Director of Finance

Position Description

The Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM) seeks a full-time Director of Finance to manage the agency’s accounting, budget development and monitoring, payroll administration, grant reporting, auditing processes, tax filling compliance, investment management and banking relationships.
KOM is a nonprofit organization serving the Karen, Karenni, and other refugee communities in Minnesota. With approximately 40 staff, an annual operating budget of $4.3 million and a funding portfolio made up primarily of federal, state, and county grants, KOM is in a period of growth and modernization of its financial systems. Familiarity with contracting and sub-contracting is essential to success in this key leadership position for the agency.

Operational duties involve leadership to ensure high quality operational controls that impact overall grant administration from the financial point of view. In other words, this role helps develop the program directors and staff to ensure effective and efficient performance and supports a culture of accountability, transparency, and cross-department collaboration.

The Director of Finance will provide supervisory oversight of the organization’s payroll and benefits, information technology, business insurance, vendor management and purchasing functions.

About the Department:

Currently the Office Manager role at KOM reports to this role and supports bookkeeping and HR generalist administrative tasks and may in future include supervision of accounting staff.

KOM aspires to launch fee for service operations, so responsibilities for financial aspects of these activities are part of the key responsibilities.

The Director of Finance is over all day-to-day accounting and fiscal reporting tasks. They are a key member of the leadership team, providing financial analysis and clear communication to support strategic decision-making.

This position requires a hybrid work schedule including at least two days per week in the office in person and attendance at board meetings at regular intervals.

Primary Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Executive Director with frequent interface with the Board Treasurer, and working as the lead professional ensuring KOM’s fiscal oversight, the Director of Finance will:

• Process all accounts payable and receivables in a timely and efficient manner. Work to improve the current Accounts Receivable performance and procedures.
• Manage monthly, quarterly and year end closings.
• Prepare and review all account reconciliations.
• Prepare and monitor agency financial statements.
• Maintain audit documentation and serve as primary accounting liaison to external auditors supporting the development of the annual audited financial statement and annual tax filings.
• Coordinate with the Grants Manager and other KOM staff as needed for program budget development and monitoring processes for all program grants and develop the required financial reports to be in full compliance with all grant reporting requirements.
• Directly supervise the Office Manager (HR/administrative support functions), and any future accounting staff as budgeted, including coaching, performance evaluation, and workflow oversight.
• Develop, monitor and maintain accurate and timely monthly cash flow projections and facilitate updates as needed.
• Manage day to day cash flow and banking and serve as primary liaison to banking representatives as needed.
• Coordinate monthly reconciliation of all financial activity including grants, fundraising, events, grants subcontracts, grants invoicing.
• Maintain and document all internal controls and develop new controls as needed and maintain oversight of risk management policies and procedures.
• Maintain and document all agency financial policies and procedures, leading ongoing improvements to financial systems, workflows, internal controls, and grant billing processes as KOM continues to grow.
• Support any other staff who manage tasks associated with human resources, information technology, business insurance and vendor management and purchasing. Ensure that these functions are in keeping with the organization’s overall fiscal and risk management efforts.
• Support the Executive Director and other program staff in the development of the annual operating budget and serve as primary staff liaison to the Board’s Finance Committee.
• Serve as primary liaison to KOM’s independent auditing firm and support the annual federal single audit process.
• Serve as primary liaison to the Network’s bank and other vendors that support online transactions. Evaluate and recommend updates to accounting software, payroll systems, and reporting tools as needed.
• Ensure full compliance with federal, state, and local grant requirements, including OMB Uniform Guidance, procurement standards, and subrecipient monitoring.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Position Requirements:

The successful candidate will have experience in an accounting manager role, including experience with AR/AP processing, monthly close processes, preparation of financial statements and non-profit grant reporting. The Director of Finance will have the ability to establish priorities and handle multiple assignments with tight deadlines. The Director will have experience in developing new processes and improving existing processes and will possess strong technical and interpersonal and communication skills.

• Bachelor of Science in Accounting or related field.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of related experience in non-profit accounting and comparable positions held in non-profit organizations.
• Preferred experience in non-profit human service/social service organizations.
• Experience with government contracting for human services and related financial reporting.
• Experience in grant/contract budget development, monitoring and reporting.
• Experience with accounting processes to support the development and filing of annual audited financial statements and tax filings.
• Experience creating and managing a significant and growing operating budget.
• A highly organized self-starter, with proven ability to self-motivate and work both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrated entrepreneurial spirit in the form of creative solutions to persistent challenges.
• Ability to handle a variety of constituencies, stay highly organized, and be an effective time manager with the capability to multi-task and prioritize in a demanding work environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, interpersonal, relationship-building and leadership skills with a proven ability to interact effectively with professional staff at all levels and with lay leaders.
• Strong experience with Microsoft Suite, SharePoint, QuickBooks, Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS), Minnesota’s State Grant Portal, and basic data analysis and statistical applications.
• Overall, the Director of Finance will be a strategic thinker possessing a strong ability to synthesize information and data in order to plan ahead. KOM offers standard benefits, but, at this time, no 403B (retirement).

KOM is an equal opportunity employer, dedicated to a policy of non-discrimination in employment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, citizenship, veteran’s status, physical or mental disability that does not prohibit the performance of essential job functions (with or without reasonable accommodation) or any other basis protected by federal, or applicable, state or local law.

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. We strongly encourage applications from people of color, individuals with lived experience as immigrants or refugees (or children of), and members of other historically marginalized groups.

To Apply:

Email a resume, letter of interest, and three professional references to Alice Buckner, Executive Director– humanresources@mnkaren.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.