Finance and Operations Associate

JOB:                                 Finance and Operations Associate

STATUS:                          Exempt, Full-Time

REPORTS TO:                 Director of Finance and Operations

SALARY:                          $60,000-$70,000

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Friends of the Children Austin is one of the fastest growing chapters of a 30-year-old national professional mentoring organization. Our model is proven to break the cycle of generational poverty for children who face the highest risks by providing professional mentors to the most vulnerable youth in our community for 12.5 years, kindergarten through high school graduation. 

Here is what we have to offer you: 

• A committed leadership team and the opportunity to grow with a quickly scaling non-profit. 
• You’ll be part of a dynamic and supportive national network, with a proven, evidence-based, highly unique model.
• A team of talented employees who are passionate about working together to create an extraordinary organization. 
• Respect for work-life balance. You will work hard, and we expect you to recharge your batteries. 
• Most of all, you get to be a leader at an exceptional organization that helps children facing incredible odds change their life story every day. 
• Competitive salary 
• 100% Employer paid dental, vision, and medical benefits along with disability and life insurance for all employees 
• Three weeks paid vacation 
• Two weeks paid sick leave 
• Additional paid time off the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day 
• Simple IRA, up to 3% employer match 
• Eight weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregiver (birth, adoption, foster) and four weeks for the secondary caregiver 

Are you ready to use your skills to make an impact in the Austin community? See the position details below.  

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by individuals assigned to this position. They are not intended as a comprehensive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified: 

We are excited to offer an opportunity for the role of Finance and Operations Associate (FOA). This position is a key part of our commitment to building strong, supportive partnerships with the families of the youth we serve.  

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations (DFO), the Finance and Operations Associate (FOA) supports the DFO to execute the operational and financial strategy of Friends of the Children Austin (Friends Austin). This position manages the day-to-day office operations and the organization’s financial activities, ensuring that key business infrastructure functions safely and efficiently, that financial transactions are tracked and recorded accurately, and that financial systems are kept up to date. This position will manage the payments process; update and reconcile credit cards and bank accounts; ensure that the general ledger accurately records all business transactions; and help translate financial information into actionable insights for decision-making. This is an in-person role, with the expectation of working at least four days per week in our Austin office. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Organizational Support

• Ensure that the clubhouse and office are safe, well-maintained, and equipped with the necessary resources 
• Support the implementation of policies, processes, training, initiatives, and conduct surveys to support the organization’s compliance with legal and internal policies and procedures 
• Source and oversee the performance of contractors to perform routine and emergency building maintenance 
• Be the point of contact with our landlord for building safety and maintenance 
• Help foster a collaborative, values-driven workplace 

Accounting and Finance 

• Manage day-to-day financial operations including accounts payable/receivable, vendor payments, employee expense reporting, revenue recognition, and the completion of general ledger reconciliations 
• Prepare monthly summaries of financial transactions and verify the posting of accurate general ledger transactions 
• Assist the DFO with budgeting, financial reporting, and audits 
• Maintain internal controls and ensure compliance with the Accounting Policy manual 
• Generate operating reports, dashboards, and financial tracking worksheets in Excel 
• Conduct ad-hoc analyses and reconciliations to support operational objectives 
• Analyze and review department budgets and expenditures in collaboration with department leaders 
• Ensure employees submit expense reports in a timely and accurate manner 
• Maintain a positive relationship with our bank and investment partners, ensuring that account record keeping, board of director approvals and the correct signatories are in place 
• Be a point person to explain accounting policies to staff and vendors 
• Research and recommend improvements to databases, computer systems, and general record-keeping 

Grants Management

• Support the development of grant proposals 
• Be responsible for fiscal requirements including preparing data for grant applications, reporting, responding to funder audits, and completing ad hoc inquiries 
• Track and identify costs related to grants and complete required financial reports (monthly, quarterly, annual, and closeout) as needed, in partnership with the DFO and the Grants Manager 
• Serve as a subject matter expert on funder rules, and train grants staff on donor requirements 
• Other duties as assigned 

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Minimum of four years’ operations and accounting experience 
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office tools - Excel, Word, Outlook and PowerPoint 
• Good written and verbal communication skills, a customer service mindset, and experience working with diverse constituencies 
• Highly organized, dependable, and meticulous with a strong focus on accuracy; able to work independently manage priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain composure under pressure 
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, use good judgment, and follow procedures 
• Robust system experience and analytical skills, experienced in delivering systems and business process training 
• A passion for supporting youth, for excellence, and a willingness to help as needed. A sense of humor is critical!

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE, SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Bachelor’s/associate’s degree in accounting, business administration, project management, or related field 
• Familiarity with nonprofit organizations including fundraising and event support 
• System experience especially SharePoint, Adobe Acrobat, project management and donor databases 
• Experience working in a fast-paced, growing non-profit organization 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This position is primarily office-based, arrangements are available to support remote work on certain days 
• Evening/weekend work is required occasionally - attending fundraising events or to meet reporting deadlines 
• Our workplace is a smoke and drug-free environment 

Friends of the Children is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants regardless of race, color, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, familial status, disability, or genetic information, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local law. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. 

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