WAISN

Director of finance & Operations

Seattle, WA

The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network (WAISN) is the largest immigrant-led coalition in the State of Washington, boasting over 400 immigrant and refugee rights organizations, formed in the wake of the November 2016 elections. We are a powerful, volunteer-driven network of immigrant and refugee-rights organizations and individuals distributed across 27 counties. We provide support, capacity, and resources to organizations building power and a united immigrant justice voice statewide.


We are a multi-lingual, multiethnic, multi-issue, multi-faith coalition and network of over 400 immigrant leaders, allies, and immigrant-serving organizations that supports and builds power for immigrants and refugees across Washington State through direct services, education, organizing, policy, advocacy, and funding. WAISN is a queer and transgender immigrant-led nonprofit building a strong, connected, immigrant-led justice movement to dismantle oppressive systems and ensure a life of abundance for all immigrants, regardless of sexuality, gender identity and socioeconomic standing.


The core issues that WAISN addresses come from being integrated in and listening to immigrant and refugee communities. The WAISN network addresses the diverse, emerging needs across the state in a united, collaborative effort. We work to provide support, capacity and resources to organizations’ efforts to build power and act as a united immigrant justice voice statewide.

WAISN currently has a $3.7 million budget and a staff of 27 working across the state. See waisn.org for program details.


The ideal candidate shares our commitment to building relationships and grassroots power in immigrant and refugee communities and supports our feminist decolonial transnational and intersectional values of joy, care, solidarity across differences, integrity and accountability.

THE ROLE

This position oversees all financial aspects of the organization, drives the financial strategy and planning, and is responsible for assessing the financial performance of the organization in collaboration with Executive Directors.  The Finance and Operations Director has a broad knowledge of non-profit accounting, financial, and business principles. They will be responsible for day-to-day functions, and also for setting strategies thatguide the organization towards profitability and long-term success.  The Director will be able to position WAISN to respond to opportunities and to mitigate risks. This is an opportunity to contribute to the strategic, multi-year growth of a mission-driven organization that will be implementing a 5-year strategic plan that includes growing a portfolio to subgrant to organizations and reaching a team of 32 people in 2025.

 

The key responsibilities will include accounting, grant management, budgeting, reporting, and cash management. They will steer our efforts to strengthen policies, processes, and systems that enhance organizational impact.

The person in this position also leads the People-Operations Department, directly supervising the Operations Manager who  supervises the Operations Coordinator and the Culture & Wellness Coordinator. This team manages all organizational infrastructure, including employee policies, benefits, employee lifecycle, technology, and logistics for all events.

The Director will be part of the senior leadership team of WAISN and therefore in charge of modeling and creating an organizational culture that leans into conflict as an opportunity to transform relationships and grow close. The Director, understands their positionality in an organization led by directly-impacted immigrants that is predominately queer, transgender and gender non-conforming.   This position reports to the Executive Directors.

 

WAISN employees are currently located across the state of Washington and do not share a centralized office. Staff members are required to live in Washington state. Staff members are not required to work in person when handling day-to-day role responsibilities but will be expected to gather for events such as staff retreats and other all-staff meetings throughout the year. It is expected that the Director of Finance and Operations has a secure, and distraction-free workspace where they can hold confidential conversations and safely store WAISN documents.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Leadership and Management 60%

  • Coordinate with an outsourced accounting firm to handle all aspects of accounting.
  • Ensure timely collection of income and payment of expenses.
  • Serve as advisor and thought partner to Executive Directors on financial and compliance matters.
  • Financial forecasting and analysis – evaluate impact of new opportunities for WAISN (e.g., earned revenue, program expansion, strategic partnerships) ensuring that investments align with financial strategy and business plans. Identity risk, opportunities, and trends.
  • Develop a cash management plan and investment strategies.
  • Maintain and communicate financial policies and processes; ensure all staff are equipped to follow processes.
  • Manage annual budget process and mid‐year forecasting.
  • Manage year-end closing process and audit preparation.
  • Coordinate with an independent CPA firm on annual audit and preparation of Form 990.
  • Distribute monthly financial statements and analysis to the Executive Directors and Board.

