Director of Finance

Job Description

Job Description

Innovate, Excel, Succeed with Our Team! The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting seeks an outstanding candidate to serve as the organization's senior financial leader, responsible for financial planning, governance support, and long-term sustainability as we scale our impact and build an independent organization.

The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting is designed to foster partnerships between school districts and service providers, with the goal of improving student outcomes. At the Center for OBC, we are not just innovating educational contracts; we're transforming the way school districts and service providers collaborate to improve student outcomes. Established with the mission to uphold excellence and opportunity for all students in K-12 education, the Center for OBC empowers districts to contract for clear student outcomes and compels mutual accountability for achieving them.

To learn more, please visit obc.southerneducation.org

The Opportunity

The Director of Finance will lead the organization's revenue strategy, financial modeling, and cross-functional financial integration. This role is central to the Center's current growth season - including navigating the financial elements of a $50 million capital campaign and leading the financial infrastructure buildout required as the Center pursues independent 501(c)(3) status.

This role is responsible for ensuring that revenue assumptions, program execution, and financial reporting are tightly aligned - and that the organization can manage financial complexity while scaling its impact across multiple states and funding relationships.

The ideal candidate is a strategic, innovative finance leader who can operate comfortably across accounting, planning, and partnership-driven revenue structures. They thrive in high-growth environments where finance must closely track execution and results, and they move seamlessly between tactical execution and strategic vision. Critically, this person leads with vision and self-direction, capable of independently building and managing financial infrastructure while collaborating closely with executive leadership.

This role will begin as a department of one, with the expectation of growing a finance team over time. The Director of Finance will serve as a member of the Center's leadership team.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Planning & Strategy

• Develop and execute organizational budgeting, forecasting, and multi-year financial planning aligned with the Center's strategic goals.
• Manage the financial elements of the organization's capital campaign, including tracking philanthropic funding streams and ensuring compliance with funder budgetary expectations.
• Provide executive leadership with timely, actionable analysis on the financial implications of business activities and strategic decisions.
• Synthesize insights across CRM (Salesforce), financial management platforms, and bill pay systems to drive strong resource allocation decisions.
• Support the organization's transition to independent 501(c)(3) status by leading financial decoupling efforts in close partnership with Southern Education Foundation staff. Note: IRS filing complete; awaiting final approval.

Accounting & Financial Operations

• Oversee financial operations including monthly closing, general ledger, financial reporting, accounts payable oversight, payroll processing and verification, benefits contracts, and other financial transactions.
• Manage the organization's financial management system (MIP or equivalent), maintaining accurate and current records. Note: External accounting firm has already built this infrastructure in MIP.
• Administer final approval and payment processing across accounts payable, working in close coordination with the operations team.
• Manage investments, insurance, and cash flow to ensure organizational financial health.
• Prepare and present regular financial reports and analyses to the board, leadership, and other stakeholders.

Compliance & Grant Management

• Ensure compliance across grants, restricted funds, and reporting requirements - including an understanding of how multiple grant budgets fit within and align to the overall organizational budget.
• Manage annual audits, tax filings, and financial policies; oversee the preparation and coordination of annual audit processes.
• Ensure adherence to federal, state, and local regulations; file required reports and stay current on legislative and regulatory changes.
• Design and implement strong financial controls to safeguard assets, improve efficiency, and reduce organizational risk.

Systems & Infrastructure

• Strengthen internal systems, policies, and financial tools to support a scaling organization.
• Design and develop internal finance and accounting processes that grow with the organization.
• Manage integrations across financial platforms including Salesforce, Bill.com, and the organization's financial management system.
• Work closely with the Executive Director and department leaders to integrate financial planning with program strategy and execution.

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; CPA preferred.
• 710 years of proven experience in nonprofit financial management, with grant management and philanthropic fund development experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing the financial complexity of large-scale philanthropic organizations, including restrictive funding, grant reporting and accounting, and multi-budget alignment.
• Experience supporting or leading an organizational transition (spinout, new entity formation, or significant growth phase) strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and leadership skills with the ability to operate at multiple vantage points moving fluidly between tactical detail and strategic oversight.
• Self-directed and self-motivated; capable of building and owning an entire body of financial work with limited day-to-day oversight.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; strong report writing and presentation skills required.
• Sound business judgment and the ability to understand market dynamics, organizational priorities, and financial trade-offs.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities with strong attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Salesforce, Monday.com, Bill.com, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), and financial management platforms (MIP or equivalent); experience with similar platforms is acceptable.
• Comfort with or experience using generative AI tools within your field of expertise, or demonstrated willingness to learn and integrate these tools quickly.
• Strong problem-solving and collaboration skills; ability to work effectively across a distributed, remote team.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time position working Monday Friday with a salary range of $150,000-$175,000 , commensurate with experience. The Center offers a comprehensive benefits package to support employees' health, financial security, and professional growth. Full-time employees receive 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with basic life and AD&D insurance, short-term and long-term disability, and workers' compensation. Additional options include voluntary life insurance and supplemental coverage through Aflac. For retirement, employees have access to a 403(b) tax-deferred plan from day one, plus an employer-funded 15% contribution plan after one year. Other benefits include an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), tuition reimbursement, a monthly mobile phone stipend, and access to role-specific professional learning and advancement opportunities.

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Selected candidates will be subject to a background and credit check as part of the hiring process.

The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates of all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

This is a remote position.