Director of Finance

Grow Your Own Illinois (GYO-IL) recruits, supports, and prepares individuals from underrepresented communities to become and thrive as licensed teachers. We envision an Illinois teacher workforce that reflects the rich racial and cultural diversity of its students and is rooted in their communities. To achieve this, we provide candidates with financial and academic assistance, social‑emotional supports, and culturally sustaining professional development.

Our teachers—and the students, schools, and neighborhoods they serve—are all strengthened by this process. To learn more visit: growyourownteachers.org

The Director of Finance oversees all financial operations for GYO-IL, ensuring fiscal health, regulatory compliance, and organizational sustainability. Key responsibilities include managing budgeting, cash flow, audit preparation, financial reporting to the Board, grant accounting, and implementing internal controls. The Director of Finance will play a critical role in the organization, partnering with the Executive Director and senior staff to drive financial decisions, translating program operations and contract/grant requirements into realistic budgets, financial forecasts, and funding applications.

They will be a strategic thought‑partner, reporting to the ED.

This is a full‑time position in a hybrid work environment (up to 3 days a week and as needed) with an annual salary range of $110,000-$130,000
based on experience and credentials
. GYO-IL’s office is located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood. See the Benefits section for information on our comprehensive benefits package.

• Align resources to effectively support the organization’s strategy, operations, programs, and infrastructure.
• Provide sound fiscal management to ensure proper use of the organization’s assets and support long‑term sustainability.
• Develop and improve financial systems and controls across GYO-IL’s program operations and external partners.
• Assess and improve financial processes and data infrastructure to promote data fluency and automation across the organization to optimize decision‑making and streamlined workflows.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key constituents, including university and community college financial aid and grants officers, representing GYO-IL in those interactions.

• Manage the annual operating budget development process in consultation with GYO-IL’s ED, and directors.
• Lead return on investment analyses in partnership with program leadership to inform opportunities to translate program design into scalable, fundable financial models.
• Prepare grant, contract, and project budgets, and financial reports, in coordination with GYO-IL program directors.
• Oversee the administration of GYO-IL grant programs with subgrant awardees, including the application, award, and monitoring functions.
• Provide monthly financials, reports, and other information that support the operations of all programs.
• Navigate the complexities and timing of payments from government contracts, ensuring compliance, minimizing risk, and securing timely revenue.
• Provide analysis of complex financial information, prepare formal presentations, and present to the ED and Board on the financial health of the organization and Budget vs. Actuals reporting.
• Oversee the management of all leases, contracts, and other financial commitments.

• Provide supervision, leadership and guidance to the accounting team of two to ensure proper maintenance of all accounting systems and functions.
• Serve as an approver for a variety of internal controls functions.
• Oversee the preparation and communication of monthly and annual financial statements.
• Oversee cash flow planning and ensure availability of funds when needed.
• Facilitate the agency’s annual audit process including vendor selection and work products (financial statements, single audit, and IRS 990), meeting all prescribed deadlines.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field (Finance, Accounting).
• 7+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, including senior management roles within nonprofits…