Operational Leadership and Management 20%

  • Collaborate with Executive Directors, other staff, and consultants to define needs and build systems to meet finance, operational, and technology needs.
  • Build a strategic roadmap for infrastructure, systems, and tools that streamline operations and allow the organization to function efficiently.
  • Oversight and collaboration with Operations Manager on projects as needed (insurance, benefits, technology, payroll, contract and vendor management)
  • Collaborate with and provide leadership to the Operations Manager and Culture & Wellness Coordinator to support the organizational employee lifecycle, including job postings and recruitment strategy; onboarding; performance management.
  • Collaborate with Operations Coordinator (supervised by Operations Manager) on vendor contracts and large events logistics (staff retreat, advocacy day, Pride parade)
  • Model organizational expectations for all managers (i.e. protocols for team meetings, journaling, reflection.)

Grants Management 20%

  • In collaboration with the Development team and the Executive Directors, support grant management: building grant‐specific budgets and reports, creating invoices to funders, and handling post‐award financial procedures to ensure compliance with reporting requirements.
  • Establish and maintain effective systems for tracking the use of restricted funds and expenses associated with specific programs and projects; maintain detailed records of restricted gifts and grants received, uses of restricted funds, and remaining balances of all restricted funds.
  • Maintain knowledge of funder requirements to ensure that expenditures are aligned with grant, project, and program budgets.
  • Implement procedures to communicate, educate and ensure compliance with grant regulations throughout the organization.
  • Develop systems to successfully subgrant to organizations and provide timely payments.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

The ideal candidate is someone who takes a coaching approach in their management and enjoys the work of scaling a team and organization. They share our commitment to building relationships and grassroots power in immigrant and refugee communities and support WAISN’s feminist decolonial transnational and intersectional values of joy, care, solidarity, integrity, and accountability across differences.

 

 

  • Model learning, transparency, and accountability to solve problems.
  • Experience building a culture of money conscientiousness and budgeting within an organization.
  • Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
  • Ability to promote the development of a cohesive team culture in a decentralized, fully-remote workplace with an intentionally diverse team.
  • Demonstrated commitment to immigrant rights and social justice issues, and the Network’s organizational values.
  • Demonstrated project management skills, ability to organize time and manage multiple projects successfully.
  • Ability to thrive in a changing environment and to remain flexible and adaptive.
  • High degree of ownership – able to proactively identify opportunities and propose solutions, willing to roll up sleeves and pitch in on a variety of tasks.
  • Flexibility to work evenings and weekends, when necessary.
  • Proficient computer skills, especially Google Drive, Calendar, Sheets, and Docs; Slack; QuickBooks Online; Gusto; Bill.com; Airtable; Little Green Light; Action Network.
  • Familiarity with credit card processing systems, such as PayPal and Stripe.
  • Can perform work which includes prolonged periods of sitting or standing, using a computer and phone with or without reasonable accommodation.

EXPERIENCE

Lived experience brings unique knowledge, insights and perspectives that are invaluable for organizational growth and sensitivity. WAISN honors the value that lived experience can offer in a workplace. Candidates with some or all of the following experience are encouraged to apply:

 

  • Minimum of five (5) years of accounting and budget management leadership experience.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of leadership or supervisory experience
  • Minimum of three (3) years of senior/director-level staff experience.
  • Experience working with government grants subject to periodic audits
  • Minimum of six (6) years of work experience in non-profit organizations.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The salary range for this position is $120,000 – $130,000 annually for full-time work, contingent on experience and mastery of written and spoken languages beyond English.  Benefits package includes professional development, and generous paid time off. Full-time employees are eligible for Kaiser Permanente Medical Insurance, Delta Dental Insurance, and VSP Vision Insurance. WAISN pays 100% for employee health insurance, and 80% for dependents.

 

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for this role, please complete the form below:

 

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