Finance manager

About East Bay Community Law Center

East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) is a non-profit legal services organization, the community-based clinical program for U.C. Berkeley Law School, and one of the Bay Area’s largest and most effective systems disrupters. With a dual service and teaching mission, EBCLC is a racial justice organization committed to building a culturally diverse workplace, centered on equity. With about 50 staff, 120 law students a year, and a nearly $7.5 million annual budget, EBCLC is the largest provider of free legal services in Alameda County, providing multimodal, collaborative, and holistic legal services to over 4,000 clients annually and engaging in legislative and policy advocacy at the state and local level.

Position Description

The Finance Manager plays an integral role in supporting the organization’s overall financial management and financial operations, with responsibility for the following core functions:

1. Managing day-to-day financial and accounting activities. This includes overseeing and serving as primary point of contact for outsourced bookkeeping staff, who are responsible for entering most day-to-day transactions into our accounting software (including payroll-related activity), as well as handling payables processing and deposits.
2. Performing month-end and quarter-end closing activities. This includes preparing government contract invoices and supporting documentation; reconciliation of balance sheet accounts, bank accounts, contribution records, and payroll records; and using reporting tools to assess the completeness and accuracy of financial records.
3. Supporting the Director of Finance & Administration with the annual audit and 990 preparation, budget imports, reporting, and projects to improve accuracy, transparency, and efficiency of financial operations.
4. The ideal candidate is an experienced accountant who is deeply familiar with all aspects of day-to-day accounting and month-end close processes; a communicative and collaborative team member who enjoys working closely with others to ensure smooth and efficient handling of complex financial matters; an analytical and detail-oriented individual with a knack for problem-solving; and a person with strong ethics and integrity who is excited about the opportunity to contribute to and grow within a dynamic mission-driven organization. The Finance Manager reports to the Director of Finance & Administration.

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage EBCLC’s accounting activity, including transactional accounting (payables, receivables, payroll), oversight of internal controls, and regular reconciliations and reporting.
• Oversee the work of outsourced accounting staff (who are responsible for entering all day-to-day transactions into the accounting system), providing guidance, direction, and feedback on performance to ensure work is done accurately and timely, and supporting documentation is maintained and filed appropriately.
• Review all entries to ensure the general ledger is an accurate record of financial transactions and transaction details are recorded in accordance with GAAP and EBCLC’s internal policies.
• Process accounts payables and cash disbursements on a weekly basis, prepare checks for signature, and mail out or distribute payments.
• Ensure EBCLC’s record-keeping and financial management of client funds held in trust are maintained in accordance with requirements outlined by the State Bar of California
• Act as primary contact with external & internal stakeholders to resolve issues and answer questions about financial transactions.
• Monitor banking activity, make weekly bank deposits, and maintain deposit records.
• With support from outsourced accounting staff, reconcile and handle matters related to business credit cards.
• Prepare invoices and supporting documentation for government contracts, and financial reports as needed for public and private funders.
• Prepare reconciliations of bank accounts, balance sheet accounts, contribution revenue, and payroll records.
• Manage regulatory and government reporting requirements, including, but not limited to, local business licenses and tax forms, state sales/use tax, and 1099 reporting. Ensure EBCLC maintains appropriate vendor and other records to support this activity.
• Document and disseminate EBCLC’s financial policies and procedures, updating as needed to reflect internal organizational changes and contract requirements.
• Ensure EBCLC’s accounting system(s) meet the organizational goals of accuracy, efficiency, and transparency. Research, recommend, and implement improvements, working with outside consultants as needed.
• Collaborate with Director of Finance & Administration to perform month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, as well as preparing organizational and project budgets for upload to EBCLC’s accounting software.
• Work with the Director of Finance & Administration to support annual audit preparation and fieldwork (which takes place from late August through mid-October) and preparing schedules for federal and state tax filings.
• Other duties and special projects, as assigned by the supervisor.

Salary and Benefits

Starting salary for this full-time non-exempt position is $42.31 to $48.35/hour (equivalent to approximately $77,000 to $88,000 annually) based on the number of years of prior relevant experience, as dictated by EBCLC’s salary scale. EBCLC’s standard workday is 7 hours per day, and this position is expected to work 35 hours per week.

Benefits include fully paid health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents, life and disability insurance, and generous paid leave (vacation, sick, and holidays); EBCLC also offers flexible spending accounts for qualified health, dependent care, and commute expenditures; and retirement options.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum three (3) years of accounting experience, including at least one (1) year of non-profit accounting. Proficiency in basic and intermediate accounting functions appropriate to nonprofit organizations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel at an intermediate level, including formulas and pivot tables
• Working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and familiarity with Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidelines.
• Demonstrated experience with advanced accounting software, such as Sage Intacct or NetSuite, and credit card/expense management platforms such as Ramp.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of accuracy in preparing and entering financial information.
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills and ability to problem-solve and troubleshoot.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner.
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to maintaining confidentiality concerning financial information including personnel matters and client information.
• Ability to build and maintain supportive and positive working relationships with all stakeholders, including staff, external consultants and board members through strong communication and high-quality customer service.
• Resourceful and proactive with a can-do attitude, a sense of humor, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic organization.
• Alignment with EBCLC’s social and racial justice mission.

Workplace Expectations and Physical Requirements

EBCLC is a hybrid workplace. Given the nature of the position, the Finance Manager will be expected to work on-site at least one day per week at the organization’s Berkeley office(s), and at other times as needed to attend in-person meetings or meet operational needs. EBCLC will provide the necessary equipment to fulfill the job responsibilities of working from home.

Physical requirements may include prolonged sitting or remaining stationary at a workstation, repetitive hand and wrist motions such as typing and data entry, use of computer and mouse, and frequent use of hands and fingers to handle documents and office equipment.

Working At EBCLC

EBCLC is strongly committed to advancing justice through education and advocacy, and the need to transform legal services and legal education. Please take time to review EBCLC’s mission, vision, programs, and website, and ensure that your cover letter reflects how your background, experience, and expertise have prepared you to be successful in performing the responsibilities of the position.

Additionally, EBCLC is committed to building a culturally diverse workplace centered on equity and providing an inclusive, welcoming, and culturally responsive environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. To achieve this goal, EBCLC works actively to improve our office climate, systems and structures, communications, and community engagement to create an inclusive and respectful workplace where differences are acknowledged and valued.

We strongly encourage individuals from traditionally underrepresented communities to apply. EBCLC does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, gender expression, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior contact with the criminal legal system, or any other basis prohibited by law.

EBCLC is a unionized workplace and members of the bargaining unit are represented by the Engineers and Scientists of California Local 20, IFPTE. This position is part of the bargaining unit.

Starting salary for this full-time non-exempt position is $42.31 to $48.35/hour (equivalent to approximately $77,000 to $88,000 annually) based on the number of years of prior relevant experience, as dictated by EBCLC’s salary scale. EBCLC’s standard workday is 7 hours per day, and this position is expected to work 35 hours per week.

Benefits include fully paid health insurance (medical, dental, and vision) for employees and their dependents, life and disability insurance, and generous paid leave (vacation, sick, and holidays); EBCLC also offers flexible spending accounts for qualified health, dependent care, and commute expenditures; and retirement options.