Description

The American Counseling Association (ACA) is the world’s largest organization representing professional counselors in various practice settings. Our vision: Every person has access to quality professional counseling to thrive. Our mission: Promote the professional development of counselors, advocate for the profession, and ensure ethical, culturally inclusive practice. Our values: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Integrity, Proactive Leadership, Professional Community & Relationships, Scientific Practice & Knowledge, Social Justice & Empowerment. ACA acts in accordance with the ACA Strategic Framework; focused on achieving outcomes of critical and strategic importance. 

All American Counseling Association team members are encouraged, supported, and expected to demonstrate The Way We Work Values: Be Flexible, Be Creative, Be Empowered, Be Inquisitive, Be Collaborative and Be Respectful. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as a member of the Executive Team and provides strategic and operational insight. The CFO drives and helps implement ACA’s strategy and operating plan, evaluating short- and long-term issues as well as new opportunities through sound, analytical processes. 

The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for overseeing the financial functions for ACA. This includes developing and enhancing organizational excellence, including investments, budgeting and forecasting, financial reporting, accounting, legal affairs, ensuring compliance with all financial guidelines and regulations. The CFO is responsible for developing organization-wide policies and procedures related to finance and accounting and purchasing and ensuring that team staff perform within the guidelines and policies of ACA.

Requirements

Financial Management

• Manage budget process and assist in allocations with CEO and Treasurer and subsequent monitoring.
• Keep CEO and Executive Team informed of all critical issues, including those related to budgeting and planning, cash flow, audit, and other key projects and initiatives.
• Provide strategic and financial advice in other areas, to include evaluation of potential alliances and strategic investments.
• Manage day-to-day financial operations; resolve issues through sound decision making and business practices.
• Make recommendations to improve the financial performance of the organization.
• Provide financial management and oversight and direct the accounting and budgeting functions, including internal and external financial reporting in accordance with GAAP.
• Manage all fiduciary accountability issues including external audits, IRS reports, dues payments, investment portfolio, final contribution reports, gifts and bequests to the ACA Foundation, and other outside requests for financial information.

General

• Work with ACA team members on overall organizational development and implementation of ACA’s strategic plan.
• Participate in ACA team meetings, providing updates on team activities and participate in discussions and planning on overarching organizational issues and projects.
• Works collaboratively with appropriate management and governance bodies to achieve organizational goals and objectives.
• Liaises with appropriate governance officers, chair, and/or committees as designated and mandated by ACA Bylaws and policies and procedures.
• Communicates and responds to inquiries in a timely fashion.
• Provides supervision, guidance, and evaluation for team staff, consultants, and vendors.
• Establishes project plans and outline expectations and responsibilities and communicates to team staff.
• Recruits and provides supervision, guidance, and evaluation for team staff members, consultants, and interns, and provides clear project management tools to ensure that involved staff have the information, material, and input needed to deliver on their commitments and deadlines.
• Produces articles and materials for ACA publications and communications as needed and requested.
• Attends ACA Annual Conference and Expo, governance meetings, and other meetings and special events as requested and required.
• Develops and participates in a teamwork culture; works on assigned cross-functional project teams and serves as project leader as requested; and attend inter-department meetings.
• Performs core function and position-related responsibilities and tasks as requested and required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrated experience and strong knowledge of current finance, accounting, administration, and information management practices and techniques in a nonprofit environment.
• Demonstrated experience in working with a wide variety of computer software, systems, and specialized applications designed to support core business areas.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to work well with other staff members and volunteers.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and on a team, always showing respect for the diverse constituencies of ACA and within its membership.
• Employs industry-standard technologies to produce work and is responsible for maintaining professional skill level, including knowledge of industry trends.
• Understanding of ACA Bylaws, policies, purpose, and structure and ability to communicate ACA’s mission, objectives, and accomplishments to stakeholders.
• Able to mentor and foster collaboration among staff and organizational membership.
• Able to manage people and resources and skill in managing and evaluating employees.
• Detail oriented with superior problem-solving, decision-making, and time management skills; able to prioritize multiple tasks, organize work, delegate effectively, and follow through independently.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required, master’s preferred, in financial field such as business administration, accounting, or similar discipline.
• Professional certification of CPA (Certified Public Accountant) highly desired. Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation is a plus.
• 10 to 15 years’ professional experience, and at least 10 years’ supervisory experience, preferably in a not-for-profit environment.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, problem solving, and analytical skills, including the ability to plan and implement in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to gather, interpret, analyze, and report statistics and other data.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, written, organizational, and computer skills.
• A strong team player with superior team building, team-management, and team-empowering skills.
• A creative problem solver with demonstrated skill in thinking outside the box, who can be flexible and bring solutions in limited time frames.
• Facility speaking influentially and persuasively to achieve desired outcomes with varied audiences.
• Skill proactively and effectively identifying, and meeting needs of members, customers, and stakeholders.
• Proficiency in managing financial resources in keeping with budget objectives.
• Experience working with association management/membership database preferred.