Director of Finance and Accounting

Meridian Institute has an immediate opening for a full-time Director of Finance and Accounting. This position may work in a hybrid fashion near our Frisco, CO or Washington, DC offices, or fully from a remote home office based in the United States.

Meridian is a nonprofit consultancy that engages in dynamic problem solving with global leaders in business, government, civil society, philanthropy, and beyond. We bring people together, helping them navigate the dynamic variables that shape any collaborative search for solutions—from individual relationships to geopolitical considerations. Our work spans industries and sectors and includes projects focused on agriculture and food systems, climate change, forests, oceans and coasts, resilience, and science and technology, among others. Across these areas, we build and support partnerships that address our world’s complex challenges.

A leader within the Finance Team, the Director of Finance and Accounting is responsible for overseeing the organization’s financial operations, ensuring accurate accounting practices, regulatory compliance, and strategic financial guidance to support organizational goals. Reporting to the Chief Operating and Financial Officer, this role combines financial leadership and team management to enhance Meridian’s fiscal health and sustainability. The Director of Finance and Accounting is key in guiding financial decisions, supervising the finance team, leading budget development, and managing project funding. Additionally, this role involves providing detailed financial analysis, facilitating audits, and maintaining strong financial controls. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), exceptional attention to detail, and excellent communication skills to work effectively across departments and with external stakeholders.

The starting pay range for this position is $143,218 – $186,183 annually, based on the level of education and relevant experience. This is a salary, exempt position. In following our commitment to principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, maintaining pay equity when hiring is extremely important to us. For this reason, salary offers with Meridian are non-negotiable.

Meridian is dedicated to advancing our employees’ professional growth, supporting employee wellbeing, and helping them meet their healthcare and retirement needs. Meridian provides a competitive benefits package, including:

• A dynamic and inclusive work environment
• Flexible work schedules and locations for proven high performers
• Professional development opportunities
• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance, including fully employer paid premium options at the employee only level
• A variety of voluntary benefits for employees, their families, and their pets
• Generous vacation and sick time, plus 12 paid holidays
• A robust Employee Assistance Program
• Meridian partner benefits such as discounts and wellbeing opportunities
• DC Office Employees Only – Metro expense reimbursement for commute into work  
• Remote Workers Only – home office internet allowance  

About the Position:

All Meridian positions require individuals to be self-starters with exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills, a high level of organization and attention to detail. Working at Meridian requires the ability to excel in a team environment while also juggling multiple deadlines and project teams. The areas of responsibility for this position are as follows:

Financial Leadership, Budgeting, and Reporting

• Oversees the day-to-day operations of Finance, including financial planning, accounting, reporting, and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• In collaboration with the Chief Operating and Financial Officer, leads the development and delivery of organizational budgets, working to integrate input from internal stakeholders and ensuring alignment with strategic priorities and financial sustainability objectives.
• Develops and maintains structures and processes for gathering inputs into the organizational budget, including revenue and expense projections, and implements controls to monitor budget adherence.
• Updates annual labor rate structure to ensure competitiveness and accuracy in cost estimation and resource allocation.
• Collaborates with the Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and the Chief Operating and Financial Officer to present the annual organizational budget to the Board of Directors.
• Analyzes and interprets financial performance metrics; prepares and presents month-end reports to senior leadership, highlighting key insights and actionable recommendations.
• Oversees forecasting, reforecasting, and monthly reporting of actual expenses against the approved organizational budget, identifying variances and coordinating corrective actions as necessary.
• Manages and coordinates all organizational and project financial audits, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and facilitating smooth audit processes.

Supervision and Team Management

• Establishes team priorities based on workload fluctuations, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.
• Provides strategic guidance and support for the implementation and administration of organizational financial systems.
• As a supervisor, coordinates professional development for personnel, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.

Project Funding Management

• In collaboration with Project Directors, evaluates funding opportunities to assess their alignment with organizational goals and financial sustainability objectives, conducting financial analyses and risk assessments to inform decision-making.
• Determines appropriate costs and fees, considering factors such as project scope, complexity, and funding source requirements, to ensure financial viability and organizational alignment.
• Reviews proposal guidelines and collaborates with Project Directors to prepare budgets that meet requirements, ensuring accuracy and competitiveness in labor rates and fees.
• Provides ongoing collaboration with Project Directors during the due diligence process, offering financial expertise and guidance to facilitate successful funding agreements and partnerships.
• Ensures accurate tracking and reporting of lobbying expenses, maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements and ethical standards.

