Vice President of Finance & Administration in North Carolina at Project Kitty Hawk

Finance & Accounting

• Serve as the organization's senior financial officer, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial operations

• Oversee the Controller and accounting team, including accounts payable/receivable, general ledger, payroll, and month-end close

• Lead annual budget development and multi-year financial projections and planning in partnership with the Executive Leadership Team and service-area leads

• Advise leadership on financial implications of partnerships with universities, including funding structures, cost allocation, and long-term sustainability

• Oversee margin reporting and working with business units on their resource allocation plans within the fiscal year

• Manage the annual audit process and serve as primary liaison with external auditors

• Prepare and present financial reports for the Board of Directors, its Finance Committee, and the UNC System Office

• Ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and all grant and contract reporting requirements

• Monitor cash flow, investment accounts, and reserves; advise leadership on financial risks and opportunities

• Track PKH contracts to assess vendor performance, identify critical deadlines and decision points, and negotiate favorable terms

People Operations

• Lead and support the Sr. Director of People Operations in setting the strategic direction of the people function, serving as a thought partner on organizational design, workforce planning, compensation philosophy, and culture.

• Maintain senior-level accountability for the People Operations function, providing guidance and escalation support on complex employee relations, board and personnel committee matters, and cross-functional people initiatives.

Leadership & Organizational Management

• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy and culture

• Manage, mentor, and develop direct reports across finance and people operations

• Build and maintain strong cross-functional relationships, acting as a collaborative partner to operations, partnership, and technology teams

• Represent the organization's operational interests to the Board, funders, and external partners as needed, including the UNC System Office

Secondary Responsibilities

Internal Technology

• Work with the Chief Technology Officer to budget for hardware and software procurement for the organization, ensuring staff are equipped with the tools they need

• Manage vendor relationships for IT services, software licenses, and technology support

• Financial system upgrades and potential migration: responsibility for evaluating the current tools and systems in place for financial reporting and analysis and leading an effort to identify improvements and opportunities to streamline

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or higher required

• 8+ years of progressive experience in finance or operations, with at least 3 years in a management role

• Nonprofit finance experience strongly preferred, including familiarity with fund accounting, grant compliance, and Form 990

• Experience in higher education finance, including familiarity with fund accounting, grant compliance, and public or university-affiliated financial environments, strongly preferred

• Demonstrated experience managing an audit process and working with external auditors

• Prior responsibility for human resources functions, including benefits, compliance, and employee relations

• Comfort with contract negotiations and vendor management

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong financial acumen and analytical skills; can translate complex financials for non-financial audiences

• Clear, direct communicator who builds trust across the organization — with frontline staff, leadership, and the Board

• The ideal candidate must have experience in accounting and be deeply familiar with GAAP, GASB and FASB reporting practices, and other financial standards

• Organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage competing priorities without losing sight of the bigger picture

• Mission-driven: the ideal candidate will be energized by the idea of building operational infrastructure in service of PKH’s mission to expand educational opportunity for more adult learners

Physical and Mental Requirements:

• Exercise independent judgment, concentrate, think, communicate, interact with others, manage multiple tasks, and cope with stressful situations and deadlines.

• Ability to perform sedentary physical activity of an administrative nature. The team member must occasionally lift office products and supplies weighing up to 20 pounds.

• Must be able to navigate various modes of transportation and drive/rent a car. Must be able to independently manage the disposition of all work supplies and personal travel items during travel.

Working Conditions and Travel

1. This position is hybrid; required to be in-person in the Chapel Hill, NC office twice per week.

1. Usually work during regular business hours, Monday through Friday; may require evening or weekend hours, particularly during travel times.

1. Travel is expected to be up to 10% of the time, utilizing standard forms of travel, including public transportation, individual rental cars, and/or the team member’s personal vehicle.