Chief Financial Officer

POSITION SUMMARY:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, and working with host communities, HIAS provides vital services to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced and stateless persons around the world, and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives. In line with HIAS’ values of Welcome, Justice, Empathy, Partnership, Courage and Resilience, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for directing and overseeing all HQ Finance functions, and for leading financial excellence globally, in strict alignment with HIAS’ mission, core values and strategic goals. The CFO will join HIAS after a transformational period of growth in size and scope over recent years.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) position is a pivotal leadership role within HIAS, reporting directly to the President & CEO. Working closely with relevant senior leaders, and the Board of Directors, the CFO spearheads the development and execution of global financial strategies and budgetary frameworks, offering expert financial guidance and support to the organization’s senior leadership, providing excellent and timely service to our networks of refugee resettlement affiliates and other partners, and support HIAS’ strategic priorities, such as emergency response and localization.

The CFO provides expert financial leadership to senior leaders in the organization on financial plans, development and fundraising, and economic modeling, and will be responsible for overseeing all fiscal fiduciary responsibilities and risk management for the organization, in conjunction with the Board of Directors, particularly the Board’s Finance Committee and Audit & Risk Committee. The CFO will also provide financial leadership and support to HIAS’ related entities, for example the HIAS Foundation.

An exceptional leader, the CFO will ensure there are clear standards in place globally, providing full support to HQ, Regional and Country Offices around the world, to ensure that organizational finances and financial systems are consistently managed in a professional, clear, compliant and efficient way.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Serves as a strategic partner to the President & CEO, working closely with the Board and relevant senior leaders and contributing to the overall leadership and direction of the agency’s financial planning and economic modeling.
• Leads and mentors a diverse team of finance professionals, fostering a culture of excellence, learning, and accountability.
• Ensures that the finance team is resourced and structured to underpin and enable achievement of organizational strategic goals.
• Drives the agency’s financial and operational sustainability, ensuring robust responsive and compliant financial systems and processes across HIAS’ global network, including at headquarters, regional, and country offices, and affiliate agencies.
• Assesses and controls organizational performance on an ongoing basis against both the annual budget and HIAS’ strategic plan.
• Ensures financial systems are in place to support and drive HIAS’ strategic priorities, including but not limited to emergency response and localization.
• Provides insightful and actionable financial and operational information, analyses and modelling to the President & CEO and Board, on major investment and financing decisions, influencing both strategy and operational decisions (for example relating to geographic scope).
• Champions effective and efficient budgetary planning, forecasting and cost management processes in line with sector best practices and agency goals.
• Oversees all financial aspects of the organization, including investments, audit activities, accounts, ledgers and reporting systems, ensuring adherence to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, regulatory requirements, federal statutory audit requirements and Office of Management & Budget audit requirements.
• Collaborates with Programs and other relevant departments to ensure effective communication with donors and partners relating to funding and funding opportunities.
• Manages and oversees relationships with external audit and accounting firms.
• Contributes to the agency’s overall governance, risk management and control framework and fosters a collaborative partnership with Internal Audit & Control (IAC) to enhance financial systems, processes and controls, ensuring improved internal control and compliance.
• Actively engages with the board and its committees on financial matters, trends and foresight and leads the relationship with the Finance Committee.
• Identifies, proposes and implements operational strategies and performance metrics (for example organizational yearly objectives) needed to manage financial challenges and opportunities.
• Actively supports the selection and engagement of outside consultants (audits, investment advisors, etc.) and coordinates audit activities, maintaining robust financial internal controls and safeguards.
• Guides, prepares and submits an annual operational plan and budget in with the strategic plan, ensuring that organizational activities are managed within the parameters and reporting accurately on progress and challenges on a quarterly basis.
• Leads global ERP systems integration, ensuring the ERP meets agency needs with appropriate controls and user training.
• Ensures the requisite data management systems are in place to manage the demands of HIAS’ complex operations including its diverse donor base with the need for multiple currency management.
• Provides support and expert guidance on financial management to the HIAS Foundation Executive Director and Board.
• Ensures professional and compliant financial management in support of HIAS-branded entities (e.g., HIAS Europe) in fulfillment of agreements with those entities.
• Supports the Finance team, in collaboration with Human Resources, to oversee and manage the employee pension plan and ensure that payroll processes and salary payments are managed professionally and in line with legislation in the country of operation.
• Ensures that staff across all division and country offices receive the financial management resources and training they need to succeed in their positions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:

