Director of Finance, Grants & Operations

Communities United for Restorative Youth Justice (CURYJ)•Oakland, CA

2d•$140,000 - $150,000

About The Position

The Director of Finance, Grants & Operations is CURYJ’s senior financial leader and a trusted advisor to the Executive Director and Managing Director. The role oversees all finance and accounting functions and serves as the financial owner of the organization’s government and private grant portfolio. In partnership with the Managing Director, the Director contributes to organizational planning, resource allocation, and designated operational priorities. This is a hands-on leadership position that combines financial strategy with direct responsibility for accounting, grant financial management, budgeting, reporting, compliance, and operational processes. The Director strengthens financial systems, develops the finance and grants team, and provides analysis and recommendations to support organizational decisions and long-term financial sustainability. CURYJ is an Oakland-based nonprofit working through restorative justice, leadership development, violence prevention, and systems change to support young people and communities most impacted by incarceration. The position offers an opportunity to build and strengthen the finance function of a growing organization and support the impact of its programs through strong financial leadership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible nonprofit financial management experience, including demonstrated responsibility for leading a finance function or department.
Significant experience managing government grants and contracts and restricted private grants.
Experience preparing organizational budgets, financial statements, forecasts, and cash-flow analyses.
Experience coordinating annual financial audits and managing resulting corrective actions.
Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles and GAAP.
Experience using QuickBooks Online or comparable accounting software.
Experience advising executive leadership or boards and translating financial information into clear recommendations.
Experience assessing program costs, grant cost recovery, and organizational financial sustainability.
Experience transitioning accounting functions from an outsourced provider to an internal finance team.
Experience supervising and developing finance or grants staff.
Demonstrated ability to strengthen financial procedures, internal controls, and team workflows.
Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
Commitment to CURYJ’s mission and values.

Responsibilities

Lead annual and multiyear budgeting and financial planning, aligning resources with program priorities, staffing needs, and organizational goals.
Advise the Executive Director and Managing Director on financial implications of program growth, staffing decisions, and significant organizational commitments.
Assess program costs and financial sustainability, identify needs for unrestricted support, and recommend approaches to reserves and long-term financial stability.
Anticipate financial risks, including expiring grants, funding concentration, and reimbursement delays, and recommend responses.
Lead budget and forecast discussions with program leaders and present financial results, scenarios, and recommendations to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
Develop grant budgets with program and development staff and review proposed grants and contracts for costs, reimbursement terms, cash-flow implications, and unrestricted funding needs.
Prepare funder financial reports and grant closeouts; prepare reimbursement requests and supporting documentation; and monitor grant receivables.
Develop and maintain personnel allocations across grants, prepare grant budget modifications and amendments, and forecast grant spending, balances, and revenue.
Develop strategies to recover allowable program and administrative costs, improve reimbursement timeliness, and strengthen grant financial performance while meeting funder requirements.
Serve as CURYJ’s primary financial resource for grant matters and supervise and develop the Grants Manager.
Maintain accurate and timely accounting records in QuickBooks and Jirav, including transaction coding, journal entries, reconciliations, and general ledger maintenance.
Produce monthly financial statements and management reports, interpret variances and trends, and recommend actions to leadership.
Lead month-end and year-end close, prepare forecasts and cash-flow projections, and monitor organizational cash flow and financial performance.
Lead audit readiness and the annual audit; manage external auditor and tax preparer relationships; oversee tax filings, regulatory reporting, and resolution of audit findings.
Establish financial procedures, reporting standards, and internal controls, and exercise approval authority within approved budgets, delegated limits, and separation-of-duties requirements.
Lead the transition from outsourced accounting services to an internal finance function, including transfer of records and institutional knowledge, procedure documentation, and clarification of staff responsibilities.
Supervise and develop the Finance Manager, including oversight of payroll and routine accounting, delegation and review of work, cross-training, and performance management.
Provide limited oversight of designated operational budgets, vendor relationships, and administrative systems in partnership with the Managing Director.
Oversee HR administration, including benefits, onboarding, and employment compliance.
Coordinate relationships with IT vendors and software providers and technology purchasing; oversee facilities, vendors, leases, and maintenance.
Identify opportunities to improve organizational systems and operational efficiency.