Director of Finance

Organization Overview

Nourishing Hope, formerly known as Lakeview Pantry, is a dynamic Chicago nonprofit providing food and social services for anyone in need. Founded in 1970, we’re one of the largest and longest operating hunger relief organizations in Chicago. We also provide free, trauma-informed mental health counseling and other social services, such as job and housing assistance. We strive to serve the needs of the whole person — with respect and dignity, always.

Nourishing Hope offers our neighbors nutritious food using a choice-based distribution model and access to life-changing social services including:

• Monthly food distribution and additional produce pickup through five different food access programs;
• Home delivery services for older adults, homebound neighbors and neighbors living with disabilities;
• Social services including case management, mental health counseling, job search support, domestic violence intervention, referrals and public benefits assistance (SNAP, healthcare, government forms) for anyone in need.

Nourishing Hope serves tens of thousands of people each year, providing more than 4 million meals through our programs, in addition to partnerships with other community organizations. This year, Nourishing Hope will provide about 200,000 food and social services to our Chicago neighbors.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and serving as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Director of Finance will lead Nourishing Hope’s finance needs as it grows to serve more clients. Nourishing Hope is currently operating with a $8M budget and a staff of 60 employees. The Director of Finance will play a hands-on role ensuring that Nourishing Hope has the financial backbone to achieve its mission. In supporting the growing organization, the Director of Finance must be both tactical and strategic, weighing in on the financial priorities of our current strategic growth plan. This role leads two direct reports (Bookkeeper and Salesforce Administrator).

The Director of Finance will be responsible for planning and directing the finance and accounting operations, employee benefits, and payroll administration for Nourishing Hope. This position is both a hands-on and a key management role in driving accurate accounting and the availability and accuracy of financial information for managers, grantors, and Board of Director reporting. The Director of Finance is responsible for financial data entry, reporting and analysis, grant reporting, managing accounts payable, payroll, month end close, year-end audit and tax filings, investment of cash reserves, and employee benefits review and management. The Director of Finance also oversees our CRM tools and provides strategic reporting in support of fundraising, client services, and volunteer management. This position offers broad and deep experience in all areas of finance and accounting and includes Board Committee exposure.  

Nourishing Hope has grown considerably in the past several years and the Director of Finance will play a critical role in evaluating the effectiveness and long-term fit of its existing finance processes against its strategic plan and future growth goals. This is an ideal opportunity for an entrepreneurial and operationally minded individual to shape the financial systems and processes of a growing social impact agency to ensure it achieves its mission of providing food for today and hope for tomorrow to tens of thousands of clients.

Locations

This position will be based out of Nourishing Hope’s headquarters location at 1716 W. Hubbard St, Chicago and will travel to all other locations as needed.

Essential Job Functions

• Oversee all aspects of the financial management of Nourishing Hope ensuring finances are managed in accordance with established accounting policies, procedures and Board directed requirements.
• Work with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team to establish an annual financial and capital budget and actively manage budget, projections and variance analysis. Identify and investigate financial discrepancies and resolve open items. 
• Recommend and implement benchmarks that will be used to measure performance. Provide periodic reporting and analysis of those benchmarks.
• Supervise the Bookkeeper in performing daily accounting tasks including accounts payable, biweekly payroll administration, government grant vouchering, and monthly reconciliation activities.
• Supervise the Salesforce administrator in their daily duties and help manage major projects. 
• Oversee reconciliation procedures between the Finance and Development Department for donations and grants received, to ensure accurate, timely reporting and follow-through.
• Evaluate, recommend, and implement improvements to the financial, operational and administrative internal controls. 
• Develop departmental reporting and analysis. Work with departmental managers to optimize use of resources.
• Manage expense budgets to ensure accurate cost allocation (i.e. department, category, fund, activity, etc.). 
• Manage cash and investments consistent with existing policies and procedures and identify areas of opportunity to improve return while managing risk. Develop and implement an improved cash forecasting model.
• Master and manage accounting systems and processes (i.e. A/P, A/R, Inventory, etc), driving improvements with system vendors and internal staff as appropriate.
• Complete month-end close activities, including preparation of journal entries, bank account reconciliations, variance analysis, and financial reporting to the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Directors.
• Partner with external auditors to complete the year-end audit, including but not limited to preparing audit schedules and assisting auditors with inquiries to ensure compliance.
• Oversee the preparation, accuracy and timely submission of required tax filings (i.e. 990’s).
• Review quarterly and year-end payroll tax filings utilizing the HRIS system.
• Prepare year-end Form 1099’s required to report service provider payments to the IRS.
• In collaboration with Human Resources, oversee and help administer the employee benefits programs including annual employee benefits review and open enrollment, ongoing benefits support for new, existing and exiting employees and management of external benefits administrators/consultants. 
• Regularly participates in all-staff and leadership team meetings, as well as professional group seminars or conferences to enhance professional knowledge and job skills.
• Demonstrate fiscal responsibility in the use of a company credit card; employee must always secure the card, assure all expenses are budgeted, pre-approved, and reconciled monthly.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration required. 
• 5-10 years or more of related experience required.
• Experience with nonprofit accounting and 990 preparation required. 
• Medicaid billing experience highly preferred.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation preferred.
• City, state, and federal grant reporting experience is a plus.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Previous management experience preferred
• Expertise in CRM tools, particularly Salesforce, preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite. Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel including complicated formulas and preferably macros, Word and Powerpoint.
• Advanced Adobe PDF proficiency.
• Skilled with the Google suite including Gmail, Google docs, Google sheets and Google drive.
• Outstanding accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience with various enterprise resource program accounting systems, including in-depth understanding of check runs, invoicing, cash application, bank reconciliations.
• Understanding of and experience with ensuring strong accounting controls.
• Ability to learn quickly and apply knowledge to systems and processes to improve organizational efficiency.
• Eagerness to learn, master and improve processes and reporting.
• Ability to work excess hours during busy seasons as needed (calendar and fiscal year end).
• An understanding of, and belief in, the importance of food security for everyone.

Salary and Benefits

Salary Range: $110,000-$120,000 salary 

Full-time benefits include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Employer-paid life and disability insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer contribution
• Generous paid time off
• Paid birthday holiday
• Parental leave
• Language pay
• $250 employee referral bonus
• Free subscription to mental wellness app

Background Check

Because we are a Medicaid provider all applicants who are offered employment with Nourishing Hope will be subject to a background screening. Offers of employment are contingent on the successful completion of a background screening conducted in accordance with Nourishing Hope policy and federal, state and local law.