Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer
United Way
for Southeastern Michigan

The Organization
About United Way for Southeastern Michigan

To mobilize the caring power of Detroit and Southeastern
Michigan to improve communities and individual lives in measurable
and lasting ways.

In Southeastern Michigan, 40 percent of families struggle to
meet their basic needs. United Way for Southeastern Michigan is a
catalyst for change, mobilizing a network of hundreds of partners
and thousands of donors, advocates, and volunteers to advance
equitable communities where households are stable, and children
thrive. As one of the leading nonprofits in the state of Michigan,
United Way for Southeastern Michigan works on integrative solutions
to solve some of the region’s toughest challenges. In October 2023,
United Way for Southeastern Michigan and United Way of Washtenaw
County merged into a single United Way for Southeastern Michigan
serving Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Wayne counties. With
locations in Detroit and Ann Arbor, United Way for Southeastern
Michigan draws distinguished campaign partners from the auto,
manufacturing, technology, financial, education, and professional
services sectors.

We Live United for universal success and prosperity in
Southeastern Michigan. To that end, we work with public, private
and nonprofit partners to help families become stable and ensure
children have the support they need to thrive. As an organization,
we operate by the following guiding principles:

• People-First
  • Community-oriented, impact focused, accountable to households,
    children, stakeholders, and staff, with a deep commitment to
    diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Equity and Inclusion
  • Committed to practices that disrupt unfair systems and provide
    access to opportunity for all.
• Collaboration
  • Focused on continuous and active partnerships.
• Innovation
  • Taking the lead, challenging the status quo, focused on
    continuous improvement.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan mobilizes the caring power
of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan to improve communities and
individual lives in measurable and lasting ways. Engaging people,
communities, and organizations, we are focused on meeting the needs
of children and their families and creating the conditions
necessary for success.

United Way for Southeastern Michigan partners with people and
organizations who bring the passion, expertise, and resources
needed to make a difference. Bringing public, private, and
nonprofit partners together across Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw, and
Wayne, Counties to tackle problems as a team.

For additional information regarding the United Way for
Southeastern Michigan, please visit https://unitedwaysem.org

The Opportunity
Position: Chief Financial Officer
Locations: Detroit & Ann Arbor, MI
Reporting Relationship: Chief Executive
Officer
Website:https://unitedwaysem.org/

Purpose of the Position
The Chief
Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior executive responsible for the
financial activities of the organization, directing the preparation
of financial reports and summaries, and forecasting future results.
It works collaboratively with the executive team to create and
implement business initiatives in a financially responsible manner.
The CFO effectively balances strategic responsibilities with the
tactical day-to-day and demonstrates a sense of urgency to ensure
support functions do not impede operational results.

The CFO collaborates closely with other senior executives
including the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Development,
Diversity, and Engagement Officer, and the Chief Operating Officer
and Executive Vice President. This organizational leader will
partner with the Audit, Finance, and Investment Sub-Committees, sit
on the CEO’s Cabinet, and lend their knowledge, insights, and
strategic thinking to high-level organizational
discussions/decisions.

Key Responsibilities
Specific duties and
responsibilities of the role include, but are not limited to, the
following:

Executive Leadership

• Oversee the performance, development, and engagement of the
  Finance team with a focus on delivering exceptional customer
  service and internal capacity building.
• Effectively communicate financial reports to the Board of
  Directors, Audit, Finance and Investment Sub-Committees and senior
  leadership team.
• Partner closely with Information Technology and Fund
  Development teams to modernize the tools, processes, practices, and
  digital infrastructure to manage organizational resources and
  deliver exceptional customer service.
• Support leadership in strategic and operational initiatives to
  ensure infrastructures adequately support the organization’s
  needs.
• Evaluate and implement financial aspects of new
  business/program opportunities.
• Represent the organization to financial partners, including
  financial institutions, funders, auditors, public officials,
  etc.
• Lead, direct, and supervise assigned team members including
  recruitment of key team members, developing, and coaching team
  members to create a motivated, high-performing team that can reach
  the strategic goals and objectives of UWSEM.

Accounting and Finance Management

• Oversee all areas of financial management for the timely and
  accurate monitoring of expenditures, procurement, internal/external
  cash flow, payments to vendors, billing, and all other areas in
  keeping with the highest standards; maintain custody of all monies
  and assets of UWSEM and oversee the receipt/disbursement of all
  funds.
• Directs the preparation of all financial statements, including
  income statements, balance sheets, shareholder reports, tax
  returns, and governmental agency reports, and assure consistency
  and accuracy with Statement of Grant Awards, budgets, and contracts
  entered by UWSEM.
• Compares budget projections to actual figures and makes or
  oversees any necessary adjustments to future projections and
  budgets.
• Studies long-range economic trends and projects their impact on
  the future results of the organization. Ensure constant financial
  analysis, conducting forecasting and risk analysis, to support
  effective decision-making and the provision of strategic
  recommendations.
• Oversee all areas of financial management for the timely and
  accurate monitoring of expenditures, procurement, internal/external
  cash flow, payments to vendors, billing, and all other areas in
  keeping with the highest standards.
• Manage cash flow planning, investments, asset management,
  financing strategies and activities, banking relationships, and
  ensure availability of funds as needed.
• Ensure that financial compliance issues/concerns within the
  organization are being appropriately evaluated, investigated, and
  resolved, including the development of strategic controls,
  processes, and procedures.

The Candidate
Experience and Professional Qualifications
United Way
for Southeastern Michigan seeks a highly skilled and experienced
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join the organization as a
critical member of the senior leadership team. The ideal candidate
will have experience and qualifications in line with the below:

• Ten or more years of experience in financial management with
  increasing levels of responsibility. Prior experience serving in
  the role of Chief Financial Officer (or equivalent) is highly
  preferred.
• Experience in organizations with comparable size, scope, and
  financial complexity. Non-profit experience with organizations
  impacted by fundraising and grant accounting is a plus.
• Demonstrated financial and accounting acumen, including
  budgeting, financial analysis, reporting, compliance, and
  negotiation skills.
• Progressively responsible record of demonstrated successes
  supporting a diverse workforce modeling key behaviors in diversity,
  equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience in process improvement and
  technological innovation within the finance function.
• Superior presentation and people skills are essential; this
  includes the capacity to effectively translate complex technical
  language and issues into terms that are easily understood and
  actionable, and the ability to build effective relationships with
  corporate officers, leaders, board members, vendors, and others
  inside and outside of United Way.
• A thought leader with a proven record of leading through change
  and ambiguity. Possesses a broad blend of technical expertise,
  business acumen, and leadership skills.
• A working knowledge of complex accounting and payroll systems
  as well as standard office software packages, particularly
  Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including
  listening, and an ability to communicate effectively with and at
  all levels of the organization.
• A track record of problem-solving. An analytical mindset.
• Effective negotiation skills with vendors, contractors,
  consultants, and others, and a demonstrated ability to outsource as
  needed.

Personal Attributes
The Chief Financial Officer demonstrates:

• A deep set of positive and guiding core values and principles,
  and a commitment to United Way for Southeastern Michigan
  mission.
• An unparalleled work ethic.
• Entrepreneurial savvy with a desire to further establish,
  develop, and implement innovative systems and processes within the
  organization.
• A commitment to community engagement and a willingness to
  partner with other UW SEM leaders in community events.
• A self-motivator, creative, cooperative, and collaborative
  problem solver.

Key Relationships
Staff Direct Reports

• Senior Director, Finance
• Director, Financial Compliance
• Senior Manager, Accounting
• Financial Analyst

United Way for Southeastern Michigan Senior Leadership
Team

• Chief Executive Officer
• Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President
• Chief Development, Diversity, and Engagement Officer
• Vice President, People, Culture, and Governance
• Vice President, Communications and Advocacy
• Vice President, Major Gifts and Donor Relations
• Vice President, Community Impact
• Vice President, Corporate and Labor Relations

Education
A bachelor’s degree in a
relevant field or comparable experience is required. A master’s
degree in a related field (MBA, MA, etc.) and/or CPA preferred.

To apply
Please apply by email to [email protected]

Equal Employment Opportunity
Statement
United Way for Southeastern Michigan is an
Equal Opportunity Employer. This job description describes the
general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to
this position. It should not be construed as an exhaustive list of
all required duties, responsibilities, and skills. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable disabled individuals to
perform the essential functions of the job.