Chief Financial Officer

The Opportunity:

Youth & Opportunity United (Y.O.U.) seeks a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join a dynamic youth development organization. The CFO will oversee the finance & accounting function, financial compliance, office and facilities, and risk management, and will also play a lead role in strategic planning with the CEO. The CFO will report directly to the CEO as a key thought partner, collaborate with other members of the Executive Team, lead the Administration Team of six staff (three direct reports), and work closely with the Board of Directors supporting the Finance Committee. A successful candidate will be passionate about the mission, will actively integrate with program staff to best inform financial planning, will be comfortable presenting to external and internal groups, and will have strong executive presence.

 

The Organization:

Founded in 1971, Y.O.U. is an Evanston-based non-profit that partners with families, schools, and the community to provide academic, social, and emotional support to close the opportunity gap and prepare all youth for post-secondary and life success. Each year, Y.O.U. provides over 1,600 youth across 11 school sites with free, holistic, out-of-school support, including afterschool and summer learning programs, mental health counseling, and experiential learning through partnerships. This is an exciting time of transformation for the organization, following a three-year $16.4M capital campaign that expanded programs, launched an endowment, and funded a new headquarters facility. The organization is implementing a new strategic plan focused on data & evaluation of impact, increased integration of services, and a refined program model. Our staff are a diverse collection of 70+ passionate individuals, committed to social justice, to trauma-informed care, to inclusion and equity, and to helping youth realize their full potential.

 

The Role:

● Finance & Accounting: 50%

● Leadership, Strategy, & Risk : 30%

● Facilities: 20%

 

Finance & Accounting

● Set and execute a financial vision that best supports the strategic plan of the organization

● Oversee a $12M balance sheet including all cash, endowment investments, and fixed assets

● Manage financial institution relationships

● Oversee financial planning process and $4.5-$5M operating budget to ensure availability and sustainability of resources, and to maximize impact

● Develop and utilize forward-looking models and activity-based financial analyses to provide insight into the organization’s operations and business plans

● Lead a talented and dedicated finance team, which includes an Accounting Manager, Grants & Financial Analyst, and an Accounting Clerk

● Collaborate closely with Y.O.U.’s Advancement Department to monitor fundraising progress

● Establish and Follow financial policies and procedures and maintain appropriate internal controls

● Provide timely, accurate, and useful financial and management reporting for federal and state funders, foundations, and Y.O.U.’s board of directors; prepare and communicate monthly and annual financial statements

● Remain current on nonprofit GAAP accounting, reporting and control best practices, and state and federal law regarding nonprofit financial operations

● Coordinate audits, including A-133 audit, and prepare and file tax returns

● Ensure legal and regulatory compliance regarding all financial functions

● Engage the Finance Committee to develop short, medium, and long-term financial plans and projections

 

Leadership, Strategy, & Risk Management

● Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Chief Executive Officer, supporting strategic planning, organizational dashboards and reporting, data & evaluation efforts, and external relations

● Collaborate closely with Chief Talent Officer and Chief Advancement Officer, as well as the Program Directors, on cross functional issues such as culture management, effective program design, and managing organizational change

● Serve as a key leader and build internal relationships with staff, in order to develop an understanding of programming that enables strategic resource allocation for efficient impact and growth of financial resources to meet programmatic needs

● Represent Y.O.U. to internal and external stakeholders including the Y.O.U. board, financial institutions, community partners, donors, grantmakers, auditors, and public officials

● Create and manage a comprehensive risk program, identifying and mitigating risks across the organizational including insurance coverage, process changes, and policies

● Other projects and duties as assigned to assist the CEO and broader organizational initiatives

 

Facilities

● Supervise the Operations Manager to build a supportive infrastructure team

● Manage long-term facility planning: monitor the health of the facility, the capital requirements for maintenance and the sufficiency of the facility reserve fund

● Drive facility maintenance program including organization of vendors, protocols, and costs

● Oversee facility policies and procedures, ensuring the safety and security of our people, information, and assets

 

The Candidate:

The CFO will be a seasoned, strategic, and innovative leader with at least ten years of finance experience, including the compiling and evaluating of financial information and making recommended actions to senior leadership. The candidate must have experience managing the financial operations for a nonprofit with multiple funding sources that include the government, and will ideally have experience in facilities management.

 

The successful candidate will have the following experience and attributes:

● A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree

● Registered/licensed CPA or MBA strongly preferred

● Performance in a senior financial-management role that partnered with executive staff to develop and implement successful financial management strategies

● Nonprofit accounting, including sophisticated fund and grant accounting, compliance, and reporting

● Office of Management and Budget Circular A133 audit understanding

● Experience and interest in strategic planning, including process design and measurement

● Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain technical finance and accounting topics to non-technical audiences such as staff and the board

● Demonstrated leadership ability, team management, and interpersonal skills

● Excellent analytical and organizational skills

● Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, proposing new ways of creating efficiencies, and guiding investment in people and systems

● Proven effectiveness supervising and developing professionals

● Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to Y.O.U.’s mission

● An ability to work well with others in a highly collaborative environment

 

The Offer:

Y.O.U. is a dynamic and energetic place to work, with a rich history as a community organization coupled with an entrepreneurial approach to solving problems. Out-of-school time programming spans grades 3 – 12, and a holistic model of program delivery includes collaboration with families, schools, and partners. The Y.O.U. headquarters is a brand new facility housing administrative offices, a Maker Lab for STEM programming, a commercial-grade kitchen, clinical counseling spaces, a community gathering space, and an outdoor garden/event space.

 

Staff members of Y.O.U. benefit from:

● Professional learning budget for every staff, plus all-staff continuous learning trainings

● Medical, Dental, & Vision Coverage

● Pre-tax benefits including flexible spending and transit

● 401K plan including company contribution

● 12+ paid holidays per year, including a week-long Winter Break

● 15 days of paid vacation and 12 days of paid sick leave annually

● Competitive salary practices

● Team-oriented culture supported by staff work groups to inform our values, shape our practices, and build community through social gatherings

● Caring and flexible work environment committed to work-life balance

● Strong commitment to building and maintaining an inclusive environment, including race and LGBTQ+ equity work

Y.O.U. is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.