[Remote] Head of Finance (Volunteer)

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. The Institute for American Leadership (I4AL) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit think tank committed to revitalizing U.S. leadership and American soft power. They are seeking a Head of Finance to lead the organization's financial development, manage accounting systems, and ensure compliance with 501(c)(3) regulations.

Responsibilities

• Attending board meetings as needed and actively participating as an official, non-voting officer on the Board of Directors, accepting full accountability for official signatures and corporate attestations
• Working in direct, lockstep coordination with the Executive Director to jointly plan, model, and execute high-priority financial projects, organizational changes, and resource allocations
• Maintaining rigorous, uncompromised oversight of all non-profit legal and regulatory compliance, risk management frameworks, contract execution rules, liability insurance protections, and mandatory federal/state filings (including IRS Form 990, state charity registrations, and 501(c)3 statutory requirements)
• Delivering a full range of advanced financial support for the grant life cycle, including developing highly complex project and proposal budgets, monitoring absolute grant compliance, tracking restricted funds, and generating precise financial reports for major donors
• Curating a highly detailed annual and long-term organization-wide budget, including financial forecasting, revenue projections, and scenario planning
• Preparation for and direction of the month-end closing and consolidation process
• Maintaining the General Ledger, including adherence to GAAP, approval of accounting entries, reconciliation of all balance sheets, preparation of financial statements (monthly, quarterly, annual), and preparation of cash flow statements and projections
• Working with senior management and project managers to develop timely, accurate billing, forecasts, margin protection, and annual plans for donors, investors, lenders, and management
• Overseeing production of monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting plans
• Leading cost, profitability, and business analytics
• General bookkeeping, including daily journal entries, invoicing/billing, payroll, and A/R management
• Ensuring audit readiness, acting as the primary interface for annual and quarterly audits, including all compliance reporting
• Liaising closely with the grant development team to ensure deep financial and strategic alignment

Skills

• Bachelor's Degree, preferably in a business or finance-related field
• 10+ years of experience in accounting and financial management as a senior Controller, Director of Finance, or previous CFO
• Deep, practical knowledge of 501(c)3 compliance rules, nonprofit accounting procedures, IRS guidelines, and grant tracking regulations
• Demonstrated ability to roll up sleeves and deliver hands-on management and execution in a lean environment
• Strong bias for action and exceptional organizational governance skills
• An effective process and workflow methodology, utilizing metrics, KPIs, and continuous process improvements
• Inspirational leadership skills and a proven track record of developing successful, collaborative teams
• High standards of accuracy, precision, and follow through on deliverables
• Advanced analytical and data staging capabilities in Excel
• High comfort level operating within an ambiguous, high-growth environment
• Strong analytical thinking skills and attention to detail without losing sight of the big picture
• Experience with multiple ERP platforms and an ability to learn new methods and technologies easily
• Master's Degree highly preferred
• CPA or CMA designation
• Prior experience with compliance rules of 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations

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