Risk Management and Compliance

• Proactively identifies and mitigates areas of financial risk, navigating complexities related to Meridian’s finances and contractual agreements to safeguard organizational interests.
• Develops and implements robust policies, procedures, and processes to ensure regulatory compliance with relevant financial laws and standards.
• Monitors and enforces policy adherence, identifying and reporting instances of non-compliance to mitigate financial and reputational risks.
• Develops and maintains robust financial controls and procedures to safeguard organizational assets and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
• Manages representations and certifications processes, responding promptly and thoroughly to due diligence inquiries to maintain organizational credibility and trust.

Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, preferably within the nonprofit sector or a related field; significant relevant experience in a senior level financial management role required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field is required; Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration (MBA), or a related field, and/or CPA (Certified Public Accountant) is highly preferred.
• Extensive experience in financial management, including advanced budgeting, comprehensive financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate finance teams, providing guidance, training, and mentorship to ensure high performance and professional development.
• Strong experience with grant and contract management, as well as familiarity with regulatory frameworks such as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), nonprofit accounting standards, and reporting requirements.
• Excellent analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate complex financial information effectively to diverse stakeholders, including board members, senior leadership, and external auditors.
• Exceptional decision-making abilities, adept at analyzing complex financial data and providing strategic recommendations to senior management and executive leadership.
• Proficiency in financial management software with the ability to leverage technology to streamline processes and enhance efficiency; NetSuite preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion (JEDI); ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds with humility, ease, and enthusiasm.
• A high degree of proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools, including but not limited to: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, and SharePoint; advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for financial analysis, modeling, and reporting purposes preferred.
• Fluency in English; professional fluency in an additional language is highly valued, particularly Spanish and French.
• Passion and curiosity about the issues and areas of Meridian’s work.

The full job description can be found here.

How to Apply: 

 The application deadline is Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Please submit the following application materials using our applicant portal:

1. Cover Letter – 1 page
   Drawing from your personal and professional experiences, please explain how you hope to contribute to Meridian in this role.
2. Resume – 1-2 pages 
   Detail relevant education, training, experiences, and accomplishments.
3. Three Professional References

Please note: All applications will be reviewed by our team. We thank all applicants for their interest and will be in contact only with those chosen to interview. Due to capacity constraints on our hiring team, we are unable to provide specific status updates beyond these parameters. Our ideal start date for this role is July 2024.

About Meridian Institute: 

Meridian Institute is a mission-driven, nonprofit consultancy that has helped clients and partners develop and implement solutions to complicated, often controversial problems—big and small, global and local—for over two decades.

Effective collaborative decision-making involves bringing together participants with diverse backgrounds and differing viewpoints. As an organization, we seek staff that reflects and values that same diversity; successful Meridian team members are experienced working in multicultural settings and welcome new opportunities to widen their own perspectives.  We bring integrity, inclusiveness, and respect for differences to every project we undertake. We are working to ensure that Meridian possesses the expertise needed to partner with—and build trust among—marginalized and disenfranchised communities, while advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within our organization and our work.

Accommodation 

Meridian Institute complies fully with the relevant Disability Acts and Laws in local countries. If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Meridian Institute, please contact us at hr@merid.org.

COVID-19 Consideration 

At this time, Meridian Institute requires that all employees be fully vaccinated, including booster shots. In circumstances where an applicant communicates that he or she is not able to be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance or because of a disability, then Meridian, in accordance with applicable law, will engage in the interactive process to determine if a reasonable accommodation is feasible that will not pose an undue hardship or create a direct threat to safety.

Equal Opportunity Employment 

Meridian’s work is made stronger and more impactful by the contributions of diverse groups from around the world. At Meridian, we welcome people from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, creed, class, ancestry, or other grounds.

Meridian Institute is a participating employer in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security program, E-Verify.