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Director of Finance and Administration

Employer
Tinker Foundation
Location
New York, United States
Salary
$90,000.00 - $125,000.00
Closing date
Jul 28, 2021

The Tinker Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation based in New York City with the mission to promote development in Latin America. Tinker realizes its mission by providing funding, in the form of grants, to civil society organizations (nonprofits, research institutes, and universities) working to address the region’s most pressing challenges. The institutions we support use Tinker resources to test promising ideas, extend the impact of proven models, and bring together stakeholders to solve problems in new ways. Current program areas are Democratic Governance, Education, and Sustainable Resource Management. The Foundation also provides targeted support for Latin American Studies in the United States. Tinker operates with an endowment of approximately $90,000,000 and a staff of five.

The Foundation seeks a new Director of Finance and Administration (DF&A) to join its team. The DF&A plays a critical role in supporting the functioning of the Foundation, operating across a range of work areas and activities to ensure efficient and compliant use of the Foundation’s resources. The DF&A reports to the President of the Foundation.

The most significant portion of the role (~75%) relates to oversight of the Foundation’s finance functions including financial management, bookkeeping, and support of endowment-related investment activities. The DF&A leads the Foundation’s audit, compliance, and risk management processes, including managing the annual audit and overseeing tax payments. In addition, the DF&A serves as the Human Resources lead for the Foundation’s staff and oversees the administration of its office. Finally, the DF&A supports and works with the Foundation’s Board of Directors, including close engagement with the Finance and Audit Committees and the Treasurer. Because the Board’s Secretary and Treasurer are not full-time staff members, the DF&A performs the day-to-day functions of both offices.

The many dimensions of this role make for an engaging and often changing set of day-to-day activities. The DF&A might spend a single day preparing a strategic report on Foundation spending for the Board, followed by recording bookkeeping entries, paying invoices, and consulting with the President on a new H.R. policy. She/he must be particularly effective at independently managing multiple streams of work and priorities across a range of time scales while communicating proactively with colleagues. The DF&A role requires comfort with a broad array of tasks that support the Foundation’s and colleagues’ ability to achieve impact in their work: strategic, analytical, and administrative. At present, the DF&A role does not entail supervision of direct reports.

 

Job Responsibilities (not exhaustive)

Finance/Accounting

Financial Management

  • Manage day-to-day financial operations in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
  • Partner with the Grants Manager and Program staff to oversee timely disbursement of grant funds
  • Manage contracts with outside vendors and consultants
  • Coordinate the annual budgeting process and maintain the budget throughout the year, supported by monthly reporting on spending and cash flow

Investments

  • Work with outside investment advisor and investment accounting consultant to transact and report investment activities
  • Provide information for decision-making and administrative support to the Finance Committee; share committee management and logistical responsibilities with the President

Audit, Compliance, and Risk Management

  • Manage annual audit; prepare schedules and other relevant materials, and implement audit recommendations
  • Coordinate audit activities including presentation of audit for Audit Committee and Board acceptance; submit schedules for the 990PF
  • Review and ensure the Foundation’s compliance with tax-exempt organization rules
  • Maintain and update accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls in partnership with grants manager and external auditors
  • Review and renew insurance policies with the Foundation’s external brokers

 

Human Resources

  • Serve as first point-of-contact for human resources-related issues and “H.R. generalist”
  • Comply with Federal and NYS-employer law updates and create policies when needed
  • Maintain and update personnel manual and communicate updates to staff
  • Process payroll with outside payroll software, reconcile required regulatory filings with Foundation's payroll and accounting records
  • Submit retirement contributions, coordinate submission of Form 5500 reporting
  • Administer employee benefits, including medical insurance and 401(k) plan and review and coordinate fringe benefits with outside benefits partners
  • Perform periodic salary and benefits analysis used for budgeting and employee offerings
  • Support President with recruitment and onboarding of new employees and contractors as well as off-boarding and employee transitions as needed
  • Assist President in managing the performance evaluation process and advise on ad hoc H.R. topics as needed

