Finance Director

The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) was founded in 2012 by Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. CLF invests in climate justice initiatives in the Caribbean & United States and helps communities prepare for and withstand natural disasters. With the voices of Rihanna and her fans, CLF also engages in global advocacy with the goal of improving the quality of life for young people everywhere.

Since 2012, the foundation has given over $100 million in grants. The Clara Lionel Foundation is not a traditional foundation - while selecting innovative, unique education and emergency response programs around the world to support on a rolling basis, CLF simultaneously tackles these issues at a global scale through advocacy.

Additionally, CLF leverages corporate partnerships and collaborations with other education focused nonprofits, foundations, and thought leaders to ensure that CLF’s work is sustainable, innovative, and efficient. CLF believes that significant change is only achieved by breaking barriers and forming cross-sector partnerships. Committed to telling positive stories of incredible communities and youth around the world, CLF also strives to be a leader in informative, immersive content and challenges the partners it works with to maintain strong storytelling practices.

CLF views each organization or institution it funds as a partner and not simply a grantee. Through a thorough and collaborative application process, CLF seeks to support organizations that also treat the communities they operate in as partners as well. The team at CLF believe strongly that local leaders and organizations are the best leaders to enact local change.

For more information: https://claralionelfoundation.org/

Position

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Finance Director will be responsible for managing the organization’s financial operations and supporting the leadership team in making sound financial decisions. This position will oversee budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance while ensuring the financial health of the organization. The Finance Director will work closely with the Executive Director and the finance committee, offering insights to support strategic planning and financial growth.

Specific responsibilities include:

Financial and Operational Management:

Provides effective financial management in line with the CLF strategic plan.

Responsible for carrying out regular financial planning and analysis (FP&A) tasks such as budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, including tracking financial and non-financial KPIs.

Analyzes plan-actual deviations and conducts ad-hoc evaluations and benchmark analyses.

Ensures the timely and accurate preparation and submission of financial statements, reports, and liquidity analysis to stakeholders.

Develop and maintain a cash flow management system to ensure organizational financial stability.

Monitor progress against the budget and prepare financial reports for leadership and the Board of Directors.

Investments – Work with the investment consultant to manage and track performance of the endowment in keeping with the policies and investment guidelines established by the investment committee

Work collaboratively with department heads to provide regular financial updates to senior management.

Effectively communicates critical financial matters to the Executive Director, finance committee, and other local stakeholders.

Budgeting and Planning:

Lead the annual budgeting process, working with the Executive Director to create and manage budgets.

Track financial performance against the budget and provide updates to the Executive Director.

Provide financial projections and scenario analyses to assist in organizational planning.

Actively support the Business Management/Accounting Team (where applicable) and ensure compliance with internal controls and policies.

Operations:

Maintain internal control safeguards, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Consistently review and adjust financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance and streamline operations where applicable.

Coordinate audit activities and manage relationships with external auditors and consultants.

Ensure all governmental/state registrations are filed as required, and all regulatory requirements are fulfilled.

Oversee ongoing risk management, including reviewing insurance coverage, making necessary recommendations, and ensuring timely renewals.

Qualifications

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a leader with broad finance experience including accounting, gathering and evaluating financial information and making actionable recommendations to senior leadership. S/he will have experience managing the finance function (accounting, budgeting, control, and reporting).

Experience

Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field (CPA/CMA preferred).

At least 10 years of experience in financial management, preferably in a nonprofit environment.

Strong understanding of accounting principles, budgeting, and financial reporting.

Experience with managing grant compliance and government audits.

Experience in risk management and insurance review processes is a plus.

Ability to harness technology solutions in order to more quickly and efficiently communicate resources needed for key activities and performance against plans.

Experience effectively communicating key data, including presentations to senior management, the Board or other outside partners/influencers/clients

Ability to translate financial concepts to – and to effectively collaborate with -- programmatic and fundraising colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds

Personal Characteristics

Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders

Outstanding communications skills, written and oral

Demonstrated resourcefulness and good judgment

Hands-on, leads by example

Values diversity of thought, backgrounds and perspectives

Integrity/ethics beyond reproach

Constantly looking to apply best practices

Passion for CLF’s mission

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $145,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Accounting: 10 years (Required)
• Financial management: 10 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Washington, DC (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Washington, DC: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) was founded in 2012 by Robyn “Rihanna” Fenty in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. CLF invests in climate justice initiatives in the Caribbean & United States and helps communities prepare for and withstand natural disasters. With the voices of Rihanna and her fans, CLF also engages in global advocacy with the goal of improving the quality of life for young people everywhere.

