity.

Decision Making

The Finance Director works with the COO to make decisions on financial documentation processes, financial record maintenance, and storage. Additionally, the FD will oversee and carry out all pieces of the accounting function. The FD must get approval from the COO before finalizing the budget or providing any finance documents to the board. The COO may also conduct regular checks on payroll and other budgeting functions to ensure compliance and proper maintenance of the organization's finances.

Structure and Location

This is a full-time, salaried, fully benefited, and remote position requiring 40 hours per week. This job requires regular travel to Washington, D.C. (8-10 times a year), and may occasionally require travel to Massachusetts to meet with our Chief Operating Officer.

Physical Demands

• Most work is done in an office-like environment, where tasks are completed at a desk for extended periods and work is done on a computer.
• The employee may occasionally be required to lift, push, and/or carry items weighing more than ten (10) pounds.
• Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of the job.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline

• September 8-22: The position is posted, and resumes are collected
• September 23-26: Resumes are screened and top candidates are identified for interviews.
• September 29-October 10: First-round panel interviews take place.
• October 13-17: Second-round panel interviews with finalists take place.
• October 20: Preferred candidate named and the role offered (contingent on a background check and verification of all educational credentials).
• November 1 or November 17: New candidate begins (flexible start date)

Special Note: While our organizations will do their best to follow the above timeline, there are instances where the selection process is shortened or delayed due to circumstances beyond our control. The organizations will do their best to update all selected candidates on any changes to the timeline. In addition, while resumes may be submitted after September 22, there’s no guarantee they will be screened for a potential interview.

DEI Philosophy and Self-ID Questionnaire

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) drive everything we do. We celebrate each individual's unique perspectives and experiences to our team. Your voice matters to us, and we're committed to creating an environment where everyone feels valued and respected.

As part of our ongoing DEI efforts, we invite all applicants to complete our self-identification questionnaire voluntarily. Rest assured, your responses are confidential and have no impact on your job application. This survey helps us better understand our diverse community, ensuring everyone has equal success opportunities.

Due to the volume of applications, we will, unfortunately, be unable to acknowledge receipt of all applications. No phone calls, please.

Issue One is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and all other employment laws and regulations. We intend to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or expression), pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation, and related medical conditions), reproductive health decisions, marital status, personal appearance, matriculation, political affiliation, credit information, employment status, physical or mental disability, genetic information (including testing and characteristics), veteran status, uniformed service member status, status as a victim or family member of a victim of domestic violence, a sexual offense, or stalking, homeless status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. Issue One is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, fringe benefits, and other compensation, the application of disability and/or temporary disability policies, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.