Director of Finance

About NYC Kids RISE 

NYC Kids RISE is a nonprofit organization working with the City of New York and NYC Public Schools, formerly the NYC Department of Education, to manage the Save for College Program (the Program), a community tool New Yorkers can use to build wealth in their neighborhoods, no matter their family income or immigration status. Through the Program, eligible students enrolled in an NYC public school (including participating charter schools), starting in kindergarten, automatically receive a free NYC Scholarship Account with an initial $100 by NYC Kids RISE on their behalf, invested in an NY 529 Direct Plan, and opportunities to receive additional rewards over time. Their families can open and connect their own college savings account on their child’s behalf, and communities can contribute to groups of these NYC Scholarship Accounts as both a targeted and universal platform for community-driven asset-building in every neighborhood. This approach draws from a variety of best practices and disciplines across the fields of asset building, child savings accounts, financial empowerment, education, community wealth building, urban poverty, neighborhood effects and social capital research, collective impact, and more. 

Read more about NYC Kids RISE and the Save for College Program and listen to stories from partners who helped build the platform during its pilot phase from 2017 to 2022.  You can also view recent articles in the New York Times, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and the NYCHA Journal; and read more about NYC Kids RISE theory of change in a report by the Urban Institute. 

After a successful pilot phase in the communities of School District 30 in Queens, the NYC Kids RISE Save for College Program expanded citywide during the 2021-2022 school year. Today, more than 200,000 students participating in the Program, across more than 1,000 elementary schools, have an NYC Scholarship Account for their educational futures.

Position Summary 

The Director of Finance will be a strategic thought-partner, and report to the Chief of Administration and Finance (CAF). The successful candidate will be a hands-on, execution-oriented financial manager with a commitment to working in a mission-driven organization. The Director of Finance will lead and develop efforts to support accounting, financial reporting, budgeting and strategic planning, and will play a critical role in partnering with the senior leadership team in strategic decision making and financial operations as NYC Kids RISE continues to enhance its quality programming and build capacity. This is a tremendous opportunity for a finance and operations leader to maximize and strengthen the internal capacity of a growing, high-impact organization.

Key Responsibilities: 

• The Director of Finance will be responsible for the smooth, compliant and effective operations of the finance function at NYC Kids RISE.
• Manage the monthly, quarterly and annual accounting and reporting cycles of the organization in coordination with an external CPA, including but not limited to, oversight of accounts receivable & payable, general ledger review and the creation/updating of financial reporting materials.
• Directly oversee and support accounts payable and receivables efforts, which will be led by the Finance Coordinator (direct report). Review and approve A/P entries prior to Executive Director final approval, and ensure approved batches are processed timely.  
• Review and approve biweekly payroll cycles, ensuring accuracy and tax compliance in payroll, which will be led by the Human Resources function. 
• Oversee and lead the annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the Chief of Administration and Finance (CAF).
• Monitor progress under all financial plans and budgets and keep the senior leadership team abreast of the organization’s financial status.
• Build, maintain, and manage reporting around department-level and organization-wide budgets 
• Coordinate and lead the annual audit process, liaising with external auditors and internal stakeholders.
• Develop financial models and sensitivity analyses, as needed, to evaluate strategic needs.
• Implement a robust contracts management and financial management/ reporting system; ensure that the contract billing and collection schedule is adhered to and that financial data and cash flow are steady and support operational requirements.
• In collaboration with the CAF, update and implement all necessary business policies and accounting practices; improve the finance department’s overall policy and procedure manual.
• Effectively communicate and present the critical financial matters to senior leadership of NYC Kids RISE.
• Work closely with the Senior Director of Compliance & Administration to support the administration of insurance policies and risk management for the organization.
• Work closely with the Director of Human Resources and Talent to support financial modeling and forecasting around our compensation, benefits, and professional development offerings.

Management and Special Projects 

• Oversee direct staff and related consultant work 
• Work with the Chief of Administration to define, roadmap and execute special projects related to the finance function.  
• Support members of the executive team with special projects related to goals and priorities related to financial management and organizational performance.  

Qualifications: 

• Minimum of a BA, ideally with an MBA/CPA or related degree. 
• At least 7-10 years of overall professional experience in comparable role(s); ideally 6+ years of broad financial management experience. 
• Experience having final responsibility for the quality and content of all financial data, reporting and audit coordination for either a division or significant program area. 
• Ability to translate financial concepts to – and to effectively collaborate with -- programmatic and fundraising colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds. 
• A track record in grants management from municipal/public sources. 
• Demonstrated ability to strategize, build and execute within key financial functional areas (accounting, reporting, FP&A, etc.)
• Strategic thinking and problem solving: Demonstrated ability to consider an issue, identify and anticipate needs and perspectives, propose solutions, elevate when necessary, and incorporate feedback effectively. 
• A successful track record in setting priorities; keen analytical, organization and problem solving skills which support and enable sound decision making. 
• Demonstrated ability to adapt policies, practices and strategies to a growing organization 
• Excellent project management skills for both small and large initiatives, the demonstrated ability to keep many plates spinning at a time. 
• Communication: 
• Strong interpersonal skills, high levels of emotional intelligence and tendency to identify and amplify strengths in teammates; detail-oriented professional with demonstrated written, verbal, and presentational communication skills for various types of audiences. 
• Strong relationship-building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders. 
• Able to move quickly and thoughtfully through a diverse set of day to day tasks and initiatives, while still keeping longer-term priorities and projects on track. 
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of NYC Kids RISE.

This role is located in New York City, and can accommodate hybrid work, with some regular on-site presence expected. The organization’s offices are located in Long Island City (Queens, NY).  

To apply, a cover letter and resume are required. Please list the name of the position, “Director of Finance" in the cover letter. The potential salary for this position is from $140,000 to $165,000 which represents a range commensurate with experience. 

NYC Kids Rise is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate in employment on the basis of basis of gender, religion, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, marital status, caregiver status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, military status, unemployed status, or any other characteristic protected by law.