Director of Finance & Accounting

JOB DESCRIPTION

Brighton Park Neighborhood Council (BPNC) is an intergenerational community-based organization dedicated to equity and racial justice. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for the working-class and immigrant populations of Chicago’s southwest side through grassroots organizing and providing free and accessible social services and quality programming for youth and adults.

Reporting directly to the Executive Director, the Director of Finance and Accounting plays an integral role in advancing the agency’s mission and values by serving as both a strategic thought partner and a hands‑on, participative leader. This position is responsible for leading and developing an internal team to effectively manage finance, business planning and budgeting, fiscal compliance, and accounting operations. Additionally, the Director will collaborate closely with the senior leadership team to support strategic decision‑making and operational excellence as BPNC continues to expand its high‑quality programming and organizational capacity.

The finance and accounting leader is essential to optimizing and strengthening BPNC’s internal capabilities and supporting its continued growth.

• Directly supervise and develop the finance team by providing oversight of all day‑to‑day financial operations, including payroll, billing and vouchering, general ledger management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, financial reporting, bank reconciliations and balance sheet reviews.
• Ensure compliance with monthly accounting cycles and support the finance team in meeting critical deadlines.
• Monitor cash flow and manage cash balances, accounts, and other financial transactions to maintain fiscal stability.
• Regularly update and oversee agency‑wide adherence to financial policies and procedures agency wide.
• Identify and implement best practices to minimize financial risk to the organization.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with service providers, contractors, and banking institutions.
  Oversee the annual preparation, accuracy, and timely IRS submission of 1099 forms (MISC, NEC, etc.) for independent contractors and vendors.

• Develop tools and work in partnership with programs to track and assure timely expenditure of funds and to maximize grants utilization.
• Develop funder budgets and submit budget revisions as needed to maximize utilization of grants.
• Oversee submission of monthly, quarterly and annual reporting to public and private funders.
• Assure controls are in place to identify and track eligible grant expenses.
• Oversee and manage successful completion of grant audits.
• Develop and maintain expertise in funder requirements and regulations.

• Spearhead development of annual organizational budget, working collaboratively with the Executive Director, the Leadership Team, and various departments to develop a comprehensive budget.
• Review and interpret complex financial data and regularly provide clear updates, forecasts, and relevant information to leadership and board members.
• Continuously monitor the organization’s financial climate; support the Executive Director and Board of Directors in developing data‑driven strategic plans for future growth and stability.
• Prepare, analyze, and review monthly financial statements to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Generate and distribute financial reports to department leaders on a timely manner to help them monitor and maintain compliance with departmental and funder budget requirements.

• Engage auditing firm selected by Board of Directors to obtain a clean annual audit of organizational finances.
• Work collaboratively with the Executive Director, finance team and other departments to successfully complete audit, including Single Audit, and 990 filing to meet organizational and funder deadlines.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field; MBA/MSA is a plus.
• 5+ years of GAAP and nonprofit financial regulations experience.
• Experience with budgeting, audits, grant management, financial analysis and forecasting.
• Proficiency in accounting software (Quick Books experience a plus).
• Demonstrated leadership ability, team management, and interpersonal skills.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to BPNC’s mission.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain technical finance and accounting topics to non‑technical audiences such as staff and the board.
• In‑depth knowledge of non‑profit finance and accounting principles, laws and best practices.
• Bilingual English/Spanish (preferred).