Finance Manager

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is one of the nation’s leading national racial justice legal organizations. Formed in 1963 at the request of President John F. Kennedy, the Lawyers’ Committee uses legal advocacy to achieve racial justice, fighting inside and outside the courts to ensure that Black people and other people of color have the voice, opportunity, and power to make the promises of our democracy real.

Job Title : Finance Manager
Location : Washington, DC
Job Type : Full-Time
Union Affiliation : Non-Union
Accountable to : Vice President of Finance

About the Role :
The Finance Manager is the operational lead for accounting operations, financial reporting processes, internal controls, and outsourced accounting vendor performance. Reporting directly to the Vice President of Finance, this role leads fiscal responsibility, regulatory compliance, and accurate financial reporting to support the organization’s mission. 

The Finance Manager directly supervises the Senior Accountant and manages the day-to-day relationship with the Lawyers’ Committee’s outsourced accounting vendor to ensure seamless, accurate, timely, and well-documented financial workflows.

This role is expected to maintain strong operational visibility into core finance processes and documentation, so the department has backup coverage and continuity. The Finance Manager supports VP-level work by preparing accurate schedules, reconciliations, analyses, documentation, and issue summaries.

What You’ll be Doing:
Essential responsibilities of the Finance Manager include but are not limited to the following:

Accounting Operations and Internal Controls

• Supervise accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, ensuring accurate coding, timely vendor payments, effective revenue processing, and efficient donor and grant revenue tracking.
• Maintain, implement, and monitor internal control systems to safeguard organizational assets and support compliance with GAAP, uniform guidance, funder requirements, and organizational policies.
• Serve as the primary day-to-day point of contact for the outsourced accounting vendor; monitor deliverables, resolve workflow issues, maintain an issue and escalation log, and ensure timely, accurate, and well-documented accounting services.
• Support clear segregation of duties, approval workflows, documentation standards, and cross-training to reduce single points of failure within accounting operations.

Financial Reporting and Month-End Close

• Lead the month-end and year-end close processes, including bank reconciliations, journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, close calendars, supporting schedules, and documentation follow-up.
• Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and supporting schedules for review by the Vice President of Finance and organizational leadership.
• Monitor daily financial operations and provide regular updates on cash flow, liquidity needs, receivables, payables, and operational finance issues requiring attention.
• Identify close delays, reconciliation issues, coding concerns, or documentation gaps and escalate matters to the Vice President of Finance as appropriate.

Restricted Funds, Grants, and Program Tracking

• Partner with development, program teams, and the outsourced accounting vendor(s) to maintain accurate restricted-fund accounting, prepare budget proposals, support funder reporting, reconcile grant activity, and ensure proper revenue recognition within the organization’s financial systems.
• Maintain grant and restricted-fund schedules, documentation, and reconciliations that support audit readiness, funder reporting, Development reconciliations, and program budget monitoring.
• Oversee automated grant accounting workflows by reviewing data accuracy, resolving exceptions, documenting processes, and escalating risks or system issues to the Vice President of Finance.

Audit, Compliance, and Tax Support

• Serve as the lead staff liaison for the annual independent financial audit, including preparing schedules, pulling samples, assembling audit binders, coordinating documentation requests, and tracking open items.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local reporting requirements, including preparing data for IRS Form 990, 1099s, registrations, funder reports, and other regulatory or compliance matters.
• Maintain audit-ready files, reconciliations, policies, and accounting documentation in coordination with the Vice President of Finance and outsourced accounting vendor.

Team Supervision, Vendor Accountability, and Process Improvement

• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate assigned finance staff; support professional growth, accountability, cross-training, backup coverage, and a collaborative service-oriented team environment.
• Continuously assess accounting workflows to identify efficiencies, automate manual processes, strengthen documentation, and leverage Sage Intacct and other financial systems effectively.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, close checklists, vendor deliverable trackers, reconciliation schedules, and other tools that support continuity and consistent department performance.
• Provide clear, timely communication to the Vice President of Finance regarding operational risks, workflow challenges, vendor performance, staffing needs, and process improvement opportunities.

Minimum Requirements and Competencies:

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required; CPA or CMA designation strongly preferred.
• Minimum of 6 to 8 years of progressive accounting experience, including nonprofit accounting operations, month-end close, internal controls, audit support, and financial reporting.
• At least 2 years of experience supervising staff and/or managing outsourced accounting, audit, or vendor relationships.
• Proven experience working in a nonprofit organization with a budget of $15M+; experience with fund accounting, restricted revenue, grant-related financial reporting, and nonprofit compliance is required.
• Advanced proficiency with nonprofit accounting software, preferably Sage Intacct, and strong Excel skills required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, Uniform Guidance, net asset restrictions, internal controls, audit preparation, and financial reporting processes.
• Ability to translate financial data and accounting issues clearly for non-finance staff, program leaders, Development colleagues, and organizational leadership.
• Strong supervisory, vendor management, project management, problem-solving, documentation, and follow-through skills.
• High attention to detail, sound judgment, discretion, confidentiality, and commitment to accuracy, compliance, and accountability.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial justice, civil rights, equity, and working effectively in a diverse environment.

Ready to Make an Impact? If you are passionate about civil rights, racial justice, and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, we want to hear from you. Join our mission to drive positive change and contribute to our dynamic team!

Apply Today: Be part of the force for civil rights and make a lasting impact. Submit your application to help us create a more equitable and inclusive world.

Benefits: The Lawyers' Committee offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes healthcare coverage (medical, dental & vision), parental leave, 403(b) contribution with employer match contributions, voluntary short- and long-term disability and an employer paid monthly cell phone stipend. 

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: The Lawyers’ Committee embraces diversity and inclusion in our workplace. We strongly encourage candidates of color and candidates from underrepresented communities to apply. The Lawyers’ Committee does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, personal appearance, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, or any other status protected under law.

Reasonable Accommodation:  The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and local laws. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io.

The expected range for this role will be: $130,000 to $145,000