Finance Lead

The mission of the Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation is to support innovative people working in hands‑on science, art and craft, teaching and protection of the natural world. About Maxwell/Hanrahan Foundation The Foundation supports people who: Explore and ask through fieldwork in natural sciences. Create and captivate as they promote mastery in art and craft. Teach and try as they support students in public education. Conserve and connect as they encourage care for our food systems and the natural world. Currently, the Foundation programs focuses on Craft, Diversity & Inclusion in Art, Design and Computing, Earth Science, Field Biology, Food, Public School Teachers, and Resilient Ecosystems. The Foundation makes unrestricted grants to individuals who are emerging leaders in these fields. The unrestricted grants allow recipients to leverage the Foundation’s support to explore more deeply their fields of interest and attract additional support and awareness of their work. The Foundation is based in San Francisco, California. The Foundation currently has a staff of eight who work with the founders, Delle Maxwell and Pat Hanrahan, who comprise the Board of Directors. About the Opportunity The Foundation employs a “hub and spoke” model, outsourcing investment, accounting, human resources and legal functions. The Finance Lead plays a dual role in supporting the Foundation’s financial management and investment operations during a transformative growth phase. The Finance Lead will ensure the integrity of financial statements and maintain robust accounting processes to manage the Foundation’s financial transactions in alignment with regulatory requirements and philanthropic objectives. This position is responsible for maintaining management of financial transactions and coordinating smooth and strategic operational connections with internal leadership and the Foundation’s outsourced investment consultant, accounting team, and advisors. The Finance Lead will work very closely with the Operations Director. The Finance Lead will do analyses and prepare recommendations for the Operations Director for improvements in the financial and operational processes of the Foundation. The Foundation operates on a hybrid work schedule, with an expectation of being in the office at least 25% of the time per quarter (approximately 2‑3 days per week). Candidates must live in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. Learn more about the Foundation at Key Responsibilities Finance and Accounting Financial Management and Reporting Support the Operations Director in translating complex financial data into clear, accessible narratives and visualizations for communicating the Foundation’s current financial position and future outlook to Directors, the Board and Audit Committee. Work with the Operations Director to assess existing external operational partners and needs of the Foundation as it grows. Assess the performance of vendors, including external auditor, tax preparer and outsourced bookkeeper. Conduct RFPs for replacements if needed. Conduct financial modeling and analysis to support decision‑making. Summarize observations and recommendations on financial performance, trends and risks. Coordinate the annual audit. Work with the Operations Director to set and manage audit timelines. Assure all schedules, control documents, investment valuation materials and grant support information are prepared with accuracy. Accounting and Internal Controls Serve as the primary liaison with external accountants to ensure financial transactions are recorded, reconciled and documented accurately and timely. Maintain and document strong internal controls, including proper approvals, separation of duties and independent reconciliation in close communication and with the oversight of the Operations Director. Promote staff understanding of a strong internal control environment and recommend new policies/procedures as needed. Leverage emerging technologies to enhance the speed, depth and quality of financial analysis, including automating routine data consolidation, identifying patterns and anomalies in financial data. Review investment transactions, valuations and reconciliations related to banking and investment accounting in collaboration with external accountants. Assist with budget preparation and financial planning. Monitor financial policies and procedures and make recommendations to the Operations Director for process improvements, policy changes that align best practices and organizational needs. Oversee the preparation of annual cost reports and ensure contract compliance for funding agreements. Payroll and Benefit Administration Prepare semi‑monthly payroll using Paychex Flex. Coordinate benefit administration for Medical/Dental/Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, 401k with outsourced payroll and benefits administrator. Process employee benefit stipends. Serve as primary contact for employee inquiries about payroll and benefits. Investment Operations Coordinate investment operations between the Foundation management, Board, advisors and its Outsourced Chief Investment Officer (OCIO), ensuring effective communication, alignment and implementation of investment strategies as directed by the Board/Investment Advisory Board (IAC). Manages cash flow and forecasting, in partnership with the OCIO and with input from the Executive Director/Operations Director on internal needs, preparing cash flow forecasts and analyses to ensure sufficient liquidity to meet grantmaking, operational and strategic funding requirements. Liaise between the OCIO, custodians and accounting teams to ensure investment accounts are reconciled regularly, answer questions, respond to requests and provide compliance documents. Professional Experience / Qualifications Experience 5 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit finance, accounting, or investment operations required. Experience in a foundation, mission‑based, or tax‑exempt institution is strongly preferred. Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit financial management, and private foundation tax compliance. Experience coordinating audits, managing budgets and conducting financial modeling and analysis. Familiarity with investment operations, including working with Outsourced Chief Investment Officers, IPS development and mission‑aligned investing. Proficiency with accounting and payroll systems and strong Excel skills. Skilled at synthesizing financial information for diverse audiences, including staff, board and committee members. Demonstrated ability to maintain internal controls and liaise with outsourced accounting and HR providers. A hands‑on operator who is comfortable owning both the analytical and transactional dimensions of finance and accounting in a small‑team environment while supporting the Operations Director who sets the strategic direction. Skills Highly organized with strong attention to detail, accuracy and follow‑through. Exercises sound decision‑making; maintains integrity and confidentiality while handling sensitive financial and organizational matters. Delivers accurate, timely and thorough work; ensures follow‑through across complex workflows and consistently upholds high standards. Anticipates needs, identifies obstacles and develops practical solutions; resourceful in managing competing priorities. Builds strong, respectful relationships across teams and with external partners; brings a helpful, solutions‑driven approach to support shared goals. Maintains open and transparent communication, proactively raising concerns, identifying potential risks, and escalating matters at the appropriate time and level to support organizational effectiveness. Thrives in a lean, evolving organization; embraces variety in day‑to‑day work and steps into new or undefined responsibilities as needed. Understands how financial, operational and investment systems interact; continuously looks for ways to streamline processes, mitigate risk and enhance clarity. Coordinates smoothly with outsourced providers (e.g., accounting, audit, OCIO, payroll, HR); ensures clarity of roles, timely deliverables and alignment with organizational standards. Personal Characteristics A keen sense of integrity, humility, professionalism, and commitment to creating a positive culture within an organization. Commitment to equity and inclusion and helping build a strong team culture. Education Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field required. MBA or advanced degree is highly preferred. CPA is highly preferred. Compensation The starting salary range for the Finance Lead is $170,000 to $191,700. The full salary range is $171,000 to $255,000. A highly competitive compensation benefits package will be made available to the qualified candidate. EOE Statement Brakeley Search is a search firm focused exclusively on the nonprofit sector. As a division of Brakeley Briscoe, Inc. (BBI), Brakeley Search works with local, national, and international nonprofits to help them hire exceptional senior‑level leaders. #J-18808-Ljbffr