The Finance & Accounting department provides key decision support and advisory services to ensure an optimal allocation of resources. It encompasses a broad range of activities that include accounting, financial planning, and grants management. As a strategic partner to the programmatic hubs and workstreams, it plays a central role in ensuring achievement of organizational objectives.
Job Summary:
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is the steward of GMF’s financial health. The role serves as a key advisor to the COO and the President, collaborates with all areas of the organization, and is a driver of strategic direction and financial growth. The CFO provides leadership, management and vision necessary to ensure GMF has the proper financial and technological infrastructure in place to ensure a robust and nimble organization. The position oversees Finance Operations of the organization and liaises with the following Board Committees: Budget, Finance and Fundraising, Investment, and Audit.
The CFO is a significant contributor to the implementation of a continual process of organizational transformation, begun in 2022 with 4 principal goals: 1) raise GMF’s visibility & outreach; 2) prioritize GMF’s research and grant-making activities; 3) transform & grow GMF; and 4) increase GMF’s externally raised revenue. The CFO plays a critical role in the successful ongoing realization of the transformation vision through the development and optimization of systems, tools, resources, structure, business practices and culture of the F&A department.
Essential Responsibilities:
Strategy
- Provide financial counsel to the COO and President, senior managers, and GMF Board of Trustees and engage in short- and long-range forecasting as well as assess the financial implications of GMF’s operations, opportunities and decisions the organization considers and executes.
- Oversee the external investment advisor’s performance of the endowment, in partnership with the Investment Committee.
- Build and monitor progress against GMF’s 3-year financial strategy
Operations
- Develop and oversee the financial infrastructure and personnel needed to support all GMF’s programs and operations; increase efficiency and effectiveness across all GMF offices and provide creative solutions to organizational challenges.
- Lead development and implementation of comprehensive financial and risk management processes that support the organization’s strategic goals including, budgeting, cash management and financial reporting that provide a clear analysis of the organization’s financial health.
Compliance and internal controls
- Protect the organization’s legal interests through persistent review of compliance with federal, local and relevant foreign government laws and regulations.
- Identify and develop tools for risk assessment and management.
Leadership
- Provide leadership and work collaboratively with executive team and direct reports as the organization implements its transformation plans to establish, monitor, and ensure delivery on organizational objectives and priorities that align with GMF’s mission, strategy a, ensuring effective internal systems, processes, information flow and clarity on accountability.
- Support the President’s work with the Board of Trustees, including overseeing preparation for and follow-up for Board meetings for the Audit, Finance, Investment committees.
- Oversee management of the Finance & Accounting team
Qualifications and Critical Qualities for Success:
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA, CPA and/or other relevant advanced degree, highly desirable.
- Minimum of fifteen years of relevant experience demonstrating proven leadership skills, on broad organizational strategies, in an executive level position.
- Highly experienced in nonprofit financial management with budgets of at least $20 million and revenue from range of donors including US and foreign government agencies and private foundations; general understanding of GAAP and non-profit revenue recognition and audit requirements. Experience with USAID funding, highly desirable.
- Strong base of knowledge in accounting for investments and demonstrated effectiveness working with investment advisors and the outside fund managers.
- Executive presence to work effectively with the Board of Directors.
- Proven record working effectively with international offices, a globally diverse staff, and providing support as well as creative solutions to challenges.
- Superb interpersonal skills including the ability to foster respect and trust among colleagues, direct reports and external constituents, including institutional and individual partners, funders and Board members; must possess integrity, sound judgment and a sense of humor. Ability to build consensus and manage competing needs.
- Excellent presentation and communication skills, orally and in writing, especially in presenting and explaining financial data to staff and Board members and working among diverse cultures.
- Proven record of success in change management, leading and implementing change, creating, executing and monitoring systems, processes, financial systems and capabilities and leading quality service operations, including related to major Finance infrastructure changes; creative, resourceful and positive problem solver. Ability to cultivate teamwork and motivate staff to work collaboratively and diligently.
- Interest and support for the mission of the German Marshall Fund, ideally demonstrated through prior professional or volunteer experiences.
We highly encourage individuals from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.? Historically, underrepresented groups include (but are not limited to) Black, Latinx/o/a/e, Indigenous, Asian, Arab, Middle Eastern, Pacific Islander, biracial, multiracial, female-identifying, the disability community, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized identities.
Don’t meet every single requirement?? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification.? At GMF we are dedicated to building a diverse and authentic workplace, so if you are excited about this role, but your experience does not align perfectly, we encourage you to apply.? You may just be the right candidate for this or other roles at GMF.?