Background
Beginning in 2011, Pittsburgh nonprofit organizations with similar or related missions started collaborating to share one employee who would provide a similar function for each organization as a way to share costs and to collectively gain access to a more skilled individual than they could afford working alone.In light of this success, five nonprofit organizations with environmental education-focused elements of their respective missions and programs have come together as the Environmental Education Finance Collaborative (“EEFC”). The EEFC is a group of five organizations hiring a Shared Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”) to develop a planning process, seek funding, and secure the professional guidance to undertake capitalization planning.
The CFO supports the goals of the EEFC. The members (and their missions) are:
• Pennsylvania Resources Council (“PRC”) – To lead and promote individual and collective actions to preserve Pennsylvania’s environmental resources for each generation.
• Venture Outdoors (“VO”) – We believe everyone deserves the chance to experience how incredibly fun the outdoors can be, so we provide the gear, guidance and inspiration to make outdoor recreation part of people’s lives.
• Allegheny Land Trust (“ALT”) – We serve as the lead land trust conserving and stewarding lands that support the scenic, recreational, and environmental well-being of communities in Allegheny County and its environs.
• Hollow Oak Land Trust (“HOLT”) – A nonprofit conservation organization that protects and connects greenspace with an emphasis in the Pittsburgh Airport Corridor.
• Three Rivers Waterkeeper (“3RWK”) – We protect and improve the water quality of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers. 3RWK is both a scientific and legal advocate for the community, working to ensure our three rivers are safe to drink, fish, swim, and enjoy.
This position has primary responsibility for providing participating organizations access to a higher level of strategic financial management and oversight than each would be able to afford independently. Work will be confidential in nature and a confidentiality agreement will be required.
Position Overview
While the Chief Financial Officer will be a full-time exempt employee of Pennsylvania Resources Council (the largest of the collaborating organizations), the position will report directly to the Executive Directors of each participating organization in accordance with the EEFC Operating Agreement. The CFO will provide high-level financial and operations support, as well as assistance with specific projects, problems, and tasks. Required are demonstrated high-level finance and accounting skills and the administrative expertise needed to advise and provide oversight for financial operations and accounting, financial analysis, reporting, and planning. The successful candidate must have the demonstrated ability to conduct financial analyses, forecasting, budgeting, and overseeing the production of audited financial statements.
The CFO will likely initially spend one day per week working for and located at each organization. Due to the variations in the size, complexity, and systems at each organization, it is anticipated that the CFO’s allocation of time will reflect these differences. PRC, ALT, and VO are currently larger and more complex than the others participating in the collaborative.
The CFO will be responsible for the following:
Building and Enhancing Infrastructure
• Building and integrating information and systems – to ensure that data is captured in a timely and accurate manner and is available to all levels of the organization as well as to ensure that proper IT systems are being used for maximum efficiency.
• Focusing on process maturity and methods – in recognition that well-conceived and functioning processes yield the most accurate financial data.
• Providing oversight and coaching – to provide advice and encouragement so that data is being utilized as much as possible and interpreted accurately.
• Providing “hands on” support when necessary – realizing that in small organizations, it is sometimes necessary to get into the details in furtherance of goals.
Specific tasks:
o Enhancing accounting and reporting systems and methods to simplify and streamline financial processes and provide as real-time information as possible.
o Working to integrate systems and information and propose solutions to automate and integrate when possible.
o Supporting financial staff, as appropriate, and supplement when necessary to ensure accurate and timely financial statements.
Encouraging a High-Performing Culture
• Strategic focus – assisting Executive Directors and Boards in maintaining a focus on strategic outcomes through aligned budgeting and management of financial performance.
• Decision support – ensuring that decisions are made with data and cost benefit analyses.
• Meaningful and timely information across the organization – delivering information across all levels of the organization in recognition that all employees have some part to play in financial performance.
• Continuous improvement – ensuring a long-term vision for improvement and achievement of best practices in financial management.
Specific Tasks:
o Serving as a champion of on-going process improvements to align strategic objectives and provide support and advice to staff.
o Empowering staff with financial information relevant to achieving their goals and program objectives.
o Supervising, with the Executive Directors, the annual budgeting process with a focus on program alignment and strategy. Implement process changes to build a better and more meaningful budget.
o Attending relevant staff meetings and providing advice as appropriate.
Ensuring Compliance
• Technical expertise is applied to ensure accounting rules are properly followed.
• Financial information is timely, accurate, and made available to decision makers.
• Processes and procedures are documented and enhanced when necessary.
• The internal control environment is strong, functioning, and monitored.
