Director of Finance And Accounting

Director, Finance & Accounting

Location: Menlo Park, CA (Hybrid, 4 days/week)

Reports to: Executive Director

Compensation range: $190,000–$230,000 (depending on qualifications and experience)

The impact you’ll have

SPARK NS is seeking a Director of Finance & Accounting to serve as its first dedicated finance leader, responsible for building, managing, and optimizing all financial and accounting functions for the organization. This is a hands‑on, one‑person finance team role: you will set strategy and design systems, and you will also personally execute core accounting, reporting, payroll, and grant‑payment activities that directors in larger organizations might delegate.

You will take on finance responsibilities currently handled externally and become SPARK NS’s in‑house financial expert, playing a critical role in managing milestone‑based payments to research institutions (up to 2,000,000 USD per project over two years), ensuring compliance with grant terms, and working cross‑functionally with Translational Sciences, Legal, HR, and senior leadership.

This position requires familiarity with nonprofit accounting, small‑organization agility, and the creativity to design scalable systems that support growth. It is intentionally both strategic and highly hands‑on within the finance and accounting function.

What you’ll lead

Financial management & strategy

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the Executive Director and senior leadership team on all financial matters.
• Lead the annual budgeting process in collaboration with the senior leadership team; develop and maintain the annual organizational budget with input from department heads.
• Provide financial forecasting, scenario planning, and sustainability modeling to support strategic decision‑making.
• Monitor budget‑to‑actual performance monthly and communicate variances and recommendations to leadership.
• Build and maintain financial dashboards and KPIs that provide clear visibility into organizational health.
• Prepare and present financial updates, risks, and recommendations to the Board and its Finance/Audit Committees.

Grant & milestone payment management

• Partner with Legal on grant‑making with universities, CROs, and other organizations.
• Design and implement systems for tracking and managing milestone‑based payments to universities and other partners.
• Serve as the primary financial liaison for all grant programs, ensuring compliance with funder terms and conditions.
• Coordinate with project teams to align payments with scientific milestones, deliverables, and timelines.
• Prepare grant financial reports for funders in coordination with leadership.
• Ensure proper documentation and audit trails for all funds and awards.
• Manage grant budget modifications, amendments, and spend‑out planning.
• Track reimbursements and other university‑related financial arrangements.

Accounting operations, payroll & compliance

• Oversee all day‑to‑day accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and cash management.
• Personally handle key end‑to‑end tasks such as coding and entering transactions, preparing reconciliations, and reviewing and releasing payments.
• Ensure accurate and timely recording of all contributions and expenses; prepare and/or review key reconciliations.
• Maintain the chart of accounts and oversee monthly and year‑end close processes.
• Administer payroll processing, including reviews for accuracy and compliance with applicable wage and hour laws.
• Establish and maintain internal controls to safeguard organizational assets and ensure appropriate segregation of duties in a small‑team context.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and nonprofit regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate and lead the annual audit process with external auditors; support the Audit Committee in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.
• Manage relationships with banking institutions, payroll providers, and accounting/finance software vendors.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports for the Executive Director and Board.
• Apply familiarity with international banking processes and procedures as needed.

Systems & process improvement

• Lead the organization through the selection and implementation of an ERP system.
• Evaluate and optimize accounting and reporting systems, software, and workflows to support organizational growth.
• Design scalable processes that can accommodate increased funding, additional grant programs, and greater transactional complexity.
• Implement sensible automation and efficiency improvements to reduce manual work while maintaining control and accuracy.
• Document standard operating procedures for all key financial processes.
• Stay current on nonprofit financial best practices, California compliance requirements, and relevant regulatory changes.

Cross‑functional collaboration

• Collaborate with project teams on project budgets and financial reporting requirements for SPARK NS‑funded projects.
• Work with the Executive Director on contract negotiations, vendor relationships, and other financial aspects of strategic partnerships.
• Partner closely with HR on compensation planning, benefits administration, and 401(k) management.
• Support development efforts with financial projections, proposal budgets, and funder reporting.
• Provide practical financial guidance and training to non‑finance staff to build budget literacy and shared ownership of resources.

What we’re looking for

Education & credentials

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (required).
• CPA, CMA, or equivalent accounting designation (preferred but not required).
• MBA or Master’s in Finance/Accounting (preferred but not required).

Experience

• Minimum 8–10 years of progressive financial management experience.
• Minimum 3–5 years in nonprofit accounting and finance (required).
• Experience serving as the primary or sole finance and accounting leader in a small organization (strongly preferred).
• Experience managing budgets in a nonprofit or mission‑driven organization.
• Experience working in a small, agile organization (under ~50 employees) where wearing multiple hats is essential.
• Track record of building or significantly improving financial systems, processes, and internal controls.
• Experience supporting or leading an annual audit and preparing materials for Finance/Audit Committees.
• Experience reporting to an Executive Director and creating reports to the Board and executive committees.

Technical skills

• Strong command of GAAP and nonprofit accounting principles (including fund accounting and restricted vs. unrestricted funds).
• Advanced Excel skills, including financial modeling, pivot tables, and data analysis.
• Experience with payroll systems and payroll‑related compliance.
• Knowledge of grant management systems and funder reporting requirements.
• Understanding of 401(k) administration and benefits accounting.

Who you are

• You enjoy being both strategic and hands‑on—comfortable moving from high‑level forecasting and board‑level reporting to detailed reconciliations, journal entries, and payment approvals in the same day.
• You are an excellent translator who can explain financial concepts in clear, accessible language to non‑finance colleagues and Board members.
• You are organized and deadline‑driven, with a strong personal system for managing recurring compliance, audit, and reporting deadlines.
• You are steady and solutions‑oriented under pressure, able to re‑prioritize when program needs change while maintaining control over cash, payroll, and core operations.
• You value humility, collaboration, and mission alignment; you see finance as a service function that enables SPARK NS’s work to advance treatments for people with neurological disorders.