GENERAL DESCRIPTION: The Finance Director for Head Start & Early Childhood Programs is responsible for overseeing the financial management, compliance, and strategic planning of the organization's fiscal operations. This role ensures adherence to federal, state, and local regulations while optimizing financial resources to support high-quality early childhood education programs.
Develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and controls in alignment with Head Start regulations and organizational objectives.
Prepare, manage, and monitor annual budgets, ensuring proper allocation of funds for program sustainability.
Oversee financial reporting, ensuring accuracy and compliance with federal, state, and grant requirements.
Provide financial analysis and forecasting to support strategic decision-making.
Ensure the timely and accurate processing of payroll, accounts payable, and receivable functions.
Grant & Compliance Management
Manage Head Start and Early Head Start funding, including federal, state, and private grants.
Monitor and track grant expenditures, ensuring compliance with grantor requirements and federal cost principles.
Collaborate with program directors to ensure budget adherence and proper fund utilization.
Prepare and submit required financial reports to funding agencies, auditors, and stakeholders.
Strategic Leadership & Collaboration
Partner with the Executive Director and leadership team to align financial strategies with organizational goals.
Provide financial training and support to program managers to enhance budget awareness and fiscal responsibility.
Lead financial audits and ensure the organization is prepared for external reviews and monitoring visits.
Communicate financial status, challenges, and opportunities to leadership and the Board of Directors.
EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED:
Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (master's degree or CPA preferred).
Minimum of 5-7 years of progressive experience in financial management, preferably in a nonprofit or grant-funded organization.
Knowledge of Head Start/Early Head Start financial regulations and reporting requirements.
Strong proficiency in accounting software, Microsoft Excel, and financial management systems.
Experience managing federal and state grants, including OMB Uniform Guidance compliance.
Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively across departments
Experience with nonprofit accounting software (e.g., MIP Fund Accounting, QuickBooks, or similar platforms).
Familiarity with early childhood education, funding sources and best financial practices.
Ability to develop financial models and risk assessments for long-term sustainability.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Ability to sit most of the time with some bending and reaching.
Ability to stand, walk, and bend periodically.
Ability to engage in repetitive movement of wrists, hands, and fingers - typing and/or writing.
Ability to work frequently at close visual range (i.e. preparing and analyzing data and figures, accounting, transcription, computer terminal, extensive reading).
Ability to receive and respond to oral communication.
Ability to exert up to 10 pounds of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
Work is generally performed in an office environment.
Noise level in the work environment is moderate to occasionally loud (examples: business office with computers and printers, light to moderate traffic, human voices).
Standard office equipment generally used includes:
Telephone
Personal Computer (monitor, keyboard, and mouse) or Tablet
Printer/Photocopy Machine
Calculator
Fax Machine
May be required to operate a motor vehicle during the course of duties.
ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETENCIES:
Goal Oriented: Ability to execute actions, use resources efficiently, and make timely decisions according to the quality standards expected by the organization to obtain the expected results.
Service Oriented: Ability to identify and understand the needs and expectations of people in relation to the organization and serve them with the required quality.
Teamwork: Ability to build cooperative relationships based on trust with the people whom will interact with at work. Promoting the achievement of the organization's objectives.
Effective Communication: Ability to listen and express in a clear, concrete and timely way through writing, verbal and non-verbal communication.
Organizational Commitment: Ability and willingness to align one's behavior with the needs, priorities, values and objectives of the organization, and act based on organizational policies and procedures.
Willingness to Change: Ability to propose changes and adapt work actions to the new realities presented by the organization and its @context.
Professional Development: Ability to be an example, by practicing self-development, actively participating in learning forums and promoting the best human resources practices.
Safety: Ability to quickly manage and alert a work-related safety and/or emergency.
ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES:
Extraordinary: Uses his talent and experience to clarify structure, roles and relationships and transform obstacles into opportunities.
Missionary: Maintains self-control in situations of stress and conflict, seeks support when necessary and is committed to letting others know when their behaviors affect them.
Collaborator: Demonstrates availability, cordiality and participates in face-to-face communication with colleagues and clients, uses email to inform.
Participative : Complies with established agreements and increases conversations, negotiating priorities and / or asking questions to validate information.
Creative : Promotes a sense of innovation for the development of new ideas, trends and processes to carry out their work.
Utopian : Focused on professional development and change management, ensuring to include all those who are impacted by the change.
DISCLAIMER:
The information presented indicates the general nature and level of work expected of employees in this classification. It is not designed to contain, nor to be interpreted as, a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, qualifications and objectives required of employees assigned to this job.
Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
