Chief Financial Officer

Description

EMBRACING ABILITIES. EXPANDING POSSIBILITIES.

Easter Seals Metropolitan Chicago, Inc, dba Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford(“Easterseals”) is an independent operating 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation serving Chicagoland and the greater Rockford area that provides services in the early childhood and disability space. Easterseals awakens abilities, builds capacity, and transforms trajectories with empathy and expertise in the early learning and disability spaces.

Easterseals has a $80 million operating budget and serves thousands of clients annually in programs across the Chicagoland and the Rockford region, proudly employing nearly 750 dedicated professionals. Easterseals serving Chicagoland and Rockford is among the largest affiliates of Easterseals, a national organization founded in 1919 to provide services to individuals living with disabilities. Each affiliate serves the identified needs of its local community.

Easterseals’ provides programming through two Pillars of work:

• Disability Services. Easterseals provides numerous services and broad expertise on Autism Spectrum Disorders. This includes evidence-based screening, diagnostics, training, information, and resources through The Autism Program at Easterseals (TAP); schooling for 300 youth with autism ages 6-22 across three campuses in Chicago, Tinley Park, and Machesney Park; building the capacity of school districts, first responders, and other stakeholders to work with individuals with autism in the Illinois Autism Partnership (IAP).
• Early Learning Services. Easterseals specializes in early learning and support, providing infants and youth with comprehensive and high-quality services. This includes Head Start / Early Head Start Services and Preschool for All/Prevention Initiative as well as directly operating the Gilchrist Marchman and Hickory Hills Early Learning Centers. Easterseals also provides early intervention, service coordination, and parent education and support through two Child and Family Connections (CFCs) centers, Family Support Services, Partnering with Parents, and Teen Family Support.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for all financial matters of Easterseals and its affiliate organizations. The CFO will partner with other senior leadership and the Board of Directors to develop and implement the organization's strategic plan.

The CFO will protect the company’s assets by consistently updating and managing financial controls and enforcing company administrative policy. The CFO ensures that all financial reporting is accomplished accurately, timely, and in compliance with funder and regulatory agency requirements.

The CFO directs and oversees the Finance, Accounting, Purchasing, Payroll, and IT teams.

This position is headquartered at Easterseals Chicago Location at 1939 W 13th Street, Chicago, IL 60608.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assure timely and accurate financial statements are provided to management, the Board of Directors, and outside stakeholders.
• Interview and hire experienced and technically trained professionals for fiscal and IT positions, train and provide training opportunities to enhance staff development; develop coordination of departmental functions to meet the goals and mission of the organization.
• Assure that financial reports are prepared in accordance with GAAP.
• Remain up to date on nonprofit audit best practices and state and federal law regarding nonprofit operations.
• Assure the integrity of all administrative functions including accounting, treasury, credit/collections, audit, risk management, planning and analysis, budgeting, tax, purchasing, and information technology services.
• Develop financial policies and procedures in accordance with GAAP.
• Develop and utilize predictive models and financial analyses to provide insight into the organization’s operations and business plans.
• Oversee and monitor cash, investments, and treasury management. Oversee financing strategies and activities, as well as banking relationships.
• Prepare cash projections and ensure the availability of funds as needed.
• Develop business plans and forecasts for administrative services departments as well as new program services.
• Represent the agency to outside stakeholders including financial institutions, investors, foundation executives, auditors, public officials, etc.
• Provide oversight of financial audits and work closely with the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board.
• Oversee preparation of tax returns and various other government regulatory reports to stay in compliance with all required regulations.
• Participate in the analysis of current management practices and operations to ensure the optimum use of available resources.
• Establish financial best practices.
• Initiate appropriate steps necessary to consolidate and manage the organization’s purchasing activities.
• Oversee the accounting department, ensuring proper maintenance of all accounting systems and functions; IT and purchasing department, including procurement of goods and services, phone systems, computer network, and printing.
• Serve as a senior leader in the organization, working collaboratively with the CEO and the COO to lead Easterseals with integrity, maturity, and wisdom.
• Perform additional duties as requested by the CEO.

MAJOR LEADERSHIP FUNCTIONS/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Contribute to and lead strategic initiatives across aspects of the organization.
• Partner with the Senior Leadership Team to define and set organizational strategy and trajectory.
• Partner with the Senior Leadership Team to develop senior leadership capacity and to define, enhance, and maintain the senior leadership team culture, activities, and approach.

Requirements

Education/Certification:

• M.B.A or advanced degree in finance preferred.
• CPA required.

Required Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of accounting, audit, finance, budgeting, business operations, and nonprofit industry.
• Knowledge of MIP Software is preferred.
• Knowledge of New Market Tax Credits is preferred.
• Strong knowledge of Federal Grants requirements and regulations.

Experience Required:

• Ten years of accounting experience.
• Five years experience as CFO or equivalent, preferably in a nonprofit organization with a budget over $10 million.
• Experience in a senior financial management role, partnering with executive staff, resulting in the development and implementation of creative financial management strategies.
• Significant experience in or knowledge of nonprofit accounting, including sophisticated fund and grant accounting, compliance, and reporting.
• Knowledge and understanding of the Office of Management and Budget Circular A133 Audit.
• Long-range planning experience.
• Grant Based Funding experience.

Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Leadership skills.
• Strategic visionary.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Team player.
• Must have the ability to work well with all levels of the organization, insurers, and bankers.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent analytical, organization, and supervisory skills.
• Must have the ability to manage multiple projects.

ADA: Easterseals will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disability Act of 1990. Unless exempted by the Americans with Disabilities Act, all persons hired for this position are required to possess the ability to perform the physical tasks necessary to perform all job functions, i.e., bending, floor-sitting, etc., as well as to have the ability to lift up to 50 pounds frequently.