Center for Constitutional Rights

Finance Director

Full-time

Location: New York, NY (In-Office: 1 to 2 days per week)

Reports to: Director of Operations

Direct Reports: Finance Manager and Finance Associate

 

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

The Center for Constitutional Rights works with communities under threat to fight for justice and liberation through litigation, advocacy, and strategic communications. Since 1966, we have taken on oppressive systems of power, including structural racism, gender oppression, economic inequity, and governmental overreach.

Too often, the law supports systems of power that violate our most fundamental rights and prevent people from living with dignity. We use creative and aggressive advocacy, communications, and legal strategies to combat the most virulent forms of oppression and to push law and policy to meet the demands of justice. Our teams partner and work with systems-impacted communities and social movements to build power and co-design legal, policy, and cultural interventions that advance the vision of the world our partners and clients want to see.  And through strategic communications, we increase public support for our efforts to challenge dominant narratives that normalize injustice.

Our approach is holistic, fearless, and relentless. You have a role to play in this fight. Join forces with our activists, lawyers, and storytellers to fight oppression and build power.
 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Finance Director (FD) will work with the Director of Operations to implement the financial vision for the organization. The FD will provide oversight and management for the Finance team, including AP/AR, payroll, project and organizational budgets, grants accounting, insurance coverage, investment, and banking relationships. The FD will supervise, train, and mentor the finance team.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Finance Director will provide strategic financial and organizational leadership for the Center for Constitutional Rights. These responsibilities include: 

Financial Management

• Manage, recommend, and implement systems, policies, procedures, and controls which assure that the Center for Constitutional Rights' financial operation functions efficiently and effectively; is designed to account accurately for various grantors and funding streams; and complies with standard nonprofit accounting principles, according to GAAP and IRS regulations

• Oversee day-to-day finance operations to ensure accurate function. This includes monthly and financial close of accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, prepaids, credit card and bank reconciliations, staff expense reimbursements, and restricted grant tracking

• Work with the Director of Operations to develop staff spending and reimbursement protocols and procedures

• Work with the Director of Operations to coordinate with outside services tasked to maintain payments and reporting for the annuity program and the annual state registrations required for fundraising

• Work with the Finance Manager to create project budgets and subsequent tracking and reporting for grants awarded

• Experience working with and collaborating with the development/fundraising team and institutional donors (foundations), with the ability and flexibility to provide rapid request turnaround

• Present Financial statements monthly to the Director of Operations

• Lead annual audit process: prepare materials for the audit, work directly with the auditor during the fieldwork and throughout the process, and manage RFP, bid, and selection process in collaboration with Board Finance Committee; ensure the IRS 990 is filed on time annually 

• Work with the Finance Manager to support the annual budget and planning process, assist with creating and reviewing all financial plans and budgets, and draft the organizational budget to present to the Director of Operations

• Lead efforts to increase financial literacy across the organization to promote effective budget management and develop internal leadership

• Lead the periodic review and assessment of accounting software systems and tools 

• Maintain the integrity of accounting tools, manage user access, and troubleshoot issues. Increase productivity by automating processes 

• As requested, prepare status reports of the Center for Constitutional Rights' finances for the Board of Directors and Management Team

Management, Operations, and Supervision

• Oversee day-to-day management of all financial operations ensuring accurate function, including accounts payable/accounts receivable, payroll, project and organizational budgets, grant accounting, insurance coverage, investment, and banking relationships

• Provide guidance to the Director of Operations as it relates to financial matters across the organization

• Hire, train, supervise, mentor, and support each finance team member in skills growth and creating professional development opportunities

• Define, develop, and monitor clear goals and objectives for the finance department and each team member, including work plans, team/individual goals, and work plans; prioritize as needed

• Approve department staff requests for schedule modification, paid leave, and comp time accrual; monitor staff workload and adjust or arrange coverage as neededProvide staff with regular and consistent feedback

• Conduct finance team members' annual performance evaluations

• Plan and facilitate regular and consistent department meetings, planning sessions, and team-building retreats

• Setting strategic financial goals, assessing team progress and performance, building productive inter-departmental relationships, and assessing inter-departmental workflow

Organizational Leadership and Strategy

As a Department Director, your leadership responsibilities will also include the following:

• Actively model positive organizational culture, adherence to policies and protocols, respect for process, and the Center for Constitutional Rights' mission, vision, and values

• Provide the Director of Operations with regular reports to inform decision making

• Develop, lead, and implement key organizational priorities

• Communicate effectively and build strong, respectful working relationships across the organization

• Work with the Director of Operations to coordinate and manage projects of the finance team to ensure alignment with organizational priorities

• Ability to proactively develop and implement strategy; provide metrics and evaluates the impact of finance strategies

• As a Department Director, determine organizational plans and priorities, make decisions, resolve problems, develop and/or approve policies, and help steward organizational change

• Foster and sustain collaboration, communication, and knowledge sharing within and across departmental and functional lines

• Participate in discussion and negotiation of union matters when needed

• Work in collaboration with the Management Team and across departments to solve problems, resolve conflicts, and develop more effective ways of working together

• Perform other responsibilities or lead projects as assigned by the Director of Operations

QUALIFICATIONS

• Strong interest in and commitment to the Center for Constitutional Rights' mission 

• Demonstrated 10+ years of experience managing nonprofit financial systems

• Proficient with QuickBooks for nonprofits or similar accounting tools 

• Working knowledge and proficiency with different types of payroll software

• Experience working collaboratively with senior leadership 

• High level of competence in managing staff and teams 

• Commitment to open communication, teamwork and collaboration, accountability, and professionalism

• Comfort working with a diverse population with myriad backgrounds and lived experiences

• Commitment to vigorous promotion of equity, diversity, and inclusion, and demonstrated cultural competence for issues including but not limited to race, gender, sexuality, disability, religion, and class

• Excellent leadership, planning and prioritization, communication, interpersonal, time management, and organizational skills

• Ability to be productive in a fast-paced environment, effectively juggle multiple projects and meet deadlines while maintaining a positive and professional attitude.

• Ability to anticipate problems and use judgment appropriately to plan solutions and manage obstacles as they arise

• Proficiency in MS Office, Adobe Acrobat, and Google applications

• Comfort working in a progressive legal and advocacy environment

• Integrity, grace under pressure, and a sense of humor

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary is commensurate with experience. The salary range for the position is $132,375 to $180,470. Benefits include 100% employer-paid health benefit premiums, including medical and dental; life and short- and long-term disability insurance; employer contribution to 401K plan and flexible spending account;  vacation and sick leave; and all federal holidays.

Vaccine and booster requirements: Center for Constitutional Rights requires all staff to submit proof and be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Center for Constitutional Rights IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER AND ACTIVELY RECRUITS WOMEN, PEOPLE OF COLOR, PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, LGBTQIA+, AND GENDER NON-CONFORMING PEOPLE.