Chief Financial Officer

Key Responsibilities

Strategy and Leadership

• Act as a strategic business partner and the senior-most financial and analytics officer on the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), helping ensure the organization’s goals, strategy, and plans advance its mission effectively.
• Liaise with the Board of Directors as needed, including as the principal management liaison to the Finance and Operations Committee.
• Partner with other executive leaders to define and role model the organization’s values and desired leadership culture, including by spearheading implementation of CAC’s Financial Philosophy.
• Build and manage a world-class Finance and Business Analytics department, including; department design and recruiting, effective communication of organizational and departmental mission and goals, and consistent role modeling, feedback, and coaching for department leaders and staff in support of CAC’s cultural and professional goals and expectations.
• Spearhead development and management of departmental plans, budgets, and performance in relation to approved organizational goals, budgets, and key metrics.
• Supervise and inspire a small team, ensuring a culture of equity, collaboration, strong communication, continuous learning, transparency, and inclusivity.

Financial Planning and Business Analysis

• Assist in formulating CAC’s strategic direction by developing and assessing financial forecasts and revenue strategies in relation to CAC’s Financial Philosophy, approved strategic goals and initiatives, and industry best practices, informing the pace, sequencing, and direction of growth.
• Develop and oversee the strategy for collecting and utilizing business data to provide management-level insight into organizational performance, including progress toward financial, programmatic, and strategic goals and key performance indicators (KPIs).
• Lead the development and maintenance of program pricing and revenue guidelines that align with the overall revenue model and Financial Philosophy.
• Support the identification, development, and analysis of business initiatives, product launches and/or new service offerings, as needed.
• Support the Board of Directors in identifying investment opportunities aligned with the organization’s values, Financial Philosophy, and strategic goals; manage and track the performance of investments at the direction of the Finance and Operations Committee.

Accounting and Risk Management

• Manage the development, approval and implementation of the annual budget and capital projects.
• Develop and oversee a system of assigning and implementing royalty payments for guest teachers.
• Support the Finance and Operations Committee in overseeing the independent audit of CAC and the submission of the annual Form 990.
• Oversee legal and financial risk management in collaboration with the Finance and Operations Committee and outside legal counsel as needed, ensuring adequate insurance coverage for the full range of business activities.
• Ensure that internal controls and processes for cash flow management, financial forecasting, budgeting, analysis, and reporting are effective and accurate. 
• Personally manage major donations requiring special attention such as liquidating large securities or other non-cash items.   
• Oversee processes to monitor and approve contractual relations established by the company including business partnerships, publisher agreements and copyrights.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state and local regulatory laws and rules for financial and tax reporting.

Ideal Candidate

• Leadership:  Effectively manages self, relationships, and results. Sets a vision, activates aspiration, and guides individual and teams to accomplish the mission. Leads and supports personnel in a way that generates trust, respect, loyalty, and enthusiasm.
• Management:  Plans, organizes, directs, monitors and controls work to create an effective and efficient department.
• Problem Solving:  Analyzes problems, understands root causes, and applies systems solutions to create beneficial and long-lasting change.
• Decision Making:  The ability to make decisions and the quality and timeliness of those decisions.
• Performance Management: Sets clear expectations and agreements, provides training and development.  Delegates and empowers appropriately. Approaches performance issues with a systems and growth mindset. Determines the cause of the issue and supports the employee’s improvement with coaching, adaptive leadership, and direct feedback. When appropriate, provides corrective action quickly, directly, and respectfully.
• Team Development: Understands the stages of team development and successfully builds a high performing and healthy team. Manages differences, elevates strengths, and provides the leadership necessary for a group of people to come together to create extraordinary results. 

Qualifications

• Fifteen years of progressively responsible finance and accounting experience
• Proven leadership and project management skills
• Experience as an effective member of an executive team
• Experience working with external auditors, internal controls, and compliance-related issues
• Knowledge of contemplative traditions and experience within the current landscape of contemplative teaching and practice is a plus
• Masters degree in Finance or Business Administration is a plus