Vice President of Finance

WHAT WE DO

In the United States, too few students can access effective, high-performing public schools. At City Fund, we work to increase educational opportunities for students and families by partnering with city and state leaders to create innovative public school systems. We believe that public schools do best when educators have the power to make decisions that meet the diverse needs of their students, families are provided the information and access to choose the best schools for their children, and schools are held accountable for helping all students succeed.

City Fund provides financial support and expertise to local leaders seeking to improve educational opportunities in their cities. We support 18 cities across the country and hope to eventually reach most American cities. We focus on supporting:

• High quality, innovative K-12 schools with nonprofit governing structures and diverse leadership
• City leaders, including civic leaders and nonprofits that are working to build innovative public education systems
• Advocacy organizations that build the political power of families to shape education in ways that work for them

WHAT YOU WILL DO

As Vice President, Finance, you are responsible for the financial operations, compliance, and reporting of City Fund, City Fund Action, and City Fund Action Political Fund. You will manage the full arc of our financial function, from day-to-day accounting and grants management to long-range financial planning and board reporting. You are equally comfortable setting our investment strategy and rolling up your sleeves to do the detailed day-to-day work. This role calls for someone who can both think big and execute in the details. You will lead a team that spans finance and grants & contracts, serving as the operational engine behind City Fund’s financial function and equipping senior leadership and partners with the analysis, tools, and processes they need to make sound strategic decisions. You will drive the continued maturation of our financial systems and infrastructure as the organization grows in scope, size, and complexity. 

As Vice President, Finance, you will report to the COO & General Counsel and be responsible for the following:

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION, COMPLIANCE AND OVERSIGHT

• Translate organizational priorities into financial plans and operational infrastructure, ensuring senior leadership and partners have accurate, timely information to guide strategic decisions.
• Ensure accuracy and compliance across the financial treatment of our 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 527 entities.
• Define and track key financial performance indicators, reporting results to the leadership team and Board.
• Manage a banking and investment strategy to maximize commercially reasonable returns to the organization, while ensuring compliance with tax laws.
• Lead the Finance vertical and manage the accounting team setting expectations, supporting growth, and ensuring strong execution against annual goals and service level agreements.
• Together with the Impact team and partners, develop and manage a financial model to evaluate returns on city and state investments.

MONTHLY CLOSE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING

• Own and manage the monthly close process, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Develop and maintain reporting frameworks for City Fund, City Fund Action and City Fund Action Political Fund audiences, including their boards of directors, senior leadership, partners and department budget leads.
• Present regular financial reports to multiple audiences with clarity and appropriate context.
• Oversee Form 990 compliance and filing for all three entities.

ANNUAL BUDGET PLANNING AND ACCOUNTING

• Lead the annual budget planning cycle, ensuring department leads and partners have the models, templates, and guidance needed to own their budget decisions.
• Ensure budget tracking and accounting for the 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4) and 527 are accurate and compliant with applicable tax laws.
• Support department leads in budget planning and management.
• Manage cash flow, monthly close, and data integrity within financial systems.
• Ensure budget alignment with the grants management system (Fluxx) for approval purposes, in close coordination with the Grants & Contracts function.

ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLES AND PAYABLES 

• Ensure timely receipt and tracking of contributions and payment of liabilities.
• Maintain a multi-year forecast of contributions and grant/contract obligations in Sage, in partnership with the Development and Grants & Contracts teams.
• Ensure grant and contract payments are within budget and tracked in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

GRANTS & CONTRACTS OVERSIGHT

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight to the Grants & Contracts function, including management of the Grants & Contracts Systems Administrator.
• Ensure grants management operations, including transaction processing, compliance, due diligence, and grantee communications, are executed accurately and in alignment with organizational policies and best practice.
• In partnership with legal counsel, support partners and department leads to ensure grants are compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.
• Together with the Systems Administrator, oversee the integrity and quality of grantmaking data in Fluxx, including data governance, reporting, and system administration.
• Ensure alignment between grants management and finance systems (Fluxx and Sage Intacct), driving automation and accuracy across both.

