Director of Finance & Operations

The Water Project•Concord, NH

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Finance & Operations is The Water Project’s senior hands-on financial and operational leader. This player-doer serves as the organization’s primary bookkeeper and owns day-to-day accounting while leading budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, audit coordination, and core business operations. The Director maintains accurate books and strong controls, translates financial information into practical guidance, and ensures administrative systems are reliable, compliant, and well documented. The role works closely with the President & CEO and Board on financial and operational matters. The role calls for a people-centered, dependable, detail-oriented leader who takes responsibility for commitments and recognizes the importance of sound financial stewardship and reliable operations to the organization’s colleagues, partners, and mission. This is a full-time position requiring one day per week in the Concord, New Hampshire office. The Director owns hands-on accounting and financial operations; organizational and departmental budgeting, forecasting, and reporting; audit, tax, and nonprofit compliance; operations, risk, and administration; financial aspects of partnership with Human Resources; and Board and leadership support. Success includes maintaining timely, reconciled, well-supported books; producing useful financial plans and reports; completing audits and filings on schedule; maintaining clear controls; and documenting sustainable processes.

Requirements

Typically seven or more years of progressive accounting and financial-management experience, including substantial hands-on responsibility for full-cycle bookkeeping and monthly close.
Demonstrated nonprofit accounting experience, including restricted funds, contributions, grants, audit preparation, and Form 990 support.
Strong working knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, cash management, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.
Advanced hands-on proficiency with QuickBooks Desktop and spreadsheets, and comfort learning and administering other business systems.
Ability to move between detailed transaction work and clear financial analysis for executives and Board members.
Strong organization, accuracy, judgment, discretion, and follow-through in a lean environment with varied responsibilities.
Clear written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain financial information to non-financial audiences.
Ability to work from the Concord office approximately one day per week.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
CPA, CMA, MBA, or other relevant certification or advanced degree.
Experience with an international, grantmaking, or water-and-sanitation nonprofit.
Experience with Justworks or another PEO, investments, noncash-gift processing, and corporate IT/vendor administration.
Experience working directly with a nonprofit Board or finance, audit, or investment committee.

Responsibilities

Serve as the organization’s primary bookkeeper and maintain complete, timely, and accurate records in QuickBooks Desktop.
Record electronic transfers, wires, checks, investment activity, and other transactions, and appropriately account for contributions, restrictions, pledges, and commitments.
Manage accounts payable, employee reimbursements, credit-card activity, recurring payments, and vendor records in accordance with approval procedures.
Manage daily cash activity, deposits, bank and investment accounts, and processing or liquidation of donated stock and cryptocurrency under organizational policy.
Complete monthly close and reconcile bank, credit-card, investment, payroll, and other balance-sheet accounts.
Maintain the chart of accounts, accounting schedules, supporting documentation, and records needed for audit and management review.
Maintain authorization, review, and segregation-of-duties controls so transactions are appropriately approved and independently reviewed.
Lead annual organizational and departmental budgeting and maintain rolling forecasts.
Monitor cash flow, reserves, investment balances, and financial performance; identify trends, risks, and corrective actions.
Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports, dashboards, and variance analyses for the President & CEO, leadership team, and Board.
Prepare and present clear, decision-useful financial materials to the Board and relevant committees.
Support development and review of program and partner budgets, grant budgets, and other financial components of organizational plans.
Develop scenario models and analyses to inform financial decisions, commitments, staffing plans, and long-term sustainability.
Lead preparation for the annual financial statement audit and coordinate schedules, documentation, and responses with the external accounting firm.
Coordinate preparation and review of Form 990 and other required financial and regulatory filings.
Ensure appropriate accounting for donor restrictions, grants, international program activity, and other nonprofit-specific transactions.
Maintain financial policies, accounting procedures, document-retention practices, and an annual compliance calendar.
Maintain productive relationships with auditors, banks, investment providers, accountants, and other financial advisors.
Own or coordinate registrations, licenses, insurance renewals, certificates of coverage, contract renewals, and other recurring compliance obligations.
Partner with outside counsel on contracts, corporate sponsorship agreements, governance questions, and other organizational legal matters.
Manage key vendors, procurement, operational policies, and administrative processes with attention to cost, service, and risk.
Oversee corporate IT and business systems, including user access, equipment inventory, cybersecurity practices, data protection, and external IT-provider relationships.
Oversee Concord office and facilities needs, including mail and deposits, building vendors, utilities, security, taxes, fees, supplies, and related administration.
Document recurring processes, key dates, system ownership, and contingency procedures to ensure critical operations are not dependent on one person’s memory.
Partner with the part-time Director of Human Resources on payroll, benefits, compensation, hiring, onboarding, and offboarding.
Own payroll funding, financial controls, general-ledger recording, and payroll reconciliation; Human Resources owns employee data, personnel changes, and policy administration.
Model the financial impact of compensation, benefits, and workforce proposals and support the President & CEO in evaluating affordability.
Coordinate systems access, equipment, and financial-administration steps for employee onboarding and offboarding.
Serve as the principal financial resource to the President & CEO, Board, and department leaders, providing guidance that balances sustainability with the needs of people and programs.
Provide practical advice on financial health, operational risk, compliance, and resource allocation; execute agreed priorities and promptly communicate material issues.
Support Board and committee work related to finance, investments, risk, and compliance.