Finance Director

WHO WE ARE

Farm Aid is a national nonprofit whose mission is to cultivate a vibrant and just family farm-centered system of agriculture in the United States. Farm Aid catalyzes and offers creative ways to champion farmers, inspire civic engagement and leverage our cultural placement to influence positive change in our agricultural and cultural landscape. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual food and farm festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s year-round work. Since 1985, Farm Aid has raised more than $80 million to support our programs that help farmers thrive, grow the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms.

Farm Aid leverages its diverse expertise, assets and activities that span non-profit, music and food enterprises. The organization currently raises most of its revenue through the annual music festival, while creating revenue streams via food, sponsorship, merchandise and cause marketing initiatives.

Farm Aid’s vision—of a transformed America in which family farmers and eaters are partners in a thriving farm and food system that benefits all—is not possible without actively being part of the struggle for racial equity and justice. We are on an active journey of taking stronger action to end racism in our society and in our farm and food system.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Deeply rooted and at a time of exciting growth and transition, Farm Aid seeks a Finance Director to serve as a steward of the organization’s financial well-being, delivering strategic and tactical leadership and implementation. Specifically, the Finance Director will:
• Oversee and direct Farm Aid’s finance function, providing key leadership for day-to-day financial operations and long-term planning for organizational stability, revenue growth and investment.
• Operate with an eye towards improvement and effectiveness, proactively updating and optimizing business systems, internal controls, and policies and procedures.
• Oversee all accounting systems and processes to ensure the integrity of the accounting general ledgers and systems, and compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
• Lead the annual budgeting and financial planning process; establish a participatory and inclusive process that engages key staff in budget creation.
• Take responsibility for the annual audit, coordinating with internal staff, controller, and auditors to ensure timely and accurate completion of financials, filing of 990 form and tax returns, and compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Manage reporting for all funding streams, inclusive of multi-million-dollar, multi-year grants from federal government agencies.
• Supervise and manage the work of a contracted accounting team responsible for day-to-day implementation of financial operations (e.g., A/P, A/R, monthly account reconciliation.)
• Drive the development of strategies for short- and long-term investments, balanced cash flow and sustainable revenue growth from existing and new business endeavors.
• Analyze, produce, and share monthly and annual financial reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Serve as a key member of standing and ad hoc cross-functional teams, providing guidance and consultation on revenue-related decisions and implications.
• Serve as a key member of the Leadership Team, which holds collective responsibility and accountability for stewarding Farm Aid’s vision and mission, creating the conditions for staff to do their best work, and ultimately driving organizational impact.

WHO YOU ARE

• You are energized by Farm Aid’s mission and values. You are excited to work alongside advocates, organizers, and networkers who are passionate about creating change in our food and farm system. You thrive on a team that values collaboration, community, and teamwork.
• You are a nonprofit finance professional with at least 8 years of experience. You bring deep knowledge of all aspects of nonprofit financial management, including compliance, accounting, budgeting, reporting, audits, and grants and contract management.
• You are an analytical thinker with the ability to implement tactically. You excel at seeing the “big picture” and are hands-on in translating strategy into tangible activities. You create structures, processes, and procedures that foster financial health.
• You are tech-savvy and well-organized. You bring expertise in commonly used accounting and reporting software inclusive of QuickBooks and Excel. You have strong organizational and time management skills. Experience with RAMP or other enterprise financial systems is a plus.
• You are an effective and reliable manager and colleague. You bring strength in guiding the work of direct and indirect reports, including external vendors. You translate financial concepts and collaborate with individuals who do not have finance backgrounds.
• You are highly professional and trustworthy. You operate with a high degree of integrity and discretion, with the ability to maintain confidentiality concerning financial and employee files. You hold yourself and others accountability for ethical conduct.
• You are a resourceful, proactive, and agile self-starter. You are willing to jump in and solve problems proactively. You enjoy the challenge of “figuring things out” and thrive in a growth-oriented setting.

The following qualifications are strongly desired but not required:

• Experience with federal grants management and reporting.
• Degree or certification in accounting, finance, or a related field.