Chief Financial & Administrative Officer

IREX•Washington, DC

13d•Onsite

About The Position

Chief Financial & Administrative Officer Executive leader responsible for financial strategy, operational shared services, and the enabling infrastructure needed to scale IREX’s impact and diversify revenue. About IREX For over five decades, IREX has built a track record of delivering results amid complexity, bringing together governments, civic institutions, businesses, and communities that rarely talk to each other. We solve problems through collaboration, bridge divides where interests conflict, and develop leaders committed to impact. The youth we empower build stronger economies. The educators we support improve learning for countless students. The critical thinking skills we advance help people make informed decisions about their futures. Our documented impact demonstrates that, at our best, we build conditions for durable progress, not just run programs. IREX is at a transformative moment. Achieving our 2040 Ambition will require strong financial stewardship and a modern, responsive support-services operating model. We must maintain cost structures that keep us competitive across USG and non-USG opportunities, while evolving our financial models to support foundations, corporate partnerships, and earned revenue—not only USG frameworks. In parallel, we will streamline processes and integrate new technologies to free capacity for mission-critical work and strengthen execution across the organization. The Opportunity The Chief Financial & Administrative Officer (CFAO) will play a pivotal role in transforming finance and operations at IREX from a predominantly compliance-focused function into a strategic enabler of organizational growth and a platform for sustainable revenue diversification — while upholding the highest standards of financial integrity, transparency, and stewardship. As a core member of the CEO’s executive team, the CFAO sets the organization’s financial strategy and stewards operational excellence and long-term sustainability. The CFAO leads IREX’s Enabling Services Hub—one of the organization’s three core structural hubs—ensuring high-quality, responsive services across Finance; Accounting & Compliance; Global Operations; and Facilities/Administration. The CFAO will work in close partnership with the Chief Impact Officer (CIO) to ensure she has the maximum financial flexibility, visibility, and resources needed to deliver first-class programmatic results. The CFAO will also partner closely with the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) and the Global Human Resources Director, both of whom are members of the Executive Team and will maintain that status while reporting to the CFAO.

Requirements

Demonstrated success as a transformation leader with a track record of reengineering finance and operations to support significant organizational growth and revenue diversification
10–15 years of progressive leadership experience in finance and operations, with at least 7 years in senior executive roles
Strong financial acumen and experience with diverse funding models, cost structures, and financial planning for organizational sustainability
Bachelor’s degree in finance, business financial management, or related field; CPA certification is highly preferred; MBA or master’s degree strongly preferred
Proven ability to build, lead, and manage high-performing teams in dynamic, mission-driven environments
Experience working in international development, global affairs, or cross-border initiatives preferred
Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, including public speaking and presentation abilities
Must have unrestricted authorization to work in the United States

Nice To Haves

Experience in international development or global nonprofit sector
Experience leading enterprise digital transformation and technology integration across enabling services
Demonstrated success building and scaling shared services functions across IT, Finance, HR, and Operations
Knowledge of education, civic engagement, leadership development or technology sectors
Familiarity with US Government grant-making
Experience working with boards and committees on fundraising and growth strategies

Responsibilities

Develop and execute comprehensive financial and operational strategies aligned with the IREX 2040 Ambition and organizational vision
Lead IREX’s Enabling Services Hub by directly overseeing core shared services and aligning cross-functional planning across enabling functions: Finance, Accounting & Compliance (direct oversight), Global Operations & Facilities/Administration (direct oversight), Information Technology (strategic partnership with the CTO), Human Resources (strategic partnership with the Global HR Director)
Oversee the Finance & Accounting Unit while supporting the strategic expansion of non-USG revenue streams
Translate the Chief Growth Officer (CGO) pipeline into probability-weighted forecasts and scenario-based budgets aligned to hiring and investment plans
Build financial models, pricing/costing tools, and cash-flow plans to ensure new revenue streams are scalable and sustainable
Structure and review partnership terms to manage financial risk and ensure compliance, controls, and performance reporting across non-USG and earned revenue
Provide financial diligence and deal support for strategic partnerships with foundations, corporations, and other non-USG donors
Structure partnership agreements and operating models to manage financial, compliance, and risk exposures
Align budgets, forecasts, and internal capacity plans to ensure partnerships are deliverable at scale.
Establish partnership financial reporting and performance dashboards to support timely decision-making
Partner with the CEO, Chief Growth Officer (CGO), and Chief Impact Officer (CIO) to strengthen market-facing value propositions through financially sound business cases, budgeting, and operational support
Ensure communications and customer engagement initiatives are appropriately resourced and operationally supported to achieve growth objectives
Provide data-backed financial narratives and donor-ready materials that clearly translate performance into credible impact stories
Build, lead, mentor, and manage the Enabling Services Hub team
Shape a culture of agility that advances initiatives with purpose, speed, and results
Integrate technical expertise effectively into revenue growth and diversification efforts
Foster an entrepreneurial mindset throughout the organization
Serve as a key member of the Executive Team
Collaborate with the executive leadership team to drive revenue growth aligned with the IREX 2040 Ambition
Provide strategic counsel to the CEO and support effective engagement with external audiences