Director of Financial Operations

Who We Are:

The Orthodox Union (OU) is the largest Orthodox Jewish organization in the United States. Founded in 1898, the OU supports a network of synagogues, youth programs, Jewish and Religious Zionist advocacy programs, programs for the disabled, localized religious study programs, and international units. The OU maintains a kosher certification service, whose circled U symbol, Ⓤ, is found on the labels of over 100,000,000 kosher commercial and consumer food products.  

Position Summary:

The Orthodox Union’s Accounting department’s mission is to deliver timely, accurate, and transparent financial information that empowers leadership to make informed decisions. The department serves as a trusted steward of the organization’s resources, providing timely financial insights that support informed decision-making, operational efficiency, and the responsible use of funds in pursuit of the organization’s mission.

The Director of Financial Operations provides strategic leadership and oversight for the organization’s day-to-day financial transactions and operational accounting functions. This role ensures the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of financial processes, with a particular focus on accounts receivable, accounts payable, billing, collections, and payroll. The Director will lead a team of finance professionals, streamline processes for efficiency and compliance, and partner with senior accounting leadership to support the organization’s financial goals.

 

Typical Duties and Responsibilities:

 Leadership & Management

• Lead and develop the Financial Operations team, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and maintain effective internal controls and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance with the organization’s policies, GAAP, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with senior leadership throughout the organization, auditors, and other departments to support organizational priorities.

Accounts Receivable & Billing

• Oversee the billing operations to ensure invoices are accurate, timely, and compliant with customer terms.
• Manage the accounts receivable process, including customer account reconciliations and timely posting of receipts.
• Develop and monitor metrics to improve billing and collection efficiency.

Collections

• Direct collection efforts to minimize aging receivables and maintain healthy cash flow.
• Establish escalation protocols for delinquent accounts and coordinate with OU Kosher to resolve payment disputes.
• Work closely with OU Kosher to ensure collection procedures are implemented and operating effectively.

Accounts Payable

• Oversee all disbursements, ensuring accuracy, proper approvals, and adherence to company policies.
• Monitor the disbursements process to ensure timely payments while maintaining positive vendor relationships.
• Ensure compliance with IRS, tax reporting, and 1099 requirements.

Credit Card Administration

• Oversee the Organization’s credit card administration, including issuance, payment processing, and transaction monitoring to ensure compliance with internal policies and promote responsible use of organizational resources.

Payroll

• Supervise payroll processing to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant pay for all employees.
• Coordinate with HR to maintain accurate employee data and benefit deductions.
• Oversee quarterly and annual payroll tax filings and reporting.

Process Improvement & Systems Oversight

• Evaluate and implement financial systems and automation tools to enhance efficiency.
• Identify process gaps and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) for financial operations.

In addition to the primary responsibilities mentioned above, the candidate will work with accounting leadership in other ad-hoc related projects and analyses as they arise and assist departmental management in the on-going execution of a function charged with providing reasonable assurances.

Qualification Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field required, CPA, MBA, or equivalent preferred.
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible accounting or financial operations experience, including 5 years in a leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial compliance standards.
• Demonstrated experience managing AR, AP, billing, collections, and payroll functions.
• Proficiency with accounting and ERP systems, ideally NetSuite.
• Computer-savvy with proficiency using MS Office suite products and comfort in learning various in-house programs.

 Competencies:

• Strategic and operational mindset
• Attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy
• Strong leadership and team development skills
• Effective communication and collaboration across departments
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Salary and Benefits:  

The salary range for this position is between $175,000 and $200,000, commensurate with experience.

Health, Dental & Vision Insurance:
The OU offers health insurance through an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA). Instead of a single group plan, employees have the freedom to choose their own health insurance plan that fits their personal and family needs. The OU contributes a generous monthly amount directly toward your premium, making coverage more flexible, affordable, and tailored to you.

Employees enrolled in our health plan also receive an annual BeniComp stipend, a supplemental benefit that reimburses eligible medical, pharmaceutical, dental, and vision expenses.

In addition, the OU offers employees group dental and vision insurance through MetLife.

Additional Benefits and Perks: 

• 10 paid sick days
• 10-15 paid vacation days
• Paid Jewish and Federal holidays
• Short Fridays to accommodate for Sabbath observance
• Free life and disability insurance
• Discounted continuing education opportunities
• 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after 3 years (requires a minimum 2% employee contribution)