Finance Manager

Join a mission-driven nonprofit advancing racial, economic, and social justice across California. Public Advocates is seeking a collaborative and detail-oriented Finance Manager to lead day-to-day finance operations, payroll, grant reporting, and budgeting. This hybrid San Francisco-based role is ideal for an experienced nonprofit finance professional who thrives in a values-driven environment and is excited to support impactful advocacy work through strong financial stewardship. Check out the full job description for additional details and application instructions.

Position Summary:

The Finance Manager is a key position for Public Advocates and presents an exciting opportunity for a nonprofit finance professional to take the next step in their professional career. Working closely with and reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this role will add internal capacity to streamline and manage all day-to-day finance and accounting activities to successfully administer its $6.7 million dollar operating budget. The Finance Manager will be responsible for serving as liaison to and oversight manager of the external accounting firm Public Advocates works with while also serving as the primary executor and lead on payroll processing; accounts payable and receivable; and grants budgeting, reporting and expense allocations in collaboration with Development and Program team members. Please note that the Finance Manager is expected to work out of our San Francisco office at least two days/week.

Key Duties & Responsibilities include:

Key responsibilities of the Finance Manager include, but are not limited to the following (approximate percentages of time in parentheses):

Accounting & Financial Reporting (55%):

• Own accounts payable (managing vendor relationships, reviewing and coding invoices via Bill.com, ensuring that all payables are accurate and properly documented, escalating and resolving billing errors and inconsistencies) and accounts receivable (preparing invoices, monitoring/tracking payments, reviewing for restrictions, properly coding, mailing checks for deposit)
• Manage staff credit card budgets and expense reimbursement process, review expense reports and credit card transactions for accuracy and completeness on a timely basis; ensure that staff understand and adhere to the organization’s spending policies
• Lead the tracking and reporting of grant expenditures and expense allocations on at least a quarterly basis
• Review for reasonableness and accuracy of the external accounting firm’s work (recorded journal entries, monthly bank, investment and credit card account reconciliations; financial reports); investigate and correct errors; and maintain all related accounting files
• Reconcile accounting database information with donor database information on a monthly basis, work with the Development team to address discrepancies
• Lead preparation and coordination with external accounting firm for annual financial audit and various tax filings (e.g., 990, business property tax) – includes working with accounting firm to gather information and prepare audit schedules, confirmation letters, other supporting documentation
• Actively safeguard and maintain the confidentiality of the organization’s financial and other sensitive data
• Stay up-to-date with generally accepted accounting principles and tax-related reporting requirements

Payroll (15%):

• Manage bi-weekly payroll processing and ensure accuracy and compliance w/labor laws
• Work w/the HR Manager to ensure benefits and compensation information required for payroll processing is current and accurate
• Maintain and ensure accuracy of payroll, paid time off records for all staff

Grant Budgeting & Reporting (15%):

• Lead the reporting for State Bar grants (which represent 24% of our budget)
• Work with program teams and the COO to develop project budgets for grant proposals (including the State Bar grants)
• Prepare budget and other financial reports as required by funders

Other (15%):

• Manage organizational insurance policies and renewals
• Contribute to process and policy updates, communicate such updates to entire staff
• Assist with organizational and team budgeting, including developing forecasts to inform planning
• Work w/the COO to identify internal systems and processes that are candidates for automation or other improvement
• Other duties and projects as assigned

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), cost allocation methods and internal controls
• Fund accounting experience (experience accounting for temporarily restricted net assets and functional expenses)
• Experience developing grant budgets and producing financial grant reports
• Experience managing payroll processing
• Very high level of demonstrated personal and professional integrity and maturity; ability to exercise good judgment, observe and protect confidentiality and receive feedback

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• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel (facility with common formulas, formatting, etc.)
• Keen attention to detail
• Strong analytical abilities and a desire to use those skills to anticipate and solve problems
• Reliable, responsive, and proactive communicator who can successfully present and report data and recommendations both orally and in writing
• High degree of self-motivation and ability to effectively manage a varied and, at times, demanding workload; ability to meet frequent, recurring and often competing or tight deadlines quickly and accurately
• Strong learning orientation – willingness and initiative to study and learn what you don’t know and incorporate feedback to strengthen your performance
• Experience with financial analysis and organizational budgeting processes
• Demonstrated commitment to the mission and work of Public Advocates
• Willingness to submit to background check

“Nice to Have” Qualifications:

• Nonprofit experience
• Undergraduate or graduate degree(s) in finance, accounting, business administration, nonprofit management or related fields
• Previous experience using cloud-based financial management and accounting software (we use Sage Intacct)
• Experience using cloud-based payroll and human capital management systems (we use Paylocity)

Qualities uplifted by all Public Advocates staff include integrity, high professional standards, commitment to progressive social change, racial and economic justice, and working successfully with diverse colleagues, clients and community partners. This includes active participation in promoting healthy workplace culture through our organizational diversity and inclusion initiative – an ongoing process of communication, trust-building and learning about our individual and organizational areas for growth. We strive to build a culture of cooperation and mutual support and value flexibility, resilience, optimism, curiosity and a sense of humor.

Education and Experience:

• 5+ years of progressive responsibility in accounting and/or finance
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Public Advocates offers a competitive benefits package including:

• 100% of premiums paid for the employee, spouse/domestic partner and dependents on our medical, dental and vision insurance plans
• An employer-funded Health Savings Account
• Discretionary employer contributions to a 403(b) retirement plan
• Annual professional development budget of $750
• Generous paid time off including vacation (accrue up to 15 days in first year and 20 days each year thereafter; 30-day cap) and sick leave (accrue up to 20 days each year), 13 organizational holidays, 2 floating holidays, additional leave between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day
• $75/month cell phone and home office internet stipend
• 12-week (6 weeks paid) sabbatical after 7 years of employment