About this role
Chief Financial Officer
Reports to: President and CEO
Supervises: Director of Finance
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Leadership body: Leadership Team
POSITION SUMMARY
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the Leadership Team and is responsible for stewarding the financial health, stability, and integrity of Alaska Community Foundation. The CFO leads financial strategy, investment and endowment stewardship, budgeting, accounting oversight, audit, risk management, and compliance across a complex portfolio of endowed, donor-advised, scholarship, designated, field-of-interest, and agency funds totaling approximately $300 million in assets.
The CFO works closely with the President and CEO, the Board of Directors, and the Finance and Audit and Investment Committees, and leads the finance department through the Director of Finance. The CFO operates at a strategic altitude — setting direction, stewarding assets, managing risk, and representing the Foundation's financial stewardship externally — while day-to-day accounting operations are owned within the department.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Strategy and Oversight
• Develop and oversee long-range financial strategy, multi-year models, annual budgets, and forecasts in support of the Foundation's mission, endowment growth, and community impact.
• Ensure timely, accurate financial reporting to the President and CEO, the Board, fundholders, and external partners.
• Forecast grant and scholarship dollars available in alignment with fund performance and spending policy, and translate forecasts into budgets and guidance.
• Provide financial insight to support strategic planning and organizational decision-making.
Investment and Endowment Stewardship
• Serve as staff liaison to the Investment Committee, partnering with the committee and the Foundation's external investment firm to oversee the investment program within Board-approved policy and risk tolerance.
• Monitor investment performance reported by the external investment firm, coordinate with the firm and custodians, and ensure compliance with the investment policy.
• Own the annual endowment spending-policy recommendation to the Investment Committee and Board, and communicate spending-policy results to fundholders — a significant recurring undertaking each year.
• Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of donor-advised, endowed, and restricted funds.
• Communicate investment results reported by the external firm, and the Foundation's stewardship approach, to donors, fundholders, and advisors in partnership with Development.
Complex Gifts and Donor Partnership
• Lead the financial evaluation, due diligence, and acceptance of complex and non-cash gifts — including real estate, closely held business interests, appreciated securities, planned and deferred gifts, and charitable trusts — in partnership with the Development team.
• Advise on gift structuring, valuation, tax treatment, and risk, and recommend acceptance consistent with the Foundation's gift acceptance policy.
• Work directly with donors and fundholders to explain how their funds are invested, stewarded, and performing, building the confidence that supports and grows the Foundation's charitable assets.
• Cultivate peer relationships with external professional advisors — estate attorneys, CPAs, wealth managers, and trust officers — as a financial partner in complex and planned giving.
• Serve as the financial lead who helps bring sophisticated giving opportunities to completion, while Development owns the donor relationship and solicitation.
Accounting, Audit, and Assurance
• Provide oversight of all accounting functions, ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial records, with operational execution led by the Director of Finance and the Controller.
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit financial standards, GAAP (ASC 958), and IRS regulations.
• Lead the annual independent audit — owning the auditor relationship and engagement, and accountability to the Audit Committee and Board for a clean audit.
• Own the production of the audited financial statements and related notes in conformity with nonprofit GAAP and proper presentation, with support from the Director of Finance, and oversee Form 990 preparation.
• Maintain a strong internal control environment and continuous improvement of finance policies and procedures.
Risk Management and Insurance
• Lead enterprise financial risk management in coordination with the President and CEO.
• Oversee the Foundation's insurance program, including directors and officers, cyber, property, and liability coverage.
• Oversee records management, document retention, and business-continuity planning for the finance function.
Treasury and Banking
• Serve as the authorized signer on the Foundation's banking and investment accounts, and maintain signature authority and approval controls over cash and treasury transactions.
• Oversee cash flow, operating reserves, liquidity, and banking and treasury relationships, with day-to-day banking administration managed by the Director of Finance.
Team and Department Leadership
• Lead the finance department through the Director of Finance, ensuring clarity, capacity, and continuous development.
• Oversee finance-related systems, software, and vendor relationships.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, work plans, and performance metrics.
• Partner with the VP of Administration and other leaders on shared operational priorities.
Leadership Team Participation
• Serve as an active member of the Leadership Team, contributing to organization-wide strategy, planning, and decision-making.
• Partner with fellow LT members to ensure cross-functional collaboration and alignment on strategic priorities.
• Advise the CEO and Board on matters related to financial strategy, investment stewardship, and fiscal accountability.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field required; CPA or advanced degree strongly preferred.
• Ten or more years of progressively responsible financial leadership experience, preferably in a nonprofit or community foundation context.
• Deep knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit fund accounting (ASC 958), and IRS compliance.
• Experience overseeing externally managed investments, endowments, and complex fund structures.
• Demonstrated success in audit management, financial reporting, risk management, and Board-level communication.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Knowledge of and commitment to Alaska, its communities, and the mission of ACF.
CORE COMPETENCIES
• Financial strategy and long-term fiscal planning.
• Investment and endowment stewardship.
• Risk management and assurance.
• Audit and regulatory compliance.
• Executive leadership and Board-level communication.
• Donor-facing financial stewardship and communication.
• Team and department leadership.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND ACCESSIBILITY
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. The physical, sensory, and environmental requirements described here represent the general nature of the role and are not intended to exclude individuals who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
This role may involve a combination of desk-based and active work in a professional office or field environment. The position requires the ability to effectively engage in communication, operate standard office technology or job-related equipment, and perform the core responsibilities of the role.
Reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable laws to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. DOE