Vice President of Finance

Position Title: Vice President of Finance

Reports To: President and CEO

Office Location: Oakland, Milpitas, Redwood City, or Contra Costa County (up to 50% hybrid role of in-person and remote)

Compensation: $151,000, generous benefits package

Status: Full-time, exempt

About Fresh Lifelines for Youth

Fresh Lifelines for Youth is an award-winning non-profit whose mission is to partner with youth to unlock their potential, disrupt the pipeline to prison, and advance justice in California and beyond. By 2030, through partnering with young people, communities, and systems, FLY will contribute to the fight for equity and justice by taking concrete steps to dismantle California’s pipeline to prison, equip 30,000 youth to transform their lives and create meaningful opportunities for them to live healthy, free, and productive lives. For more information about Fresh Lifelines for Youth, please visit: www.flyprogram.org

Vice President of Finance - Position Summary

The Vice President of Finance is responsible for overseeing the financial strategy, financial planning and budgeting, audit and grants compliance, and risk management for an $11.5M nonprofit organization. Leading a team of five, this role focuses on financial stability and sustainability and leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive financial strategy that aligns with the organization’s mission and strategic objectives. As a critical member of the executive team, this role will serve as the primary financial advisor to the CEO, Board, and senior leadership, providing insights and analysis to guide strategic decisions.

Financial Strategy and Planning

• Lead the development and execution of a long-term financial strategy and scenario planning aligned with the organization’s mission and goals.
• Oversee the annual budgeting process, ensuring alignment with programmatic and strategic objectives.
• Analyze and report financial data to the CEO, Board, and senior leadership team, providing insights to guide decision-making.
• Manage cash flow and forecast future financial needs, ensuring adequate reserves and liquidity.
• Develop and implement systems to manage risk, including risk assessments and internal controls.

Financial Management and Compliance

• Ensure accurate, timely, and transparent financial reporting, including monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.
• Manages internal controls, conducts internal audits and reconciliations to identify any gaps or red flags.
• Oversee the preparation and submission of financial statements in compliance with GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Ensure compliance with all state and federal regulations governing nonprofit finances, including 990 filings and grant reporting.
• Manage annual audit processes and liaise with external auditors and tax advisors.
• Maintain and improve accounting systems, policies, and procedures to ensure efficient and compliant financial operations.
• Collaborate with HR during open enrollment to finalize benefits negotiations
• Manage FLY’s 403b Retirement Program
• Manage and monitor FLY’s investment portfolio, ensuring alignment with the organization’s investment policy statement (IPS) and compliance with all relevant regulations. Alongside FLY’s investment brokers, conduct regular portfolio performance assessments, risk analyses, and reporting to support strategic decision-making and ensure portfolio sustainability.

Grants and Contracts Management

• Provide oversight and support with grant invoicing and reporting, including budget preparation and compliance requirements.
• Coordinate with development and program staff to prepare financial information for grant applications and funder reports.
• Implement best practices in grants management and cost allocation processes.
• Oversee grant spending to ensure compliance with grant requirements, and applicable codes of federal regulations to ensure satisfactory audits 

Board and Executive Collaboration

• Serve as the key liaison to the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, preparing reports and presentations as required.
• Participate as a key member of the executive team in organizational strategy and decision-making processes.
• Collaborate with the Board and CEO on financial planning, risk management, and sustainability strategies.
• Support the CEO and the FLY board to implement and update as necessary, FLY’s investment policy. 

Team Development/Leadership and Staff Capacity Building

• Oversee, direct, and organize the work of the accounting and contracts team (team of five, two direct reports)
• Establish and monitor team performance and development goals, establish priorities, and conduct annual performance reviews.
• Coach and support team; provide professional development resources as needed.
• Oversee staff training efforts around financial, compliance, and operating systems. 
• Maintain a strong internal presence to model love, courage, and deep commitment to FLY’s values

Compensation & Benefits

This position is a full-time, exempt role at a rate of $151,000/annually with differential pay options based on an advanced degree and, when applicable to the role, speaking another language. Our Total Rewards Package also includes the following: 

• Full medical dental, vision, and chiropractic healthcare and retirement contribution match
• 10+ PTO Days
• 12 Holiday Days
• FLY provides 3-4 additional "rejuvenation days off" twice per year in July and December 
• Annual Wellness Funds 
• Annual Professional Development Funds
• Employee Assistance Program (paid for by FLY)
• Annual Staff Retreat, Holiday Party, End of Year Celebration, Team Off Sites, and other FLY Events. 
• Customize your Work Schedule (dependent on supervisor approval based on positional and departmental needs)
• Hybrid of In-Office and Remote Work (frequency of required in-person work is dependent upon the role)
• 8 Hours of Civic Engagement
• Mileage Reimbursement. 

