Director of Finance and Administration

The Ruth Mott Foundation’s mission is to advocate, stimulate, and support community vitality. Based in Flint, Michigan, the Foundation envisions communities of hope and pride, whose neighborhood environments and urban core are safe, attractive, and healthy, enriched by cultural diversity and an engaged citizenry. Ruth Mott's values inspire the Foundation today and its commitment to be welcoming, inclusive, and just, treat everyone with respect and dignity, act with kindness and good humor, promote civic hope and pride, encourage personal responsibility, practice prevention, and maintain the "long view." As part of the Foundation’s 2016-2025 strategic plan, the Foundation is pursuing its mission by finding and fostering place-based interventions, including social innovation, that emerge from and are focused on achieving positive outcomes in north Flint.

Based on a process of deep research and reflection – including discussions with residents, community leaders and grantee partners – the Foundation concluded that a focused, place-based approach to philanthropy is the best way for it to serve the Flint community. To that end, the Foundation is committed to using all of its tools, including Applewood: The Charles Stewart Mott Estate, convenings, grants, technical assistance, engagement, and expanded organizational capacity, to achieve its goal of helping north Flint residents create and sustain opportunities to contribute and thrive.

Opportunities and responsibilities FOR the Director of Finance and administration

Ensuring the effective management of the Foundation’s finance, accounting, grants management, human resources and facilities administration functions, the Director can expect to engage in the following responsibilities:

Manage and Sustain Financial Systems

• Manage the Foundation’s finances for its grantmaking and Applewood, including all accounting transactions and cash management functions (cash flow forecasting, banking, accounting, and tax relationships).

• Work with the Board, Foundation Leadership Team, and President to actively predict, plan, and address short- and long-term cash requirements and create budgets in coordination with department leaders and other executives.
• Oversee an effective external audit process, inclusive of preparation of all pertinent accounting records and reports for review.

Evaluate and Maintain Policies for Sustained Organizational Effectiveness

• Continually analyze, evaluate, and recommend administrative policies in alignment with changing organizational needs and compliance regulations using a thorough, consultative decision-making process in close partnership with the Foundation’s Leadership Team and employees broadly.
• Assess enterprise-wide risks and set parameters for risk mitigation; identify financial, operational, and compliance gaps and fill those gaps with best-in-class practices from the philanthropic sector, to support mission achievement.
• Design and present financial status information to the Board of Trustees at board meetings in a way that inspires confidence, improves understanding, and invites the best strategic thinking and guidance. In this capacity, partner closely with the Board of Trustee’s Treasurer.
• Work with Audit Committee Chair for planning and reporting for Audit Committee meetings. Responsible for investment accounting and reporting, production of financial statements, and tax accounting records for 990 filing.
• Provide strategic vision and leadership to the implementation of ongoing improvement of organizational systems, structures, policies, and talent to enable the highest level of programmatic and operational quality and effectiveness.
• Establish and consistently communicate organizational priorities as part of RMF’s senior management team and ensure alignment and cross-cutting integration of ideas, problem solving, and execution of work.

Integrate and Strengthen Financial, Operational, and Compliance Functions

• Ensure that efficient systems, processes, and practices are in place to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Foundation’s mission; develop plans for high-quality, cost-effective maintenance, development and implementation of services, systems, and tools for all Foundation programs, legal and policy compliance, and overall organizational effectiveness of the Foundation.
• Ensure operational policies align with organization’s commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, reflect best practices, and guide consistent practices, spanning vendor management, talent development, and other organizational functions.
• Oversee the integration and functioning of the finance, accounting, grants management, human resources, and facilities administration of the Foundation, including payables, payroll, benefits and compensation administration and computer networking.
• Support the continued integration of Applewood into the Foundation’s body of work to promote a cohesive Foundation strategy, supported by aligned policies and practices.
• Align efforts across the Foundation through participation in the following initiative-specific and on-going committees: Applewood Master Planning Committee, Finance Committee, Audit Committee, Human Resource Committee, Investment Committee, and the Impact Investing Ad Hoc Committee.

Steward Culture and Ongoing Organizational Development

• Model through own leadership and support a culture in which all team members feel valued and recognized as vital to advancing the Foundation’s mission and goals and are encouraged to grow professionally.
• Display the skills, sensitivity, and personal confidence to tap into the power that each member of the team brings to the mission.
• Embody Foundation’s commitment to “shoe leather” philanthropy and deep community engagement by aligning practices accordingly and offering new ways of supporting staff and community partners to help the north Flint community to thrive.
• Manage work allocation, provide performance feedback and professional development, and support positive team dynamics through direct supervision of the Accountant and Accounting Administrative Assistant.
• Bring leadership and vision to emergent work at the Foundation, such as the Applewood Master Plan and impact investing, to support its successful execution and maximize the Foundation’s impact.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

The ideal candidate will be deeply committed to the Foundation’s mission and understand the critical role that philanthropy can play in advancing social change in north Flint. While no one person will embody all the qualities enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• A minimum of 8 years of strategic leadership and career growth experience at a mission-driven organization, including nonprofit accounting, legal, tax, and regulatory requirements.
• Master’s Degree in finance, accounting, or related field. CPA preferred.
• Demonstrated experience providing outstanding stewardship of financial, physical, and human resources along with a clear track record with managerial accounting, cash basis accounting and experience with investments and/or investment accounting, budgeting, and financial controls.
• Demonstrated body of work that reflects a commitment to organizational excellence and efficiency, servant leadership, management of collaboration and effective teamwork, and promotion of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• A strategic thinker and proven implementer in bringing about organizational, technical, and service enhancements and change efforts. Exceptional skill in synthesizing information and translating vision into action steps for the long and short term.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, navigating change management, and proposing new ways of achieving desired outcomes with inclusive approaches to planning, problem solving, and decision making.
• Combined experience, maturity level, and flexibility to interact with a broad set of stakeholders, including the Board of Trustees, executive management, and staff across the organization.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills including the demonstrated ability to research, synthesize, and analyze information, compose documents, and present data in a clear and concise manner to appropriate personnel, including top management, program staff, and Board of Trustees.
• Highly developed facilitation, coaching, and engagement skills; comfort with managing diverse group dynamics and leading toward common desired outcomes.
• Highly developed emotional intelligence and demonstrated ability to use interpersonal skills and political acumen in respectful, collaborative, and diplomatic ways.
• A strong, intuitive communicator, skillful at managing through influence; demonstrated ability to connect and inspire across stakeholder groups.
• Passion for the mission-driven sector and the role that place-based philanthropy can have in addressing some of society’s most challenging problems.
• Experience with nonprofits, foundations, and working directly with a family foundation Board of Trustees a plus.

COMPENSATION

The expected starting salary range is $143,210 - $171,848, commensurate with experience, plus benefits.

TO APPLY

More information about the Ruth Mott Foundation may be found at: www.ruthmottfoundation.org

This search is being conducted with assistance from Linh Nguyen and Emily Wexler of NPAG. Due to the pace of this search, candidates are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Candidates may submit their cover letter, outlining their interest and qualifications, along with their resume via NPAG’s website.

The Ruth Mott Foundation looks to recruit team members who are as economically, culturally, and ethnically diverse as the community we serve. We are committed to diversity and inclusion in all its forms, including but not limited to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation, protected genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.