What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Finance and Grants Administration position at Mac's List?

Philanthropy Northwest

Director of Finance & Grants Administration

Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, or Wyoming

Remote / Hybrid

Philanthropy Northwest grows philanthropy’s capacity to do transformative work toward redistributing resources and power to underinvested communities in the Northwest.

Position Overview

Philanthropy Northwest is a diverse network of philanthropic organizations working across Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. We bring together a thriving community of grantmakers dedicated to supporting strong communities through collective learning, centering equity and racial justice, and investing in innovation. We believe philanthropy is at its best when it is collaborative and inclusive.

Philanthropy Northwest seeks a Director of Finance and Grants Administration to join its growing team. This important role will oversee the enterprise’s finance and grants administration departments, providing leadership and continued capacity building to strengthen PNW’s growing role as an intermediary grantmaker of state, federal, and private dollars. We’re looking for candidates who are strategic leaders in budgeting, financial analysis, risk management, and grants administration with experience overseeing federal grants and nonprofit accounting. Philanthropy Northwest currently serves as the intermediary for a $52M Environmental Protection Agency Thriving Communities grantmaking program and has previously worked with the Department of Commerce and other entities to support COVID-related grantmaking. The Director of Finance and Grants Administration reports to the Vice President of People, Operations, & Finance, oversees a team of four, and works across the organization to strengthen and support financial operations for mission effectiveness.

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Management, Budget Planning, Analysis & Reporting

In partnership with the VP, People, Operations & Finance, develop and execute the annual budget and planning process that aligns with the organization's mission, goals, core values, and strategic plan. Engage with the finance committee of the board of directors to develop short-, medium-, and long-term financial plans and ensure the board’s fiduciary responsibility.
Administer and review all budgets including monitoring progress and changes and supporting effective budget management by Directors and Managers.
Provide financial analysis to the Vice President, People, Operations & Finance, CEO, and leadership team to ensure a strong organizational understanding of the financial realities and opportunities.
Work with the Finance team to prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements. Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and usefulness of financial reports for funders, senior leaders, and the board of directors.
Oversee the accounting function (AR, AP, and payroll) and that of The Giving Practice, PNW’s internal consulting practice, including consulting contractor payments, client invoicing, and reporting.
Oversee the annual audit, tax preparation, and other internal controls and compliance matters. Support efforts to mitigate risk and coordinate the annual business insurance policies.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local legal requirements by researching existing and new legislation, consulting with outside advisors, and filing financial reports. Manage and update all required business licensing in PNW’s service area.

Grants Management & Administration

Oversee all aspects of PNW’s intermediary grantmaking which is currently focused on the Thriving Communities partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Serve as a sounding board for grants administration staff in the development of policies and procedures and navigating complex issues. Ensure compliance with funder policies and procedures in implementation and grantmaking activities.

Manage overall grant administration workflow to support the smooth execution of the grant lifecycle. Evaluate opportunities to streamline and improve workflow with a bias toward reducing administrative and reporting burdens for grantee partners.

Review grant portfolio data to support reporting to the funder, fund balancing, and managing sub-award burn rates to maximize fund availability for grantee partners.

Prepare grant draw-down requests to the funder.

Assist with the preparation of grant reports and proposals for grants / funding.

Team Supervision and Capacity Development

Supervise the finance and grants administration teams which include the Controller, Bookkeeper, and two Grants Administrators ensuring they meet performance expectations, work deliverables, and are supported in their continued professional development.

Strengthen team and organizational capacity in finance and grants administration to support PNW’s organizational goals and mission.

Engage in enterprise-wide activities and team building, including staff meetings, peer coaching, learning and development, the annual conference, staff committees, and other enterprise events throughout the year.

Qualifications of the Ideal Candidate

Core Skills

Sophisticated knowledge of nonprofit finances and grantmaking. Management-level experience in finance and accounting of a comparably sized organization. Expertise and ability to oversee grants administration and provide oversight and counsel to the grants administration team’s work.

Familiarity with the oversight of complex public and private funding streams and the correlating compliance and regulatory requirements with a priority on federal funding streams.

Strong working knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for nonprofit organizations and a basic understanding of local, state, and federal tax laws pertinent to nonprofits.

Experience leading audit, compliance, and budget activities.

Strategic Leadership

Ability to translate financial concepts and complex regulations and collaborate effectively with colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds.

Dexterity to build systems and initiatives from the ground up and a commitment to continual improvement across grants administration and finance for long-term sustainability.

Robust business acumen with the ability to bring a keen understanding of costs, benefits, and risk analysis to organizational opportunities.

Experience leading budget development and financial management in a similarly complex organization.

Management & People Development

Ability to lead, develop, and mentor staff in an inclusive intercultural environment where staff of all backgrounds and abilities can thrive.

Proven supervisory skills that nurture leaders at all levels and support the team’s work across complex regulations and systems while keeping the mission at the heart.

Exceptional interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to manage relationships with integrity and consistency, including a keen ability to work effectively and respectfully with politically, ideologically, culturally, and geographically diverse people and communities.

Preferred Qualifications

Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Excel, SAGE, and Fluxx.

CPA and / or CFA certification, highly desirable but not required.

Familiarity with participatory and trust-based grantmaking.

Working at Philanthropy Northwest

Philanthropy Northwest’s mission is to grow philanthropy’s capacity to do transformative work toward redistributing resources and power to underinvested communities in the Northwest. We serve equity-committed philanthropic funders and practitioners serving communities in our six-state region and consulting clients across the nation. You can learn more about Philanthropy Northwest’s mission and values on our website.

We are also home to The Giving Practice, a national consultancy committed to advancing equity-centered philanthropy. As a division of Philanthropy Northwest, The Giving Practice’s consulting team brings customized solutions, deep regional relationships, and national expertise to support organizations navigating philanthropy’s changing landscape.

Philanthropy Northwest staff are eligible to work remotely from any state in its service area : Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington state, and Wyoming. The Director of Finance and Grants Administration will be expected to work periodically in the Seattle HQ. Limited regional travel for the annual conference and other events is expected.

Salary and Benefits

Annual salary range is $130,000-$150,000. The total compensation package for a full-time position includes medical, dental, and retirement contributions by employer (6% of salary and additional up to 2% dollar to dollar match up to $1,800 / year to employee contribution), professional development, paid holidays and generous vacation policy, and flexible schedule.

To Apply

Carolyn Ho is assisting Philanthropy Northwest with this search. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter via the application portal. Inquiries and nominations can be sent to

Equal Employment Opportunity

Philanthropy Northwest is an

Salary : $130,000 - $150,000

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