At FLY, we have adopted a no-negotiation policy. This policy reflects our commitment to equity and ensuring that the offers we make to our candidates reflect competitive and appropriate compensation given the market and the role.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion

At FLY, we embrace a diversity of identities, beliefs, thoughts, and experiences. We commit to creating an organizational culture of equity and inclusion to better serve our youth and communities. FLY is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive for an inclusive culture and a staff team that reflects diversity. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex/gender, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state or local laws. We strongly encourage women; people of color, people who identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer communities; people with experience in the juvenile justice or criminal justice systems; and people with disabilities to apply.  Fresh Lifelines for Youth is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 263-2630 or compliance@flyprogram.org

COVID-19 Vaccination

At FLY, we are committed to the safety of our employees, clients, and all others who enter our workplace. As such, FLY would like to make clear that the COVID-19 vaccination is a condition of employment. However, FLY does allow staff to apply for exemptions based on medical history or sincerely held religious beliefs or practices. This must be approved through FLY’s compliance department. If you have any questions or would like to learn more, please contact us at (408) 263-2630 or email compliance@flyprogram.org

What to expect

• Application with 8-10 questions and an applicant screening question. 
  • No Cover Letter Required
• 2-3 Interviews (for many roles, at least 1 would be in person)
• Meet w/FLY youth
• Work Product (Done in advance of the Final Round Interview)

Position Requirements

The ideal candidate will have a deep commitment to equity, social, racial, and economic justice. They will have extensive knowledge of Finance, Accounting, as well as Incoming Grant and Budgetary Management. The candidate will believe in FLY’s vision and mission and will resonate with FLY’s values: accountable, dedicated, respectful, equitable and just, loving, innovative, hopeful, and youth-centered. 

Core Competencies: Skills and behaviors that FLY expects and develops all staff to exhibit across all positions at various levels of proficiency (early stage, intermediate  and advanced) 

• Cultural Responsivity: Demonstrates an openness and commitment to equity, justice, and belonging. This includes being aware of one’s own bias and privilege, building an understanding of systems of oppression, and valuing diverse perspectives; you take actions to learn and contribute to an environment that creates power-sharing, access, and opportunity within our community.
• High Quality: The ability to own your work, be accountable, and take initiative to produce high-quality results. This includes setting and achieving standards that demonstrate a high level of care and commitment to our mission, our population, our colleagues and our partners.
• Collaboration: The ability to work effectively within a team and intentionally across teams to contribute to FLY’s mission and agency goals. When working with others, you exercise your strengths and build on the strengths of others.
• Communication: The ability to convey information effectively with consideration of the situation and audience. This includes communicating clearly with people of different backgrounds and cultures in which you demonstrate self-awareness, empathy, and active listening. 
• Problem Solving: Applies critical thinking to problem solving that considers multiple perspectives and actively identifies creative solutions to address individual and systemic challenges. 
• Adaptability: The ability to adapt and respond to change effectively. This includes engaging in continuous learning, maintaining a solutions orientation, and proactively seeking opportunities to be supportive of change that  best serves our mission.

FLY’s Leadership Competencies: Skills and behaviors that FLY expects and develops all staff in Leadership positions to exhibit across various levels of proficiency (early stage, intermediate  and advanced) 

• Emotional Intelligence: Demonstrates self-awareness and the ability to process one’s own emotions and the impact and influence on others. This includes maintaining a compassionate and authentic perspective of issues and information that allows you to effectively work through challenges with teams and to respond with empathy.
• Change Management: The ability to recognize a need and assess the readiness for change. This includes effectively promoting and building commitment toward change and successfully guiding your team through the implementation process. 
• Strategic Decision-making: Effectively structures and facilitates inclusive decision-making processes. This includes responsibly making informed decisions to improve organizational health and impact through the use of key information to problem solve and to identify equitable solutions.
• Develops & Motivates Others: Motivates, inspires and supports teams and individuals through strong coaching, mentorship, and targeted development activities. Builds healthy and effective teams through regular feedback, collaboration, role clarity and conflict resolution.  
• External Relationship Builder: Invests in and builds strong, trusted and ongoing relationships with external partners and cultivates new relationships. This includes the ability to analyze and understand relationships as a strategy for achieving the mission, which often means navigating complex relationships while anchoring to FLY’s values.
• Project Management: The ability to create project plans, implement plans with effective delegation to team members, and manage those plans to intended impact, while adjusting the course when needed. This includes managing at various levels of complexity and scale, as well as anticipating potential barriers and evolving plans to achieve the desired impact.

Note on Qualifications: In FLY’s quest for an equitable hiring process, candidates are encouraged to apply even if they feel they only meet 75% of the position requirements.