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Form of workWestern Reserve Land Conservancy is seeking a Chief Financial Officer. The position reports to the President and CEO and will be located at the Land Conservancy’s Conservation Center in Moreland Hills, Ohio.
This is a full-time position with a salary range of $120,000 to $150,000 annually, commensurate with experience, and the position is eligible for benefits.
BACKGROUND
Western Reserve Land Conservancy provides people with essential natural assets through land conservation and restoration. Headquartered in Moreland Hills, Ohio, we are a non-profit organization, the largest land conservancy in Ohio and nationally accredited by the Land Trust Alliance. Serving an area of 29 counties from the Pennsylvania line to the Sandusky Bay, the Land Conservancy has permanently conserved more acreage than Cleveland Metroparks and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park combined. We work with private and public landowners, farming families, neighborhood development corporations, corporations, county park systems, local residents and many more to help create communities nourished by vibrant natural lands, working farms and healthy cities. Thriving Communities, our urban revitalization program, is nationally recognized for thought leadership on removing blight; creating land banks statewide to find productive uses for vacant properties; and revitalizing communities through greening strategies. Our mission is funded through a combination of program revenue, government grants, and philanthropic gifts from individuals, foundations and corporations.
POSITION SUMMARY
Reporting to the President & CEO, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a member of the Management Team and plays a key role in strategic decision making and organization operations. The CFO is responsible for managing all the Land Conservancy’s financial systems, as well as evaluating and implementing improvements in those systems. The CFO is the primary staff interface with the Finance, Audit and Investment committees of the Board of Trustees. The CFO also collaborates with both Development and Human Resources to support certain systems and processes in those areas.
This individual replaces the existing CFO, who is retiring in 2023. To ensure a seamless transition, it is expected there will be an overlap in duties for several months.
KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Financial Management
- Develop effective and amiable relationships with banks and other financial institutions
- Analyze and develop organizational capital structure
- Manage cash balances and maintain cash forecasts
- Ensure regulatory financial compliance in all areas
- Arrange and manage debt financing
- Deploy capital and manage investments in land protection and other projects
- Preparation of financial forecasts including cash forecasts, projected revenue and expense and results from operations
- Manage capital requests
- Develop and manage system of internal and external financial reports
- Lead and manage Audit Committee, retain independent auditor, and manage annual audit engagement and reporting
- Provide audited financials and associated reports to Audit Committee and then Board for approval
- Review annual Form 990 and provide to Audit Committee and then Board for approval
- Lead and manage Finance Committee
- Convene and lead ad-hoc finance-related subcommittees as necessary
- Report financial results to Finance Committee, Board and appropriate external organizations
- Perform ad hoc reporting and analysis based upon specific business needs
- Work with General Counsel to manage corporate risk through maintenance of appropriate insurance coverages.
- Develop annual budget to support elements of strategic plan and all Land Conservancy initiatives
Accounting
- Preparation of daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports
- Manage accounts payable and receivables
- Perform financial analysis, including actual to budget comparisons and investigation into variances
- Reconciliation of key balance sheet accounts, including bank accounts, loan accounts, receivables, payables and accruals
- Development and monitoring of internal control policies and procedures
- Development and maintenance of accounting procedures and accounting manual
- Support the land protection team by developing land protection project budgets and reporting on actual project related revenue and expenses
- Support the Development team by creating budgets for foundation grants and providing reports as required
- Support annual audit through preparation of supporting schedules and worksheets and field work support
- Support preparation of annual tax returns through preparation of supporting schedules and worksheets and providing general support
- Ad hoc reporting and analysis based upon specific business needs
Fiscal Agent for Affiliated Organizations
- White North Stables
- Manage all financial processes, including budget, monthly billing, bank deposits, bank account reconciliation, credit card reconciliation, and accounts payable/accounts receivable, plus payroll, insurance renewals and worker’s compensation true-up reports
- Cleveland Tree Coalition
- Manage all financial processes, including budget, bank deposits, bank account reconciliation, accounts payable/accounts receivable and financial statement preparation.
Other Responsibilities
- Supervise a part-time senior accounting manager position
- Supervise a part-time bookkeeper position
- Collaborate with Development on Quick Books financial activities
- Collaborate with Human Resources in payroll processing and reporting, 403b account management and benefits payroll deductions
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE AND CAPABILITIES
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance and/or business management
- Master’s degree in accounting, finance and/or business management preferred
- At least 10 years of increasingly responsible experience in accounting, financial management and business operations, with financial leadership experience in a non-profit organization strongly preferred
- Prior experience in collaborating with an executive team
- Strong written and verbal communications skills
- Prior experience in supervising people strongly preferred
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel or other financial analysis and business modeling tools
- Demonstrated ability to present financial information clearly and effectively to varied audiences, including Board members and employees
- Experience with real estate transactions desirable
- Demonstrated ability to implement plans, manage multiple deadlines and achieve objectives in a fast-paced environment
- Strong organizational and detail management skills
Western Reserve Land Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to hiring staff members who represent the rich diversity of our community. At the Land Conservancy, all employees and applicants for employment are judged on their merits. The Land Conservancy is committed to providing an environment free of illegal discrimination of any kind, and does not base any employment decisions on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, religion, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other protected category under federal and state laws.
