Director of Finance and Administration

Director of Finance and Administration

Full Time, Exempt

Remote in U.S.

How to Apply:

Note: this job posting is here for informational purposes only and Economic Security Project will not be checking applications submitted below. In order to apply for this position, please apply via DSG | Koya at https://www.dsgco.com/search/21752-economic-security-project-finance-director/

Position Summary

ESP is seeking a Director of Finance and Administration (Director) to join the organization. Reporting to the Vice President of People, Finance, and Operations, the Director will play a key role in helping ESP realize its mission by providing strategic leadership in the areas of finance (including finance operations) and administration (legal & compliance). This person will oversee both the C3 and C4 functions of the organization.

The Director will lead the finance function and be responsible for building processes, policies, and systems to guide ESP into the future. They will oversee financial planning, reporting, and compliance while partnering with senior leadership to ensure organizational decisions are founded on sound financial insights. With a focus on process improvement and operational excellence, the Director will create streamlined systems to enhance efficiency and effectiveness. They will collaborate with peers, direct reports, board members, auditors, external vendors, and internal stakeholders to manage the financial, legal, and regulatory operations of ESP.

This position requires big-picture strategic thinking, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to navigate the complexities of a dual C3/C4 nonprofit organization, as well as managing financial risks while positioning the organization to make strategic decisions that move our work forward. The Senior Director will be a proactive thinker with a keen eye for systems and process improvement and will critically evaluate and enhance how ESP works at a macro level, driving efficiency and long-term impact.

The Director must also embrace and embed ESP’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout their work.

About Us

We believe in an America where everyone has the freedom and stability required to thrive.

We are strongest when people are the authors of their own lives. But the inequalities in wealth and power created by bad actors, structural racism, and outdated ideas on how the economy should work have left us all more insecure and less resilient. We can make a different set of choices.

The Economic Security Project advocates for ideas that build economic power for all Americans. We legitimize bold ideas by supporting cutting edge research and elevating champions, win concrete policy victories for the communities that need to see change now, and provoke the conventional wisdom to shift what’s considered possible. Our team of academics, organizers, practitioners and culture makers disburse grants, run issue campaigns, develop creative interventions and research products, and convene to encourage investment and action from others.

We pick our fights based on our analysis of where strategic mobilization of people and resources could turn emerging trends into concrete policies. Our current efforts include putting cash into people’s pockets with a guaranteed income and policies like the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit; and keeping corporations out of them by checking the unprecedented concentration of economic power with antimonopoly action. We believe these fights will get us closer to a world where families can pay the heating bills and make the rent, where consumers have choices and small businesses, a fighting chance. A future where we all have a chance not to just survive, but thrive with dignity.

Our Track Record

We’ve convened thousands in briefings, workshops, and marquee events to strategize and set the agenda for a more just political economy. We passed policies in over seven states to modernize the tax code, won over $1 trillion in checks for families in response to the pandemic, and spearheaded the federal fight for a guaranteed income for kids in the form of the expanded Child Tax Credit. These cash-based policies reduced poverty in the middle of a recession, in the words of one observer, “defying gravity”.

And we’ve built the field by investing over $25 million directly into groundbreaking research; pilots and task forces; coalitions and campaigns; new initiatives and organizations; and trend-setting narrative and cultural interventions to advance racial and economic justice and reset the conversation. As a result, ideas that were once considered impossible are now at the center of a vision for an economy where people are the authors of their own lives.

We’ve worked alongside thousands across the country exercising political muscle, moral imagination, and on-the-ground experimentation. It’ll take this and so much more in the years ahead; we are in a broader fight for a multiracial democracy and an economy that works for all. Our task is to deliver and we’re looking for talent to join us in the fight.

Our Team & Culture

Our successes are due in large part to the diverse team we’ve assembled from a wide range of fields – from campaigners to policymakers to activists to academics. We’re building an organization that supports and resources our staff to drive forward work that is critical to our mission.

We are committed to creating a best-in-class staff experience that promotes growth and performance, which requires a culture of active problem-solving, feedback, communication, and accountability. As a fully remote organization, ESP staff can work from anywhere in the country. We actively support and encourage people taking time away from work, including two weeks of full office closures and a six-week sabbatical at 5 years of service, in addition to our standard PTO. You can find more information on our full benefits offerings below.

Our internal work is deeply rooted in our values around diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring that our policies and processes are equitable and informed by a wide range of lived experiences. We invest in our people’s professional development and promote regular conversations about career goals and growth opportunities. We provide opportunities to come together in person for both strategic planning and relationship-building, and we’re always up to take a game of trivia a little too seriously.

Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Operations (50%)

• Prepare and oversee monthly financial reporting for senior management and the Board of Directors quarterly.

• Directs long-term revenue and cost management to advance organizational strategy.

• Works closely with the development team to develop grant proposal budgets and ensure compliance with awarded grant budgets for periodic reporting.

• Lead monthly meetings with budget owners.

• Supervise accounting functions, including managing external vendors responsible for bookkeeping, accounts payable/receivable, monthly closings, and tax compliance.

