Executive Vice President, Finance

Posted on April 29, 2019

For the past 11 years, the mission of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF) has been to advance innovative solutions to challenging problems. SVCF has engaged donors, corporations, government and community partners in efforts to make the Silicon Valley region and the world a better place. Under CEO Nicole Taylor’s new leadership, the organization returns to its community foundation roots - focusing its resources on communicating and collaborating with local leaders and helping philanthropists who work with the foundation to be their most effective at accomplishing their charitable giving and community investment goals. She has begun her tenure by focusing on the community foundation’s core work as a solid partner to philanthropists and local community organizations, and working with staff to develop ways to better connect donors and communities and bring creative ideas and solutions front and center. Based in Mountain View, California, SVCF partners with families, individuals and corporations to manage and facilitate their philanthropy by connecting donors to communities’ most pressing needs.

SVCF works to improve people’s lives in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, and partners with donors, companies and other foundations to address regional concerns that affect local communities. Despite the area’s great wealth, residents are challenged by so much – dearth of affordable housing and accessible transit, financial instability and the precarious safety and security of immigrant residents, regional planning on these issues, among other issues. The community foundation addresses these and other challenges, including early education and empowering community voices to effect change.

SVCF works closely with donors to understand their philanthropic goals and the best ways to accomplish them. From accepting complex assets and establishing giving vehicles, to facilitating grantmaking and other types of investments, SVCF is committed to ensuring donors make the impact they seek.

SVCF partners with community and government leaders to address public policy issues, advance the best ideas and direct its resources swiftly and strategically toward critical issues. The foundation serves as a resource for nonprofit, civic, government and philanthropic organizations.

There are several ways SVCF contributes, including:

• Research: commissioning research to identify emerging issues, monitor trends and provide analysis
• Public forums: bringing people together to engage in discussion and problem-solving
• Advocacy: taking positions on critical issues and advocate for policy outcomes
• Initiatives: launching initiatives and special projects, partnering with other foundations, corporations, nonprofits, donors and government agencies on topics or issues of regional importance

The new leadership team, including new additions, is building on the good work of SVCF staff to bolster organizational culture, and of the board of directors to improve its governance. In a 2018 initiative, staff identified its core values as courage, collaboration, inclusion, respect and accountability – and these form the bedrock of SVCF’s approach to working internally, partnering with donors and collaborating to improve communities.

The Executive Vice President, Finance is the chief financial officer of SVCF, reporting to the President & CEO, and is a member of the executive leadership team. The Executive Vice President, Finance supervises the Vice President, Finance and the Senior Vice President, Investments. The Executive Vice President, Finance works closely with staff across the Foundation to ensure the highest level of stewardship of the Foundation’s assets.

Specifically, the Executive Vice President, Finance will be responsible for:

• Serve as a member of the executive leadership team responsible for organizational policy development and planning, including the CEO and other department heads
• Work with the Foundation Board on SVCF’s evolving business model, supporting strategic planning and implementation efforts, ensuring that all Foundation initiatives make keen economic sense and are consistent with the Foundation’s financial strategy
• Lead data analysis and information sharing throughout the organization to aid in decision-making and strategic direction, including supporting long- range planning and business modeling with financial and economic insights
• Work across the organization, including with the executive leadership team, to develop the Foundation’s annual operating budget
• Participate with the Vice President, Human Resources in development and oversight of staffing, compensation, and SVCF’s fringe benefit program, including its 401(k) retirement program
• Provide mentorship and leadership for the professional growth of the Finance and Investment team
• Remain current and knowledgeable about legal, accounting, tax, and public policy matters related to community foundations and philanthropy
• Understand gift and fund options available for donors and assist (with resource development, executive and other departmental staff) in evaluating proposed gifts for adherence to SVCF’s policies and its ability to administer a proposed gift appropriately

• Lead development of operational policies and practices for SVCF’s finance and accounting team
• Manage costs and profitability, making sure expenditures are consistent with the organization’s budget, goals, and mission
• Oversee the Vice President, Finance and the Senior Vice President, Investments in their management of all aspects of accounting, financial, and investment management, including such departmental activities as:
  • Management of cash and short-term investments
  • Administration of non-cash assets including life insurance policies, real estate, and contracts
  • Development and monitoring of internal control procedures
  • Gift processing, cash receipts, grant disbursements, and accounts payable Reconciliation and proper recording of all investment and cash accounts
  • Strategic development and administration of charitable trusts, supporting organizations, and SVCF’s endowment partner program
  • Strategic development and oversight of SVCF’s fee structure and spending policy
  • Preparation of financial reports and analysis as required by the board and staff
  • Payroll preparation and reporting (working closely with the Human Resources team)

