Job Description
Chief Financial Officer
Organization Profile
Room to Read partners with local communities throughout the developing world to provide quality educational opportunities by establishing libraries, creating local language children's literature, constructing schools, providing education to girls, and establishing computer labs. We seek to intervene early in the lives of children in the belief that education empowers people to improve socioeconomic conditions for their families, communities, countries, and future generations. Through the opportunities that only education can provide, we strive to break the cycle of poverty, one child at a time.
We are non-governmental, non-religious and work with many local NGOs and community based organizations to implement our programs. We currently work in Cambodia, India, Laos, Nepal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and Zambia - countries with a desperate lack of resources to educate their children. In 2007, we began our expansion into Bangladesh.
Since our inception, Room to Read's worldwide team has impacted over 1.7 million children by constructing more than 440 schools, establishing over 5,100 libraries, publishing 226 new children's book titles in 11 local languages, and putting over 4,000 girls onto long-term, holistic scholarships. We are one of ten non-profits to have won the Fast Company / Monitor Group Social Capitalist award five years in a row and have been featured in a variety of media including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CNN, The Oprah Winfrey Show, and PBS.
Room to Read has an annual budget of approximately US$22 million, and our global staff numbers over 175; both of these figures will continue to grow rapidly in 2008. Our global headquarters is located in San Francisco, our Asia Regional Office is located in New Delhi, and we have program offices in Colombo, Ho Chi Minh City, Kathmandu, Lusaka, New Delhi, Pretoria, Phnom Penh, and Vientiane. Our long-term goal is to help 10 million children to gain the lifelong gift of education.
Position Overview
The Chief Financial Officer will be a key member of Room to Read's senior management team and will be responsible for managing the varied accounting and finance initiatives as well as coordinating with outside legal counsel on all domestic and international legal issues. Reporting directly to the COO, the Chief Financial Officer will have regular interactions with the Board of Directors and will manage two direct reports while overseeing a team of seven at the global office in San Francisco. The CFO also provides strategic direction for finance teams in the regional and country offices worldwide.
Duties & Responsibilities
In all areas, the CFO will be expected to bring an entrepreneurial and innovative approach to developing and integrating systems and processes into a growing and dynamic organization. Specifically, the CFO will:
- Enhance and implement worldwide financial/accounting policies, processes, and internal controls to increase staff efficiency and effectiveness, as well as protect organizational assets
- Manage the creation and implementation of a worldwide financial budgeting and forecasting process to ensure alignment with and achievement of organizational strategies and priorities
- Report on, and recommend for approval, the annual financial plan to the management team and Board of Directors
- Oversee all general ledger entries including Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Payroll
- Direct annual external audits, including 990 and other filing requirements
- Generate regular financial statements and analyses for the management team and the Board of Directors
- Provide detailed and accessible financial information to the Development team for grant reporting
- In conjunction with the Finance Committee, share responsibility for the investment of Room to Read's cash balances and investment portfolio; create cash investment policies and procedures to ensure maximum return while maintaining liquidity, minimizing risk, and providing reserves for long-term liabilities
- Collaborate with outside legal counsel to manage the organization's legal and compliance needs, and proactively identify and resolve potential legal issues while minimizing counsel's fees
- Collaborate with Management Team to set strategic direction for the rapid growth and expansion of the organization worldwide
Qualifications
Required
- Passion for the mission of Room to Read and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization
- Minimum of 15+ years of finance/accounting experience, with a minimum of 5+ years in a management capacity and experience with GAAP, GAAS, and non-profit financial accounting
- Proven track record of achieving results in a corporate or non-profit environment, with demonstrated success building systems and tools to support a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organization
- Prior success working closely with and building relationships with staff and a Board of Directors
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire a wide range of audiences
- Prior experience living and/or working internationally, with the ability and desire to travel internationally approximately 3 times per year
- High level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness with a strong work ethic and the ability to work independently with minimal direction
- Bachelor's degree in related field required; CPA or advanced degree in finance, accounting, or non-profit management strongly preferred
To be successful as a member of the Room to Read team, you will also:
- Have a passion for our mission and a strong desire to impact an up-and-coming non-profit organization
- Be an innovative and creative thinker - you are not afraid to try something new and inspire others to do so
- Have a very high level of personal and professional integrity and trustworthiness
- Have a strong work ethic, take initiative, and require minimal direction
- Work well independently as well as part of a team
- Thrive in a fast-paced and fun environment
Compensation
Room to Read offers a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Benefits include health, dental, vision, long-term disability insurance, and a 401K match. The non-monetary compensation includes a unique opportunity to be part of an innovative, meaningful, fun, and rapidly growing organization that is changing the world through the lifelong gift of education.
Application Procedure
Please send a cover letter and resume by email with "CFO" in the subject line (no letters, calls, faxes, or drop-ins) to hiring@roomtoread.org. Due to high applicant volume, you may not receive a response from Room to Read.
Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.