Specific Tasks:
o Reviewing work of the Bookkeeper (or other financial staff) as appropriate.
o Reviewing and analyzing monthly financial dashboards and detailed financial statements.
o Performing monthly cash flow projection.
o Making specific policy and procedure enhancements and documenting them appropriately.
o Managing annual audit process, including coordination with auditors, supervision of interim and final fieldwork visits, review financial statements, Form 990 and BCO filing prepared by auditors, and present to management and finance committees.
o Acting as a supervisory control when necessary to enhance segregation of duties.
Serving as a Business Partner
• Close partnership/peer relationship with Executive Director or designated Staff – providing an additional source of advice and review on major issues and decisions impacting the organization.
• Board and Finance Committee resource – providing information and advice as they exercise their fiduciary oversight responsibilities.
Specific tasks:
o Attending each organization’s board and finance committee meetings and providing commentary and explanations for financial performance. Evening hours will likely be required based on the board and committee meeting schedules.
o Meeting on a regular basis with the ED to ensure focus on strategic objectives and goals for the fiscal year.
o Leading or supporting specific projects as agreed.
o Providing customized financial reports requested by funders in support of applications and compliance for grants, contracts, and other funding sources.
Behavioral Competencies
The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate the following behavioral characteristics:
1. Functional/Technical Skills – Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills to do the job at a high level of accomplishment.
2. Business Acumen – Knows how businesses work; knowledgeable in current and possible future policies, practices, trends, developments in e-commerce, and information affecting his/her business and organization; knows the competition; is aware of how strategies and tactics work in the marketplace.
3. Composure – Is cool under pressure; does not become defensive or irritated when times are tough; is considered mature; can be counted on to hold things together during tough times; can handle stress; is not knocked off-balance by the unexpected; doesn’t show frustration when resisted or blocked; is a settling influence in a crisis.
4. Integrity and Trust – Is widely trusted; is seen as a direct, truthful individual; can present the unvarnished truth in an appropriate and helpful manner; keeps confidences; admits mistakes; doesn’t misrepresent him/herself for personal gain.
5. Dealing with Ambiguity – Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
6. Listening – Practices attentive and active listening; has the patience to hear people out; can accurately restate the opinions of others even when he/she disagrees.
7. Planning – Accurately scopes out length and difficulty of tasks and projects; sets objectives and goals; breaks down work into the process steps; develops schedules and task/people assignments; anticipates and adjusts for problems and roadblocks; measures performance against goals; evaluates results.
8. Teamwork – Works effectively and respectfully with management, board, and staff of each member organization; provides constructive support for overall mission, strategic plans, and programmatic priorities as identified by management and board of each member organization.
9. Time Management – Uses his/her time effectively and efficiently; values time; has ability to allocate time equitably among the five member organizations and their respective business units; concentrates his/her efforts on the more important priorities; gets more done in less time than others; can attend to a broader range of activities.
Qualifications
The CFO has a unique blend of knowledge, skills and abilities that includes:
• Demonstrated experience with budget creation and monitoring, financial management and accounting in the non-profit sector required.
• Excellent communications skills, project management, and analytical abilities.
• Ability to work well under pressure; meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong database/computer skills including the MS Office Suite and experience with server and cloud-based accounting applications such as QuickBooks and others.
• An undergraduate degree in accounting, finance or related field is required; Masters and/or CPA desired, but not required. At least 7 years work experience in accounting or finance roles is required.
• The ability to complete projects and special assignments by establishing objectives; determining priorities; managing time; gaining cooperation of others; monitoring progress problem-solving; making adjustments to plans.
• Ability to effectively communicate key data, including presentations to senior staff, the Board or other outside partners/influencers/clients.
• Demonstrated excellence in non-profit finance, accounting, budgeting, control, and reporting. Knowledge of non-profit legal, audit, and compliance issues.
• Excellent people skills, with experience collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team.
• Strong analytical skills and ability.
• A hands-on manager with integrity and a desire to work in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness and good judgment.
• Ability to travel to Harrisburg or the Philadelphia suburbs (for PRC-related business) on an occasional basis (not more than quarterly).
• Knowledge of the environmental sector is helpful.
Compensation
This position offers a competitive starting annual base salary ($80-85,000.00) and a benefits package consistent with other nonprofit organizations of similar size, scope, and scale.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted confidentially through nonprofittalent.com:
APPLICATION MATERIALS DUE BY: Wednesday, May 3rd, 2017
The EEFC has retained Nonprofit Talent to assist with this important organizational change process. Interested individuals wishing to confidentially discuss this opportunity may contact Todd Owens, Principal at Todd@NonprofitTalent.com or 412.512.3879. Applications are not accepted at this email address. Please direct all inquiries related to this position to Nonprofit Talent and do not contact any of the five member organizations involved with the EEFC.
