Director of Finance

~ Groundswell, Inc. is a fast-growing nonprofit social enterprise helping people harness their consumer power to change the world. ~

Featured in Fast Company and Forbes, we use an innovative new model for social impact called Civic Consumption. Civic Consumption brings people together to increase access and lower prices on the goods and services they need most, while rewarding businesses with a positive social or environmental impact.

Position Overview 

About the Job: 

• Groundswell seeks a candidate with an entrepreneurial spirit who is ready to take on significant management and leadership responsibility.
• The Director of Finance is responsible for overseeing the organization's finances and controls, helping to develop the long-term financial strategy of Groundswell, and is an innovative and creative thinker who assists Groundswell's initiatives in maximizing revenue and impact.
• The Director of Finance reports to the Chief Operating Officer and is a member of Groundswell's senior management. The Director of Finance will supervise a small staff and or consultants, and manages relationships with and takes primary responsibility for external financial vendors. 

About You: 

• You have an entrepreneurial spirit.
• You are ready to take on significant management and leadership responsibility.
• You are a multi-tasker with the ability to shift quickly and effectively set priorities.
• You are a strong communicator with the ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders.
• You are excited by the ways that social enterprise is addressing today's most pressing social issues.  

Responsibilities 

Financial Planning and Analysis: 

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, direct and evaluate the organization's fiscal function and performance.
• Lead internal staff and management through annual budgeting process, including preparing operating budget and financial projections.
• Develop and implement systems for financial planning and analysis that provide key financial and operational information to Groundswell's senior management and Board of Directors. 

Revenue Maximization and Planning: 

• Support and provide insight and guidance to the COO and program directors on how to maximize revenue and reduce costs across the organization. 
• Track, project, and help guide financial returns across revenue-generating activities of the organization. 
• Coordinate with executive management and fund development staff to provide financial statements and projections needed for philanthropic and other capital investment. 

Financial Management:  

• Develop and maintain systems of internal controls to safeguard financial assets of the organization and oversee funding from diverse revenue sources, including earned income (fee-for-service), private philanthropy, individual donations, and public grants. 
• Oversee all payroll and benefits activity for staff, in coordination with Human Resources & Operations Manager.
• Coordinate audit, 990, and other compliance related activities. 

Accounting (in coordination with Accountant or Finance Associate):

• Monitor, control and process organizational accounts receivables and accounts payables.
• Monitor banking activities of the organization.
• Ensure underlying accounting records are accurate, complete and in accordance with GAAP.
• Manage and upgrade accounting systems, including implementing appropriate internal controls for all major financial functions of the organization. 

Business Administration & Legal Compliance: 

• Ensure day-to-day compliance of all program activities with applicable laws and regulations including review of payments, contracts and sub-awards.
• Coordinate legal affairs relating to contracts, vendor relationships and employee relations.
• Maintain all necessary business insurance and risk management policies. 

Qualifications 

An ideal candidate will have the following qualifications, skills and experience: 

• At least 3 years of professional experience in financial management. Previous experience directing finance for a for-profit company or revenue-generating social enterprise is considered a plus. 
• Demonstrated experience in financial planning and analysis with previous experience overseeing legal/compliance. 
• Experience identifying and implementing practices to maximize revenue and reduce costs. 
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and manage business systems and processes, including budget development.
• Strong command of accounting, including strong demonstrated skills in Excel and Quickbooks. 
• Organized, self-managed, and able to handle many responsibilities simultaneously. 
• Entrepreneurial spirit and experience working in a dynamic organization. 
• Highly developed problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Demonstrated passion and experience working on issues related to community-based economic development and/or energy service-related initiatives.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required. MBA or other business administration degree preferred. 

Additional Information About Groundswell

For the last five years, we've been helping people across the mid-Atlantic harness their consumer power to improve our environment. As of 2013, we've infused over $10 million dollars in clean energy and saved communities and people an estimated $1.5 million on their electricity bills. These milestones are proof that the model of Civic Consumption is working.

By bringing people and organizations into a single buying group, we have power. Power to negotiate better deals. Power to demand inclusion. Power to reward businesses doing the greatest good. But, the power harnessed by Civic Consumption shouldn't stop with clean energy.

We are a hard-working team that values doing things differently. We foster an environment of creativity, curiosity, collaboration, and inclusivity. Ideas matter...and our culture will give your ideas a chance. We fail fast and take pride in iteration and innovation. We look for team players and we value work-life balance.

We believe in a more inclusive economy and, among other things, seek to address issues of economic inequality and environmental sustainability.

Groundswell's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Forbes, and ABC World News, among others. Our CEO and Co-Founder Will Byrne has been recognized by White House Office of Public Engagement, selected as a Global Fellow by Ashoka Innovators for the Public, and honored by the World Economic Forum. 

Compensation: Salary is commensurate with experience and competitive with senior leadership positions at early stage not-for-profits. Benefits include 403(b) retirement and matching, health, dental, and vision insurance, and 15 paid vacation days per year (starting).

Groundswell averages 14-16 paid company holidays (including all federal holidays and a week during winter holidays), adheres to a 37.5 hour work week with a compensatory time policy for over-time work, and, when job responsibilities allow, periodic flexibility in work schedule and location.

To Apply 

• Please click below: "Apply Here!" to upload an application form, and then apply. 
• You must also submit a resume and cover letter along with this application.