Finance Director

Seattle, United States | Posted on 08/08/2024

We exist to eliminate the need for the criminal legal system for youth and young adults. To do this, we create alternatives to incarceration for youth and young adults based on committed relationships centered on love, compassion, and consistency. We use community to heal community, planting seeds of hope, self-respect and vision to unlock the promise of our youth while fighting to dismantle the systems of oppression that threaten to take that promise away.

Why We Matter

Over the last 20 years, we have seen a sharp decline in the number of young people in detention across King County. But even as the overall number decreased, our juvenile legal system has had an increasingly and disproportionately harmful impact on youth of color, particularly Black youth. While only 10% of King County’s 2 million residents are Black, they now make up almost half of the detention population on any given day and more than half of felony offenses.

In the last three years, Community Passageways has worked with nearly 200 young people with felony charges with the aim of diverting their charges and keeping them in the community. In the end, most of them spent no time in detention and the average young person saw an 80% reduction in their length of sentence. The young people kept in the community through their dedication and our support have gone on to enroll in college, start businesses, graduate from high school, and help rebuild our communities.

Who We Are

We are a family born from the community we serve. The lived experiences of staff prepare them to act as credible messengers and Ambassadors. Our Ambassadors work with heart, humility, and compassion to lead community and school-based healing circles, individual and family case management, court advocacy, and youth leadership opportunities.

The Finance Director, leading the Community Passageways finance team, is responsible for the organization’s financial stewardship, policy development, and reporting. This pivotal role is not just about managing financial operations but also about enhancing the organization's financial health, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and facilitating communication with internal and external stakeholders. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this full-time position is critical in aligning the organization’s financial strategy with its mission and goals, making it a challenging and impactful role.

This position is central to our mission. It expertly navigates fund accounting, grant management, and compliance to support our social services, including direct assistance and other assistance programs. Working in partnership with our grants and contracts management team, this role ensures seamless financial operations, optimizing impact and compliance across diverse funding streams. With a focus on transparency, efficiency, and sensitivity, the ideal candidate will champion our financial integrity and mission impact in every decision.

In our dynamic and mission-driven environment, the Finance Director role is pivotal for managing finances and fostering a culture of collaborative leadership and innovation. We are on a path to refine and improve our financial systems to achieve operational excellence and ease within the next 12 months. This journey towards continuous improvement will require a leader who is committed to enhancing our financial processes and deeply invested in our team's professional development. The ideal candidate will play a critical role in supporting each staff member's growth, ensuring that our finance department meets its current objectives and becomes a model of efficiency and effectiveness. This commitment to innovation, teamwork, and development is central to our success and the fulfillment of our mission.

Financial Leadership and Strategy: Oversee the finance team's operations, setting and achieving strategic financial objectives that align with the organization's mission.

Policy and Control Management: Develop, implement, and monitor financial policies and procedures to ensure organizational integrity and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Financial Reporting and Analysis: Provide accessible financial reporting to the board, executive team, and other staff. Oversee the preparation of financial statements, tax filings (including 990s), and management reports, ensuring accuracy and transparency.

Budget Management: Lead the budgeting process, supporting department heads in financial planning and monitoring budget adherence to ensure fiscal responsibility.

Audit Facilitation: Coordinate and oversee annual external audits, acting as a primary liaison with auditors to ensure a smooth and efficient process.

Cash Flow and Treasury Management: Manage organizational cash flow, overseeing accounts payable, receivable, and ensuring effective treasury management for an annual revenue of approximately $10-$15 million.

Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with funders, financial institutions, and partners to maintain and develop relationships, ensuring financial commitments are met and opportunities for collaboration are maximized.

Risk Management: Identify financial risks and develop strategies to mitigate these risks, safeguarding the organization's assets and financial future.

Team Leadership and Development: Supervise and mentor finance team staff and contractors, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and professional development.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in financial management, preferably in a nonprofit setting, with a demonstrated ability to manage finances in excess of $7 million annually, including significant experience with local, state, and federal government grants. 
  
• A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field and a CPA or relevant advanced degree are preferred.
  
• In-depth knowledge of GAAP and experience with fund accounting, with a proven track record in strategic financial planning, risk management, and compliance.
  
• Proficiency in MIP financial management software and technology, with experience in systems integration and managing transitions or upgrades effectively.
  
• Strong leadership and team development skills, with an ability to mentor staff, enhance team capabilities, and foster a positive and productive work environment.
  
• Exceptional communication skills, capable of making financial information accessible to various stakeholders and engaging with external partners and funders effectively.
  
• Commitment to social justice, with a deep understanding of the systems of oppression affecting communities of color and a dedication to promoting equity and inclusion.
  
• Demonstrated commitment to dismantling systems of oppression and valuing young people's intrinsic worth and potential.
  
• Restorative justice orientation in relationships with staff, partners, and participants.
  
• High self-awareness, adaptability, and the ability to take ownership of projects, with self-motivation and independent problem-solving skills.
  
• Flexibility in managing changing priorities and competing deadlines, maintaining discretion in handling confidential information, and ensuring database security.
  
• Proactive, excellent oral and written communication skills, emphasizing the importance of collaborative communication and innovative problem-solving.