Chief Financial Officer

Department/Area: Finance

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Employment Status: Full-Time; Non-Union

COMPETITIVE BENEFITS PACKAGE!

• Generous PTO package for Full Time employees includes:
  • 13 paid federal holidays annually
  • 5 paid personal/floating holidays annually
  • Sick time
  • Up to 20 Vacation days per year!!
• 401k available
• Company-paid Life Insurance
• Company-paid Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance
• Opt-in benefits available: Pet Insurance, Employee/Spouse/Child Life Insurance, and Long-Term Disability
• Employee Assistance Program
• Professional Development Opportunities
• Paid Training

Organization Overview

Sound Community Services, Inc. is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating, assisting, and supporting individuals with persistent mental illness and substance use disorders. We work to create a culture and environment in which recovery and wellness are possible.

Position Overview

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provides executive leadership and oversight for all financial and accounting functions of Sound Community Services, Inc. The CFO directs financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, accounting, reporting, cash and investment management, audits, grants-related financial compliance, tax filings, internal controls, and financial contract administration. As a member of the Executive Team, the CFO advises the Chief Executive Officer, Board of Directors, and department leaders on financial strategy, organizational risk, resource allocation, and the systems and infrastructure needed to support the agency’s mission and operations. 

Direct reports to the CFO are the Senior Director of Finance, the Behavioral Health Billing and Coding Specialist and Payroll Specialist.

Essential Functions

Financial Leadership and Strategy

• Direct all aspects of the organization’s financial management, accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and fiscal accountability.
• Advise the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Team, and department leaders on financial strategy, long-range planning, organizational performance, resource allocation, and financial risk.
• Provide timely financial analysis, recommendations, and decision support for strategic planning and major organizational initiatives.
• Oversee cash-flow planning and ensure funds are available to meet operational needs.
• Oversee cash, investments, assets, banking relationships, and other financial strategies and activities.
• Represent the organization with financial institutions, granting agencies, investors, foundation executives, auditors, public officials, and other financial partners.

Budgeting, Accounting, and Reporting

• Lead development, administration, monitoring, and forecasting of the agency budget, including income and expense projections.
• Establish and maintain accounting and financial-reporting systems that comply with applicable federal, state, local, contractual, grant, and organizational requirements.
• Prepare and present accurate, current financial reports to the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Team, Board of Directors, and Board committees.
• Oversee monthly and year-end closing processes, account reconciliations, financial statements, supporting schedules, and management reports.
• Direct the preparation of information and materials for the Audit Committee.
• Establish and implement appropriate purchasing, procurement, budgeting, financial authorization, and internal-control procedures.

Payroll and Human Resources Information System

• Direct and maintain ultimate financial accountability for the accurate and timely processing of payroll, including payroll funding, review and approval controls, reconciliations, general-ledger entries, payroll tax deposits and filings, required reporting, audit support, and correction of payroll errors.
• Establish and maintain clear payroll responsibilities and approval workflows and to ensure that authorized employee pay, deductions, benefits, leave, tax elections, timekeeping information, and employment-status changes are accurately and timely reflected in payroll and the Human Resources Information System (HRIS). Finance is responsible for payroll financial controls, funding, reconciliation, accounting, and tax reporting; Human Resources is responsible for authorizing and maintaining employee and employment-related data.
• Provide financial oversight of the HRIS and payroll system, including system configuration, data integrity, access controls, integrations, testing, upgrades, vendor coordination, and resolution of payroll-related issues.
• Ensure payroll practices and records comply with applicable federal and Connecticut wage-and-hour, tax, recordkeeping, contractual, and organizational requirements.

Audit, Tax, Grant, and Regulatory Compliance

• Direct and oversee the annual external audit and coordinate management responses and corrective actions.
• Ensure legal and regulatory compliance for financial functions, including timely and accurate tax and informational filings.
• Maintain current knowledge of nonprofit financial-management requirements, audit standards, accounting principles, and applicable federal and Connecticut requirements.
• Prepare or oversee financial reports required by agency contracts, grants, funders, and governmental entities.
• Track grant budgets and financial reporting and ensure compliance with applicable grant terms and state and federal requirements.
• Support grant applications and bidding processes by developing and reviewing fiscal information, budgets, assumptions, and documentation.
• Oversee preparation and submission of Meaningful Use documentation and related financial records, when applicable.

Department and Organizational Leadership

• Provide leadership and oversight to Accounting and Finance staff, including assignment of work, performance management, professional development, and accountability for accurate and timely results.
• Oversee client support statements, program financial statements, and other assigned accounting records and reports.
• Oversee administration and financial governance of the organization’s 401(k) plan in coordination with internal and external partners.
• Develop, review, maintain, and enforce fiscal policies, procedures, controls, and documentation.
• Provide role-specific financial training and guidance to managers and staff.
• Collaborate with the Director of Revenue Cycle to ensure billing activity, reimbursement matters, and related initiatives are accurately accounted for and incorporated into the organization’s financial plan.
• Oversee the organization’s financial contract-management process, including financial review, tracking, and compliance monitoring.
• Participate in agency activities so the Finance Department is represented and integrated into the Sound community.
• Perform other job-related accounting, finance, leadership, and special-project duties as assigned.

Leadership and Supervisory Responsibilities

The CFO is a member of the Executive Team and is responsible for leading the Finance Department. The position establishes priorities, assigns and reviews work, develops staff, evaluates performance, addresses performance or conduct concerns, and makes or meaningfully contributes to recommendations regarding hiring, promotion, discipline, and separation. The CFO is expected to exercise substantial discretion and independent judgment on matters of financial and organizational significance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, nonprofit accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, audit practices, internal controls, cash management, and grant and contract compliance.
• Ability to translate complex financial information into clear, practical recommendations for executives, department leaders, and Board members.
• Strong strategic leadership, management, communication, presentation, and staff-development skills.
• Ability to establish effective financial systems, controls, workflows, and performance measures.
• Strong analytical ability, sound judgment, attention to detail, and commitment to accurate and timely work.
• Ability to build productive relationships with internal leaders, staff, auditors, financial institutions, funders, vendors, regulators, and community partners.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise integrity when handling agency, employee, client, vendor, financial, and protected information.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and with financial-management, accounting, reporting, and related business systems.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and respond effectively to changing organizational needs.

Qualifications

Minimum education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field.

Minimum experience: Eight (8) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible accounting and finance experience, including substantial leadership responsibility. Experience in a not-for-profit and/or healthcare environment is required or must be demonstrably equivalent.

Preferred qualifications: Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field; Certified Public Accountant credential; and experience presenting financial information to a nonprofit Board of Directors.

Required license, certification, registration, or credential: None unless otherwise required by an applicable contract, funding source, or regulatory requirement.

Driver’s license requirement: A current and active driver’s license is not required as an essential condition of employment unless driving duties are separately assigned and approved.

Background check, credentialing, health screening, or other employment requirements: Successful completion of required background checks and any other applicable agency employment requirements.

Physical Requirements

This position is generally performed in administrative office and meeting settings. The physical and communication demands described are representative of those generally associated with performing the essential functions of the position and are not intended to exclude individuals who can perform the essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. The employee is regularly required to use standard office equipment, view and read computer screens and financial documents, communicate with staff and external parties, and remain stationary for periods of time. The employee may occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, travel, and lift or move materials weighing up to 10 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodations may be made as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act, and other applicable law, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship.