Catholic Guardian Services
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, New York, NY
CHIEF FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
OVERVIEW
Catholic Guardian Services (CGS) is a sophisticated human services nonprofit organization with important programs that respond to the needs of some of the neediest people in the New York City metropolitan area. Our mission is focused on building stronger families and healthier communities among some of the highest-risk and underserved populations and communities. Catholic Guardian seeks to understand and impact the social determinants of health that will allow people to thrive.
In pursuit of this ambitious mission, Catholic Guardian develops and delivers high impact, high quality, and high utility services to a broad client base. The organization employs deeply mission-oriented professionals. Committed to making a significant, positive impact with and for its clients, Catholic Guardian works with policymakers, practitioners, research, and academia, using the best practices to meaningfully influence lives of infants, children, youth, and adults.
With operating revenues of up to $95 million and over 825 employees deployed across four offices and 18 residential facilities serving thousands of people daily, Catholic Guardian's reach and impact are vast. The organization, working at the local and state levels for more than 130 years, operates 15 distinct programs, and provides a wide range of services.
Services are delivered in the following areas: child abuse and neglect prevention, foster care, maternity services, developmental disabilities, behavioral health, and immigration services. Increasingly, Catholic Guardian seeks to reach families and special needs populations before they have incurred significant deficits and come to the attention of government's protective services. Catholic Guardian's strategic plan seeks growth in the areas where critical gaps exist, and in particular in the areas of behavioral health, services for people with autism, supportive housing, and immigration services.
Catholic Guardian's programs and services are delivered in partnership with affiliates within the Archdiocese of New York, New York City and State governments, education agencies, foundations, policymakers, advocacy groups, and others also committed to the wellbeing of those entrusted to our care.
POSITION
Reporting to and partnering with the chief executive officer (CEO) and Board of Directors, the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO) plays a critical role in developing and implementing the strategy developed for Catholic Guardian's financial stability and ongoing growth, allowing the organization to reach more people in need. As a member of the senior leadership team, the CFAO is an advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors, evaluating and assisting them with their financial plans and economic modeling. The CFAO is responsible for overseeing all fiscal and fiduciary responsibilities for the organization, in conjunction with the Board of Directors and the Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees of the Board.
Direct Reports Include:
Chief Accounting Officer
Assistant Executive Director for Administrative Services
SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
Strategy, Vision, and Forecast
- As a true business partner to the CEO and Board of Directors, assess organizational performance against both the annual budget and Catholic Guardian's long-term strategy. Develop tools and systems to provide critical financial and operational information to the CEO and make actionable recommendations on both strategy and operations.
- Work alongside program leadership to understand the agency's client base, talent resources, and community needs.
- Generate actionable business plans that align with the agency's strategic goals.
- Engage the Board's Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees around issues, trends, and changes in the operating model(s) and operational delivery. Assist in establishing yearly objectives and meeting agendas, and selecting and engaging outside consultants (auditors, investment advisors, analysts, etc.).
- Oversee long-term budgetary planning and costs management in alignment with Catholic Guardian's strategic plan, especially as the organization considers management services agreements, mergers, acquisitions, and collaborations with external organizations.
- Generate a monthly financial dashboard which accurately forecast cash, revenue, and expenses, and help the CEO and Board's Finance Committee to "see around the corner."
- Work closely with the development team to provide necessary financial analysis and support for revenue generation.
Treasury Functions
- Oversee all investments. Work with the Board to establish investment strategy. Monitor investment performance. Manage and track the performance of Catholic Guardian's endowment in keeping with the policies and investment guidelines established by the Board's Investment Committee, with knowledge about who has access to the organization's funds and any outstanding bills or debts owed.
- Create and maintain systems for ensuring the organization's ongoing solvency and oversee the development of the organization's financial policies, to include investing, borrowing, cash reserves, check signing authority, expense reimbursement, credit card usage, and petty cash policies.
Financial and Operational Management
- Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems, ensuring compliance with appropriate Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, regulatory requirements, and governmental audit requirements. Maintain internal control safeguards and coordinate all audit activities.
- Assess the information technology (IT) requirements of the division and manage the necessary procurement of specialized finance IT systems that meet the needs of the organization.
- Manage cash flow and forecasting. Develop a reliable cash flow projection process and reporting mechanism that includes minimum cash threshold to meet operating needs. Optimize the handling of banking relationships and initiate appropriate strategies to enhance cash positions.
- Oversee budgeting and the implementation of budgets so as to monitor progress and present financial metrics both internally and externally.
- Develop the annual budget for the agency working closely with top management, the Finance Committee of the Board and program directors.
