Director of Finance & Grants Management

September 30th, 2021
Director of Finance & Grants Management

Director of Finance & Grants Management

  • Full Time
  • Senior Level
  • Applications have closed
Job Category: Finance
Location: Manhattan
Job Sectors: Other
Salary Range:

Background

The Legal Aid Society (LAS) is built on one simple but powerful belief: that no one should be denied their right to equal justice. Our Civil, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Rights, and Pro Bono practices work tirelessly in and out of the courtroom to defend our clients and dismantle the hidden, systemic barriers that can prevent them from thriving in New York City. We seek to be a beacon of hope for New Yorkers who feel neglected — regardless of who they are, where they come from, or how they identify. Our experienced teams provide comprehensive services, support, and advocacy that protect rights, keep families and communities together, and in many cases, saves lives. 

From our start over 140 years ago, our growth has mirrored that of the city we serve. Today, we’re proud to be the largest, most influential social justice law firm in New York City. LAS is more than a law firm for low-income New Yorkers. It is an indispensable component of the legal, social, and economic fabric of New York City — passionately advocating for individuals and families across a variety of civil, criminal defense, and juvenile rights matters, while also fighting for legal reform. Just like the city we represent; LAS is also one of the most diverse law firms in the nation. Our staff are members of the Association of Legal Aid Attorneys and the 1199 Service Employees International Union.

For more information about LAS, please visit www.legalaidnyc.org.

 

Position

The Legal Aid Society’s Finance Department seeks a Director of Finance & Grants Management to support the Finance, Development and Practice teams with the successful management of grants and contracts. The director will be responsible for maintaining financial oversight and management of an over $330M grant portfolio, mainly funded by the state and city governments as well as private foundations and individual donations. This person will oversee a team of 10-15 members of the Finance Department’s Grants and Contracts unit and work collaboratively across all teams. The Director of Finance & Grants Management will also have responsibility for the successful collaboration, communication, and execution of grant management work across all finance teams: accounting, financial planning and analysis and payroll.

This person will report to the CFO and play a key role in developing and implementing financial systems, technology, and processes as well as training, developing, and leading the finance team comprising of 50 members in close collaboration with the CFO & the Finance leadership team.  The ideal candidate has experience orchestrating systems-level change with a collaborative approach across multiple departments. They are an effective communicator with the proven ability to develop productive relationships internally and externally and a superior project manager and systems thinker.

 

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

  • Collaborate with the CFO and practice leaders to develop, implement and maintain with excellence the grants and contracts strategy, structure, process, and success criteria.
  • Support the CFO and the Finance leadership team with refining, optimizing, and implementing financial systems, tools, structures, and processes.
  • Provide leadership, direction and partnership to all teams and departments directly and indirectly involved or impacted by the grants and contracts process and ensure process management is professional, efficient, transparent, and effective at meeting each contract and grants goals.
  • Cultivate high integrity and transparent working relationships with funders and other external partners to achieve practice and finance goals while strengthening the LAS brand and reputation.

Grant & Contract Process Management

  • Lead day-to-day operations of the Finance Department’s Grants and Contracts unit and provide leadership, direction, and supervision to the unit’s staff members.
  • Actively manage grant-related pre-and post-award functions, including but not limited to budget and expense analysis, periodic invoicing, financial reporting, labor distribution changes, reconciliations, budget modifications and grant closeout functions.
  • Analyze the grant awards and ensure that all the allowable grant expenses (personnel & OTPS) including the indirect rates are properly budgeted and accounted for. Prepare a monthly cash flow with expected grant spending, invoices and cash receipts extended out to the life of the grant where practical.
  • Ensure timely preparation and submission of all required financial reports to the various funders are in accordance with LAS standards and donors’ requirements.
  • Closely monitor collection activity to ensure that invoices are submitted monthly and collected promptly and reconciled within the accounting system. Escalate any delays in receivables appropriately.
  • Partner with Financial Analysis unit to develop of forecasts, budgets, and budget revisions for programs. Analyze cash flow forecasts for program areas monthly and communicate monthly project level financial results to program manager.
  • Partner with Controller with year-end audits as well as various program specific audits, process journal entries, and other various projects if needed.
  • Partner with General Counsel and CFO to ensure compliance of grants with LAS’s policies/procedures and donor rules/regulations, primarily New York State & City funding agencies.

Team Development

  • Facilitate cross-departmental collaboration and strengthen internal communications with staff throughout the organization; create and promote a positive, multicultural work environment that supports consistency throughout the organization’s strategy, operational methods, and data collection needs.
  • Develop, train, and provide guidance, support, and tools to all finance staff as well as those directly or indirectly involved with grants and contracts to ensure effectiveness and increase efficiencies and consistency in practices.
  • Establish and implement high standards and success metrics for grants and contracts and hold staff accountable to meeting these standards. 

Qualifications

  • Minimum of a BS in Finance or closely related field with at least 10 years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, preferably in the non-profit sector, with experience in budgeting, forecasting and financial reporting; government contract management and compliance or an equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Organized, strategic systems builder and project manager
  • Comfort with fast-paced, detail and deadline oriented, high-feedback environment
  • Good organizational, verbal, and written communication skills 
  • Significant experience building, developing and leading high performing cross-functional teams and developing key external relationships
  • Proven success orchestrating systems level change with a collaborative approach 
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and strong analytical and problem-solving skills
  • Demonstrated experience managing numerous projects simultaneously 
  • Ability to analyze, evaluate, summarize, and communicate financial records for accuracy and conformance to procedures, rules, and regulations
  • Knowledge of federal grants and regulations and experience in managing a diverse portfolio of institutional grants, including New York State & City grants, as well as foundations and other charities
  • Hands-on experience in accounting software, preferably Financial Edge. 
  • Strong knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) 
  • Knowledge and demonstrated experience with MS Office package software applications with advanced skills using Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, if statements)
  • Internal consulting and union environment experience preferred

 

This position description is based upon material provided by The Legal Aid Society, an equal opportunity employer.

 

 

Lori Clement

Senior Talent Consultant

[email protected]

 

To apply to this position please – http://drgsearch.com/current-searches/?rpid=sUBVJ5LpCw4

The Legal Aid Society

  • ,
  • Phone: