Chief Financial Officer

Position: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Job Type: Full‑Time

Location: New Haven, CT

Work Arrangement: Hybrid (in‑office/remote with at least one on‑site day per week)

Save the Sound leads environmental action throughout the Long Island Sound region, focusing on Connecticut, Westchester County, New York City, and the North Shore of Long Island. We restore healthy waters to bays, harbors, and rivers; build resilient communities; save endangered lands; and bring people together in a united effort to protect and steward the Sound and its watershed. We do this through legislative advocacy and legal action, engineering, environmental and water‑quality monitoring, and hands‑on volunteer efforts.

For over 50 years we ensure people and wildlife can enjoy a clean, thriving environment.

We are seeking an experienced financial professional to serve as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The CFO reports to the President and oversees all finance functions—including planning, operations, reporting, budgeting, audits, risk management, and accounting—while supervising 3–5 staff and 2–4 consultants. The role also provides oversight of Human Resources, Administration, and Information Technology. The CFO partners closely with senior leadership to ensure financial sustainability, builds strong relationships with program and development teams, and collaborates with the Finance and Audit Committees and the Board Chair.

The CFO advises the President and Board on financial matters, supports strategic initiatives, and engages across departments.

• Oversee all financial operations, including budgeting, reporting, audits, tax filings, and compliance with grant requirements. Work with the President, executive team, and Board to develop annual financial goals.
• Provide actionable financial reports, assess risks and opportunities, model future plans, and develop financial scenarios based on past performance and the Strategic Plan.
• Lead, under the direction of the President, the preparation of the annual budget.
• Manage budgeting processes, financial systems, and scenario planning to ensure efficiency and compliance. Lead the evaluation, implementation, and administration of financial systems to optimize operations and reflect operating activities and grant compliance.
• Ensure compliance with private and government grant spending stipulations; lead foundation and government grant financial management and manage government grant drawdowns.
• Provide monthly budget analysis and action items to the President and executive team; deliver monthly budget reports and financial guidance to project budget managers.
• Oversee banking, including monitoring and managing bank accounts, transactions, and cash flow.
• Prepare annual financial statements and lead the annual audit process with external auditors, providing all schedules and materials requested.
• Supervise accounting functions (general ledger, AP/AR, payroll, reconciliations) and ensure strong internal controls; develop, recommend, and implement fiscal and accounting policies, procedures, and controls.
• Accurately track and report restricted and unrestricted assets.
• Oversee IT systems management and IT professionals.
• Oversee HR and office management requirements.
• Serve as a senior staff member contributing to organizational strategy and decision‑making.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance, or an MBA is required; CPA strongly preferred.
• At least 8 years’ experience in a similar role, preferably in a non‑profit receiving substantial federal and state government funding.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and records.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to enable productive relationships with finance staff and development and program departments.
• Ability and desire to work in a collegial and collaborative fashion with staff and board.
• Strong collaboration and follow‑through in identifying procedural problems or inefficiencies, recommending improvements, and implementing cross‑departmental solutions.
• Demonstrated commitment to training staff and ability to work with program leaders.
• Ability to work in…