CFO

Job Title:                           Chief Financial Officer

Classification:                  Exempt, part of Management unit (non-union)

Reports to:                       Deputy Director

Supervises:                       Accounting Team

Organization Overview: NLS provides free legal services to low-income individuals and people with disabilities.  Substantive practice areas include housing, public benefits, family, and disability law.  An annual budget of over $15 million supports 100+ staff working primarily among three offices in Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Batavia.  NLS staff are supported by the Buffalo Office of Legal Service Workers (BOLSW) Union which covers the majority of staff including staff attorneys, staff paralegals, and support staff.  Non-union staff include approximately 20 management and administrative personnel.  NLS receives a mix of Federal, State, local and foundation support as well as earned income through attorney’s fees and contributions.

Job Summary:  CFO will lead the Finance and Accounting team to support the financial health and integrity of the organization. Working closely with the Executive Director, this individual is accountable for accounting operations including maintenance and enforcement of internal controls, policies, and procedures; maintenance of accounting records and systems; production of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports; and financial management of grants and contracts. CFO’s objective is to mitigate risk, enhance the accuracy of reported financial results, and ensure that reported results comply with generally accepted accounting principles, contracts, and government regulations.

Financial Management

1. Analyze and present financial results in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, projections, and critical financial matters to the Deputy Director, the Executive Director and the Board.
2. Oversee all financial, project/program, and grants reporting, with particular focus on meeting the financial terms of grant awards and successfully utilizing all restricted grant funds.
3. Manage organizational cash flow and forecasting; ensure both restricted and unrestricted cash flows support operational requirements.
4. Lead annual budgeting and planning process in conjunction with the Deputy and Executive Directors; lead financial strategy and budget development for new restricted grant applications, ensuring viable proposals are presented to funders.
5. Coordinate and lead the annual audit and 990 preparation and filing process; liaise with external auditors and the finance committee of the Board of Directors.
6. Maximize efficiency of financial systems and processes; ensure sufficient capacity exists to handle growing volume and complexity as the organization expands.
7. As processes change and grow, ensure controls are adequate and financial policies and procedures keep pace with change.

Accounting Team Supervision

1. Oversee all accounting operations including accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, contract billing, monthly bank and investment account reconciliations, balance sheet reconciliations, and revenue reconciliations.
2. Supervise and manage the workflow of a team responsible for a variety of day-to-day accounting duties and contract billing.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or other related business degree required with 7+ years of experience in an organization with multiple locations and/or business units; minimum of five years’ broad finance, operations and management experience
2. CPA or MBA required
3. Extensive supervisory/coaching experience
4. Superior financial analysis skills
5. Ability to translate financial concepts to—and to effectively collaborate with—programmatic and fundraising colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds
6. Commitment to best practices in human resource management, with a deep understanding of employee life cycle management
7. A successful track record setting priorities; keen analytic, organization, and problem solving skills which support and enable sound decision making
8. Excellent communication and relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
9. Able to multitask in a fast-paced environment with diverse teams
10. Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, empathy, and dedication to the mission of NLS

Salary and benefits

Annual salary is competitive and dependent on experience.  Position in Buffalo office location.  Thirty-five (35) hour work week with 13 ½ Holidays and accrued PTO.  Generous health, dental, HRA and retirement benefits. 

NLS is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply.  Employer recruits without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, ancestry, sex, gender (including identity or expression), sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or protected veteran status and any such candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.