Finance Lead

About the role

The Finance Lead plays a dual role in supporting the Foundation’s financial management and investment operations during a transformative growth phase. Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the Operations Director in translating complex financial data into clear, accessible narratives and visualizations.
• Auditing and maintaining robust accounting processes to manage financial transactions in alignment with regulatory requirements and philanthropic objectives.
• Maintaining and documenting strong internal controls, including proper approvals, separation of duties, and independent reconciliation.
• Assessing the performance of vendors, including external auditors, tax preparers, and outsourced bookkeepers.
• Conducting financial modeling and analysis to support decision-making.
• Preparing semi-monthly payroll using Paychex Flex.
• Coordinating benefit administration for Medical/Dental/Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts, and 401k with outsourced payroll and benefits administrator.
• Serving as the primary contact for employee inquiries about payroll and benefits.
• Managing cash flow and forecasting, in partnership with the OCIO, to ensure sufficient liquidity to meet grantmaking, operational, and strategic funding requirements.
• Liaising between the OCIO, custodians, and accounting teams to ensure investment accounts are reconciled regularly.
• Overseeing the preparation of annual cost reports and ensuring contract compliance for funding agreements.

Requirements

Experience: 5 to 10 years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit finance, accounting, or investment operations required. 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. 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.
• Buils 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.
• Thrive 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.
• Cooordinates 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.

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.

To Apply

Brakeley Search is conducting this search on an exclusive basis on behalf of the Maxwell-Hanrahan Foundation. Interested candidates should apply via email by sending a resume and a letter outlining qualifications as PDF or Word documents to Chelsea Burr at CBurr@BrakeleySearch.com with M/H Foundation in the subject line. Inquiries may be made in confidence to Scott Staub, Managing Director at SStaub@BrakeleySearch.com.

EEO 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.