Sr. Director of Financial Strategy & Operations

Unite America seeks a Senior Director of Financial Strategy & Operations as it positions itself for deepened impact and scale. Reporting to the Vice President of People & Operations, the Sr. Director of Financial Strategy & Operations will be responsible for the finance function of the organization, driving the development and execution of our long-term financial strategy, ensuring alignment with our organizational goals and objectives, and building the infrastructure to manage our $60M+ budget that supports our operations, program, and organizational grantmaking.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is energized by having the opportunity to build something new and innovative within a growing organization. You will work closely with senior leadership to provide financial insights, develop innovative solutions, and enhance our financial performance. This role will support the transition of our grant administration from the Program team to the finance team, leading and maintaining the fund budget and associated meetings and working collaboratively with the Investor Relations team on fund revenue projections. You will focus on leveling up Unite America’s financial practices and procedures to ensure strong and efficient foundational systems across the organization as we continue to scale. 

The ideal candidate will have a keen eye for detail, an orientation towards problem-solving, and a collaborative mindset. They will bring strong data and finance skills, and an enthusiasm for staying abreast of innovations in the field. As an organization with a complex multi-entity structure, we are looking for a candidate with deep experience across different legal entities ( e.g.c3, c4, PAC), as well as a strategic orientation to financial planning and analysis.

This individual will also have experience managing and developing finance staff and vendors across a variety of workflows. The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic environment where their contributions directly impact the organization's growth and overall impact. Ultimately, this individual is at the root of all major business decisions and their role is crucial to the success of any organization. If you are passionate about advancing Unite America's mission through strategic and effective finance strategy, we invite you to be a key player in our journey toward positive and lasting change.

Unite America believes that there is strength in diversity and strongly encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds and from across the political and ideological spectrum to apply.

The position will be based at Unite America’s headquarters in Denver, CO; Unite America offers a stipend for new hires willing to relocate. 

Requirements

RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Management & Oversight

• Oversee all fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities for the organization, in partnership with the Executive Leadership team, board and board committee focused on finance, audit and investment
• Oversee preparation and approval of all financial reporting materials and metrics for the Executive team and board of directors.
• Ensure effective cash flow management and support the board of directors in managing grantmaking decisions.

Financial Integration & Planning

• Act as a thought leader and partner to the Executive Leadership team and senior leaders 
• Develop and implement comprehensive financial strategies and strategic frameworks that support the organization’s long-term goals.
• Provide strategic financial planning and analysis to drive decision-making and ensure sustainable growth.
• Oversee the preparation of financial reports, budgets, forecasts, and financial models.
• Provide strategic recommendations based on financial analysis and projections, effective business practices and revenue/expense analysis
• Conduct meaningful proactive analysis to improve organizational decisions on the management of working capital, use of entities, and build out of reserves
• Monitor financial performance, identify trends, and recommend corrective actions to improve financial outcomes.
• Lead the evaluation and implementation of financial systems and processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
• Manage and/or oversee relationships with external stakeholders, including auditors, investors, and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure compliance with financial regulations and standards, and manage risk exposure.
• Manage finance team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional growth.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, market conditions, and best practices to inform strategic financial decisions.

Grants & Fund Management 

• Build and manage the system and processes to integrate Finance, Program, and Investor Relations financial functions  
• Work with Investor relations team to develop a pipeline strategy (based on funding needs by entity) to ensure the program team can effectively allocate resources based on programmatic priorities
• Work with organizational leadership in assessing grantmaking investment portfolio for financial risk
• Work with the grants team to ensure the movement of money to grantees is preceded by data-based financial decisions and efficient and effective review processes. 
• Oversee the relevant and timely documentation of information into Salesforce regarding grants and the adherence to grant administrative processes.
• Using Salesforce, build reports and dashboards that are responsive to the cross-functional needs of teams within the organization
• Build and implement best-in-class processes for dispersing and monitoring contracts and grants and reducing barriers to getting resources out quickly and efficiently

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in finance, with a focus on strategic financial planning and analysis in complex funding landscapes
• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful financial strategies in a complex organization, specifically multi-entity organizations
• Experience in financial planning and analysis.
• Experience liaising with government entities in areas of campaign finance, audits, and compliance 
• Exceptional organizational skills to streamline processes
• Proven analytical skills, translating data into valuable insights for strategic decision-making.
• Effective communication skills, producing clear, user-oriented materials for staff and board to relay information on technical, budgetary, and program details.
• Experience implementing and enforcing policies and procedures for organizational compliance and efficiency.
• Skillful in fostering smooth communication and workflow processes across multiple teams & departments.
• Critical thinking ability, coupled with decisive action, to synthesize complex issues effectively.
• Initiative-driven, highly self-motivated, adaptable to working independently or collaboratively.
• Independent problem-solver, consistently bringing tasks and projects to successful resolutions.
• Excellent leadership and management skills, with experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Proficiency in financial software and advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and other financial analysis tools
• Strong understanding of the Salesforce platform (e.g. creation of new reports, customization of content, etc)
• High ethical standards and a commitment to integrity and transparency.
• Genuine passion for Unite America’s mission.

OUR ORGANIZATION

Unite America is a non-partisan, philanthropic venture fund (composed of several legal entities) that invests in candidates, campaigns, and organizations in order to advance nonpartisan election reforms that will foster a more representative and functional government capable of solving America’s most pressing challenges.

Founded in 2014, Unite America and its 30+ person team has grown to be a leader in the democracy reform movement. The organization has existed in its current form, and with its current primary focus, since 2019; in that time, we have successfully mobilized tens of millions of dollars from scores of philanthropists to candidates and reform campaigns across the country. In 2024, Unite America had a $60M budget across its core operations ($11M) and regranting portfolio ($49M).

Recent victories where we played a leading or a major supporting role to win: a major anti-gerrymandering campaign in Virginia; a first-of-its-kind,top-four nonpartisan primary system in Alaska that helped elect one of the most ideologically diverse slate of statewide officeholders in recent history; and a ballot initiative in Nevada to implement Alaska-style reforms in that state. We are poised to dramatically scale our impact in the years to come.

At Unite America, we are working to build a more representative and functional government that puts voters first and reflects the diversity of our country, and an inclusive democracy in which leaders embrace problem-solving over fueling divisiveness. Likewise, we have a vision of building an organization that reflects diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives; a culture of working across differences toward common goals; and a workplace where everyone feels included, respected, and heard. To that end, Unite America is proud to have made diversifying our team, ensuring more equitable opportunity, and fostering a culture of belonging a priority. Our organizational values reinforce this commitment as we work to model the leadership we seek, solve problems together, and take care of one another, to name a few.

Benefits

THE PERKS

• Competitive Compensation ($150-175k)
• 401(k) Plan (with up to a 3% employer contribution match)
• Health Care Plan (medical, dental, and vision)
• Unlimited Paid Time Off (vacation, sick days, public holidays, and team-wide wellness days)
• Family Leave (maternity, paternity, and adoption)
• Paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff
• Training & Professional Development
• Wellness Resources
• Opportunity to join an inclusive, vibrant, and diverse team

The priority application deadline for this position is September 27th, 2024. Applications submitted after this date will still be reviewed, but preference will be given to applicants who meet the deadline.