• Proven successful experience as a CFO, in a similarly sized global complex organization with a budget of at least $200,000,000 annually.
• Exceptional leadership skills within a global organization essential; not limited to the humanitarian or other nonprofit industry but a strong awareness of the unique challenges within this industry is essential.
• An advanced degree (MBA or MPA) in Finance, Accounting and/or Management, strongly preferred with flawless technical skills and with strong judgement and integrity managing complex financial matters.
• CPA preferred.
• Proven success in leading and managing large finance teams in global complex organizations, with at least 10 years’ experience at senior leadership level.
• Excellent change leadership skills.
• Exceptional communication and relationship skills, with the ability to lead within a matrix structure and build strong collaborative partnerships across cultures.
• Strong knowledge of data analysis, forecasting & financial modelling, investments, financial reporting, budgeting, audit, tax, strategic planning, internal controls and risk management.
• Deep knowledge and understanding relating to the application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to problem-solve, with the ability to make pragmatic commercial financial decisions.
• Extensive experience in design and implementation of global finance systems within a complex organization.
• Experience of long-range planning and budgeting with a diversified donor base and multiple currency environment.
• The proven ability to lead, develop and mentor team members to meet organizational goals and as finance leaders through organizational change.
• The ability to conceptualize issues, design solutions, decide and execute through strong team leadership.
• Knowledge of and/or passion for issues related to immigration and refugee protection.
• A proven capacity to effectively manage pressure and challenging situations if they arise.
• The ability to travel internationally, to places of HIAS’ operations a minimum of 10% of the time.

HIRING PROCESS:

We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. Here’s a snapshot of our hiring process:

Step 1: Submit your application!

Step 2: Phone screen with a HIAS recruiter.

Step 3: Video interview with the hiring manager.

Step 4: Video interview with a panel of HIAS employees.

Step 5: Online reference check with SkillSurvey.

Step 6: Offer and background check with Shield Screening or HireRight.

Step 7: Start your professional journey with HIAS!

Note: Some of our hiring processes may vary, and not all candidates will advance to each step.

ABOUT US:

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

VISION:

HIAS stands for a world in which refugees find welcome, safety and opportunity.

MISSION:

Drawing on our Jewish values and history, HIAS provides vital services to refugees and asylum seekers around the world and advocates for their fundamental rights so they can rebuild their lives.

VALUES:

Welcome • Acogimiento • Hospitalité • Hachnasat Orchim

We Welcome the Stranger

Justice • Justicia • Justice • Tzedek

We Pursue Justice

Empathy • Empatía • Empathie • Chesed

We Approach our Clients with Empathy

Partnership • Compañerismo • Coopération • Chevruta

We Believe in Changing the World through Partnership

Courage • Coraje • Courage • Ometz

We Act with Courage to Build a Better World

Resilience • Resiliencia • Résilience • Ruach

We Adapt and Thrive, Continuously Demonstrating our Resilience

DIVERSITY:

HIAS is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal opportunity employer, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, citizenship status, religious creed, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner or civil union status, familial status, pregnancy, childbirth, military status, protected veteran status, political orientation or other legally protected status.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. We strongly encourage applicants of diverse identities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to apply even if you do not meet all required qualifications but have other qualifications relevant to the role that would make you a great fit for this role with HIAS!

SAFEGUARDING:

HIAS is committed to the protection of children, vulnerable adults and any other person from any harm caused directly or indirectly due to their coming into contact with HIAS. We will not tolerate sexual exploitation, abuse or any form of child abuse or neglect by our staff or associated personnel. Any candidate offered a job with HIAS will be expected to sign and adhere to HIAS’ Code of Conduct and Safeguarding policies. All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks, which can include criminal records. HIAS also participates in the Inter-Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme. In line with this Scheme, we will request information from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. Likewise, HIAS will share this information when other organizations inquire about current and former HIAS staff as part of their recruitment process. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.