Finance Manager

Background

Over one hundred years ago, the Jewish community founded HIAS (originally the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) in New York City, the immigrant gateway to America. Supporting Jews fleeing persecution and poverty in Eastern Europe, our founders were guided by the traditions, texts and history of the Jewish people—a history of oppression, displacement and diaspora. HIAS has since helped generations of Jews facing violence because of who they were, and HIAS remains committed to helping Jewish refugees anywhere in the world. Today, our clients at HIAS come from diverse faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds, as do our staff. We bring our experience, history and values to our work across five continents, ensuring that refugees today receive the vital services and opportunities they need to thrive.

HIAS is a learning community, committed to diversity and inclusion. We do our work with integrity, accountability, transparency and a commitment to the highest ethical standards. We seek employees from diverse backgrounds and life experiences to join our teams located in the United States and across the globe. People who identify as BIPOC, people with disabilities, people from the LGBTQ+ community and people with lived experiences of forced displacement or immigration are all encouraged to apply. We are committed to building a diverse workforce that reflects our vision, mission and values.

Summary

Reporting to the Director, HIAS Economic Advancement Fund, the Finance Manager will lead and support the finance and accounting function of a small emerging Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI). This will include working with the organization’s leadership and contract CFO to define the processes and implement the infrastructure/systems needed to support substantial growth of a community economic development non-profit organization over the next several years. The individual in this position will build and manage effective and streamlined administrative/financial systems, including finance, accounting, budgeting, compliance, and reporting. The role will also include financial analysis and reviewing trends in the organization’s financial performance for internal review and presentation to outside constituents as may be requested or required.

HIAS Economic Advancement Fund (EAF) is a non-profit organization and emerging CDFI loan fund that provides refugees and other forcibly displaced entrepreneurs access to capital so they can launch and grow their businesses. EAF works alongside HIAS resettlement partners that are local Jewish and secular service agencies working on the ground in communities across the country to help refugees settle and integrate into their new communities. Our partners are the local presence in each community we serve, providing entrepreneurial refugees business technical assistance, financial education and assistance accessing capital to launch or grow their businesses through EAF.

EAF was founded in 2022 by HIAS, the Jewish humanitarian organization that provides critical services to refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced people around the world. What began as a microenterprise development program of HIAS in 2017 serving two geographic markets, has since developed into an emerging CDFI serving entrepreneurial refugees in 14 U.S. cities who would otherwise have difficulty obtaining loan capital from banks and other conventional lenders. While deeply affiliated with HIAS, EAF is a relatively new organization in a rapid growth trajectory, giving its staff members the opportunity to be part of the foundational development of EAF, including developing systems, processes, and new forms of support for refugee owned businesses.

Responsibilities

ON-GOING ACTIVITIES

• Responsible for the delivery of cost effective and efficient accounting and financial systems, policies and processes that meet the current and organizational requirements.
• Works with auditors and prepares all bank reconciliations, journal entries, accounts payable, accounts receivable transactions, and loan management documentation, providing support for a rapidly expanding loan portfolio.
• Develops monthly and annual financial reporting materials and metrics for the staff and board of directors.
• Provides overviews of the financial status of the organization to the Board at least quarterly and more often as requested.
• Supports management of EAF, its parent organization and the board with additional financial information and analyses as requested, in conjunction with the organization’s management team; this can include financial analysis of cash position, key ratios, and projections for financial needs as the organization grows.
• Oversees the External Audit, reviews and analyzes results and recommends for approval the Audited Financial Statements.
• Prepares the financial section of the annual report.
• Oversees the Cash Management function and develops cash management recommendations for the organization that can be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors.
• Coordinates with lending team to understand financial implications of lending program activities and develop appropriate forecasts for lending cash needs and reserves.
• Ensures the organization is in compliance with all internal policies and relevant regulations, and ensures filings are completed in a timely manner.
• Coordinates financial reporting and other compliance requirements for the organization’s funders, including government, foundations, and investors.
• Ensures effective follow-up processes are in place for financial functions.
• Manages EAF’s financial accounting system, ensuring maximum productivity.
• Oversees the continuous improvement of accounting and financial processes and systems, and the development of a team, with the goal of achieving best practices and optimal output.
• Develops and oversees improvements and additions to accounting policies and procedures to meet both current and future needs, as needed.
• Provides updated policy recommendations to the Board of Directors as appropriate.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

OCCASIONAL OR ONE-TIME ACTIVITIES

• Develops and oversees the Internal Review function to ensure that the organization complies with its finance and operations controls and policies.
• Provides staff training on these policies and the online accounting system.
• Drives the annual budgeting process by developing templates, training staff on process, and managing the iterations of the budget to completion on an agreed schedule.
• Expands or re-develops Chart of Accounts to support EAF’s current activities and strategic plan for new activities.
• Works with staff to provide training as needed to be assured of staff capacity for supporting the accounting function internally.
• Develops appropriate metrics for understanding financial implications of loan policies and procedures; this will include allowances for loan losses, loan capital budgets and clear delineation of net asset calculations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree in an appropriate discipline.
• 4-6 years of professional experience, with preference for community-based lending and nonprofit experience.
• Experience creating and driving the analytic framework for planning and financial management in a highly entrepreneurial organization.
• Excellent people skills, with experience collaborating in a multi-disciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team.
• Demonstrated experience in financial management and accounting, including fund accounting, ideally in the community lending and nonprofit sector.
• Experience should include audit, compliance, budget, and resource development.
• Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, proposing new ways of creating efficiencies, and guiding investment in people and systems.
• Experience with QuickBooks highly preferred.
• Expert technical skills and ability to learn and work across multiple technology platforms required with a preference for candidates who have experience with one or more of the following systems: DownHome Solutions, Lenderfit, PowerBi, Microsoft SharePoint and Teams.
• Finds start-up environments energizing and is willing and able to take on multiple tasks and projects typical of a rapidly growing organization; able to meet reasonable deadlines and prioritize workflow within a changing fast-paced work environment.
• A commitment to EAF’s mission and its impact on its community.
• Travel, to include travel to insecure operating environments, may be required.

Compensation and Benefits

Note, this is a temporary position that starts ASAP and ends December 31, 2026, with possible extension. Eligible for all benefits. The salary range for this position is $80,000.00-95,000.00.

How to Apply

Please submit your resume, cover letter and application to our website: Finance Manager – Careers At HIAS