Chief Financial Officer

Job Description

Job Description

The YWCA Charleston's current mission is to eliminate racism, empower women, and promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Its work includes shelter and support for women and families, domestic violence services, child development, senior services, and racial equity/community enrichment. (ywcacharleston.org)

About YWCA Charleston

Since 1912, YWCA Charleston has served the Charleston and surrounding communities by providing programs and services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, safety, opportunity, and dignity. Today, the YWCA provides a diverse network of services supporting women, children, families, seniors, and the broader community.

Position Summary

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provides strategic and operational financial leadership for YWCA Charleston. The CFO is responsible for protecting the organization's financial health, ensuring responsible stewardship of resources, strengthening financial systems and controls, and providing accurate financial information to support decisions that advance the YWCA's mission.

The CFO serves as a key member of the leadership team and works closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, Finance Committee, program leaders, development staff, funders, auditors, and community partners.

This is a hands-on nonprofit leadership position . The CFO must be comfortable moving between long-term financial strategies and the day-to-day work needed to maintain accurate records, manage cash flow, oversee grants, monitor budgets, and ensure compliance.

Essential Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership & Strategy:

• Serve as the organization's senior financial advisor to the CEO and leadership team.
• Develop and oversee the annual organizational budget process.
• Provide financial forecasts, cash-flow projections, and financial analysis to support organizational planning.
• Monitor financial performance and identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Provide leadership with practical recommendations regarding revenue, expenses, staffing, programs, and organizational investments.
• Support long-term financial sustainability and responsible organizational growth.
• Help ensure financial decisions are aligned with YWCA Charleston's mission and strategic priorities.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, understandable information for non-financial leaders.

Grant & Contract Financial Management:

• Oversee the financial management of federal, state, local, foundation, corporate, and other grants and contracts.
• Ensure restricted funds are properly tracked and used for their intended purposes.
• Review grant budgets and provide financial guidance during grant development and renewal.
• Monitor grant spending and identify potential over- or under-spending.
• Ensure grant expenses are properly documented and allocated.
• Partner with program and development staff to ensure financial requirements are understood and followed.
• Oversee required financial reports and reimbursement requests.
• Maintain appropriate records to support grant reporting, monitoring, and audits.
• Ensure compliance with applicable grant requirements, including federal requirements when applicable.

Accounting & Financial Operations:

• Oversee the organization's accounting and financial reporting functions.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
• Review reconciliations, journal entries, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other financial transactions.
• Monitor organizational cash flow and liquidity.
• Oversee banking relationships and financial accounts.
• Ensure accurate tracking of revenue, expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• Oversee financial aspects of payroll and employee-related expenses in partnership with Human Resources and other responsible staff.
• Ensure financial records are maintained accurately and securely.
• Evaluate financial systems and technology and recommend improvements that increase efficiency and accuracy.

Budget Management:

• Lead the annual budget process in partnership with the CEO and leadership team.
• Work with program leaders to develop realistic program budgets.
• Monitor department and program budgets throughout the year.
• Review budget-to-actual results and communicate significant variances.
• Help program leaders understand the financial impact of financial decisions.
• Provide financial information needed to evaluate program sustainability and effectiveness.

 

Internal Controls & Risk Management:

• Establish and maintain strong internal financial controls.
• Ensure appropriate separation of financial duties.
• Identify financial risks and recommend safeguards.
• Review financial processes regularly for accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.
• Protect the organization's assets and financial information.
• Ensure organizational policies and procedures related to financial management are followed.
• Recommend updates to financial policies and procedures when needed.
• Support continuity and backup procedures to ensure critical financial functions can continue when key personnel are unavailable.

Audit, Tax & Regulatory Compliance:

• Coordinate the organization's annual financial audit.
• Serve as the primary financial contact for external auditors.
• Prepare or oversee audit schedules and supporting documentation.
• Coordinate with external accounting and tax professionals as needed.
• Oversee preparation and timely filing of Form 990 and other required financial filings.
• Monitor compliance with applicable accounting standards, laws, regulations, and funding requirements.
• Ensure the organization maintains appropriate documentation for financial and grant compliance.

Board & Finance Committee Support:

• Prepare clear, accurate, and timely financial reports for the CEO, Board of Directors, and Finance Committee.
• Present financial information at Board and committee meetings as requested.
• Help Board members understand the organization's financial position, risks, opportunities, and long-term sustainability.
• Provide financial analysis to support strategic and fiduciary decision-making.
• Partner with the CEO and Board to strengthen the organization's financial future.

 

Mission & Organizational Leadership:

• Serve as a member of the YWCA Charleston leadership team.
• Demonstrate a commitment to eliminating racism and empowering women through financial leadership and decision-making.
• Help ensure resources are directed toward programs and services that advance the YWCA mission.
• Partner with program leaders to understand the financial needs and challenges of programs serving women, children, families, seniors, and other members of the community.
• Support a culture where financial stewardship is understood as part of mission stewardship.
• Build strong working relationships with employees, volunteers, Board members, funders, auditors, donors, and community partners.
• Represent YWCA Charleston at community events, fundraisers, partner meetings, and other organizational activities. The CFO is expected to be an active and visible ambassador for the YWCA and its mission. This may occasionally require evening or weekend work.

 

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of progressive financial or accounting experience in the nonprofit sector.
• Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit accounting, with a strong command of financial management, grant accounting, compliance, budgeting, and financial reporting.
• Extensive experience with audits and external accounting professionals.
• Strong understanding of internal controls and financial compliance.
• Advanced proficiency with financial and accounting software, including Excel, with the ability to use these tools to analyze financial data, develop reports, and support sound financial decision-making. Experience with Sage, preferred.
• Ability to analyze financial information and communicate it clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively prioritize, organize, and manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines in a fast-paced nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, confidentiality, and attention to detail.
• Willing to speak and write in support of the YWCA's mission, values, programs, and impact in the community.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA or other relevant professional certification.
• Experience working with a nonprofit Board of Directors or Finance Committee.
• Experience in a small or midsize nonprofit where the CFO has both strategic and hands-on responsibilities.
• Experience working with multiple funding sources and restricted revenue.

 

Physical & Work Requirements:

• Ability to work at a computer for extended periods.
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and electronically.
• Ability to attend meetings with staff, leadership, the Board, funders, auditors, and community partners.
• Occasional evening or weekends may be required for Board meetings, organizational events, or other YWCA activities.
• Must have reliable transportation and the ability to independently travel to YWCA locations, community meetings, events, and other work-related activities as needed.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

YWCA Charleston is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that reflects our mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.

Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.