Senior Finance Manager

 
 

OVERVIEW:

The Black Visions Sr. Finance Manager will contribute to the overall success of the organization by effectively managing all financial tasks for Black Visions.  This position will lead the implementation of  and update all accounting practices and procedures in a collaborative relationship with Black Vision’s Deputy Director and Black Vision’s staff.  This role will be a critical thought partner and leader within the finance and operations team, lending their experience and expertise to research, develop, and implement practices and policies that align with Black Visions’ values and culture. Alongside their team, they will manage critical projects to support Black Visions trajectory toward fiscal independence while implementing practices that support our long-term sustainability. Successful candidates will have direct experience with nonprofit finance including cost allocation, grant budget preparation, and organizational budget preparation.  The Black Visions Sr. Finance Manager will report to the Director of Finance and Operations and directly manage the Finance Coordinator(s).

We aim to create a collaborative, joyous, workplace and seek someone committed to social justice and working and building in a Black-led organization. In the first year of this role, the Senior Finance Manager 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:


Fiscal sponsorship to independence:

Black Visions is currently transitioning from a fiscally sponsored organization to an independent organization. Fiscal sponsorship occurs when an organization with 501(c)3 non-profit status enters into an agreement with another organization to provide administrative and financial services and support to the other organization’s programmatic activity. The Senior Finance Manager will work to manage and lead finance the team and its projects to support the overall functions of the organization, while working alongside the TakeAction Minnesota finance team to research, access, and design systems necessary for fiscal independence. 

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

CORE RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Payables & Receivables Management and Oversight

  • Review and oversee payment requests, including employee reimbursements, and accounts payable for accuracy, ensuring proper coding and documentation for all transactions 

  • Manage credit card and purchasing card reconciliation process

  • Manage all cash and check deposits, including remotely captured checks

  • Send, track and follow up invoices and accounts receivable

  • Oversee vendor contracts

  • Oversee credit card and ACH donation payment system.

  • Oversee other merchant donation processing accounts as necessary

  • Manage the financial administrative aspects of grant proposals and grant reporting, including preparing grant budgets, grant financial reports, research and analysis.

  • Backup to payroll processing

  • Lead month end process

Compliance & Internal Controls

  • Participate in the annual audit process with auditing firm

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

  • Manage all accounting and internal control policies, procedures and systems

  • Review all reconciliation reports and resolve any discrepancies in a timely manner

Budgeting & Reporting

  • Alongside Deputy Director, lead annual budget process including worksheet/workpaper creation, and compilation of data

  • Manage monthly reporting: payroll, cash/check deposits, bank statements, credit cards reconciliation, program reports

  • Manage cash flow reporting

  • Work with the contract accounting firm to see that financial reports and filings are prepared on a monthly and on an as needed basis; respond to information requests from the Deputy Director and Co-Executive Directors

  • Develop quarterly financial reports for the Policy Board and Management Team (Deputy Director and Co-Executive Directors) 

Systems Management

  • Administrate and control the setup and access to all accounting information systems and applications

  • Review  and update all written procedures for system access and use, both internal to the finance team and external to non-finance Black Visions staff

  • Evaluate and innovate new internal workflow and external  technical solutions to streamline data input and integrity, to speed monthly close processes, and to ensure accuracy in reporting. Bring recommendations to Management Team as needed

Program and Development Support

  • Financial literacy and training for staff, including helping to lead training/build materials to support staff and members to 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.

  • Work closely with program and development staff to financially support grant and membership program efforts

  • Act as a financial point of contact for the staff

  • Complete and coordinate special projects and research assignments as assigned by the Management Team 

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

  • Participate in strategic planning process and implement finance/resource projects toward desired outcomes 

  • 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 manage

  • Manage the Finance Coordinator

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

EXPERIENCE:

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

  • At least 4 years of relevant accounting/finance "in the field" experience and training or a Bachelor’s degree in finance, economics, or another analytical subject area

  • Managing a finance team and developing and implementing finance procedures and policies (experience working  for a racial justice nonprofit organization is a plus)

  • Extensive experience with cost allocation across multiple programs and/or grants is required

  • Demonstrated experience in budget preparation for an organization with an annual budget greater than $3 million

  • Experience managing and supporting direct staff reports 

  • Management of foundation and other types of program-restricted grants, including grant budget writing is preferred

  • Experience working with a nonprofit organization with both a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(4) affiliate is a plus

  • Experience in a membership-based organization is a plus

  • 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 in financial practices and literacy. Ability to communicate simply and succinctly about financial matters with non-financial staff.

  • Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • A committed teammate 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/CRMs 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.

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 Black Visions Deputy Director. 

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

This is a full-time, salaried position. 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: $75,000 - $80,000 commensurate with experience

HOW TO APPLY 

Send PDFs versions of your cover letter, resume and three references to jobs@blackvisionsmn.org with the subject line BLACK VISIONS SENIOR FINANCE MANAGER. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the right fit is identified. 

Black Visions is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage folks who are queer, trans, non-binary, BIPOC, folks with disabilities, and/or are or have been impacted by systems of oppression, to apply.