Senior Finance Manager

Pacific Institute • Remote • Full Time • $78,400–$105,800 / year

Posted on Tue, Sep 29, 2026

About the Role:

The is Senior Finance Manager responsible for the Pacific Institute's day-to-day financial operations and for building the systems, controls, and reporting the organization needs as it grows. This role manages the Institute's accounting, grants and contracts financial administration, budgeting, and financial reporting, and maintains segregation of duties and strong internal controls across all finance execution work. The role leads and oversees finance support staff who handle a share of day-to-day transaction entry and processing, and is responsible for their training, quality of work, and professional development. The Senior Finance Manager also leads the evaluation and implementation of financial systems and partners closely with the Chief Operating Officer, Board Finance Committee, and program staff on financial strategy. This role requires sound judgment on accounting matters, strong internal-control instincts, and the ability to translate financial information for non-finance audiences.

Responsibilities:

Financial Operations & Accounting Oversight

Administer the Institute's accounting system, including managing the general ledger, posting journal entries, and closing the books monthly
Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable, ensuring accurate coding, timely payment and collection, and proper documentation
Reconcile all bank and investment accounts monthly, or provide final review and sign-off where reconciliations are prepared by finance support staff
Maintain effective working relationships with vendors, contractors, and financial institutions
Coordinate semi-monthly payroll processing across the Institute's domestic and international payroll systems, in partnership with the HR Manager
Maintain segregation of duties between transaction entry and account reconciliation, and provide hands-on review of higher-complexity coding and reconciliation items

Compliance, Controls & Audit

Maintain and strengthen the Institute's system of internal controls, including segregation of duties across transaction entry, review, and approval
Lead the annual audit and Form 990 preparation process, coordinating with external auditors to ensure timely completion of audited financial statements and tax filings
Safeguard and maintain the confidentiality of the Institute's financial and other sensitive data
Monitor compliance with funder-specific financial reporting requirements and applicable federal, state, and local regulations

Grants, Contracts & Award Management

Partner with program staff to develop project budgets for grant and contract proposals
Track financial deadlines, deliverables, and payment schedules across the Institute's portfolio of grants, contracts, and fiscal-sponsorship arrangements
Monitor compliance with restricted funding requirements across domestic and international grants, contracts, and fiscal-sponsorship projects
Prepare and submit funder invoices and financial reports according to each funder's format and schedule
Maintain grants and contracts financial records in the Institute's database syste

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Reporting

Prepare monthly financial reports for the Board of Directors and staff, including profit-and-loss statements, balance sheets, cash flow reports, budget-to-actual analyses, and project-level financials
Support the Chief Operating Officer and Board Finance Committee in developing the annual budget and subsequent revisions
Develop income projections and cash flow forecasts, incorporating pipeline and program data
Analyze and communicate the Institute's financial position to senior leadership, identifying trends, risks, and recommendations

Systems Implementation & Process Improvement

Lead the evaluation, implementation, and ongoing administration of financial systems, including integration with payroll, expense, and donor/grants management systems
Document financial procedures and the reasoning behind recurring decisions, such as account coding and project/class assignment, to reduce reliance on institutional memory
Identify and implement process improvements that reduce manual data entry and strengthen the audit trail

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership

Provide leadership, training, and, where applicable, direct supervision to finance support staff, including regular feedback and professional development support
Act as a thought partner to the Chief Operating Officer and Executive Management Team on financial strategy and organizational planning
Respond to staff requests for financial information and support financial literacy across the organization
Partner with the HR Manager on finance-related aspects of HR, including benefits and retirement plan administration

requirements:

Experience managing accounting and financial operations for an organization of comparable scale and complexity (for example, an operating budget in the range of $10–20M, or a comparable volume and complexity of grants and contracts)
Demonstrated experience with fund accounting and restricted grant/contract compliance, ideally within a nonprofit organization
Experience with general ledger and accounting software
Experience supervising staff and reviewing the work of others
Strong understanding of internal controls and segregation-of-duties best practices
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate financial information for non-finance audiences
Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced, evolving environment

Preferred qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience
CPA preferred, not required
Experience implementing or migrating financial systems
Experience with Salesforce or a comparable CRM/grants database
Experience working with international payroll or contractor arrangements

Compensation and Benefits

This position is eligible for paid vacation and benefits. The Pacific Institute offers an excellent compensation package, including a generous health, dental, and Institute-matched retirement plan and a competitive salary that is commensurate with experience and reflects the field. Because Pacific Institute has staff across multiple states, this role's hiring range is determined by work location:

Zone A: $102,200-$138,000
Zone B: $86,200-$116,400
Zone C: $78,400-$105,800

Your specific hiring range will be confirmed based on your primary work location if you are selected for an interview. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Pacific Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Diversity is a core value at Pacific Institute. We are dedicated to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within our team and culture for two reasons:
To stay true to our values and principles: We recognize that historical and current injustices have left out certain voices and perspectives from decision-making about accessing and managing water resources. We acknowledge that the representation of these groups in water-related decision-making and careers is an important step towards addressing past and current injustices. Because Pacific Institute participates in water-related decision-making, we acknowledge that hiring and retaining a diverse staff can contribute to a broader need to address systemic injustices.
To better achieve Pacific Institute's mission and vision: We know that having diverse perspectives makes for better research, creative solutions, and can help us achieve our mission. We recognize that a diverse team with varied perspectives, skills, and experiences is essential for generating and scaling innovative ideas that solve increasingly complex challenges. We make an active effort to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected, heard, validated, empowered, and celebrated across different identities and cultures. We aim to constantly evolve our approach to DEI to reflect best practices in this work, just as we do with our water and climate research. As part of this commitment, we request that all candidates include a short statement in their cover letter to address how your addition to our staff would contribute to our DEI efforts.

To Apply

Please submit the following:

A cover letter of no more than two pages, including:
- Your interest in the work of the Pacific Institute and specific fit for this position;
- A summary of your qualifications;
- The DEI statement described above;
Your CV/Resume;

No immigration or relocation assistance is available for this position.
No phone calls, please. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

About our recruitment process:

Here’s what you can expect:

Application review
Schedule a Phone Screen interview with the HR Manager
Schedule a group interview with the Hiring Manager and Team
Schedule a second group interview with the Hiring Manager and Team
References
Offer

More live senior_finance_manager roles

Browse all live jobs · Accounting & finance salary data

What the data says about this job

Advertised pay for Senior Finance Manager: a median of $162,238 across 388 priced postings. This posting advertises $78,400 to $105,800, 43% below that median. Explore the market

Measured from employers' own postings and public filings. How we measure

View the interactive listing →