Full-Time and Exempt Employee
Reports directly to the Executive Director
Disability Rights Washington (DRW) seeks a Finance Director. You can view our Employment page here to see other open positions at DRW.
DRW understands the importance and contribution of candidates with lived experience. DRW encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including individuals of all races, colors, religions, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, ages, national origins, marital statuses, disabilities, and veteran status backgrounds. Disabilities include, but are not limited to, mental health conditions, physical and sensory disabilities, learning and intellectual disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and chronic health conditions.
Candidates must be dedicated to actively engaging in anti-racist advocacy and applying Disability Justice principles to DRW’s work. Information about Disability Justice can be found here: https://www.sinsinvalid.org/blog/10-principles-of-disability-justice.
Reasonable Disability Accommodations
DRW is committed to providing reasonable disability accommodations at all steps of the hiring process. If you are unsure about what may be considered a disability or what accommodations may work for you, the Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides information about potential accommodations that are searchable by disability, work-related function, and accommodation. Applicants for DRW employment seeking reasonable disability accommodations for the application and hiring processes can contact Jodi Rose, DRW’s Advocacy & Administrative Support Manager, by calling (800) 562-2702 or by emailing info@dr-wa.org.
Job Overview
The Finance Director is a key contributor to Disability Rights Washington’s mission to protect and advocate for the human, legal, and civil rights of people with disabilities while advancing dignity, equality, and self-determination.
The Finance Director will maintain the integrity of the agency’s finances by managing the accounting processes, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general ledger maintenance. The Finance Director leads and stewards all financial planning and financial operations for the organization and reports to the Executive Director. As a key member of the Strategic Leadership Team, this role partners with department leaders to align financial strategy, budgeting, and decision-making with DRW’s mission and program priorities while overseeing our organizational and operating budget. The Finance Director will strengthen and implement financial systems and internal controls, and ensure transparent, accurate financial reporting. A critical component of this role involves monitoring expenditures to ensure rigorous grant compliance, including the fulfilment of all necessary reporting requirements. The Finance Director will work closely with other members of the fiscal team to ensure appropriate segregation of duties and enforcement of internal controls.
This job does not involve unsupervised contact with vulnerable adults or children. This is a hybrid position.
This is a full time, exempt position with a salary range of $115,500 to $132,500 annually, depending on experience.
Due to the confidential nature of this role, the position is not union eligible. Candidate must be based in Washington State or be willing to relocate. Work location will be hybrid. Our office is located in Seattle, WA.
Generous benefits including 401k contribution, medical, dental, and vision care, Health and Flex Spending account options, Costco Membership, Life Insurance, Long-Term Disability, vacation, sick, holiday, parental, and other types of leave, and a 35-hour work week.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Partnering with the Executive Director and other members of the Strategic Leadership Team to align financial resources with program priorities and strategic goals.
- Provide financial analysis, forecasting, and insights to support mission-driven decision-making.
- Overseeing all aspects of the accounting team including general ledger accounting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and internal/external financial reporting.
- Ensuring accurate and timely preparation and distribution of periodic internal financial reporting to department heads, Executive Director, Board of Directors, and Advisory Councils.
- Maintaining appropriate internal controls and systems and ensuring compliance with all financial reporting and regulatory requirements, including tax filings, audits, grants, and other reporting requirements and following Board policies and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
- Managing cash flow, including forecasting cash flow for the year to ensure cash balances with forecasted funding are sufficient for the organization to meet its operating cash requirements.
- Creating and implementing annual budgeting processes and updating financial forecasts. Includes analysis and reporting on variances.
- Leading all audit activity and communication with independent auditors and ensuring timely submission of required financial statements and annual Form 990.
- Overseeing selection and management of all accounting-specific services, including general ledger software, payroll, and credit card management.
- Lead the monthly close process to ensure all transactions have been entered and reconciled appropriately.
- Prepare financial statements and reports for the Executive Director, Board of Directors, Advisory Councils, and other management staff.
- Conduct internal costing of union bargaining proposals and financial forecasting.
- Apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to the work of the agency
- Support the Finance and Audit Committee, work closely with the Treasurer of the Board, and attend related meetings as necessary or at the request of the Executive Director.
- Responsible for all internal control functions assigned in the Accounting Procedures and Practices Manual.
- Work as a member of the Fiscal and Operations team to ensure equitable separation of duties.
- Responsible for knowing all fiscal requirements related to our federal funding and assuring that DRW financial policies, procedures and practices are consistent with those requirements.
- Responsible for assisting with writing clear and understandable policy and procedure proposals whenever revised policies, procedures and/or practices are necessary to address inconsistencies with financial requirements.
- Responsible for tracking and calendaring all deadlines for all federal and other fiscal related reports necessary to secure and maintain our funding and disseminating the information to all staff responsible for preparing the reports in a timely manner.
Leadership, Supervision, and Collaboration
- Providing overall management, direction and execution of the accounting team.
- Providing supervision and mentorship to the accounting team, focusing on operational accuracy and improvement and developing and documenting processes to strengthen internal controls.
- Serving as a key business partner to other departments and acting as a strategic financial thought partner to the Executive Director and the Board of Directors.
- Managing relationships with external partners, including banks, auditors, funders, and other financial service providers.
