Vice President, Finance

Blessings in a Backpack • Chicago, IL

14h

About The Position

Blessings in a Backpack (Blessings) seeks a dynamic and experienced Vice President of Finance to serve as the organization’s senior-most finance leader and a key partner to the CEO, executive team, and Board of Directors. Reporting to the CEO, the VP will lead all core finance functions, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, audit, compliance, payroll, treasury, grant and fund tracking, in addition to financial systems and technology. This role is designed for a strategic, hands-on finance leader who can strengthen the financial infrastructure needed to support Blessings’ next stage of growth while ensuring sound stewardship, strong internal controls, accurate reporting, and long-term financial sustainability. The VP will partner across development, programs, regions, chapters, and operations to improve financial visibility, support better decision-making, and build the people, processes, and systems required for sustainable growth and greater mission impact.

Requirements

• 10+ years progressive financial leadership; nonprofit experience required
• Strong expertise of nonprofit accounting, fund accounting, grants, donor restrictions, and multi-stream budgets
• Proven ability to translate complex financial information for non-financial leaders, board members, and fundraisers
• Experience overseeing audit, compliance, IRS/nonprofit reporting, payroll operations, and internal controls
• Demonstrated success leading financial systems and technology initiatives, including system implementations, process redesign, and change management.
• Background in complex fund environments, multi-market organizations, and donor-funded organizations
• Collaborative leader with strong analytical, communication, and change-management skills

Nice To Haves

• CPA preferred
• MBA a plus
• Familiarity with Blackbaud preferred; NetSuite, Sage Intacct, ADP, and reporting tools a plus

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic financial leadership and clear insight to the CEO, executive team, and Board.
• Lead accounting, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, audit, compliance, payroll, treasury, and cash/investment oversight
• Build annual budget and long-range financial plans aligned with fundraising and program goals
• Oversee grant accounting, restricted/ unrestricted/ designated fund tracking, and donor/grantor compliance
• Steward and evolve internal controls, financial policies, GAAP/nonprofit reporting, and Form 990 readiness
• Partner with development, programs, and regional/chapter leaders to improve financial visibility and decisions
• Modernize finance, payroll, ERP, and reporting systems; lead implementations, integrations, and vendors
• Lead, mentor, and develop the finance/accounting team; build scalable people, processes, and systems

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: No Education Listed