Chief Financial Officer

Position Summary

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the agency’s financial strategy and operations, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, cash and investment management, audits, grants management, and financial reporting. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the CFO serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and a strategic partner to senior leaders and the Board of Directors to ensure the organization’s long-term financial strength, transparency, and sustainability in support of CHA’s mission. The CFO brings a forward-looking, agency wide perspective and serves as a key advisor on financial sustainability, growth, and risk.

Authority and Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, the CFO has authority over the financial affairs of the organization. This includes authority to make investment and treasury decisions in accordance with Board-approved policies, allocate financial resources within approved budgets, and establish financial controls and procedures. Changes to financial policy, long-range financial plans, debt or capital financing strategies, and material budget revisions are subject to review and approval by the Chief Executive Officer and/or the Board of Directors.

Essential Functions

Organizational Leadership, Strategic Management and Policy Development

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and executive leadership team on financial performance, risks, and opportunities.
• Lead the annual strategic financial planning and budgeting process, ensuring alignment with agency priorities and long-term objectives.
• Develop, implement, and maintain financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard assets and ensure fiscal integrity.
• Evaluate financial performance against goals, identify risks or variances, and recommend corrective strategies.
• Lead development and use of multi year financial models, including scenario planning, sensitivity analyses, and forecasting to assess risk, sustainability, and strategic options.
• Provide forward looking financial analysis to support executive leadership and Board decision making under varying economic, funding, and operational conditions.

Financial Operations and Administration

• Direct and oversee all accounting and finance functions, including general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll coordination, and month-end and year-end close.
• Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets; oversee budget amendments and forecasts as needed.
• Produce accurate, timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and analyses comparing results to budget and prior periods.
• Manage cash flow to ensure sufficient liquidity for operations, payroll, and obligations.
• Oversee procurement and contracting policies to ensure fiscal responsibility and regulatory compliance.
• Identify, assess, and proactively manage financial risks, including regulatory, funding, liquidity, and operational finance risks.
• Oversee insurance coverage and coordinate with external advisors to mitigate organizational financial exposure.

Grants, Compliance, and Audits

• Provide oversight of financial aspects of grants, including budgeting, tracking, reporting, and compliance with federal, state, and private funder requirements.
• Ensure compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and applicable nonprofit, governmental, and regulatory standards.
• Direct and oversee the annual independent financial audit, preparation of IRS Form 990, and timely completion of all required financial filings.

Investments and Asset Management

• Ensure adherence to Board-approved investment policies.
• Oversee management and reconciliation of investment accounts and reserves; report performance to executive leadership and the Board.
• Manage fixed assets, depreciation schedules, and capital expenditures.
• Oversee the financial planning, tracking, and reporting of restricted, designated, capital, and non‑operating funds, ensuring compliance with donor and Board requirements.
• Partner with executive leadership on the financial strategy and reporting for capital campaigns and other non‑operating initiatives, as applicable.

Board and Committee Support

• Attend and present at CHA Board of Directors and Board Finance Committee meetings.
• Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the Board of Directors and Finance Committee on financial strategy, risk, sustainability, and long‑term planning.
• Present financial information in a manner that clearly communicates risks, opportunities, and trade‑offs to support effective governance and fiduciary oversight.
• Support the Board Treasurer role with accurate and transparent reporting.

Quality Improvement and Financial Transformation

• Analyze financial and operational trends and benchmark practices against peer organizations.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to strengthen financial systems, reporting, and decision support.
• Champion the effective use of financial data and dashboards to support organizational learning and performance improvement.
• Foster a culture of financial accountability and transparency by strengthening financial literacy and budget ownership across the agency.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights that enable program and department leaders to make informed, mission‑aligned decisions.
• Lead strategy for financial systems and tools, including implementation, optimization, and integration, to improve accuracy, efficiency, and real‑time access to financial information.
• Ensure financial data and reporting systems effectively support executive management, Board oversight, and organizational planning.

Educational, Licensure and/or Certification Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required.
• CPA or equivalent professional certification preferred.

Minimum Experience

• Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in accounting and financial management, including senior-level leadership responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience in nonprofit financial management preferred.
• Significant experience working with Boards of Directors and Board committees.
• Experience with grants management, audits, and regulatory compliance

Knowledge Skills and Abilities Required

Financial and Strategic Leadership

• Expert knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting practices.
• Strong financial planning, forecasting, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex financial information for non-financial audiences.
• Knowledge in grant funding, reporting and management.
• Knowledge of structuring and directing budget preparation process in order to produce a budget report which is intuitive for its users, yet it meets specific financial objectives of an organization.

Interpersonal

• Consistent demonstration of ethics, integrity, fairness and trustworthiness
• Excellent oral, written and public communication skills
• Effective, supportive and positive interpersonal communication skills and behaviors.
• Effective and adaptive leadership competencies and behaviors
• Ability to build, sustain or repair relationships with a diverse stakeholder group
• Ability to demonstrate empathy and compassion consistent with organization’s guiding principles and values
• Demonstrated executive presence, influence and credibility
• Strong degree of self-discipline, self-confidence and self-development

Governance and Decision-Making

• Strong understanding of nonprofit governance and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Sound judgment, critical thinking, and ethical decision-making.

Other

• Understand and comply with all Agency policies and procedures, including Child Protection Policies. 
• Maintain confidentiality while understanding and complying with requirements of mandated reporting, duty to warn, Title IX, ADA,HIPAA, FERPA and other limits to confidentiality. 
• Proficient with standard computer operating systems.  Ability to navigate Microsoft Office Suite, online databases, and other programs and websites as required.  
• Ability to adjust schedule to support Agency needs, deadlines, or special circumstances which may include working or being available by phone outside of normal business hours, and Holidays and/or weekends as needed.
• Possess a current and valid Driver's License and have a clean driving record. 
• Pass federal, state, and local background check investigations. 
• Ability to adjust schedule to support Agency needs, deadlines, or special circumstances which may include working or being available by phone outside of normal business hours, and Holidays and/or weekends as needed.
• Ability to meet and maintain required background clearances.
• Possession of a valid State of Alaska driver’s license, as required.

Working Conditions 

• Position is established in an office setting within the Youth Engagement Center
• Noise level is mild to moderate, consistent with office and residential environments.
• Must have the ability to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Must have the ability to observe details within close range.
• Must be able to remain in stationary position for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to move within the office to access files and office equipment.
• Consistently operates a computer and related office machinery.
• Must be able to ascend/descend stairways in case of emergency to exit building safely

Covenant House is an Equal Opportunity Employer