Chief Financial Officer

American Consumer Counseling Center•Newton, MA

About The Position

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a strategic executive leader responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals achieve financial stability through credit counseling, financial education, and Debt Management Programs (DMPs). The CFO plays a critical role in aligning financial strategy with ACCC’s mission, ensuring long-term sustainability while maximizing client impact. This role requires deep expertise in financial management, high-volume payment processing environments, creditor-funded revenue models, and regulatory compliance. ACCC operates within a unique financial ecosystem where revenue is derived from a combination of client fees, creditor “fair share” contributions, and grants, while administering structured repayment programs that route client payments to creditors. The CFO also provides executive oversight of payroll as a financial function, ensuring accuracy, controls, and integration into financial systems, while collaborating across departments on workforce-related financial planning.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
MBA, CPA, or equivalent advanced financial credentials preferred
Equivalent combination of education and senior-level financial leadership experience will be considered
5+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, including CFO or senior finance role
Experience overseeing significant and expanding budgets while leading high-performing finance teams
Experience in one or more of the following: Financial management Financial services or fintech Payment processing / servicing environments a plus
Deep expertise in: Financial planning & analysis Cash flow management Regulatory compliance Audit and internal controls
Experience managing complex revenue models and high transaction volumes
Experience overseeing financial processes that include payroll as part of broader financial governance and controls

Nice To Haves

Experience in banking, servicing, collections, fintech and or credit counseling, debt management
Familiarity with DMP structures, or consumer financial programs a plus
CPA, MBA, or equivalent advanced credentials
Experience working with Boards
Strategic thinker with strong operational execution
High integrity and commitment to mission-driven work
Data-driven decision maker
Ability to balance financial sustainability with consumer advocacy
Strong communicator capable of translating financial insights into action
Effective collaborator across departments, including finance, operations, HR, and technology

Responsibilities

Partner with the CEO and executive team to define and execute ACCC’s long-term financial strategy.
Align financial planning with organizational mission, growth targets, and client outcomes.
Provide financial insights on program expansion, digital investments, and strategic partnerships.
Support board-level decision-making with clear financial modeling and scenario analysis.
Lead budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning across all business lines (counseling, DMP, partnerships, etc).
Develop revenue forecasting models tied to: DMP enrollments and completion rates Creditor fair share contributions Client fee structures
Analyze unit economics of DMP portfolios, including payment flow, attrition, and lifetime value.
Build KPI frameworks tied to both financial performance and mission impact.
Oversee cash management in a high-volume environment where client funds are collected and disbursed to creditors.
Ensure accurate and timely distribution of DMP payments to creditors, consistent with negotiated agreements.
Optimize working capital, liquidity, and settlement timing across payment cycles.
Maintain strong controls over custodial/client funds and reconciliation processes.
Manage and optimize ACCC’s diversified revenue streams: Creditor “fair share” contributions Client fees (setup and monthly) Grants and partnerships
Evaluate pricing strategies to balance accessibility for clients with organizational sustainability.
Identify opportunities to improve margin
Ensure all financial operations, reporting practices, and fee structures align with applicable federal and state regulations and nonprofit (501(c)(3)) requirements.
Partner with the VP of Operations/Compliance to support adherence to regulatory requirements, including state fee caps and consumer protection laws, with a focus on financial impact and revenue integrity.
Establish and maintain robust internal controls, audit frameworks, and financial compliance tracking systems.
Oversee financial risk management, including risks related to client fund handling, creditor disbursements, and financial systems integrity.
Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and reconciliation of creditor remittances within the DMP portfolio.
Serve as the primary liaison for external auditors, leading audit readiness, execution, and resolution of findings.
Deliver accurate and timely financial reporting to: Executive leadership Board of Directors Regulators and stakeholders
Develop dashboards that connect financial performance with: Client outcomes Program effectiveness Operational efficiency
Ensure payroll and workforce-related financial data are accurately reflected in reporting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
Drive financial discipline across the organization, balancing cost management with service quality.
Partner with operations to improve conversion, retention, and DMP completion rates.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align financial and operational goals, including workforce-related cost considerations where applicable.
Identify opportunities to improve efficiency in: Counseling operations Payment processing Technology investments
Build and lead a high-performing finance organization, including accounting, financial planning and analysis, treasury, and compliance functions.
Develop and implement scalable financial systems, processes, and automation to support organizational growth and operational efficiency.
Lead financial planning and analysis efforts, including budgeting, forecasting, scenario modeling, and performance analysis.
Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and mission alignment across the finance team.
Identify and drive opportunities to automate financial processes, improve reporting accuracy, and increase efficiency.
Develop future finance leaders and build a team capable of supporting a growing and increasingly complex organization.
Collaborate with HR and other departments to align financial and operational goals.
Support integration of financial data across platforms (e.g., ERP, HRIS, CRM systems).
Provide strategic oversight of payroll as part of financial governance, ensuring accuracy, controls, and alignment with broader financial systems and reporting.