Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Ms. JD is expanding our team with the addition of a part-time Chief Financial Officer. As the organization’s first Chief Financial Officer, this position offers a unique opportunity to craft and participate in the implementation of Ms. JD's financial strategy and controls, strategic growth, and new initiatives designed to support women throughout the pipeline who are striving to build successful careers in the legal profession.

The ideal candidate will:
• Have a passion for advancing equity for all women in law and enjoy the innovation, creativity, and collaboration required in a small, yet mighty, nonprofit;
• Be able to adapt to a continually evolving environment; and
• Thrive in an autonomous and results-oriented workplace.

If you are looking for the opportunity to build the financial framework necessary to scale a high-impact equity and mission-driven organization to new heights, we encourage you to apply!

About Ms. JD
Ms. JD is a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) that seeks to support and improve the experiences of women law students and lawyers. Obstacles to equal participation hinder not only women in the law but also their colleagues, clients, children, and communities. Ms. JD consequently strives to give voice to why it matters that women continue to overcome barriers to achieve gender parity in the profession. In doing so, Ms. JD spreads the word: Women’s Victories Are Everyone’s Victories! For more information regarding Ms. JD, please visit www.ms-jd.org.

Position Description
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and working closely with the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, the Chief Financial Officer will oversee the financial, accounting, tax, and compliance functions for Ms. JD and serve the organization as a valued member of the senior management team. The Chief Financial Officer will assure adherence to all required compliance, regulation, and financial reporting required of Ms. JD. Additionally, this individual will play a key role in ensuring Ms. JD’s nimble response to changes and emerging opportunities in the market. Prior management experience is preferred as this position will have supervisory responsibility over financial personnel and others at Ms. JD.

This is a fully remote part-time position with optional travel throughout the year to attend Ms. JD’s scheduled live programs and events. Minimum 20 hours per month, increasing up to 40 hours per month based on seasonal work. The hourly rate for this position begins at $100 and may be increased up to $120 at Ms. JD’s discretion, commensurate with experience.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Chief Financial Officer's primary duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Finance Strategy & Planning
• Oversee and direct treasury, budgeting, audit, tax, accounting, grants administration, and risk management activities.
• Develop, communicate and implement overall financial strategy.
• Oversee cash flow planning and ensure availability of funds as needed.
• Oversee cash, investment, and asset management, including banking relationships.
• Coordinate the development and monitoring of budgets.
• Develop annual forecasts, long-term financial plans and projections.
• Participate in fiscal policy development.
• Provide strategic recommendations to the CEO and Finance Committee based on financial analysis and projections, cost identification and allocation, and revenue/expense analysis.
• Represent the organization to financial partners, including financial institutions, foundation executives, auditors, public officials, etc.
• Remain up to date on and ensure Ms. JD’s compliance with nonprofit audit best practices and state and federal law regarding nonprofit operations.

Accounting and Administration
• Oversee all accounting functions and supervise Ms. JD's finance consultants and staff to ensure proper maintenance of all accounting systems.
• Design and ensure maintenance of appropriate internal controls and financial procedures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and usefulness of financial and management reporting for funders, Ms. JD's Board of Directors, and other audiences as required; oversee the preparation, analysis of, and communication of monthly and annual financial statements.
• Serve as primary liaison with outside auditors and finance committee; responsible for leading the audit planning, significant accounting policies and their adoption, and financial statement preparation and disclosure. Review tax returns prepared by outside accountants prior to Ms. JD officer sign-off. Work with accountants on tax planning.
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance regarding all financial functions.

Nothing in this job description restricts Ms. JD’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this role at any time in its discretion. While this job description generally reflects Ms. JD’s current assessment of the essential functions for this role, it is not intended to be a complete list of the duties and responsibilities of this role, and it does not limit or restrict the duties and responsibilities that may be assigned from time to time. The duties, responsibilities, and job description of this role are subject to change at any time without notice.