Conflict Resolution
- Effectively utilizes conflict resolution and advocacy skills to resolve both internal and external conflicts
Timely Paperwork and Reporting
- Submits all required reports, timesheets, and other documentation in an accurate and timely manner
Work Conditions
- Works in an office environment and may have some local and statewide work-related travel.
- Works a standard work week from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (unless an alternative schedule is approved), but must occasionally work evenings, weekends, or extended hours as needed.
Workload Monitoring
Maintain a reasonably ambitious workload and keep their immediate supervisor informed when there is insufficient work to perform and when there is a risk that work won’t be completed on a timely basis.
Qualifications
Employee Commitment
All DRW employees are expected to have a commitment to the values expressed in DRW’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Philosophy Statement
Experience Specific to the Position
- A degree in accounting, finance, or related field
- 3+ years related work experience at a nonprofit is preferable
- 5+ years of work experience that includes fund accounting or fund auditing and utilization of a computerized accounting system specific to fund accounting
- 2+ years of progressive management and supervisory experience
- Experience working or interacting directly with people with disabilities
- Preferred:
- CPA certification
- Experience with multiple funding sources or cost center-based accounting systems, such as MIP or comparable financial management platforms.
- Experience in a law firm, legal services, advocacy, regulatory, or similarly complex setting.
- Experience working within organizations that include unionized staff and collective bargaining environments, with an understanding of related financial and operational considerations.
Abilities Specific to the Position
- The ability to write financial policies, procedures, protocols, practices and instructions.
- Strong financial analysis, forecasting, and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into strategic insights.
- Experience managing competing priorities and leading projects with a high degree of independence and accountability.
- Proficiency with accounting and financial reporting systems and experience supporting system improvements or implementations.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting financial information to staff, Board members, and external partners (e.g., funders, auditors, financial institutions).
- Ability to drive efficiencies and process improvement, with critical attention to detail.
- Demonstrated skills in the following areas: accounts payable, accounts receivable, fund accounting, and maintenance of a general ledger, payroll, statistical analysis, and budget preparation.
- Proficient in financial software and computer skills, including deep knowledge and experience in selecting and overseeing software installations and managing relationships with software vendors, and advanced knowledge of accounting software.
- A successful track record in setting priorities; excellent analytic, financial planning, and problem-solving skills to allow for strategic data interpretation and sound decision-making to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the organization.
General Abilities
An employee in this position is expected to have these general abilities:
- Be an effective team member
- Effectively communicate
- Effectively relate to people with all kinds of disabilities
- Exercise initiative, ingenuity, and sound judgment
- Organize and manage time
- Set work goals and create work plans of activities
- Take direction and coordinate work with others
- Use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, and Internet
- Work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
- Work independently
Background Check
- DRW conducts background checks of conviction and arrest records on final candidates prior to extending offers. The hiring process will be conducted in compliance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, SMC 14.17 and Washington’s Fair Chance Act, RCW 49.94. Applicants will be provided with an opportunity to explain and correct background information. A criminal background does not automatically eliminate candidates from consideration. If a criminal background exists, the nature of the offense will be considered in the context of the essential functions of the position.
About Disability Rights Washington (DRW)
DRW is a private nonprofit organization that advances the dignity, equality, and self-determination of people with disabilities. We are designated by the governor of Washington as the independent federally mandated protection and advocacy system for Washington State. We work to pursue justice on matters related to human and legal rights. Our Board of Directors, which is majority Black, Indigenous, people of color, and majority disabled, sets the priorities of our work in consultation with two advisory councils and input from the community to ensure leadership by the most impacted and “nothing about us without us.” Information about our priorities can be found here: https://www.disabilityrightswa.org/priorities/.
DRW is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. DRW encourages applications from all qualified individuals, including individuals of all races, colors, religions, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions, ages, national origins, marital statuses, disabilities, and veteran status backgrounds.
For information about us, please visit: http://www.disabilityrightswa.org/.
To Apply
Please fill out the online application below and include a cover letter and resume. You may also mail your application to: Disability Rights Washington, Attn: Jodi Rose, 315 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 850, Seattle, WA 98104
DRW is committed to promoting universal accessibility and fairness in our interview process. At least three business days before an interview, DRW will tell applicants the names, pronouns, and titles of DRW interviewers and will provide the interview questions, which will be the same for all applicants. During interviews, DRW will provide a visual description of the interviewers and turn on captions for online interviews. We also know that other efforts to make our process more accessible may be needed based on individual needs and we will provide reasonable accommodations for any portion of the application or interview process. You can request accommodations by contacting Jodi Rose, DRW’s Advocacy & Administrative Support Manager, using the information provided above. If you are not sure if you would benefit from an accommodation, you can review the Job Accommodations Network (JAN) website, which provides many ideas about possible accommodations that have worked for others, and you are more than welcome to call Jodi to discuss ideas you have or what we have done in the past. JAN is located here: https://askjan.org/soar.cfm.
Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will be accepted until the position is filled. The first review of applications will take place a few days upon receipt. Applicants will only be contacted if they are selected for an interview. The interview process will include two rounds of interviews. If selected as a finalist, DRW may ask the applicant for contacts to verify previous employment.