Chief Finance and Administrative Officer

About The New Press

Established in 1990, The New Press is a book publisher designed to amplify progressive voices for a more inclusive, just, and equitable world. As a 501 c3, nonprofit, public-interest organization, we leverage books, diverse voices, and media engagement to facilitate social change, enrich public discourse, and defend democratic values. We believe that a diversity of perspectives ensures a more inclusive set of public conversations on issues of equity, racial justice, political access, and representation.

• Our work mainstreams critical perspectives on criminal justice, immigration, racial justice, education, civic engagement, environmental justice, and more.
• Our public interest mission and diverse revenue streams allow us to publish ahead of the curve, introduce innovative ideas, create new markets, and shift social narratives for the greater good.

Currently an $8 million organization, The New Press functions in most ways like a typical, savvy independent book publisher. Our staff of industry professionals works closely with authors and agents to frame effective concepts, to develop compelling manuscripts, to produce award-winning books, and to conduct effective national media and outreach campaigns around our books and the issues they promote. In addition to sales revenue of between $5 million and $6 million, The New Press raises between $2 million and $3 million in contributed revenue from foundations including The Ford Foundation, The MacArthur Foundation, The Open Society Funds, The Art for Justice Fund, The JPB Foundation, and the Emerson Collective, as well as from a range of individual donors.

The New Press has evolved into a key player in the progressive infrastructure, collaborating with hundreds of nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, research institutes, think tanks, colleges and universities, and philanthropic foundations as we position our books as catalysts for social change.

2021 was an unusually successful year for The New Press. Among the accolades and recognition we received are a 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature for author Abdulrazak Gurnah, whose early novels The New Press published in the 1990s; renewed attention for Kimberlé Crenshaw et al’s anthology Critical Race Theory: The Key Writings That Formed the Movement, published many years before the recent weaponization of critical race theory; and two major awards – the Cundhill History Prize and the Frederick Douglass Book Prize – for Marjorie Kars’s Blood on the River: A Chronicle of Mutiny and Freedom on the Wild Coast. In addition, our publisher Ellen Adler was named Person of the Year by Publishers Weekly, and, on a lighter note, The New Press was name-checked in episode 6 of the 2021 binge-worthy Netflix series The Chair.

For more information on The New Press, please visit www.thenewpress.com.

The Opportunity

Reporting to The New Press’s Executive Director, Diane Wachtell, with a dotted line to the Publisher, Ellen Adler, the Chief Finance and Administrative Officer (CFAO) will lead and manage all financial, administrative, and operational aspects of the company. Serving as a member of the senior leadership team, the CFAO will leverage effective finance and data systems; conduct finance and operations analysis; and help create a high-performing, collaborative, and values-driven culture across the organization.

The CFAO will manage a small team, leading and coordinating fiscal functions and management; administrative services; human resources; and IT and infrastructure, including systems and systems integration.

The CFAO will work with the finance committee of the Board to support The New Press’s financial and organizational health and growth trajectory as the organization’s structure evolves toward sustainability. The CFAO will be responsible for preparing, interpreting, and effectively communicating financial information and analysis to the senior leadership team, the finance committee of the Board, and the full Board of Directors to facilitate sound financial decisions.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative and detailed-oriented leader who brings expertise in financial and strategic planning, accounting, nonprofit and/or business administration, business growth strategies, and effective human resources. Publishing experience will be considered a major plus. Successful candidates will be experienced with the relationship between technology and organizational growth and evolution and able to navigate the demands of a relatively small (30-person) nonprofit organization. Like all senior positions at The New Press, the role shuttles regularly between strategic leadership and hands-on administration. This leader will have a strong work ethic, a commitment to clear goals and measurable outcomes, and an ability to learn quickly within a nonprofit publishing organization. Additionally, CFAO will provide leadership for the ongoing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at a publisher widely considered a field leader for its DEI practices.