- Prepare midyear budget, projecting yearend results. Recommend and implement changes to ensure that the agency achieves a responsible budgetary position by yearend.
- Responsible for the preparation of monthly accounting reports for management and the Board, including balance sheet, statement of activities, and budget variance.
- Work with government agencies to maximize rates and reimbursements.
- Responsible for the preparation and submission of OPWDD appeals in order to maximize retroactive rate increases.
- Meet with funding sources to negotiate rates for new programs.
- Responsible for developing capital budgets for new projects and ensuring that spending is within the planned budget.
- Meet with the Board's Audit Committee and auditing firm, prior to yearend, to establish audit process. Identify timing of audit, audit fees, and areas of concentration for the audit.
- Responsible for the filing of tax forms, including forms 990, W-2, 1099, and 1096. Responsible for reviewing the 990 with the auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board.
- Responsible for the filing of the Standard of Payments, Consolidated Financial Report, and A-133 audit report.
- Responsible for securing and managing financing for mortgages, term loans, and line of credit. Meet and negotiate with financial institutions in order to obtain the best available financing for the agency.
- Negotiate with union representatives to agree upon a benefit package for the staff that is in the best interest of the agency.
Administration
- Meet with brokers to obtain insurance for major medical, workers compensation, and disability. Ensure that the agency negotiates the best possible rates and obtains policies that conform with agency policies.
- Meet with brokers to secure commercial liability insurance.
- Oversee the interface between Catholic Guardian, liability insurance broker, and insurance carriers to ensure an efficient and effective working relationship. Monitor the status of litigation against the agency, perform risk management and trend analysis functions, and provide periodic reports to the CEO and Board of Directors on the status of legal matters and recommended courses of action to minimize risk to the agency.
- Collaborate on the comprehensive planning, acquisition, and integration of administrative IT systems, including hardware, software, local and wide-area networks, telecommunications, internet accessibility, and computer security.
- Oversee the purchasing of vehicles, furniture, and equipment for offices and residential facilities. Ensure that the best prices are secured and that the purchasing process is consistent with agency policy. Ensure that all agency property is secured and maintained in a safe and responsible manner.
- Ensure that the agency's offices and residential facilities are managed and maintained in a safe, reliable, and efficient manner, including HVAC, elevator, water, maintenance, office management, space planning, and security systems.
- Negotiate and maintain lease arrangements for properties leased by the agency. Negotiate the most favorable terms to Catholic Guardian, consistent with agency strategic program and administrative needs, market conditions, and available financial resources.
Team Management
- Mentor and develop a direct team of finance professionals, managing work allocation, training, problem resolution, performance evaluation, work-life balance, and the building of an effective team dynamic.
- Guide larger, cross-divisional teams outside of direct span of control within the four main Catholic Guardian program areas.
QUALIFICATIONS
The CFAO will have the following experience and attributes:
- CPA preferred, with 10-plus years of progressively responsible financial management experience in a large, diverse, and complex nonprofit human services organization with a minimum budget of $50 million. Knowledge of GAPP for the nonprofit sector.
- Demonstrable leadership skills, with a passion for Catholic Guardian's mission; a hands-on manager with integrity, ethical standards, and a desire to work in a dynamic environment.
- Strong strategic thinking skills and forward-looking vision are paramount. A passion for "seeing the problem and wanting to fix it."
- Desire to engage with staff and clients to better understand the agency's operations and needs.
- Mature, confident, and proactive, with evidence of having worked as a true business partner to the CEO of a large and multidivisional organization. Experience working with a nonprofit board is preferred.
- Strong analytical skills and experience interpreting a strategic vision into an operational model with specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and traceable goals.
- Deep understanding of and experience with a diverse set of governmental audits.
- Experience in areas of projected growth for Catholic Guardian is desirable (i.e., behavioral health services, services for people with autism, immigration services, etc.).
- Past experience successfully partnering with IT staff to manage critical financial management systems.
- Experience with human resources, property, and liability insurance management.
- Experience building, coaching, and mentoring high-performing, diverse teams with multiple layers.
- An effective communicator at all levels in the organization, with strong oral and written skills and a willingness to share information.
- A collaborative and flexible style, with a strong service mentality.
- Creativity, with experience funding activities in ways that both cover costs and generate operating margins.
The compensation range for this position will be $250,000 to $275,000.
CGS offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package.
For more information about Catholic Guardian Services and its programs, please visit https://www.catholicguardian.org/.
Catholic Guardian Services is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.
Applications, including cover letters and resumes, and nominations should be sent to the attention of Paul Spivey at CGS@PhillipsOppenheim.com.