Senior Finance Director

Position Title: Senior Director of Finance

Reports To: VP of Finance and Operations

Community: Bay Area

Office Location: Oakland, Milpitas, Redwood City, or Richmond (Hybrid, 50% in-person)

Compensation: $131,840, generous benefits package

Status: Full-time, exempt

About Fresh Lifelines for Youth

Fresh Lifelines for Youth is an award-winning non-profit whose mission is to partner with youth to unlock their potential, disrupt the pipeline to prison, and advance justice in California and beyond. By 2030, through partnering with young people, communities, and systems, FLY will contribute to the fight for equity and justice by taking concrete steps to dismantle California’s pipeline to prison, equip 30,000 youth to transform their lives and create meaningful opportunities for them to live healthy, free, and productive lives. For more information about Fresh Lifelines for Youth, please visit: www.flyprogram.org

Senior Director of Finance - Position Summary

The Senior Director of Finance provides strategic and operational leadership across FLY’s financial functions, ensuring strong day-to-day financial operations, regulatory compliance, and effective grants and contract management. Reporting to the VP of Finance and Operations, this role oversees accounting and contract teams, drives budgeting and financial planning processes, and ensures the integrity of financial systems and reporting. The Senior Director plays a key role in building staff capacity, aligning financial practices with organizational goals, and supporting data-driven decision-making across the agency.

Position Responsibilities:

Financial Strategy and Planning

• Serve as the strategic partner to the VP of Finance
• Lead parts of the annual budgeting process, ensuring alignment with programmatic and strategic objectives.
• Analyze and report financial data to the VP of Finance, providing insights to guide decision-making.

Financial Management and Operations

• Oversee core day-to-day financial operations, including timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting in compliance with GAAP and all regulatory requirements.
• Manage cash flow to ensure sufficient liquidity and alignment with organizational reserves and planning needs.
• Maintain strong internal controls, lead reconciliations, internal audits, and proactively identify and mitigate financial risks.
• Lead preparation and submission of all regulatory filings, including IRS Form 990 and other federal/state requirements.
• Manage the annual audit process and serve as the primary liaison with external auditors and tax advisors.
• Oversee administration of the 403(b) retirement plan and ensure compliance with plan requirements.
• Improve accounting systems, policies, and procedures to support efficient, compliant, and scalable operations.

Team Development/Leadership and Staff Capacity Building

• Lead and support the accounting and contracts team (team of four, including two direct reports), ensuring clear roles, priorities, and accountability.
• Set and monitor performance and development goals; conduct regular check-ins and annual performance reviews.
• Provide coaching, mentorship, and access to professional development resources to strengthen team capacity and growth.
• Oversee staff training on financial systems, compliance standards, and operational processes.

Grants and Contracts Management

• Provide oversight and support with grant invoicing and reporting, including budget strategy, preparation, and compliance requirements.
• Coordinate with development and program staff to prepare financial information for grant applications and funder reports.
• Implement best practices in grants management and cost allocation processes.
• Oversee grant spending to ensure compliance with grant requirements, and applicable codes of federal regulations to ensure satisfactory audits

Position Requirements

The ideal candidate will have a deep commitment to equity, social, racial, and economic justice. They will have extensive knowledge of Finance, Accounting, and Government Grants. The candidate will believe in FLY’s vision and mission and will resonate with FLY’s values: accountable, dedicated, respectful, equitable and just, loving, innovative, hopeful, and youth-centered.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

At FLY, we embrace a diversity of identities, beliefs, thoughts, and experiences. We commit to creating an organizational culture of equity and inclusion to better serve our youth and communities. FLY is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive for an inclusive culture and a staff team that reflects diversity. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. We strongly encourage women; people of color, people who identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities; people with experience in the juvenile justice or criminal justice systems; and people with disabilities to apply. Fresh Lifelines for Youth is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 263-2630 or compliance@flyprogram.org

What to expect

• Application with 8-10 questions and an applicant screening question.
  • No Cover Letter Required
• 2-3 Interviews (for many roles, at least 1 would be in person)
• Meet w/FLY youth

Compensation & Benefits

Our Total Rewards Package includes the following:

• Employer-paid medical dental, vision, and chiropractic healthcare
• 403b Retirement contribution match
• 10+ PTO Days
• 12 Holiday Days
• FLY provides 3-4 additional "rejuvenation days off" twice per year in July and December
• Annual Wellness Funds
• Annual Professional Development Funds
• Employee Assistance Program (paid for by FLY)
• Annual Staff Retreat, Holiday Party, End of Year Celebration, Team Off Sites, and other FLY Events.
• Customize your Work Schedule (dependent on supervisor approval based on positional and departmental needs)
• Hybrid of In-Office and Remote Work (frequency of required in-person work is dependent upon the role)
• 8 Hours of Civic Engagement
• Mileage Reimbursement.

At FLY, we have adopted a no-negotiation policy. This policy reflects our commitment to equity and ensuring that the offers we make to our candidates reflect competitive and appropriate compensation given the market and the role.