Finance Director
30 days ago
Seattle
Job DescriptionSalary: The salary range for this position is $128,500-$153,560, based on a range of 7-40(+) years experience. Salary will be determined based on the candidates role-specific skills, management- and/or director-level work, and lived experience. Who We Are Columbia Legal Services is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization that advances social, economic, and racial equity for people living in poverty. We support communities and movements by bringing deep legalexpertisethat is grounded in and strongly guided by an understanding of race equity. We seek systemic solutions by bringing class action lawsuits, usingcutting edgelegal theories, engaging in policy advocacy, and supporting communities in building their own power. We have a special responsibility to serve people whose access to free legal services is restricted, due to institutionalized or immigration status. At CLS we seek a team that reflects our organizational values of community, race equity, and justice.This includes hiring staff with connections to the communities we serve whenever possible, and a commitment to strive for justice and equity in our hiring practices and in our staff culture. Position Summary The Finance Directorleads and stewards all financial planning and financial operations for the organization and reports to the Executive Director.As a key member of the Management Team, this role partners with department leaders to align financial strategy, budgeting, and decision-making with CLSs mission and program priorities while overseeing an organizational budget of approximately $6million. Also serving as a hands-on practitioner, the Finance Director supervises a small accounting team (1.5 FTE), strengthensand implementsfinancial systems and internal controls, and ensures transparent,accuratefinancial reporting. This position is based in Seattle, WA.All CLS staffhave the ability tocomplete some work remotely; however, this position will require some physical presence at the office, as well as an ability to attend required meetings at the office and in the community. CLS requires that all employees adhere to our COVID-19 vaccine mandate through proof of vaccination or by requesting a medical or religious accommodation. Staffare also required tofollow CLS COVID-19 protocols while engaging in in-person work in our offices and in the community. Responsibilities The Finance Directors responsibilities include, but are not limited to: FinancialStrategy &Oversight • Partnering with the Executive Director, Development Director, and other departmental leads toalignfinancial resources with program priorities and strategic goals., • Provide financial analysis, forecasting, and insights to support mission-driven decision-making., • Overseeingall aspects of the accounting team including general ledger accounting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and internal/external financial reporting., • Ensuringaccurateandtimelypreparation and distribution of periodic internal financial reporting to department heads,ExecutiveDirector andBoard ofDirectors., • Maintainingappropriate internalcontrols and systems and ensuring compliance with all financial reporting and regulatory requirements, including tax filings, audits, grants, and other reporting requirementsandfollowingBoard policies andGenerally Accepted Accounting Principles., • Managingcash flow, includingforecasting cash flow for the year to ensure cash balances with forecasted funding are sufficient for the organization to meet its operating cash requirements., • Creatingandimplementingannual budgeting process and updatingfinancial forecasts. Includes analyzing and reporting on variances., • Coordinatingall audit activity and communication with independent auditors and ensuringtimelysubmission of required financial statements and annual Form 990., • Partneringwith the Development team to ensureaccuratedonation processing, financial projections and compliance/reporting for donations, grants, and contracts., • Managingemployee benefit programs in collaboration with the HR Manager and People and Culture Director.Serve as the403(b)planadministrator., • Overseeingselection andmanagementof all accounting-specificservices, including general ledgersoftware, payroll, and credit card management. Leadership, Supervision, & Collaboration • Developing accounting department goals and performanceobjectivesfor the team and providing overall management,directionand execution of the accounting team., • Providing supervision and mentorship to the accounting team, focusing on operational accuracy andimprovementand developing and documenting processes to strengthen internal controls., • Providingquarterly status reports to the Audit and Budget Committee and the Board of Directors., • Serving as akey business partnertoother departments and actingas astrategicfinancialthought partnerto the Executive Director and the Board of Directors., • Managing relationships with external partners, including banks, auditors, funders, and other financial service providers., • Contributing to CLSs equity and antiracism commitments through transparent, participatory, and accountable financial practices. This job description is not designed to cover orcontaina comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilitiesrequired ofthe employee, and others may be assigned. Qualifications The ideal candidate will have all or most of the experience below or have a combination of comparable experience where they have demonstrated similar skills or responsibilities. • BA/BS degree in accounting, finance, or business. Must be a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) withdemonstratedexperience applying U.S. GAAP in a not-for-profit setting., • 7+ yearsof accountingor financeexperience, including 2+ yearsof progressive managementandsupervisory experience., • Strong financial analysis, forecasting, and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into strategic insights., • Experience managing competing priorities and leading projects with a high degree of independence and accountability., • Proficiencywith accounting and financial reporting systems and experience supporting system improvements or implementations., • Effective written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting financial information to staff, Board members, and external partners (e.g., funders, auditors, financial institutions)., • Ability to drive efficiencies and process improvement, with critical attention to detail., • Commitment to racial, social, and economic justiceanddemonstratedability tobuild collaborativeworking relationships., • Commitment to recruiting, mentoring, training, and retaininga diverse accounting team with the foresight and ability to delegate., • Proficient in financial software and computer skills, including deep knowledge and experience in selecting and overseeing software installations and managing relationships with software vendors, and advanced knowledge of accounting software., • A successful track recordin setting priorities; excellent analytic,financial planning,and problem-solving skillstoallow for strategic data interpretationandsounddecision-making to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the organization. Preferred • Experience with multiple funding sources- or cost center-based accounting systems, such as MIP or comparable financial management platforms., • Experience in a law firm, legal services, advocacy,regulatory, or similarly complexsetting., • Experience working within organizations that include unionized staff and collective bargaining environments, with an understanding of related financial and operational considerations. CLS brings its core values of community, race equity, and justice into all aspects of its work, and we seek an individual for this role who aligns with these values. Compensation and Benefits This full-time(32 hours),salariednon-exempt position is aconfidentialrole and is not eligible for representation by Washington Legal Workers, our in-house labor union.This hybrid position requires at least1day per week in person at our Seattle office.ColumbiaLegal Services is committed to providingan equitablework environment, including a commitment to pay equity. As part of this commitment, all employees pay is based on years of experience in their role or inpreviousroles doingsubstantially similarwork and set on a standard pay scale for their position, rather than on negotiations, which have been shown to contribute to pay disparities.The 2026salary range for theFinance Director will fall between $128,500-$153,560for 7-40+ years of experience. CLSalso offersa competitive and comprehensive compensation package with generous paid time off for 15 paid holidays,between 15 -21 paid vacation days, 12 sick days, and between 3 and 5 personal days each year, as well as paid parental and family medical leave benefits and a partiallypaid sabbatical every 7 years. We pay 100% of employee premiums for excellent health, vision, and dental benefits plus 50% of themaximumout-of-pocket deductible and offer heavily subsidized family premiums. We also offer a403(b) retirementbenefit with employer contribution and a match, disability and life insurance, a subsidized transit pass, andan employee wellness program. To Apply To apply, pleasesubmitan application with a cover letter and resume in PDF format through our application portal in BambooHR.Wewillaccept and review applications on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received before March 31, 2026. We will remove the position from our website once it is filled. If you needa reasonableaccommodation for the application process, please email the Human Resources Team at careers(at)columbialegal(dot)org. Columbia Legal Services is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.