Finance Manager / Senior Finance Manager

• Position: Finance Manager / Senior Finance Manager
• Job Type: Full-time
• Location: Remote/Hybrid, CA-Based Location Flexible with Limited Travel
• Compensation: Finance Manager $80,000-$90,000; Senior Finance Manager $90,000-$110,000
• Priority Application Deadline: Mon, Apr 15, 2024
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Public Advocates is hiring a Finance Manager / Senior Finance Manager who will help lead the organization’s day-to-day accounting operations, financial reporting for grants, and ensure systems and processes are in place for strong financial control and management. The Finance Manager will provide oversight of the general ledger, accounts receivable and payable, auditing schedules, tax returns, payroll, and benefits.

About Public Advocates

For more than 50 years, Public Advocates Inc. has been on the frontlines of social justice movements in California, making rights real. As a bold and highly regarded nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination, we pride ourselves on our ability to skillfully deploy a three-pronged approach to create systemic change. Using litigation and enforcement advocacy, policy advocacy and hard-hitting communication strategies, PA has not only been able to achieve tangible legal and policy victories, but has also moved public discourse in education, housing and transportation that supports low-income communities of color in building their power and using their voices to influence public decision-making.
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Position Overview

The Finance Manager / Senior Finance Manager (depending on experience) is a key position for Public Advocates and presents an exciting opportunity for a nonprofit finance professional to take the next step in their professional career. Working closely with and reporting to the Director of Finance & Administration, this role will provide added internal capacity to help streamline and manage all day-to-day finance and accounting activities to successfully administer its $6.8 million dollar operating budget. The Finance Manager will be responsible for serving as liaison and oversight manager to the external accounting firm Public Advocates works with while also serving as the primary executor and lead on payroll processing, HR benefits administration and grants budgeting and reporting in collaboration with Development and Program team members. This role also presents exciting potential and the opportunity to grow over time into a director-level position.

Public Advocates reflects the rich diversity of California. Sixty percent of our employees and two-thirds of our Board members are people of color. Four of seven members of our senior leadership team — including our President & CEO — are people of color, and three are women.

Public Advocates seeks to fill this position with someone who shares our values, including our organizational commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage all interested individuals to apply — especially Black, Indigenous and People of Color; women; people from low-income backgrounds; people with disabilities; people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender or anyone belonging to any other federal or state protected category. ;Read our Diversity Vision Statement.

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*Applicants requiring an accommodation to complete the application and/or interview process should send an email to financestaff@publicadvocates.org for assistance.

Key Responsibilities

Key responsibilities of the Finance Manager / Senior Finance Manager include, but are not limited to the following (approximate percentages of time in parentheses):

Accounting & Financial Reporting (50%)

• Manage accounts receivable (monitoring, properly coding) and accounts payable (managing vendor relationships, reviewing and coding invoices via Bill.com, reviewing expense reports and credit card transactions on a timely basis)
• Lead the tracking and reporting of grant expenditures and expense allocations on a monthly basis
• Oversee accuracy of the external accounting firm’s recorded journal entries and maintain all related accounting files
• Review bank, investment and credit card account reconciliations monthly
• Work with external accounting firm to prepare timely and accurate financial reports in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
• Lead preparation and coordination with external accounting firm for annual financial audit and various tax filings – includes working with accounting firm to prepare audit schedules, confirmation letters, other supporting documentation

Payroll & HR Administration (20%)

• Manage bi-weekly payroll processing using Paylocity and Harvest (timekeeping) systems
• Administer all employee benefits including staff enrollment in and termination from various plans, leaves of absence
• Maintain and ensure accuracy of payroll, personnel, paid time off records for all staff

Grant Budgeting & Reporting (20%)

• Lead reporting for State Bar grants (which represent 15% of our budget)
• Work with program teams and the Director to develop project budgets for grant proposals on an ongoing basis
• Prepare grant reports as required

Other (10%)

• Manage organizational insurance policies and renewals
• Assist with organizational and team budgeting, including developing forecasts to inform planning
• Other duties as assigned
  

Qualifications

• 4-5 years of progressive responsibility in accounting experience (Finance Manager level) OR 5+ years (Senior Finance Manager level) – including demonstrated understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), cost allocation methods and internal controls
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience that demonstrates strong communications skills (oral and written) as well as strong technical and analytical abilities
• Demonstrated desire to work at a mission driven organization
• Grants management or fund accounting experience (experience accounting for temporarily restricted net assets and functional expenses)
• Experience managing payroll processing
• Very high level of demonstrated personal and professional integrity and maturity; ability to exercise good judgment and observe and protect confidentiality
• High proficiency in Microsoft Excel (facility with common formulas, formatting, etc.), Word and Outlook
• Keen attention to detail
• Strong analytical abilities and a desire to use those skills to anticipate and solve problems
• Reliable, responsive and proactive communicator, who can successfully present and report data and recommendations both orally and in writing
• High degree of self-motivation and ability to effectively manage a varied and, at times, demanding workload; ability to meet frequent and recurring deadlines
• Strong learning orientation – willingness to study and learn what you don’t know and incorporate feedback to strengthen performance
• Willingness to submit to background check
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“Nice to Have” Qualifications

• Nonprofit experience and/or a demonstrated commitment to the mission and work of Public Advocates
• Undergraduate or graduate degree(s) in finance, accounting, business administration, nonprofit management or related fields
• Previous experience using cloud-based financial management and accounting software (we use Sage Intacct)
• Experience using cloud-based payroll and human capital management systems (we use Paylocity)
• Familiarity w/grant budgeting and reporting
• Familiarity with financial analysis and organizational budgeting processes
• Knowledge of relevant HR and employment laws
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Qualities uplifted by all Public Advocates staff include integrity, high professional standards, commitment to progressive social change, racial and economic justice, and working successfully with diverse colleagues, clients and community partners. This includes active participation in promoting healthy workplace culture through our organizational diversity and inclusion initiative – an ongoing process of communication, trust-building and learning about our individual and organizational areas for growth. We strive to build a culture of cooperation and mutual support and value flexibility, resilience, optimism, curiosity and a sense of humor.

Compensation & Work Setting

• The position is full-time (37.5 hours/week) and exempt. The starting salary range for this role is:Finance Manager: $80,000-$90,000, depending on experience and Senior Finance Manager: $90,000-$110,000, depending on experience.
• Benefits include full health, dental and vision insurance for the employee and all eligible family members; generous vacation, 13 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays and additional paid time off between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day.
• $750 annual professional development budget
• $1,000 wellness budget
• 403(b) retirement plan
• $75 monthly internet/cellular service stipend
• Paid parental leave and paid sabbatical after 7 years.
• We will also provide a laptop and peripherals to set up your home office.
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We are open to candidates based anywhere in California. However, PA does have its headquarters in San Francisco near the Ferry Building as well as a downtown Sacramento office located a few blocks from the Capitol. Both are convenient to public transit and we offer access to tax-advantaged commuter benefits.

Public Advocates has adopted a flexible “hybrid” work model based on community COVID-19 levels in SF and Sacramento and requires staff to commute to the office 1-2 days a week, depending on those levels. We have also adopted a COVID-19 vaccination policy that requires all employees either establish that they have been fully vaccinated or obtain an approved exemption as an accommodation.