Chief Financial Operating Officer

Position Overview: The Chief Financial and Operations Officer (CFOO) at Friends LA is a vital leadership role, steering the financial and operational strategies of our nonprofit. With a budget of $7.5 million and a growing team of over 50 dedicated staff, this position is essential for driving both efficient daily operations and ambitious strategic growth. 

The ideal CFOO will blend visionary strategy with hands-on execution, reporting directly to the Executive Director. You will play a key role in shaping our financial management, enhancing operational efficiency, and cultivating a vibrant organizational culture. We seek a seasoned nonprofit professional with at least 6 years of experience in financial oversight, operations management, and process improvement, ready to inspire and lead our mission to empower youth and families.

What You Will Do  

While responsibilities may vary, every team member is expected to foster a culture of belonging and a psychologically healthy work environment. This includes:  

- Communicating across differences  

- Being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming  

- Showing respect, compassion, and empathy  

- Engaging with and supporting others, regardless of background or perspective  

- Speaking up when others are excluded or treated inappropriately  

- Supporting work/life integration for oneself and others

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES 

This position will have two direct reports: the Operations & Administrative Manager, and the Operations Finance Manager.  

CORE AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY 

Executive Director Partnership:  

• Provide high-level support and strategic thought partnership to the Executive Director. 
• Collaborate on organizational development, prioritization, and infrastructure needs. 
• Deliver timely analysis on organizational performance and financial health. 
• Act as a buffer for the Executive Director, prioritizing high-impact initiatives. 
• Represent the Executive Director in internal and external meetings as needed. 

Financial Management: 

• Oversee the organization’s financial resources, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and annual audit. 
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and oversee the annual audit process. 
• Collaborate with external finance teams to align financial planning with strategic goals. 
• Manage re-granting processes and compliance with funding requirements. 
• Manage relationships with external regulators and auditors, representing the organization in matters related to      compliance audits and inquiries 

Organizational Oversight:  

• Strategic Initiative Execution: Lead the planning, execution, and monitoring of high-impact strategic initiatives and special projects to drive organizational effectiveness. 
• Change Management: Manage organizational change efforts, working closely with stakeholders to minimize disruption and ensure successful implementation of new processes and systems. 
• Vendor and Partnership Management: 
  • Analyze and negotiate contracts with vendors to ensure favorable terms and alignment with organizational goals. 
  • Oversee relationships with service providers to ensure solutions meet the organization's operational needs. 

Risk Management and Compliance: 

• Oversee the risk management framework, identifying and mitigating operational, financial, and reputational risks. 
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and best practices, particularly regarding youth safety. 
• Develop incident reporting and emergency response plans. 

Project and Change Management: 

• Lead planning and execution of strategic initiatives and special projects. 
• Manage change efforts to minimize disruption and ensure successful implementation. 

Human Resources and Culture:

• Collaborate with HR to assess staffing needs and optimize organizational structure. 
• Ensure alignment of talent management processes with strategic objectives. 
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and high-performing organizational culture. 

Required Experience and Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree or higher; MBA preferred. 
• Minimum of 6 years of proven career advancement and strong performance as a senior leader, ideally within the social impact sector, including experience with early-stage organizations across nonprofits, philanthropy, intermediaries, or social enterprises.  
• Experience in leading exponential growth and expansion into new geographies, particularly across LA County, is highly desirable. 
• Proven financial and investment expertise, including budget development, cash flow management, investment analysis, and financial storytelling, along with the ability to provide technical assistance to stakeholders with diverse levels of financial understanding. 
• Demonstrated experience in teamwork and cross-functional collaboration; thrives in respectful discussions and fast-paced, dynamic environments where not all answers are clear, and creativity is crucial. 
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills (both verbal and written). 
• Minimum of 6 years of people management experience, preferably involving both in-person and virtual teams. This includes connecting with, leading, and motivating a team as well as consultants and other experts, while demonstrating a willingness to learn from mistakes and to give and receive constructive feedback. 
• Strong project management skills prioritizing and making progress on simultaneous projects. 
• A flexible, growth mindset with a keen interest in co-creating innovative solutions to optimize organizational functions. 
• Ability to switch between detail-intensive data processing and relationship-based interaction with ease while keeping abreast of the big picture. 
• Adaptability and strong problem-solving skills with the ability to handle diverse challenges with a calm demeanor and positive outlook. 
• A working knowledge of Microsoft 365 is required, along with experience using Salesforce, Bill.com, Xero, and Divvy. The ability to adapt to other emerging project management tools is a plus. Proficiency in project management tools is essential. 

Benefits:

Friends LA cares about our employees as whole people. We offer a generous vacation and sick leave policy, quarterly reset days, 12 paid holidays, summer half days, and an annual winter recess during the last week of December. Employees are eligible for medical benefits (including vision and dental), 401k retirement plan, and ongoing professional development opportunities.

Employees can add optional plans, at employee expense, which include medical coverage for dependents, EAP, Flexible Spending Accounts, supplemental life insurance, pet insurance, and more.

Friends of the Children – Los Angeles is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices, and to working toward racial equity. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state and local law. While we prioritize hiring applicants with lived experience, Friends of the Children – Los Angeles hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled.

Note: Friends LA requires COVID-19 vaccines for all employees. As of March 1, 2022, we will be expanding our in-person vaccination requirement to include booster shots. Accommodations or exceptions can be requested for medical or religious reasons.