Position Summary:

The Director of Accounting and Finance serves as the organization’s lead accounting and financial operations leader, responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of Community Catalyst’s financial systems, records, and reporting.

This role oversees accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, payroll, and audit, and works in partnership with Human Resources and Operations to ensure alignment across payroll, financial data, and organizational processes.

Reporting to the Chief Finance and Strategy Officer (CFSO), the Director leads the accounting team, manages the month-end close process, and ensures timely, accurate financial reporting in accordance with GAAP and federal grant requirements. The role partners closely with FP&A, Revenue, and Programs to support coordinated budgeting, reporting, and compliance across all funding streams.

Key Responsibilities:

Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Oversee all accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, payroll administration, and cash management.
• Lead the monthly close process, ensuring all reconciliations, journal entries, and accruals are completed accurately and on time.
• Produce timely and accurate monthly financial statements for internal management and board reporting.
• Oversee quarterly and annual financial reporting in compliance with GAAP.
• Manage the annual external audit and coordinate the preparation of Form 990.
• Maintain and enhance accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure compliance and consistency.
• Manage the chart of accounts and ensure all transactions are accurately coded by fund, grant, and department.

Payroll and Financial Operations

• Oversee payroll processing in partnership with HR, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with all federal and state regulations.
• Ensure payroll is properly recorded, reconciled, and aligned with the general ledger and monthly close.
• Monitor payroll-related controls, including approvals, time tracking, and allocations across grants and departments.
• Partner with HR and FP&A to support alignment between payroll, budgeting, and workforce planning.

Compliance and Internal Controls

• Ensure compliance with GAAP, OMB Uniform Guidance, and all federal, state, and donor reporting requirements.
• Maintain strong internal controls over financial reporting, system access, and approval workflows.
• Oversee grant-related compliance, including indirect cost recovery, time allocation, and expense tracking.
• Partner with the CFSO to identify and mitigate financial, operational, and compliance risks.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Revenue and Programs to align grant, contract, and donor reporting with accounting and compliance requirements.
• Collaborate with FP&A to ensure budget-to-actuals, forecasting, and variance analyses are accurate and timely.
• Work in partnership with Human Resources and Operations to support alignment of payroll, systems, and financial processes, ensuring accuracy and consistency in financial reporting.
• Serve as a key liaison across departments to promote financial accountability and understanding of fiscal processes.

Systems and Process Optimization

• Serve as the lead administrator for NetSuite financial systems.
• Drive automation, standardization, and process efficiency to improve accuracy and timeliness of financial operations.
• Strengthen integration between NetSuite, ADP, Salesforce, and other systems to support reliable and timely reporting.
• Continuously evaluate and improve accounting workflows to enhance the quality and accessibility of financial data.

Qualifications:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive accounting and financial leadership experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit accounting, GAAP, and OMB Uniform Guidance.
• Proven success managing audits and preparing financial statements for organizations with budgets exceeding $20 million.
• Proficiency with NetSuite or comparable ERP systems; experience with ADP and Salesforce preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills with a commitment to accuracy and accountability.
• Collaborative and proactive leadership style aligned with Community Catalyst’s mission.

Core Competencies

• Financial and Technical Expertise
• Leadership and Team Development
• Analytical and Critical Thinking
• Accountability and Integrity
• Systems and Process Orientation
• Cross-Functional Collaboration

Position Highlights:

Department: Finance

Reports To: Chief Finance and Strategy Officer (CFSO)

Location: Remote (with occasional travel to Boston, MA, or other sites as needed)