Skills and Abilities
To be successful, our ideal candidate has the following skills, abilities, and/or mentality:

• Strong business and ethical acumen: Ms. JD's CFO will not only have a command of finance and accounting, but the CFO will also exercise those skills through the lens of integrity, honesty, and ethics.
• Entrepreneurial, self-motivated work ethos: As Ms. JD's first CFO, we are looking for a dynamic and self-directed individual to hit the ground running and take initiative when designing and revising Ms. JD’s controls and financial framework, providing strategic recommendations based on financial analysis and projections, and participating in Ms. JD's overall strategic planning.
• Results-oriented analytical and problem-solving skills: A successful CFO will interpret the strategic vision into an operational model as well as exhibit superior skills in organization, planning, abstract reasoning, and attention to detail.

• Excellent written and oral communication skills: It is imperative that the CFO be well-equipped to clearly and concisely communicate financial realities and forecasts to various Ms. JD stakeholders and interested third parties. Communications include but are not limited to, oral presentations, reports, memos, and slide decks.
• Demonstrated leadership ability: The ability to lead and motivate a team is critical to progressing any project. In order to build and sustain great working relationships with employees, vendors, consultants, and colleagues, the CFO must be respectful of others and interact with tact and sensitivity.
• Agile, organized, and collaborative work style: We are looking for a CFO with a proven track record of working productively with a team, exhibiting a strong service mentality, managing many diverse yet concurrent projects and responsibilities, demonstrating excellent organizational and project management skills, and innovating as the financial needs of the organization change.

Education & Experience
• Bachelor’s degree required. BA in Accounting, Master’s degree in Business, Economics, Finance, Non-Profit Management or other related field preferred or equivalent 5 years of experience in nonprofit finance. MBA and CPA is a plus.
• Three to six years of broad finance experience, including experience with budget planning and management for a nonprofit organization, financial reporting, government contracts, the annual audit process, and experience in a leadership capacity.
• Experience examining, developing, reengineering, and recommending financial and technical policies and procedures
• Demonstrated excellence in managing finance, accounting, budgeting, internal controls and reporting
• In-depth knowledge of at least one nonprofit/fund-accounting software

• Work experience in a non-profit association or in the legal sector preferred.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment
• Sit and stand for prolonged periods.
• Repeating motions that may include the hands, wrists, and/or fingers.
• Stand and/or move about the office or in various environments (including tight and confined spaces) or from one location to another.
• Use standard computer, telephone, and related equipment for accounting, communication, recordkeeping, and word processing.
• Specific visual abilities, including close vision and ability to adjust focus, read, review, and assess the accuracy and thoroughness of the work assigned.
• Verbal abilities require communicating with others to exchange information.
• Flexible work schedule with availability during standard business hours.
• Work environment involving low/high temperatures; hazardous conditions, low ventilation, noisy environments, small/enclosed spaces.
• Operating and driving motor vehicles; prolonged periods of sitting while driving.
• Able to drive and otherwise travel without personal assistance.

The above physical requirements and work environment characteristics generally reflect those of this position but is not an exhaustive list. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualified disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position, provided that such accommodation does not impose an undue hardship.

Background Check Requirement
All applicants for employment are required to satisfactorily complete a pre-employment background and employment reference check. Employment is further conditioned on verification of legal authorization to work in the United States.

How to Apply:
Please submit your cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references to executiveassistant@ms-jd.org. Please write “Chief Financial Officer Position” in the subject line. The application deadline is August 26, 2022.

No phone calls or follow-up emails, please. We are unable to respond to queries about application status. Ms. JD is an equal opportunity employer. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment based on race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, genetic characteristics, disability, status as a special disabled veteran or veteran, marital status, sexual orientation, sexual identity, or any other basis prohibited by law. Research has shown that traditionally marginalized communities (people of color, people with disabilities, etc.) often do not apply for jobs if they do not meet every single qualification. If you think you can do this job but do not meet every qualification, we encourage you to still apply.