Finance & Operations Manager

Title: Finance & Operations Manager

Supervisor: Executive Director

Location: New Market, VA; partial remote work is possible

Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Organization Description. Working to ensure that the land, water, and community resources of the Shenandoah Valley will be protected for the future, Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley is a 501(c)3 nonprofit formed in 2018 through a merger of five long-standing Valley organizations. The Alliance serves six counties – Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page and Warren – and the cities within them. The Alliance staff, directors, and supporters are champions for clean water, thriving communities, and protected rural landscapes. The Alliance is led by a talented and engaged volunteer board of directors and a staff of 10 full-time and two part-time employees, with deep community connections throughout the service area.

The Position. The Finance & Operations Manager is a critical professional role responsible for the integrity of the Alliance’s financial systems, personnel administration, and internal operations. This is a "full-cycle" position: the Manager performs daily bookkeeping and administrative tasks while maintaining high-level ownership of federal grant compliance and HR law.

The ideal candidate is a systems-thinker who finds satisfaction in clean books and rigorous compliance, and who wants to be a key partner in ensuring the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Areas of Responsibility:

Financial Management & Federal Compliance (60%)

• Full-Cycle Accounting: Execute all daily financial activities in QuickBooks Online, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense allocation, and monthly bank reconciliations.
• Federal Grant Ownership: Act as the internal expert on federal grant financial compliance (Uniform Guidance). Ensure all grant-related expenditures are properly documented, allocated, and reported according to federal and state standards.
• Audit & Tax Readiness: Lead the preparation for the annual audit and Form 990 filing, serving as the primary liaison for the external CPA firm.
• Reporting: Produce monthly financial statements and grant-specific reports for the Board of Directors, Executive Director and grant program staff.

Personnel Operations & Compliance (25%)

• Payroll Administration: Manage staff timekeeping and process bi-weekly payroll via PayChex, ensuring accurate cost-allocation across various funding sources.
• Benefits & Compliance: Administer employee benefits (health, retirement) and ensure the organization remains in full compliance with state and federal employment laws and internal policies.
• Onboarding: Coordinate the administrative onboarding and offboarding process for all staff.

Internal Operations & Systems (15%)

• System Stewardship: Manage core digital systems (Google Workspace, Dropbox, Zoom) and serve as the point of contact for basic IT troubleshooting.
• Facilities & Vendor Management: Oversee relationships with office vendors (insurance, utilities, maintenance, and supplies) to ensure a productive and professional work environment.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Our ideal candidate brings a solid foundation in fund accounting and a compliance-oriented mindset. While we don't expect you to arrive as an expert in every facet of this multi-dimensional role, we are looking for a systems-thinker who will take initiative to research regulations and be excited to build the workflows that ensure our long-term sustainability. The Alliance is committed to the professional development of this position, providing the specific training and external mentorship needed to transition each component of the role into long-term leadership strengths.

Requirements of the Position

• Accounting Expertise: Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in accounting or bookkeeping, preferably in a nonprofit "fund accounting" environment.
• Compliance Mindset: Demonstrated experience or technical literacy to interpret regulations associated with managing federal or state grant compliance and audit preparation.
• Technical Proficiency: High-level experience with QuickBooks Online.
• Self-Direction: Proven ability to work independently as a "department of one," managing high-level deadlines alongside daily tactical tasks.
• Attention to Detail: An obsessive eye for accuracy in data entry and financial record-keeping.
• Commitment: A passion for the Alliance’s conservation and community mission in the Shenandoah Valley.

Preferred skills

• Experience with PayChex or similar payroll platforms.
• Familiarity with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) for federal grants.

• Generous benefits package including employer-sponsored health insurance, retirement plan, family leave, paid leave and holidays.
• Dynamic and flexible work environment, working with people who are committed to making a difference