Chief Financial Officer - Metanoia

Metanoia is a nonprofit community development organization dedicated to serving the North Charleston community and its residents through youth leadership, affordable housing, and economic development. Founded in 2003, Metanoia was born from a community-led effort to address childhood poverty by listening to families in North Charleston’s Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood. The organization operates with the belief that local residents are the true experts on their community’s challenges and solutions. Metanoia supports youth and families from 1st through 12th grade, manages 50 units of affordable rental housing, and plans to build 70 units of affordable homes for sale over the next five years. The organization is also renovating the historic Old Chicora School, a capital project utilizing philanthropic and tax credit financing. Metanoia’s mission is to amplify opportunities for a thriving community by honing the unique strengths of Chicora and surrounding historically Black neighborhoods.

About the role

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will serve as the senior financial leader responsible for building, managing, and strengthening all financial operations, systems, controls, and reporting across Metanoia and its related entities. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the CFO is a core member of the executive leadership team and a key partner to the CEO, COO, program leaders, and Board of Directors. This role requires a hands-on, operationally grounded leader who can manage current financial obligations while designing and implementing the systems, team structure, and processes needed to support a growing, complex community development organization. The CFO will lead the transition from outsourced accounting functions to a fully internal finance operation, translate complex financial information into clear, decision-ready insights, and ensure strong financial stewardship that protects the organization while enabling mission-driven growth.

Responsibilities

• Financial Leadership and Strategic Partnership
  • Serve as the organization’s chief financial strategist and thought partner to the CEO, COO, and Board.
  • Lead long-range financial planning and multi-year forecasting aligned with organizational priorities and growth plans.
  • Provide candid, evidence-based financial guidance, including identifying risks, constraints, and trade-offs and advising when proposed actions are not financially prudent.
  • Support strategic decision-making related to staffing growth, program expansion, capital investments, and new opportunities.
  • Oversee financial compliance and organizational risk management, ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements and proactively identifying, assessing, and prioritizing financial risks.
  • Build financial literacy throughout the organization to support effective budget ownership and program management.
• Financial Operations, Accounting, and Compliance
  • Oversee all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, payroll coordination with outsourced vendor, and month- and year-end close.
  • Ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit fund accounting standards, and all grant and donor reporting requirements.
  • Oversee financial policies and compliance for federal contracts and grant-funded programs.
  • Monitor budget-to-actual performance across programs and contracts, providing timely analysis and recommendations.
  • Partner with the Development Director and Program Directors to support new funding opportunities, including reviewing grant applications and assessing financial impact.
  • Manage preparation for and coordination of annual audits, single audits, and specialized audits related to subsidiary LLCs.
  • Establish and maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, approval authorities, tax compliance, and documentation practices.
• Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cash Management
  • Develop and lead the annual operating and capital budgeting process in collaboration with program and operations leadership.
  • Produce regular budget-to-actual analyses and proactively identify variances, trends, and corrective actions.
  • Manage cash flow forecasting and liquidity to ensure the organization can meet obligations amid varied funding timelines.
  • Advise leadership on reserve levels, working capital needs, and long-term financial sustainability.
  • Maintain and strengthen banking and investment relationships for the organization.
• Real Estate, Asset Management, and Complex Financing
  • Provide financial oversight for affordable housing development, rental property operations, land acquisition, and asset management.
  • Manage financial structures related to tax credits and complex financing, including multiple LLC entities with separate audits and reporting requirements.
  • Oversee construction accounting, draw requests, contractor payments, and project budget tracking.
  • Partner with legal counsel, lenders, investors, and consultants to structure and monitor development and financing agreements.
  • Oversee compliance for federal contracts related to housing developments in coordination with external property manager.
• Finance Team Development
  • Design and build Metanoia’s internal finance function, including organizational structure, staffing plans, and role clarity.
  • Recruit, supervise, and develop finance staff over time, fostering a culture of learning, accountability, and excellence.
• Systems, Technology, and Infrastructure
  • Oversee financial systems such as Sage Intacct and BILL, ensuring effective configuration, training, and data integrity.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, automate reporting, and improve usability of financial information.
  • Partner with the COO on IT vendor management and systems integration to support organizational efficiency.
• Board, Committee, and Governance Support
  • Serve as the primary financial liaison to the Board of Directors and the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board.
  • Support board oversight of financial health, risk, audit outcomes, and policy development.
  • Prepare and present clear, accessible financial reports monthly or as needed.
  • Participate in governance and management committees related to major projects and subsidiary entities.
• Risk Management
  • Lead organizational risk management, including insurance coverage, financial risk assessment, and mitigation strategies.
  • Ensure appropriate coverage for property, liability, D&O, construction, and other organizational risks.
  • Implement fraud prevention practices and maintain a strong culture of financial accountability and transparency.

Skills

• Financial discipline, integrity, and commitment to strong stewardship.
• Hands-on, transformational leadership style with the ability to evolve into strategic leadership.
• Cultural humility, emotional intelligence, and alignment with strengths-based, community-rooted values.
• Strong listening skills and ability to navigate change, build systems thoughtfully, and balance structure with flexibility.

Pay

The anticipated base salary range for this role is $110,000 – $140,000.

Benefits

This position includes a comprehensive benefits package.

Schedule

This position is based on site in North Charleston, SC with some flexibility for a hybrid schedule and occasional travel to meet with community partners.