• Monitor cash flow and operationalize the board-mandated investment and reserves strategy.

• Compile and analyze financial information to support decision-making by the Executive Director, Boards, and budget holders.

• Provide financial oversight in grants, contracts, and other complex financial transactions.

• Support the annual budgeting process and midyear budget revision, working closely with the Executive Director, the VP of People, Finance and Operations, and others to ensure accurate financials, budget forecasts and actionable financial analysis.  

• Oversee the annual audit process and ensure all required financial filings are completed accurately and on time.

• Works with the People and Operations Manager in their ownership of key finance and administration-related projects.
  

Financial Strategy & Management (25%)

• Serve as the finance and administration expert, translating complex financial information into strategic insights and collaborating with the VP to develop actionable recommendations to guide executive leadership decision-making and align financial and administrative strategies with organizational goals.

• Oversee budgets, systems, processes, and policies to ensure compliance with legal, financial, and regulatory requirements.

• Lead efforts to improve financial processes and systems and provide recommendations for efficient and effective finance operations.

• Ensure compliance with relevant internal policies and procedures.

• Collaborate with the Operations Manager and Senior Director of Development to ensure alignment across finance, operations, and fundraising.

Legal & Compliance (15%)

• Lead on compliance with IRS and federal, state, and local C3/C4 regulations applicable to all organizational activities, particularly lobbying and political activity, including overseeing quarterly and semi-annually submitting lobbying reports.

• Manage/oversee relationships with external operations and compliance vendors, including our bookkeeping firm, charitable registration vendors, auditors, banks, external legal counsel, and other partners.

• Stay abreast of legal and compliance changes, including contract and subgrant management and C3/C4 strategy, to provide the most accurate and up-to-date financial recommendations beyond basic regulatory requirements.

Staff Development & Supervision (10%)

• Manage and coach the Accounting Manager, setting clear objectives and providing regular feedback to support professional growth.

• Oversee the finance team, including our external accounting firm, ensuring effective collaboration, clear roles, and accountability across all financial operations.

• Foster a collaborative and inclusive team culture that is aligned with ESP’s values and mission.

Salary

The starting salary for this position is $133K – 163K. The final salary will depend on experience and location, with more expensive locations such as DC, San Francisco, and NY in the upper range. This role includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

ESP provides a robust benefits package which includes the following:

• Medical, vision, dental insurance with premiums fully covered for employees and their dependents

• Worker’s Compensation

• Long and short term disability insurance

• Basic Life Insurance with a 50K maximum

• 401K with a 3% contribution upon start date; an additional 1% at year-end

• Full office closures for the week of July 4, and between December 25 and January 1

• PTO - 136 vacation hours, 80 sick leave hours, 9 standard holidays, 2 floating holidays, and 20 hours of volunteer leave

• 6-week paid sabbatical after 5 years of full-time service

• Connectivity and home office stipends, and wellness use bonuses (taxable)

• Annual professional development budget

• Organization-provided computer or $50/month bonus for employees who choose to use their own

  Access to commuter and flexible spending accounts

Because the Economic Security Project values a diverse and representative workplace, people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, and people of all gender identities are strongly encouraged to apply. ESP is committed to attracting, developing and retaining exceptional people, and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and enables each of us to realize our potential. Our work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working.

Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent knowledge in relevant fields

• 10+ years of experience in finance and administrative operations, including deep experience leading and implementing best practices in budget management and financial operations.

Desired Attributes/Skills

• Mission Alignment: Strong commitment to ESP’s mission, values, and goals, with a demonstrated ability to operationalize equity, inclusion, and diversity throughout financial and administrative functions.

• Leadership and Relationship Management: Proven experience in team leadership, relationship management, and driving organizational change.

• Strategic and Solutions-Oriented: Excited to build systems and processes with a long-term, thoughtful approach to achieving organizational goals; solutions-focused and results-oriented with the ability to independently and collaboratively solve complex problems. Ability to connect financial strategies to programmatic activities.

• Communication and Coaching: Strong interpersonal skills with a coaching mindset; ability to translate complex financial concepts into actionable insights for diverse audiences across the organization.

• Financial Expertise: Extensive experience overseeing nonprofit finances, with a preference for expertise in both C3 and C4 compliance; proficiency in financial reporting systems, data analysis, and managing grant budgets.

• Process Improvement and Operational Efficiency: Demonstrated success in optimizing financial operations to improve efficiency and effectiveness in a fast-paced, complex organizational environment.

• Adaptability and Proactive Problem-Solving: Ability to work effectively in a dynamic environment, proactively address challenges, and creatively approach problems.

• Leadership and Management: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop teams; strong organizational skills with the capacity to manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Strategic Thinking: Big-picture mindset and the ability to translate strategic goals into actionable plans and align financial strategies with organizational objectives.

• Attention to Detail: Dedicated experience in ensuring accurate and timely reporting.

REMINDER: this job posting is here for informational purposes only and Economic Security Project will not be checking applications submitted below. In order to apply for this position, please apply via DSG | Koya at https://www.dsgco.com/search/21752-economic-security-project-finance-director/