Director of Finance and Accounting

Position Title: Director of Finance and Accounting

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Start Date: Immediately

Status: Full Time, Exempt

Location: Washington DC, (Hybrid) - 2 days a week in the office

We’re seeking a strategic and detail-oriented Director of Finance and Accounting to oversee and strengthen our financial operations. This role is responsible for leading audits, managing accounting systems and practices, developing and monitoring budgets, and ensuring compliance with all federal, state, and local regulations. You'll play a critical part in aligning our financial practices with the organization’s mission and goals while supporting both internal teams and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations & Oversight

• Lead the organization through the full lifecycle of annual financial audits, coordinating with external auditors and internal stakeholders to ensure timely and clean audit results.
• Oversee all daily financial operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger activity, and reconciliations.
• Assess, maintain, and improve internal financial controls, ensuring systems are compliant, secure, and efficient.
• Manage company credit card (AMEX) policies, usage monitoring, and reconciliation processes.
• Oversee and maintain compliance with organizational contracts, business insurance policies, and required licenses.
• Identify and manage financial risks in collaboration with leadership.

Reporting & Budgeting

• Prepare and present accurate monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial statements, including analysis of budget-to-actual variances.
• Lead the annual organization-wide budgeting process in coordination with department heads and leadership, ensuring the budget aligns with strategic priorities.
• Conduct financial forecasting, cash flow monitoring, and scenario planning to support organizational decision-making.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation and filing of all relevant IRS and regulatory forms, including 990s, 1099s, and other tax documents.

Compliance

• Oversee all business registrations and ensure timely federal, state, and local reporting.
• Develop, implement, and enforce financial policies, internal controls, and standard operating procedures.
• Stay informed of regulatory updates and ensure the organization remains in compliance.

Support Functions

• Work closely with the HR department to support payroll processing, employee benefits administration, and reporting, using ADP.
• In partnership with HR and the COO, manage office leases and provide financial oversight for national facilities operations.

Team Management & Governance Support

• Supervise and mentor a finance assistant and coordinate with external accountants or bookkeepers to ensure accurate and timely support.
• Serve as the staff liaison to the Board’s Audit Committee and Investment Working Group, providing reports and analysis to aid governance and oversight.

Who You Are

This role is a great fit for someone who is a proactive problem-solver, enjoys creating structure and improving systems, and is comfortable balancing strategic and hands-on work. You bring financial expertise and operational experience, along with a collaborative and mission-driven mindset.

Required Experience

• Demonstrated experience leading organizations through annual audits.
• Proven ability to manage, evaluate, and improve accounting systems and financial control processes.
• Skilled in preparing, analyzing, and presenting financial reports to both financial and non-financial audiences.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), with demonstrated ability to apply accounting standards to complex transactions, ensure regulatory compliance, and support accurate financial reporting and audit readiness.
• Hands-on experience managing organizational budgeting aligned with strategic planning.
• Solid understanding of financial compliance includes reporting, registration renewals, and insurance protocols.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)

• Experience managing finances for an organization with multiple entities and shared resources.
• Knowledge of nonprofit financial structures, particularly 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC (Political Action Committee) compliance rules.
• Familiarity with financial systems such as SAGE Intacct and payroll platforms like ADP.
• An interest in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and the interplay in US politics.

Physical Requirements

There are no extraordinary physical requirements for the performance of the essential functions of this position. J Street will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

About J Street

J Street organizes pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy Americans to promote US policies that align with Jewish and democratic values, that help secure the State of Israel as a just, democratic homeland for the Jewish people, and that advance freedom, safety and self-determination for the Palestinian people.

J Street focuses its work in three main areas: (1) Advocating and demonstrating support for pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy policies in Congress, the media and the Jewish community; (2) Endorsing and raising money for federal candidates who share J Street’s agenda; and (3) Educating the public and raising awareness of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the two-state solution.