Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer, Albuquerque, New Mexico

New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) is the largest provider of civil legal services to low-income New Mexicans for a variety of legal issues including domestic violence/family law, consumer protection, housing, and benefits. NMLA has locations throughout the state including Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces, Gallup, Roswell, Silver City, Clovis, Hobbs, Las Vegas, Taos, and Santa Ana Pueblo. NMLA has a long-standing reputation for delivering high-quality services in urban and rural communities throughout the state. NMLA has a diverse and experienced staff and board.

New Mexico Legal Aid (NMLA) is seeking an experienced Chief Financial Officer who is eager to help NMLA make a lasting difference for low-income people throughout New Mexico. The position is based in Albuquerque.

The Chief Financial Officer is a dynamic member of NMLA's Executive Management Team, with primary day‑to­-day responsibility for financial planning and for implementing, managing, and controlling all financial‑related activities for the organization. This includes direct responsibility for accounting, financial management, forecasting, budgeting, strategic planning, and grant and contract financial compliance. The position will drive the use of technology within the accounting department in order to streamline operations and ensure that the department has the capacity to support the accounting and grant reporting needs of NMLA. The CFO reports directly to the NMLA Executive Director.

High Priority Roles and Responsibilities:

Strategic

• Provide fiscal support to the Board.
• Provide financial scenarios for strategic initiatives, including multi-year forecasting.
• Assess financial and internal control risks of proposed initiatives and/or programs and propose recommendations.

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Prepare annual budget and communicate and integrate financial reports/budget with strategic/service delivery plans at the cost center level of the organization. This includes engineering the annual budget in a visionary way ensuring that all managers and key staff have complete, clear, and timely financial information with which to make decisions, and that goals of service delivery plans and projects are legitimately achievable within financial parameters.
• Prepare financial projections.
• Interpret operating results.
• Analyze NMLA's financial position including forecasting, supporting the budget and strategic planning processes, and determine optimal accounting solutions that meet NMLA needs
• Make recommendations for cost efficiencies.
• Provide cost‑benefit analyses including capital asset acquisitions, space leases, etc.
• Plan and coordinate fiscal special projects with managers and provide requisite analysis.

Financial Reporting

• Oversee the generation of timely and accurate financial and management reports.
• Participate in Board meetings and make presentations to the Board and Board committees as necessary.
• Ensure timely completion of financial statements, disclosures and supporting schedules.
• Ensure proper classification of assets, liabilities, net assets, revenues and expenses.

Cash Management and Investment

• Monitor Net Asset carryovers and reserve balances.
• Monitor cash balances and make recommendations to Executive Director.
• Ensure Executive Director and the Board's Audit and Finance committee are aware of idle cash available for investment.
• Maintain analysis of investment portfolio performance and advise Executive Director and the Board's Audit and Finance committee.
• Perform research on investment options as directed by the Board's Audit and Finance committee.
• Maintain relationships with banks and other financial institutions.

Policy and Procedure

• Develop accounting policies to comply with GAAP, OMB Circulars A‑110, A‑122, and A‑133, A-50, FASB 116, 117 audits, Legal Services Corporation rules and regulations, financial guidelines, trust account rules, tax, grant, management reporting requirements, cost allocations and other applicable policies and regulations.
• Establish and update internal controls as needed.
• Maintain accounting manual with continuous review and enhancement of processes and controls.

Accounting and Tax

• Oversee all accounting functions.
• Oversee payroll systems and timekeeping database.
• Ensure timely submission of employment taxes and payroll related forms and returns.
• Oversee proper inventory accounting of fixed assets.
• Ensure proper accounting of donations.
• Research, implement, and maintain hardware and software for accounting and finance
• Maintain and update biannual Cost Allocation Plan.
• Provide training to attorneys on fiscal operation of Client Trust Accounts.
• Oversee audit process and coordinate with audit firm.
• Oversee preparation for tax returns including forms 990 and 5500 by external CPA firm and approve final return.
• Keep abreast of accounting, business, and financial issues by attending continuing education seminars.

Grants Management

• Ensure timely and accurate preparation and submission of grant documents such as proposals, budgets, monthly actual expenditures, interim reports, budget modifications, final reports, and self‑audits.
• Work closely with Executive Director, Development Director and Grants Manager on grant proposals and reports to ensure that managers are timely meeting grants deliverables.
• Participate in fiscal monitoring visits by funders.
• Ensure proper accounting for grant receivables.

Accounting Personnel Management

• Oversee all accounting functions.
• Oversee payroll systems and timekeeping database.
• Ensure timely submission of employment taxes and payroll related forms and returns.
• Oversee proper inventory accounting of fixed assets.
• Ensure proper accounting of donations.
• Research, implement, and maintain hardware and software for accounting and finance
• Maintain and update biannual Cost Allocation Plan.
• Provide training to attorneys on fiscal operation of Client Trust Accounts.
• Oversee audit process and coordinate with audit firm.

The above list of duties is intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the CFO. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive list of duties performed by the CFO. Other tasks may be assigned by the Executive Director as needed.

Position Requirements:

• CPA or Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) certification is required.
• Minimum three to five years relevant work experience with demonstrable leadership and strategic financial advisory skills. Non-profit experience is highly preferred.
• Excellent organizational and analytical skills, along with process/project management abilities and an acute attention to detail.
• Effective written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, coupled with an ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Proficient computer skills, specifically in Microsoft applications, accounting software, and databases. Experience with MIP Abila non-profit accounting software is a plus.
• Demonstrated knowledge of nonprofit accounting.
• Strong work ethic and ability to multi‑task and meet deadlines.
• Strong business acumen, competency in business operations, and an ability to communicate and effectively explain complex financial issues to Board, staff and other partners in concise easy to understand language.
• Strong supervision, interpersonal, and team leadership skills.
• Personal attributes including the ability to engender confidence and trust, honesty, a strong work ethic, a sense of humor, good listening skills, decisiveness, a belief in equality, and experience with and commitment to working with a diverse multi-cultural workforce.
• Ability to travel within New Mexico as needed.
• Willingness to make a long-term commitment to NMLA.

NMLA employees enjoy:

• A great work environment
• Great benefits including generous leave
• Competitive salary

Compensation: Full-time salaried position, Salary based on experience. NMLA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Minorities, Women, Veterans, and Persons with Disabilities Are Encouraged to Apply.

Applicants will be subject to a background check.

NMLA provides comprehensive benefits, holiday and leave packages. For information about NMLA's generous benefits, and what it is like to work at NMLA click here

Provide a current resume and a cover letter that explains your interest in this position and the mission of NMLA by clicking here to apply. Your application will not be considered unless we receive both of these documents. As an alternative, you can email the applicant packet to jobs@nmlegalaid.org.

Deadline: Until filled