Finance Manager

Key Information

Employment Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $105,000 - $115,000 USD, with an additional location-based adjustment of 5% for London and 10% for SF and DC

Direct Manager: Head of Operations

Location: Remote, US preferred; will consider UK applicants - coworking space available in London, SF, and DC

Deadline: This role will remain open until filled. We encourage early applications.

IAPS is a project fiscally sponsored by Rethink Priorities, a US-based 501(c)(3). Please click here to return to IAPS' careers website.

Overview of the role

The Finance Manager will establish and oversee the financial systems that support IAPS as it grows into a fully independent organisation. As our first dedicated finance hire working alongside external accounting support, you will be responsible for setting up our accounting infrastructure for our US and UK entities, maintaining accurate records, ensuring compliance with nonprofit and grant requirements, and providing clear financial insight to leadership. We’re a fast moving organization and value risk-informed analysis, proactivity, and flexibility to help us get things done while complying with all relevant laws and regulations,

This role combines hands-on financial operations with building processes that will support a lean, research-focused organisation. You will manage day-to-day transactions, maintain our general ledgers, prepare financial reports, lead financial planning cycles, and help ensure that IAPS remains financially sound, transparent, and compliant across jurisdictions. You may also oversee and train a contract bookkeeper as the organisation grows. This role may grow into a Controller function over time.

The successful candidate will have support from our fiscal sponsor’s Finance team as they help us spin out, as well as a training budget and capacity to bring on additional contractors to support if needed.

About IAPS

The Institute for AI Policy and Strategy (IAPS) is a nonprofit nonpartisan think tank that produces policy research to address the implications of AI, from today’s most advanced models to potential AGI and superintelligence. Our work equips policymakers and industry leaders to protect innovation while navigating high-magnitude risks and opportunities at the intersection of AI, national security, and geopolitics.

Our work involves:

• Conducting forward-looking policy research in areas including preparedness, information and supply chain security, and international coordination needed to navigate strategic competition with adversaries who may misuse AI.
• Cultivating policy talent — IAPS is forging a community of researchers and practitioners from across many policy areas and backgrounds to meet this critical moment.
• Providing relevant and timely insights to stakeholders across Congress, the executive branch, industry, academia, and civil society.

Follow these links to read more about our work and our team, and sign up to our newsletter.

IAPS will be spinning out from our fiscal sponsor in summer 2026. IAPS annual budget is expected to be ~$10M, with a headcount of ~50 by the end of 2026. IAPS expects to have both a US and a UK legal entity to facilitate hiring and work visa sponsorship in both countries.

What we are looking for

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations

• Oversee day-to-day financial activity, including accounts payable and receivable.
• Prepare monthly financial reports and analysis for leadership, highlighting key trends, variances, and areas requiring attention.
• Coordinate payroll processing with HR or external providers and ensure payroll data is recorded accurately.
• Maintain accurate and timely transaction records and ensure correct coding across projects, budgets, and grant restrictions.
• Monitor expenditure and support staff with finance-related queries, including expenses, reimbursements, contracting, and purchasing.
• Support vendor and contract management by tracking payment terms and upcoming renewals.
• Conduct monthly reconciliations for bank accounts, credit cards, and relevant financial platforms.
• Maintain visibility over the organisation’s cash position and support cash flow forecasting.
• Maintain the general ledger across entities and currencies as required.

Accounting, Compliance, and Organisational Support

• Oversee internal controls in collaboration with the Head of Operations.
• Maintain accurate financial records in line with nonprofit accounting standards.
• Support annual filings, audits, and tax returns, coordinating with external accountants and supporting consolidating separate entity GLs when needed.
• Ensure compliance with grant requirements, internal policies, and relevant regulations.
• Identify potential financial risks and provide recommendations to leadership.
• Prepare financial information for funder reports and grant submissions.
• Support the organisation as it grows, ensuring that financial processes, reporting, and compliance standards scale appropriately
• Support the annual budgeting process and assist directors with their budget development and monitoring.

People Management and Training

• Train and manage a contract bookkeeper or junior finance support as the organisation grows.
• Provide training to staff on budgeting tools, financial procedures, and reporting expectations.
• Maintain clear communication with colleagues on finance processes and deadlines.

Systems and Financial Infrastructure

• Procure and manage purchasing systems and vendor accounts.
• Set up and refine the chart of accounts, accounting software, approval workflows, and documentation standards.
• Develop and maintain finance-related SOPs in collaboration with the Head of Operations.
• Improve financial reporting by developing dashboards and internal tools for staff and the board.
• Evaluate and establish new tools or service providers to support financial operations.

Other Operational Support

• As a member of a small operations team of a fast growing organization, other operational tasks may be assigned as needed.

Skills / Experience

Required

• 3–5 years of experience in finance roles within a small or medium-sized organisation, including at least one year with controller-level responsibilities (e.g., designing or improving financial processes, ensuring compliance with internal policies).
• Strong accounting experience including maintaining general ledgers, preparing journal entries, and managing month-end/year-end close processes; comfortable working across accounting systems and supporting system selection and setup.
• Demonstrated experience managing nonprofit finances, including reporting, compliance, and working with restricted or grant-based funding.
• Familiarity with audit preparation and working with external auditors.
• Strong understanding of GAAP and nonprofit accounting principles.

Beneficial

• Experience supervising a junior finance staff member or working with contract bookkeepers.
• Experience with Sage Intacct.
• Professional accounting qualification (CPA, ACCA or equivalent), though not required.
• Experience with international operations or multi-currency accounting (particularly UK/US).

Benefits

You can learn more about the benefits we offer here.

• Comprehensive global benefits package, including generous health insurance.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) leave and unpaid leave, including:
  • Unlimited vacation with a minimum 30 days off per year (incl. public local holidays, vacation time, and “mandated” 3-weeks total mid- and end-year organization-wide breaks).
• Unlimited (within reason) personal and sick leave.
• Parental leave - up to 6-9 months of a combination of paid and unpaid parental leave that can be taken prior to and/or during the first 2 years after a child’s birth or adoption.
• Technology stipend of the equivalent of $2000 USD every 3 years that can be used to cover costs of purchasing work and office equipment.
• Annual team retreat and other opportunities for paid travel of generally 1-2 weeks per trip, including stipends to help cover the cost of dependent care while traveling. (Note: travel is never required)
• We encourage proactive professional development and offer learning opportunities, including conferences and workshops.

IAPS is a project fiscally sponsored by Rethink Priorities, a US-based 501(c)(3). Please click here to return to IAPS' careers website.

You can learn more about the benefits we offer here.

• Comprehensive global benefits package, including generous health insurance.
• Generous paid time off (PTO) leave and unpaid leave, including:
  • Unlimited vacation with a minimum 30 days off per year (incl. public local holidays, vacation time, and “mandated” 3-weeks total mid- and end-year organization-wide breaks).
• Unlimited (within reason) personal and sick leave.
• Parental leave - up to 6-9 months of a combination of paid and unpaid parental leave that can be taken prior to and/or during the first 2 years after a child’s birth or adoption.
• Technology stipend of the equivalent of $2000 USD every 3 years that can be used to cover costs of purchasing work and office equipment.
• Annual team retreat and other opportunities for paid travel of generally 1-2 weeks per trip, including stipends to help cover the cost of dependent care while traveling. (Note: travel is never required)
• We encourage proactive professional development and offer learning opportunities, including conferences and workshops.