AUDIT MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT 

• Select and manage the external audit firm.
• Oversee the annual audit and preparation of Form 990s for all three entities.
• Navigate the distinct compliance and reporting requirements across three entity types, including coordination with legal counsel on political activity and contributions.
• Ensure clean audits and organizational compliance with federal, state, and organizational laws, regulations, and best practices, including GAAP and cost accounting standards (CAS).

SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT, MANAGEMENT AND INTEGRATION  

• Optimize systems, automation, and processes across the Finance and Grants & Contracts verticals for efficiency and efficacy.
• Lead the evaluation, improvement, and integration of financial and grants management systems, including Sage Intacct, Bill.com, Expensify, and Fluxx.
• Engage with leadership and staff across the organization to systematize and optimize financial and grantmaking processes.
• Provide insight and recommendations to improve current methods, policies, and procedures across the finance and G&C functions.

Requirements

WHO YOU ARE

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A proven ability to provide sound and ethical financial counsel to executive leadership, with a track record of managing financial operations in a nonprofit or mission-driven context.
• Deep knowledge of nonprofit finance and accounting best practices, including multi-entity (c3/c4/527) structures, GAAP, and compliance frameworks.
• Understanding and experience working with a 527 organization.
• Experience leading and developing teams, with a management style that sets clear expectations, provides meaningful feedback, and fosters a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
• Willingness and ability to think big and engage in the details across the finance and grants and contracts verticals.
• Familiarity with (or ability to quickly develop expertise in) grants management operations, including grantmaking compliance, grants management systems, and the intersection of grants and finance workflows.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information for diverse audiences including the Board, partners, and senior leaders.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, paired with the ability to manage competing priorities and drive work forward in a lean, high-functioning team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to Board members, funders, and executive leadership.
• Proficiency with modern financial systems (Sage Intacct strongly preferred) and comfort adopting new technology to improve organizational effectiveness.
• A service-oriented approach to finance leadership, building the infrastructure, reporting, and tools that allow senior leaders and partners to make strategic decisions with confidence, rather than positioning yourself as the primary strategic decision-maker.
• A belief in educational equity, innovative school models, and the power of parents to choose schools that work best for their children.
• A demonstrated commitment to community-driven change, advancing racial equity, and centering the perspectives of those most impacted in decision-making, including experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

This job description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all the VP, Finance's actual or anticipated duties, responsibilities, or obligations in this position. Duties, responsibilities, and obligations may change at any time with or without notice.

Benefits

WHAT WE VALUE

• Mission-driven with passion for improving educational outcomes
• Patient and service-oriented approach to supporting colleagues and grantees
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a small, collaborative team environment
• Intellectually curious with commitment to continuous learning
• Balance of technical excellence with strategic perspective

WHAT YOU GET

City Fund is committed to creating and maintaining a total rewards system that supports our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team. As we make decisions about total rewards, we will be guided by the following values: highly competitive pay, equitable pay, clarity, and transparency. 

The salary for this role is $290,700.

City Fund honors the diverse experiences that candidates bring to roles to which they are applying. Because we deeply value internal pay equity, City Fund does not currently differentiate starting salary offers based on years of experience, degree level, or employee geographic location.

City Fund offers a competitive total rewards package. For full-time roles, this includes 100% employer-paid health insurance, flexible PTO, 5% 401K match, 6 months of paid parental leave, and a host of other benefits. 

City Fund is an equal opportunity employer. Don't think you check every box listed above? Please consider submitting an application anyway! We've learned that underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet all the criteria on a job description. City Fund welcomes people of all backgrounds, and, as we invest in work that is inclusive of everyone who shares our commitment to educational equity, we're not looking for a "perfect" candidate. If you're excited about this role and believe that students and their families deserve access to quality education, we look forward to receiving your application!