Chief Financial Officer

National 4-H Council

7h•Remote

About The Position

National 4-H Council is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to lead enterprise financial strategy, strengthen organizational infrastructure, and serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board in advancing mission impact across the nation. The Chief Financial Officer will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial, operational, and investment foundation of the organization by leading enterprise finance, accounting, investments, and business operations. This role involves stewarding financial strategy and planning, overseeing a portfolio of approximately 100 million dollars in investments, ensuring strong accounting controls and reporting, and building scalable systems that enable clarity, accountability, and performance across a distributed national organization. The position requires partnering closely with the CEO, Board, Treasurer, and executive team to translate financial insight into strategic direction while strengthening risk management, operational discipline, and organizational effectiveness.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration or equivalent experience required; advanced degree and CPA strongly preferred
15+ years of progressive finance leadership experience, including senior enterprise roles such as CFO, SVP of Finance (Enterprise of Corporate), or equivalent leadership positions with organization-wide scope and accountability
Experience leading both finance and operational functions in a complex organization
Experience with investment oversight, endowments, or institutional asset management preferred
Strong understanding of nonprofit funding models, grants, and regulatory environments preferred
Track record of building scalable systems, processes, and teams
Advanced financial modeling and analytical capabilities
Connects financial strategy to mission impact
Drives clarity and decision making in complex environments
Operates effectively in a remote, distributed organization
Balances strategic perspective with hands-on execution when needed
Communicates with credibility at the executive and Board level
Strong team leader who develops talent and builds trust

Responsibilities

Lead enterprise financial strategy, long-range planning, and capital allocation in partnership with the CEO, Treasurer, and Board.
Own budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes across the organization.
Provide high-quality financial analysis, modeling, and insights to support executive and Board decision making.
Align financial strategy with organizational priorities, program growth, and revenue development priorities.
Drive financial strategy supporting marketing and fundraising initiatives, including 4-H program partnerships.
Partner with Chief People Officer to align workforce planning with financial strategy.
Steward investment strategy and performance in partnership with the Treasurer and Outsourced Chief Investment Officer.
Manage a ~$100M investment portfolio, including asset allocation, performance monitoring, and risk management.
Maintain and evolve investment policy to align with long-term organizational goals.
Lead liquidity strategy, including cash management, operating reserves, and credit facilities.
Manage banking and investment management relationships.
Oversee all accounting operations, including monthly close, financial reporting, and GAAP compliance.
Ensure a strong internal control environment while improving efficiency and reducing manual processes.
Lead the annual audit and maintain relationships with external auditors.
Ensure full compliance across all federal, state, regulatory, and grant requirements.
Oversee pension liabilities and long-term financial obligations.
Lead selection, implementation, and optimization of ERP and financial systems.
Ensure integrity, integration, and accessibility of financial data across the organization.
Build and lead a modern business operations function that enables scale, efficiency, and accountability.
Lead enterprise procurement, vendor strategy, and contracts management (in partnership with People & Culture for contingent workforce resources).
Establish and enforce enterprise policies for purchasing, contracting, and document management.
Drive operational excellence through benchmarking, process improvement, and performance metrics.
Lead enterprise risk management framework and mitigation strategies.
Oversee insurance programs and risk transfer strategies.
Ensure business continuity planning and organizational resilience.
Oversee facilities strategy and operations, including Washington, D.C. and Wood Dale, IL locations, aligned with a remote-first workforce.
Drive cross-functional execution through project management discipline and shared accountability.
Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, elevating financial insight, risk visibility, and investment oversight.
Partner closely with the Treasurer, Internal Affairs Committee, and Audit and Risk Committee.
Present clear, concise, and decision-oriented materials to support Board governance.
Strengthen alignment between management and Board on financial strategy and performance.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team.
Build leadership capability within finance and operations functions.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Drive cross-functional collaboration across Technology, People & Culture, Development & Marketing, and Stakeholder Relations business units.
Operate as a collaborative enterprise leader with shared accountability for organizational outcomes.
Build and modernize an integrated finance and operations model that supports enterprise scale and performance.
Lead change initiatives that improve processes, financial discipline, and speed of decision making.
Align financial resources with operational execution and mission outcomes.
Enhance operational discipline while enabling organizational growth.