Since 2012, the foundation has given over $100 million in grants. The Clara Lionel Foundation is not a traditional foundation - while selecting innovative, unique education and emergency response programs around the world to support on a rolling basis, CLF simultaneously tackles these issues at a global scale through advocacy.

Additionally, CLF leverages corporate partnerships and collaborations with other education focused nonprofits, foundations, and thought leaders to ensure that CLF’s work is sustainable, innovative, and efficient. CLF believes that significant change is only achieved by breaking barriers and forming cross-sector partnerships. Committed to telling positive stories of incredible communities and youth around the world, CLF also strives to be a leader in informative, immersive content and challenges the partners it works with to maintain strong storytelling practices.

CLF views each organization or institution it funds as a partner and not simply a grantee. Through a thorough and collaborative application process, CLF seeks to support organizations that also treat the communities they operate in as partners as well. The team at CLF believe strongly that local leaders and organizations are the best leaders to enact local change.

For more information: https://claralionelfoundation.org/

Position

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Finance Director will be responsible for managing the organization’s financial operations and supporting the leadership team in making sound financial decisions. This position will oversee budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance while ensuring the financial health of the organization. The Finance Director will work closely with the Executive Director and the finance committee, offering insights to support strategic planning and financial growth.

Specific responsibilities include:

Financial and Operational Management:

● Provides effective financial management in line with the CLF strategic plan.

● Responsible for carrying out regular financial planning and analysis (FP&A) tasks such as budgeting, forecasting, and reporting, including tracking financial and non-financial KPIs.

● Analyzes plan-actual deviations and conducts ad-hoc evaluations and benchmark analyses.

● Ensures the timely and accurate preparation and submission of financial statements, reports, and liquidity analysis to stakeholders.

● Develop and maintain a cash flow management system to ensure organizational financial stability.

● Monitor progress against the budget and prepare financial reports for leadership and the Board of Directors.

● Investments – Work with the investment consultant to manage and track performance of the endowment in keeping with the policies and investment guidelines established by the investment committee

● Work collaboratively with department heads to provide regular financial updates to senior management.

● Effectively communicates critical financial matters to the Executive Director, finance committee, and other local stakeholders.

Budgeting and Planning:

● Lead the annual budgeting process, working with the Executive Director to create and manage budgets.

● Track financial performance against the budget and provide updates to the Executive Director.

● Provide financial projections and scenario analyses to assist in organizational planning.

● Actively support the Business Management/Accounting Team (where applicable) and ensure compliance with internal controls and policies.

Operations:

● Maintain internal control safeguards, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements.

● Consistently review and adjust financial policies and procedures to ensure compliance and streamline operations where applicable.

● Coordinate audit activities and manage relationships with external auditors and consultants.

● Ensure all governmental/state registrations are filed as required, and all regulatory requirements are fulfilled.

● Oversee ongoing risk management, including reviewing insurance coverage, making necessary recommendations, and ensuring timely renewals.

Qualifications

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a leader with broad finance experience including accounting, gathering and evaluating financial information and making actionable recommendations to senior leadership. S/he will have experience managing the finance function (accounting, budgeting, control, and reporting).

Experience

● Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related field (CPA/CMA preferred).

● At least 10 years of experience in financial management, preferably in a nonprofit environment.

● Strong understanding of accounting principles, budgeting, and financial reporting.

● Experience with managing grant compliance and government audits.

● Experience in risk management and insurance review processes is a plus.

● Ability to harness technology solutions in order to more quickly and efficiently communicate resources needed for key activities and performance against plans.

● Experience effectively communicating key data, including presentations to senior management, the Board or other outside partners/influencers/clients

● Ability to translate financial concepts to – and to effectively collaborate with -- programmatic and fundraising colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds

Personal Characteristics

● Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders

● Outstanding communications skills, written and oral

● Demonstrated resourcefulness and good judgment

● Hands-on, leads by example

● Values diversity of thought, backgrounds and perspectives

● Integrity/ethics beyond reproach

● Constantly looking to apply best practices

● Passion for CLF’s mission

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $145,000.00 - $160,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Accounting: 10 years (Required)
• Financial management: 10 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Washington, DC (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Washington, DC: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person