What are the responsibilities and job description for the Finance & Accounting Manager (Foundation) position at SDL Search Partners?
Finance Manager | Boston | Hybrid (3 days/week on-site)
An established foundation is seeking a Finance Manager to lead its finance and accounting operations, support HR and payroll compliance, and help refine the systems that keep the operations team running. This is a hands-on, cross-functional role at a mission-driven grantmaking organization that stewards a substantial annual giving budget. It's a strong fit for a finance professional who wants their technical skills to translate directly into community impact. Reports to the Finance Director.
Compensation / Benefits:
- Strong base pay
- 6% retirement plan mat
- Hybrid working environment
- Top pedigree organization
- Opportunities for growth & promotion
Responsibilities:
- Own the annual operating budget and partner with department leads to track budget-to-actual performance
- Build financial models and forecasts, and prepare and present reporting to senior leadership
- Direct cash flow planning while keeping internal and external stakeholders informed
- Reconcile and review monthly financials, and monitor profit-and-loss activity
- Oversee the day-to-day work of the outsourced accounting partner
- Establish and continuously strengthen internal controls, assessing regularly for adherence and improvement
- Coordinate the annual tax preparation process including form 990 alongside the external tax preparer
- Act as a strategic thought partner to finance leadership on priorities, planning, and cross-team collaboration
- Maintain documented policies and procedures, financial contracts and renewals, and inventory/asset tracking
- Serve as the primary point of contact for finance inquiries, internal and external
- Administer biweekly payroll and, in partnership with an outsourced HR consultant, manage onboarding/offboarding, leave administration, and benefits- and compliance-related training
- Prepare and submit annual benefits filings and complete compensation and benefits surveys
Requirements:
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related discipline
- 7 years in accounting or finance; a mix of public accounting and nonprofit/foundation experience is a strong plus
- Advanced Excel is essential (pivot tables, lookups), with broad Microsoft Office proficiency
- Sharp financial analysis and modeling capability
- Clear, confident communication with both internal teams and external partners
- Strong project-management instincts and a deadline-driven approach
- A proven track record of handling confidential information with discretion
- Self-directed and proactive, with sound judgment on when to loop in teammates
- Detail-oriented, dependable, and comfortable balancing competing priorities
- A demonstrated focus on controls, compliance, and risk mitigation
- Collaborative, adaptable, and service-minded, suited to a small, close-knit team
- Experience managing accounting or HR vendors, familiarity with benefits administration, and exposure to cloud-based AP automation and nonprofit/fund-accounting ERP platforms are all a plus