Candidate Profile

The Chief Finance and Administrative Officer of The New Press will have the following responsibilities:

Financial Management

• Oversee and manage short- and long-term financial planning for earned and contributed revenue for the annual budget cycle.
• Manage finance and accounting functions, including monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, inventory policies including setting reserves, royalty accounting and semi-annual royalty payments, payroll, taxes, and other government filings.
• Provide senior leadership to the annual budget and reforecast processes and oversee the timely release of all financial data to be shared with senior management, the department directors, and the Finance Committee of the Board.
• Provide senior leadership to the audit process, working with the Finance team to ensure that the audit preparation occurs on a timely basis and that accounting practices are GAPP compliant.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and various staff to develop systems and integration of other software used by the organization for effective monitoring, analyzing, forecasting, and reporting.

Business Strategy

• Oversee strategic planning processes and develop business plans and appropriate infrastructure plans to support goals of the organization.
• Conduct business analyses, monitor key financial metrics, and compile appropriate reports for management and board reporting.
• Provide financial information for publishing processes, balancing the financial goals of the editorial, development, sales, and marketing teams.
• Manage relationships with auditors, banks, insurance brokers, software vendors, consultants, and other key counterparties.
• Drive business process improvement by bringing best practices to the accounting and operations functions.

Human Resources and Operations

• Ensure that the organization is providing high levels of HR service across all areas, including recruitment, labor-management relations (some staff are unionized), benefits (currently provided by Oasis, a PEO), talent management, mentoring, and personnel policies/relations.
• Responsible for assisting with hiring and retaining staff including career coaching and personal and professional development, as well as overseeing Union negotiations.
• Provide strategic guidance and evaluation of internal technology infrastructure and systems. Work with external IT partners to identify and champion the development of IT systems and strategies to support operations, productivity, and data security.
• Enhance and enforce operations policies and procedures including purchasing, security, and safety procedures. Manage post-Covid return-to-office policies and procedures.

Team and Organizational Leadership

• Build and supervise a team of finance and administrative staff to achieve organizational goals and priorities.
• Provide the team with mentoring, coaching, and professional development opportunities.
• Collaborate with other senior leaders in sustaining a culture of equity, inclusion, diversity, transparency, and accountability. Support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

• Strong business acumen and analytical skills; demonstrated experience analyzing financial and operational data: deep knowledge of not-for-profit and/or publishing accounting; highly advanced critical thinking; oversight of the successful implementation of software; and expert problem-solving skills to develop and apply innovative solutions.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices employed in finance, HR, and office Operations.
• Experience identifying and implementing new systems, platforms, and processes that result in greater efficiency and innovation.
• Proficiency with financial management software.
• Superior organizational skills, with an ability to work independently, meet deadlines, exercise considerable judgment, discretion, and initiative in coordinating and overseeing the work of others.
• Ability both to think strategically and to initiate and manage multiple projects from inception to completion.
• Experience providing direct support and presentations to Board of Directors.
• Advanced leadership skills in the context of a small organization or unit where all employees are directly engaged in core operational or business functions.
• Proven people manager with strong track record coaching, empowering, and developing staff and supporting an equitable and inclusive culture.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills with the ability to motivate, influence, and persuade; ability to interact with all members of the organization in ways that enhance understanding, respect, cooperation, and problem solving.
• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of ten years of relevant experience in administrative and financial management, or a combination of education and relevant experience required; MBA preferred but not required.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $150-190K. Full-time employees have access to competitive benefits, including health, dental, vision, 401(k), etc.

Contact

Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Molly Brennan and Martens Roc are leading this search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials here. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.

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The New Press is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The New Press will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, religion, creed, sexual orientation, disability, Union activity, marital and/or parental status, citizenship, national origin or alienage, ancestry, genetic information, size, age, military or veteran status, arrest record, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

About Koya Partners

Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

At Koya, we don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, support it, and thrive on it for the benefit of our team, our clients, and the communities we serve.

Koya is an equal opportunity employer fully committed to creating an environment and team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, styles, and experiences. We encourage all to apply because we believe a diversity of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone. Koya does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, military status, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

For more information about Koya Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.