• Overseeing the Senior Vice President, Investments, ensure effective administration of SVCF’s investment program, working with SVCF’s investment managers and custodian to implement strategies adopted by the board and Investment Committee, including asset allocation and other strategic decisions
• Work with SVCF’s investment consultant to monitor manager investment performance and compliance with SVCF guidelines and to provide appropriate reporting to the Investment Committee and Board
• Develop and extend networks in investment, community development, philanthropy and advocacy fields as means to identify opportunities and capture important information relevant to potential deals and other trends
• Promote a Foundation-wide understanding of social and double/triple bottom line investing
• Consult with legal counsel as required on legal matters related to SVCF’s investment program
• Work closely with the resource development and donor services teams to ensure that all assets are invested consistent with the terms of individual fund agreements and donor intentions
• Ensure proper investment of trusts for which SVCF serves as trustee
• Communicate effectively and compellingly about the high stewardship standards and performance of SVCF’s investment program to donors, endowment partners, and other interested persons
• Support Board Investment Committee and staff in creating innovative investment strategies to better serve the Silicon Valley region
• Work with SVCF’s Finance, Audit, Investment, and other relevant Board Committees to keep them well-informed and leverage their collective expertise to assess the organization’s financial condition, appropriate reporting, compliance with applicable regulation, and relative risk/return of potential investments and refine investment strategy and policy

• Compliance with all state and federal reporting requirements
• Preparation of annual financial statements in compliance with generally accepted financial principles and coordination of annual independent financial statement audit
• Ensuring that the various entities under SVCF’s umbrella (supporting organizations, donor advised funds, corporate advised funds, among others) are compliant with tax, charitable giving, and governance regulations

SVCF is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and seeks to continue to build a diverse and inclusive workforce to promote effective work in partnership with all communities and population groups in the region. The Foundation seeks a leader with a demonstrated track record of resource development; commitment to the power of community philanthropy and the common good; strong curiosity and the desire to continue learning; a collegial work style; a sense of humor; and the dedication to work hard toward the foundation’s mission of promoting philanthropy and improving the quality of life in the region.

Within this framework, SVCF seeks an Executive Vice President, Finance with the following attributes:

• Fluency in financial strategy, trends and reporting
• Demonstrated mastery of accounting processes, systems, and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for nonprofit organizations along with solid understanding of other pertinent tax regulations and state and federal laws
• Experience with integrated grants and accounting systems; excellent working knowledge of office and enterprise systems technologies
• Ability to effectively and persuasively communicate with the board, executive team, broader staff, and external contacts
• Ability to lead, develop and mentor staff
• Demonstrated interest in philanthropy and in serving community needs
• Master's Degree in business, accounting or related field or equivalent education and experience
• Minimum of ten years with senior-level management experience within finance and/or accounting departments, non-profit experience preferred
• CPA certification highly desirable

Additionally, the successful candidate will likely have:

• An undergraduate and/or advanced degree in a related field
• A passion for community philanthropy
• Strong operational and implementation experience, demonstrated through positions that require action, rather than the provision of counsel
• Marketing savvy

We seek to have someone in place by late Spring 2019.

This position offers a competitive salary and includes a comprehensive benefits package. We actively welcome all candidates from a wide range of backgrounds who have the skills to fulfill this role – regardless of compensation history.

All applications are held in strict confidence. Please submit your credentials and a letter of interest through our private applicant portal to The 360 Group at  . 

Applications should be directed to the attention of Vincent Robinson, Managing Partner. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Earlier applicants may receive priority consideration. To be considered, The 360 Group encourages all interested candidates to submit their applications promptly, via the confidential applicant portal linked above.

At The 360 Group, we know that a richly diverse mix of professionals makes organizations more effective. Using that principle as our “North Star,” we make diversity a hallmark of our firm, and all of our search engagements.