About Near East Foundation
For over a century, the Near East Foundation (NEF) has been dedicated to building sustainable futures for communities in need across the Middle East, Africa, and Armenia. As an NGO driven by compassion and long-term impact, our team thrives on the challenges of delivering meaningful change in some of the most complex regions of the world. People are at the heart of what we do. Our work—empowering individuals and communities, fostering economic growth, and promoting peace and stability—depends on the passionate, diverse, and committed team that makes it possible.
Learn more about Near East Foundation at https://neareast.org/.
The Opportunity
This an extraordinary opportunity for a seasoned global finance leader with extensive international nonprofit experience who is collaborative and multi-culturally aware. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is part of a 250-person global team across 13 countries. They should be strategic, hands-on, and eager to build systems and processes. The CFO reports to the CEO and serves as the Assistant Treasurer of the Board of Directors and are part of both the Executive Leadership Team and the Global Senior Leadership Team.
Managing a $25M budget, 5 direct reports, and overseeing 12 functional dotted-line reports, the CFO leads the finance and accounting function for NEF, ensuring the highest standards of internal controls and financial management. They advise on all fiscal matters, including long term planning and forecasting, financial planning and analysis, and manage all accounting, budgeting, and cash flow activities to ensure NEF is optimized to achieve its goals. As the CFO, they are responsible for business planning and overall financial management of NEF and affiliates, including anticipation of revenue enhancement or threat, optimization of assets, cash flow, program financial performance, and overall long-term financial viability. In addition, the CFO has direct responsibility for legal, compliance, IT, and HQ operations.
The CFO’s key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Financial and Operational Management
- Lead all aspects of financial planning, analysis, and reporting; provide thorough analysis of results and make recommendations/take actions to keep NEF on track to meet short- and long-term financial goals.
- Prepare and present financial reports to the Board of Directors of NEF and affiliates, on a quarterly basis.
- Develop and maintain annual operating budgets for NEF and all affiliate entities; prepare and present NEF and affiliate annual budgets to the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors.
- Manage indirect costs, anticipating changes with the NICRA or other indirect rates and making allowances to avoid negative impacts after grants are closed or in subsequent fiscal years.
- Develop dynamic financial and business planning models, establishing performance metrics (KPIs) to optimize the financial performance of NEF.
- Attend investment committee meetings to stay informed of investment strategy, performance, and availability of cash; manage endowment draws according to approved budget.
- Ensure proper internal controls are in place to protect NEF’s assets and demonstrate compliance to all relevant accounting standards for each entity and in accordance with GAAP for NEF (consolidated entity).
- Ensure policies and procedures are in place and up to date globally, according to best practices.
- Supervise the accounting department to ensure the proper functioning of all systems, software, and internal controls.
- Manage organizational cash flow to ensure liquidity and maximize effectiveness of NEF operations.
- Review and approve all financial terms for new grants to be sure cash flow is viable within NEF’s current operating conditions.
Financial Compliance and Audit
- Manage internal and external audits to ensure proper controls are in place and all compliance requirements are satisfied.
- Maintain accountability for financial compliance on all grants, contracts, and financial statements for each entity.
- Negotiate and approve Indirect Cost Rate Agreements (NICRA) within the required deadlines.
- Ensure all financial filings in accordance with applicable regulations and timeline for NEF, affiliates, and registered offices.
- Ensure all finance staff maintain financial record systems in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Strategic Leadership
- Serve as the business partner to the CEO and collaborate with the CEO on all operational and strategic issues; provide strategic recommendations to the CEO based on financial analysis and projections, cost identification and allocation, and revenue/expense analysis.
- Report on financial and operational performance metrics and provide key finance information to the Board, Executive Leadership Team, and Global Senior Leadership Team to make complex organizational and strategic decisions based on expert analysis, synthesis, and interpretation of data and trends; collaborate with senior leaders to design and implement an organization-wide business and operating plan to meet short and long-term objectives.
- Anticipate key trends, opportunities, and vulnerabilities; position finance support to ensure stable NEF infrastructure systems that support current and future programs.
- Identify, acquire, and implement systems and software to provide critical financial and operational information.
- Evaluate departments and make suggestions for automating processes and increasing working efficiency.
- Contribute to overall strategy, leadership, values, culture, and decision-making through active membership of the Executive Leadership Team and Global Senior Leadership Team.
Team Management and Organizational Culture
- Develop and manage a high-performing, agile globally distributed finance team with effective processes and systems for global financial operations.
- Engage the Executive Leadership Team and Global Senior Leadership Team to facilitate cross-department collaboration that ensures financial solutions that support NEF’s strategy and operational model.
- Model accountability through own behaviors and practices to effectively steward the organizational culture as one of service, accountability, effectiveness, and efficiency, without compromising on quality.
- Foster a supportive multicultural environment.
- Employ a diplomatic and influential communication style across staff from different countries and cultures to gain support and implement successful change initiatives improving processes and systems.
Candidate Profile
We recognize that there is a spectrum of lived and professional experiences that will set candidates up for success in this role. While no one candidate will have every experience outlined in the position description, the ideal candidate will have the following personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:
- Minimum of 20 years of progressive financial management experience with a minimum of 10 years in a senior leadership position working in a complex international environment.
- Previous experience as a CFO in a global nonprofit or NGO setting is highly desirable.
- MS, MBA or equivalent degree; CPA a plus.
- Well-versed in managing financial transactions across multiple currencies and with a strong knowledge of US and UK GAAP and international accounting standards.
- Exceptional communication and leadership skills with the ability to work cross-culturally.
- Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and a commitment to mission.
- Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, proposing new ways of creating efficiencies, and guiding investment in people and systems, including with IT, legal, and compliance functions.
- Technologically savvy with experience implementing new processes and systems to increase efficiency.
- Ability and willingness to regularly travel internationally.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is $175,000 - $225,000 with a generous benefits package. Three to six international trips per year should be expected, plus US domestic travel. Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without company sponsorship, now or in the future.
Contact
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Molly Brennan, Sarah Avendaño, and Glenn Wiggins. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.
Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
Near East Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ+ applicants.
About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group
Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.
Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.