VP, Finance and Accounting (Remote)

Lee•New York, NY

5d•Remote

About The Position

The VP, Finance and Accounting provides strategic and operational leadership for all financial functions across LEE’s 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), and PAC entities. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving on LEE’s Leadership Team, the VP is the primary financial steward and accounting advisor to the Executive Director and Leadership Team. This hands-on executive leads a two-person finance team, contributes directly to accounting work, and balances long-term financial strategy with operational execution. The role may assess the team’s structure and design a finance function that meets LEE’s current and future needs. The VP will build on LEE’s progress in strengthening financial controls, modernizing systems and processes, improving documentation, and developing forecasting and financial planning. The role will further strengthen accounting and controls, modernize and automate finance operations, advance strategic budgeting and financial planning, and develop a lean, high-performing finance team. LEE is a mission-driven, tech-forward organization with an approximately $25 million budget and approximately 75 full-time staff working virtually across the country. The position is remote and U.S.-based, with approximately 10–15% travel, including Leadership Team retreats and periodic in-person meetings with the Executive Director in New York. The role is primarily sedentary, involves working remotely with colleagues around the country, and requires the ability to travel to meetings in U.S. cities. Occasional evening and/or weekend work is required.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or commensurate years of work experience; candidates without a Bachelor’s degree need four additional years of relevant experience, and candidates with an Associate’s degree need two additional years of relevant experience.
At least 10 years of progressive finance and accounting experience, including senior finance leadership such as CFO, VP or Director of Finance, or Controller, with significant accounting responsibility in an organization with a budget of at least $15 million.
Deep, hands-on accounting expertise, including ownership of the close, financial reporting, audits, and nonprofit accounting.
Experience managing accounting for an organization with at least two legal entities, including consolidation, intercompany activity, and cost allocation.
A track record of strengthening internal controls and segregation of duties and addressing control gaps or audit findings.
Experience with budgeting, forecasting, scenario planning, and financial analysis for senior leaders; candidates with strong accounting leadership and meaningful FP&A exposure will be considered.
Experience leading implementation or integration of a cloud ERP or core financial system, including change management to drive adoption.
Strong people-management experience and a player-coach mindset, including willingness to contribute directly while mentoring and developing staff.
Mission-driven, entrepreneurial, and collaborative mindset, with commitment to ethical financial management and transparency.
Ability to balance strong controls with helping the organization move forward and to work with shifting priorities and time-sensitive requests.
Ability to communicate financial information clearly to non-finance leaders and collaborate effectively with a geographically dispersed team.
Alignment with LEE’s mission, core values, and theory of change.

Nice To Haves

CPA strongly preferred.
MBA is a plus.
Hands-on experience with Sage Intacct, ideally in a multi-entity environment with integrations.
Experience with 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or political action committee accounting.
Experience leading FP&A, including selecting or implementing FP&A or reporting tools.
Experience with treasury management and reserve investment strategy.
Experience leveraging AI-enabled analytics and reporting tools.
Experience leading a remote team.

Responsibilities

Lead finance strategy across LEE, LEE Foundation, and PAC entities in alignment with accounting principles and applicable IRS, federal, state, and local requirements.
Partner with senior leaders to set long-term financial strategies and goals across LEE entities.
Advise the Executive Director and Leadership Team through forward-looking insights, scenario planning, and constructive challenge to organizational decisions.
Partner with the Executive Director on financial reporting to the Board, preparing analysis, materials, and recommendations.
Collaborate with the Leadership Team to develop and monitor resource allocation, forecasts, and expenditures supporting the organization’s mission and growth initiatives.
Respond to time-sensitive financial needs from the Executive Director, including funder and Board requests.
Own accounting operations, including month-end and year-end close, financial reporting, consolidation, intercompany activity, and cost allocation across entities; contribute directly to accounting work to ensure accurate and timely reporting.
Strengthen, document, and monitor internal controls and segregation of duties to minimize risk, protect assets, and promote accountability.
Work with the General Counsel to translate compliance requirements for political activity into accounting structures and practices, including tracking 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) revenue and expenses and documenting inter-entity transfers.
Manage external relationships and audit processes and serve as a contact for auditors, consultants, and regulatory bodies.
Lead the organization-wide and team-based budgeting process in alignment with annual and multi-year strategic planning.
Evolve FP&A into a forward-looking function that supports strategic decisions; refine and own the forecasting model and develop multi-year forecasts and scenario plans.
Provide financial analysis, reports, and recommendations to senior leaders and the Board, including insights on resource allocation, investment options, and risk management.
Develop practical financial reporting and dashboards to help Leadership Team members understand and manage their budgets.
Lead treasury management, including banking relationships, cash management, and reserve investment recommendations, to optimize financial assets across entities.
Lead, coach, and develop the finance team, building accountability, performance, and team capabilities.
Assess finance team structure and capabilities and shape roles to meet current and future needs; contribute directly to day-to-day accounting while coaching the team.
Lead or contribute to team-level, organization-wide, or cross-team special projects as assigned by the manager or designee.
Oversee integrations and automation across Sage Intacct, ADP, Ramp, and Paystand, including payroll-to-general-ledger integration, to reduce manual processes and journal entries.
Assess and implement FP&A and reporting tools, using automation and AI where valuable.
Champion robust, technology-enabled, scalable infrastructure that supports strong financial controls and security.

Benefits

Health, dental, and vision coverage for spouses, families, and domestic partners, with LEE covering up to 85% of premium costs.
100% employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Retirement package with a 5% employer match.
Parental leave benefits.
Home office setup fund.
Ongoing virtual-work benefits for phone and internet.
Generous paid time off.
Organization-wide winter break between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Flexible scheduling.
Competitive, values-driven benefits package.