 

Office Administration

  • Liaise with building management and condominium board, and support decision-making on workspace-related matters
  • Procure office supplies and equipment as needed for onsite and remote worksites
  • In the near term, support safe reopening of the office and compliance with COVID-19 related restrictions and considerations

 

Board Support and Governance

  • Support the Foundation Board and designated Board committee operations, including scheduling Board meetings, recording notes and writing minutes, and assuming responsibility for Board logistics

 

Qualifications and Competencies

Qualifications

  • MBA or Bachelor’s degree in accounting, or equivalent experience
  • 5-10 years of experience in finance, accounting, or similar functions, preferably in a private foundation or similar non-profit environment
  • Experience producing high-quality written reports and quantitative analysis to inform executive decision-making
  • Proficiency using Microsoft Great Plains/Dynamics accounting system, or comparable application, as well as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel
  • Experience with Human Resources a plus but not required
  • Fluency in Spanish or Brazilian Portuguese valued but not required
  • Eligibility to work in the United States required

Competencies and Behaviors

  • Ability to set and manage multiple priorities simultaneously
  • Effective writing and speaking skills for a range of audiences
  • Willingness to work independently and in teams
  • Proactive approach to addressing uncertainty and communicating with colleagues about emerging challenges
  • Commitment to continuing professional development and learning from challenges and successes
  • Comfort seeking out and providing candid feedback to colleagues at all levels
  • Commitment to and interest in the mission of the Tinker Foundation
  • Unimpeachable personal integrity

Profile of a Successful Candidate

You are a “numbers person” who focuses on the details but also keeps your eye on the big picture. You pay attention to what the numbers are telling you, digging in deeper to understand the “why” when they surprise you or seem to change unexpectedly. You can comfortably identify a few key bullet points of insight from a page full of data, and you consider how different audiences will best absorb and act on the information you provide.

While you’re comfortable working independently in many aspects of your work, you value being part of a team and making that team stronger. You offer constructive, thoughtful feedback and support when appropriate. You’re also conscious of how H.R., finance, and administrative functions help shape and reinforce a collaborative, collegial organizational culture and contribute to an equitable, diverse, and engaged team.

 

Tinker Team, Culture and Office Environment

Tinker’s staff is comprised of colleagues committed to advancing the Foundation’s mission through their various roles. As a small team, we rely on each member to embrace responsibilities at multiple levels of complexity and seniority.

In response to the pandemic in 2020, the Foundation switched to an entirely remote working environment. Beginning in September 2021, Foundation staff will begin to return to in-person work, with the option for partial remote work for existing staff in the near term. The in-office work schedule for the DF&A will be determined in consultation with the President and based on specific job requirements. Initial onboarding will likely require substantial in-person time. Given the Foundation’s return to office-based operations, the DF&A must be based in or willing to relocate to the larger New York metropolitan area with the ability to regularly commute to the Foundation’s Midtown Manhattan office.

The Tinker Foundation takes the health and safety of team members and visitors seriously and will continue to implement appropriate precautionary measures until they are no longer recommended by health officials and experts.

 

Compensation & Benefits 

Tinker provides competitive compensation and excellent benefits, including an employer-provided 401(k) plan and generous paid-time-off. The expected annual salary for this role will range from $90,000 to $125,000, depending on experience.

This is a full-time position. The Foundation will consider flexible working arrangements based on fit and experience.

 

To Apply

Submit a cover letter and resume via email to Caroline Kronley, President of the Tinker Foundation at careers@tinker.org with “DF&A Job Application” in the subject line. In your cover letter, indicate how your skills, experience, and professional interests are a strong fit for the DF&A role.

Priority will be given to applications received by July 30, 2021, with a preferred start date by mid-September. References will be requested from finalists.

 

The Tinker Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. We are committed to equity and diversity and to the recruitment and retention of people from backgrounds less represented in philanthropy including Latinx, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with disabilities.

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