Job Posting: Finance Manager

Monday, July 17, 2023

Secure World Foundation (SWF), a 501(c)3 non-profit operating foundation, is seeking a part-time (10 – 15 hours per week) Finance Manager to maintain sound fiscal practices, systems of internal control, and effective coordination and utilization of resources that support the SWF activities. Join our small, but ambitious team working to encourage the development of the international “rules of the road” for satellites and activities that use our shared, near-Earth outer space.

As the only organization devoted entirely to space sustainability, SWF strives to be a trusted and objective source of thought leadership and information on space security, sustainability, and the use of space for benefits on Earth. We use a global and pragmatic lens to study and evaluate proposed solutions to improve the governance of outer space. While recognizing the complexities of the international political environment, SWF works to encourage and build relationships with all willing stakeholders in space activities, including government, commercial, military, civil society, and academic actors. Central to this approach is increasing knowledge about the space environment and the need to maintain its stability, promoting international cooperation and dialogue, and helping all space actors realize the benefits that space technologies and capabilities can provide.

Summary

Reporting to the Operations Director, the Finance Manager will review and reconcile the Bookkeeper’s work; provide budgeting, reporting, and forecasting data; review all third-party program contracts; and interface with auditor, insurance, and investment service providers.  In carrying out this role, the incumbent will both support and be supported by other SWF staff, as appropriate.

The successful candidate must be authorized to work in the United States and will be based in our Broomfield, Colorado office. This position is a hybrid of in-office and remote work. The successful candidate will be able and willing to complete the responsibilities attached to this position.

Responsibilities

The primary responsibilities of the Finance Manager are to ensure the integrity of SWF’s financial systems. These responsibilities are described in more detail below:

Manage payables and receivables

• Manage checks, wires, and ACH transactions. 

Reconcile financial accounts

• Reviews the Bookkeeper’s work in classifying financial transactions.
• Approves accounts payable.
• Reviews monthly reconciliations for financial accounts (bank, credit card, investment accounts).
• Reviews journal entries to correct or reclassify expenses.

Maintain archive of financial records

• Maintains archive of financial forecasts, reconciliations, and investment data.
• Conducts periodic spot review of accounting archive.

Manage reporting activities

• Reviews financial statements and budget reports.
• Prepares/reviews support documents for monthly and annual financial reporting.
• Provides regular reporting to the Executive Director and the Operations Director on spending and budget status.
• Prepares annual budget forecast to assist annual budgeting process.
• Prepares/reviews processes and documentation required in support of reporting obligations for external funding and grants received by the Foundation.
• Prepares/reviews financial reporting documentation to be filed in compliance with statutory obligations of the Foundation as a 501(c)(3) entity.

Review of financial contracts

• Collaborates with the Executive Director, the Operations Director and relevant program managers to evaluate and manage third-party program contracts.
• Integrates third-party program contracts into financial forecasts.

Develops and Implements Internal Controls

• Responsible for maintaining and enhancing the internal control environment.
• Provides continuous evaluation control systems and procedures.
• Coordinates improvements to control environment with external auditors and Foundation personnel.

Manages annual audit

• Coordinates annual audit with external audit firm.
• Ensures auditor requests are met in a timely manner, including documentation from third parties (bank, endowment managers, etc.).
• Implements process changes in compliance with audit findings.

Manage investment activity

• Assists in developing investment objectives and strategy for reserve fund
• Directs SWF reserve fund investments
• Manages investment advisory relationship

Risk Management

• Engages in currency hedging for major events as appropriate.
• Coordinates with shared service providers around insurance coverage (D&O, General Liability, Cyber, etc.) and special event coverage as required.

Other duties

• Additional other duties as may be required by the Operations Director or Executive Director. 

Experience, Qualifications, and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
• CPA preferred.
• 5 to 10 years of experience working with an organization in a finance capacity.
• Strong financial and internal auditing skills.
• Good computer skills, including proficiency in QuickBooks Desktop and electronic collaboration tools.
• Superior skills with Microsoft Office products, particularly with Excel.
• Good verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills. Fluency in English is essential.
• Strong interpersonal skills and experience working as a member of a diverse, geographically scattered team is highly desirable.
• Experience in grant reporting (especially Federal grants) would be an advantage.

Competencies

• Ability to develop clear goals consistent with organizational policies and strategies
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to respond to opportunities quickly and efficiently
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to work in complex and ambiguous situations
• Ability to think creatively and function pragmatically
• Ability to foresee/mitigate risks and allow for contingencies when planning
• Ability to listen to others, correctly interpret messages and respond appropriately
• Ability to take ownership of all assigned responsibilities and to honor commitments to deliver outputs for which one has responsibility to agreed time, cost and quality standards
• Understanding of IT systems and cybersecurity issues

This is a part-time, 10 – 15 hour per week position. SWF is offering an hourly rate of $37.50 to $46 per hour, depending on qualifications and experience.  No benefits are offered with this position. Candidates must be prepared to provide professional references, submit to a background check, and be legally authorized to work in the United States.

Qualified candidates, please send your resume and a cover letter highlighting your nonprofit finance manager experience to jobs@swfound.org. Title the subject line of your email: Finance Manager Application. No phone calls, please. 

The application process will remain open until filled with rolling interviews. Interviews will be conducted beginning in early August.

The Secure World Foundation provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, expression or identity, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.  SWF is committed to promoting and supporting more diverse, inclusive, and equitable engagement in discussions on issues related to the secure, sustainable, and peaceful uses of outer space. We believe that we can harness the inspirational power of space to be as inclusive as possible in our workplace and in all our activities, to help create a more tolerant, more inclusive, and more humane society, right here on Earth. We know that bringing diverse voices to the table yields better solutions. Space offers us the opportunity to gather the best ideas in creating the systems that will help us keep space sustainable and of benefit to all humanity. As an organization, we plan to maintain and enhance evaluation and feedback mechanisms for continued improvement in this area.