Finance Coordinator

 
 

OVERVIEW: 


 The Black Visions Finance Coordinator will contribute to the overall success of the organization by supporting detailed and accurate accounting functions, meeting all accounting organizational policy and regulatory standards, assisting with problem solving, and collaborating on process improvement with finance and operations to support the organization.  The Black Visions Finance Coordinator reports to the Sr. Finance Manager. 

We aim to create a collaborative, joyous, workplace and seek someone committed to social justice and ready to dig into building an all Black-led organization. In the first year of this role, the Finance Coordinator will participate in our strategic planning activities as it relates to supporting our work around resource stewardship and our financial independence. 

ABOUT BLACK VISIONS:

Since 2017, Black Visions has been putting into practice the lessons learned from organizations before us, as well, our direct experience in building within the Movement for Black Lives, in order to shape a political home for Black people across Minnesota. Black Visions sees central to our work, the development of a Black-led ecosystem of arts, politics, and culture. Through our intentional growth process, we aim to center our work in healing and transformative justice principles, intentionally develop our organizations core “DNA” to ensure sustainability, and develop Minnesota’s emerging Black leadership to lead powerful campaigns. By building movements from the ground up with an integrated model, we are creating the conditions for long term success and transformation. 

Mission: Black Visions is a Black-led, Queer and Trans centering organization whose mission is to organize powerful, connected Black communities and dismantle systems of violence. 

Vision:  Black Visions believes in a future where all Black people have autonomy, safety is community-led, and we are in right relationship within our ecosystems.

Black Visions Collective is currently in a period of growth, accountability, and development. All prospective applicants must be willing to grow with the organization as we move into our next iteration. 

Current Context About This Role :

Fiscal sponsorship to independence:

Black Visions is currently transitioning from a fiscally sponsored organization to an independent organization. TakeAction is currently serving as Black Visions’ fiscal sponsor. The Finance Coordinator will work to implement finance and administrative projects to support the day to day work of the organization, while working along the finance team to research, access, and design systems necessary for fiscal independence. 

Black Visions’ current estimated timeline to organizational independence is mid-year 2022.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES -- Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to the following:

Finance Administration:

  • Accounts Payable

    • Review check requests, employee reimbursements, and accounts payable submitted through the Monday.com (our project management software) for accuracy, ensuring proper coding and documentation for all transactions, in compliance with financial policies and procedures

    • Facilitate payables and reimbursement approval process

    • Enter and process payments after the approval process is complete

    • Reconcile company credit card and purchase card usage, receipt tracking, and expense coding

    • Act as financial point of contact for the staff regarding coding questions for expenses or reimbursements as well as status updates for all payables

  • Accounts Receivable

    • Prepare deposit records for credit card and ACH donations processed through Black Visions’ fundraising software; assist in handling of cash receipts as necessary

    • Prepare deposit records for check deposits

    • Support monthly reconciliation of other fundraising merchant services data to accounting records

  • Document Management

    • Organize and maintain all financial filing; ensure monthly financial statements are downloaded and available in both electronic and paper files

    • Support the annual audit process with guidance from Senior Finance Manager

  • Other Finance Support

    • Support month end process, including reconciliations of outside data sources to internal accounting data

    • Assist in the annual budget process 

    • Ensure accuracy and timeliness of all work, researching/reconciling all discrepancies and performing internal audits as needed 

    • Ensure compliance on all accounting and internal control policies, procedures and systems 

Staff/Program Support and Leadership: 

  • Financial literacy and training for staff, including helping to lead trainings/build materials to support staff and members grow their understanding of financial concepts and their connection to work of the organization and the movement. Financial literacy work will need to be both anticipated and responsive as transparency and accessibility of financial practices is a priority for Black Visions.

  • Act as a financial point of contact for the staff

  • Complete and coordinate special projects and research assignments as assigned by the  Senior Finance Manager

  • Participate in staff activities, trainings, and “all hands on deck” community organizing moments (ex: Juneteenth, Get Out the Vote, etc.)

  • Black Visions centers transformation as one of our core values. We understand for all our staff, leadership growth and transformation is necessary for the success of our work and to be in alignment with our vision for the world. All staff are also asked to invest time in creating and executing a growth plan in coordination with their manager

Development and Operations Support 

  • Support grant and fundraising program efforts, including supplying data for grant reports’

  • Support end of year gift receipts and other donor acknowledgement activities 

Other duties or tasks may be assigned on an as-needed basis. 

EXPERIENCE:

  • 1+ year(s) of experience in a finance/administrative position developing and implementing finance procedures and policies (bonus points if this was for a racial justice nonprofit organization)

  • An excitement and experience in building strategies that take on an anti-capitalist approach to finance administration

  • Steadfast commitment to collective liberation and ability to speak and unite those behind Black Vision’s mission, vision, and values 

  • Experience and cultural competence living/working in African Diaspora communities

  • Experience training other staff/volunteers financial practices and literacy. Ability to communicate simply and succinctly about financial matters with non-financial staff.

  • Familiarity with QuickBooks Online. Database and enterprise resource planning skills are highly desirable

QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • A committed team mate with common sense, flexibility, and teamwork skills with the ability to exercise independent judgment, cope with change, and shift gears comfortably without losing the larger goal at hand. Able to analyze both successes and failures for clues to improvement, experiments and will persistently seek solutions, enjoys the challenge of unfamiliar tasks, quickly grasps the essence and the underlying structure of anything.  

  • Proficient written and verbal communication skills with experience in Microsoft applications such as Excel, PowerPoint, and MSWord as well as GSuite (bonus points if you are comfortable with EveryAction/CRM’s and project management software like monday.com)

  • Detail oriented and focused on meeting expectations of people within the organization and those external who are in relationship/connected to our work 

  • A relational person, able to build rapport with people inside and outside of the organization

  • Personal Integrity – Honors confidentiality of information, makes ethical decisions, uses sound judgment

  • Committed to all Black Lives – Has a strong commitment to gender, racial and economic justice and transformative change for all marginalized people in the workplace.

Must be willing and able to:

  • Communicate needs and boundaries as they arise

  • Delegate tasks to focus on their primary role and hold others accountable to deadlines

  • Work some evenings and weekends

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT:

Work is performed in a standard office environment which requires occasionally lifting such articles as file boxes or heavier materials with help from others and/or lifting and carrying light objects frequently. A job in this category may require walking or standing to a significant degree or may involve sitting most of the time with long periods of computer work and heavy phone usage. Flexibility to work outside normal business hours that include evenings and weekends and work extended hours to accomplish requirements of the position.

*Due to COVID-19, Black Visions staff is currently working from home  with a few moments (about 1x/month) when staff are expected in person. 

REPORTS TO & LOCATION

  • This position reports directly to the Senior Finance Manager 

  • Position is located in Minneapolis, MN. All Black Visions staff must have a home address in Minnesota.

HOW TO APPLY

Send PDFs versions of your cover letter, resume and three references to jobs@blackvisionsmn.org with the subject line BLACK VISIONS FINANCE COORDINATOR. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the right fit is identified. Priority will be given to applications received by September 17th. 

Black Visions is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, LGBT individuals, and women.

Salary will be set commensurate with experience and will include a full package of benefits including health and dental insurance, matching retirement, investment in personal development, and an expansive time off policy. 

Salary range: $ 50,000- $55,000 commensurate with experience