Chief Financial Officer

“uAspire has been extremely gracious, caring, and generous. I hope that many students in the future have the opportunity to have a uAspire advisor,” Khymani uAspire Student

WHO WE ARE

A college graduate is 2.2 times more likely to secure employment and can expect to earn 1.8 times more income than someone with a high school education. Despite these promising prospects, only 16% of students from low-income families graduate college. Addressing disparities like student loan debt and creating more accessible and affordable higher education options is crucial to leveling the playing field and fostering true economic mobility for all.

Since 1985, uAspire has focused its work to help students have equitable access to postsecondary education so that they can build the life that they envision. Our mission is to improve the economic mobility of underrepresented communities by creating financial solutions to diverse educational pathways, with a focus on five key priorities: student advising, training and technical assistance, policy, consulting, and scholarship access. And we know it works: students who work with uAspire are 80% more likely to graduate from college than their peers.

With a dedicated staff of 70+ professionals and an annual budget of approximately $10 million, in 2023 alone we:

• Advised 10,000+ high school and college students across three program sites (Massachusetts, California and New York) while supporting 1.5 million students nationally through training and systems change work

• Trained 4,298 school counselors and program staff on college affordability in 35 states, including Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Virginia, Michigan and Texas.

• Managed the application process, applicant review, and distribution of $451,539 in emergency aid and scholarships to 356 students

• Advocated for policy changes impacting 529,000 students

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

We seek a Chief Financial Officer who can seamlessly translate overarching strategic initiatives into practical and efficient finance systems and play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of our organization. As a key member of the Executive Team, your expertise will guide the design, implementation, and evolution of financial processes and systems, crucial for supporting uAspire's continued growth and success. This is an unparalleled opportunity to make a lasting impact, driving financial excellence and contributing to the overall success of uAspire's mission. The CFO will work in partnership with our Arabella Financial Consultants while they hire and manage one (1) full-time finance department staff member.

We seek individuals with the ability to connect, build bridges and work collaboratively. The CFO will be a culture carrier with a passion for uAspire's mission, a respect for a diverse and inclusive work environment, and a commitment to moving the organization forward through modeling collaboration, teamwork, challenge and celebration.

The CFO reports to uAspire’s Chief Executive Officer, Jaclyn Piñero.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As Chief Financial Officer, you will be responsible for the following threads of work:

Executive Leadership and Planning for Growth

• The Executive Team (ET) is the CFO’s first team. The CFO will relentlessly collaborate and partner with their ET colleagues to contribute to the development of uAspire’s strategic goals and objectives as well as the overall leadership of the organization

• Provide the vision, leadership, and management necessary to ensure the proper financial controls and systems are in place to maintain financial strength and transparency across the organization

• Foster a collaborative and results-oriented culture within the Executive Team that embraces teamwork, transparency, seamless communication and mentorship

• Manage the preparation of financial outlooks and financial forecasts as requested by the CEO, Finance Committee, and Board of Directors

• Advise the Executive Team on financial planning, budgeting, cash flow, investment priorities, and financial policy matters

• Partner with the Chief People & Operations Officer to ensure best-in-class human resource practices and serve as a thought partner on employment policies and practices, payroll and benefits, and regulatory compliance

• Partner with the Chief of Advancement to provide strategy, thought partnership and support on revenue pipeline creation and projections, grant/budget needs of fundraising opportunities, and earned revenue pricing strategies and methodologies

• Provide financial risk management analyses and proactively review, anticipate, and address any potential risks affecting the financial systems

Financial Operations Leadership and Reporting

• Develop and effectively manage the Finance and Accounting function, overseeing the vital accounting, banking, budgeting, and financial planning functions for the entire organization

• Lead the processes to build the annual budget (personnel and non-personnel) and multi-year forecasts to monitor uAspire'songoing financial performance and facilitate resource allocation to help each department realize their goals

• Provide monthly financial reports to our Executive Team and quarterly financial reports to the Finance Committee and Board of Directors

• Ensure successful completion of annual audits, IRS filings, and other mandated financial reports

• Oversee daily operations of the finance function including the monthly close process, application of generally accepted accounting principles, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and administration

• Coordinate the preparation and management of state and federal audit and tax filings; ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations

• Support contract review and negotiations, as needed

• Develop and implement systems, tools and processes that support philanthropic grants for foundation and government proposals, including budget creation and financial reporting requirements

• Lead the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors

Finance and Accounting Staff Management

• Hire and manage one (1)additional FTE

• Design, establish, and maintain a finance and accounting team structure that positions uAspire for further growth.

• Establish and monitor finance and accounting staff performance and development goals; conduct annual performance reviews.

• Collaborate with the outsourced finance consultants (Arabella) and sunset the partnership when deemed appropriate

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

We understand that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. We encourage candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications below. If you believe you have the transferable skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of this role, we encourage you to apply.

• Experience as a CFO or in an equivalent role within a similarly-sized or larger fast-growing non-profit organization; with 5+ years of professional and progressive executive leadership experience

• Mission-oriented with positive, can-do attitude and collaborative leadership and management style

• Demonstrated ability to translate big picture strategy into workable finance systems for day-to-day operations

• Experience working with and/or developing complex accounting systems with multiple funders, multiple cost centers, and complex allocation models

• Executive leadership presence and strong presentation skills to communicate financial reports to Board of Directors, other senior executives, and organizationally

• Knowledge of non-profit finance, accounting, budgeting, cost control principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and federal/state financial regulations

• Experience with foundation and/or government grant budgeting and reporting

• A management style that combines respectful collaboration with disciplined productivity

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to create and maintain solid working relationships at all levels across the organization and externally

SALARY AND BENEFITS

This is a full-time, exempt position with a competitive salary range of $205,000 - $220,000 annually. The range has been established after a comprehensive analysis of market data, industry benchmarks, and our internal salary structures.

In addition to the base salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to:

• Generous paid time off

• Medical, dental, and vision

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• HRA account

• 5% employer contribution to retirement planning

To learn more about benefits, please click here.

uAspire is a virtual first organization. This is a remote position with a preference for candidates located in California, New York, or Massachusetts.There will be some travel required for organization, team and Board meetings. 

HOW TO APPLY

This search is being led by Positively Partners, an outsourced HR and talent recruitment organization. Interested candidates are encouraged to promptly submit their application through Positively Partners' online portal here. All applicants will receive a response to their application within two weeks of submission. Please email [email protected] with questions or for support submitting your application.

Phone interviews will commence in April with select candidates, followed by a second interview with a member of the Positively Partners team and video interview with uApsire’s Chief Executive Officer, Jaclyn Piñero and Chief Advancement Officer, Valeria Wells. Finalists will have a final interview day via video with representatives of the uAspire team and Board of Directors, and the goal of having an in-person interview with Jaclyn. Expected start date is summer 2024.

uAspire is an equal opportunity employer, fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace that embraces and encourages applicants of every background. The company’s policy regarding equal employment opportunity means that all decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, benefits, wage and salary administration, scheduling, disciplinary action and termination will be made without unlawful discrimination on the basis of sex, gender, race, color, age, national origin, religion, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, citizenship status, pregnancy or maternity, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law.