Director of Financial Planning and Analysis in Washington, District of Columbia at Washington National Cathedral

JOB SUMMARY:

Reporting to the CFAO, the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis is a member of the Cathedral’s 8-person finance team and manages the Budget Analyst.

The Director leads the financial component of strategic planning for the Cathedral. The Director understands the intricacies of the strategic plan, incorporating the ideals into annual and long-term planning. This involves development and monitoring of KPI’s to ensure that the Cathedral is working towards sustainability as well as working with related departments to provide analysis or implement improved practices.

In collaboration with the CFAO, this position will perform a full range of budget oversight, control, and accountability for all assigned areas, including budget formulation, forecast, execution, and justification. This highly analytical and detailed person understands how programs are delivered at the Cathedral and serves as the communication bridge between program planning and the accounting function of the Cathedral.

Additional requirements include strong written and verbal communication skills; the ability to analyze and interpret detailed budgetary and financial reports; and the capability to develop, implement, and maintain report systems.

This position leads the annual planning process which requires significant interaction with all other departments of the Cathedral, in particular Development, Revenue, Marketing and Communications, Facilities, and Human Resources. The Director of Financial Planning & Analysis will be responsible for analysis of information maintained in the Centrage budget and reporting system. This system contains the annual operating budget and forecast, and the multi-year financial plan. The Director of Financial Planning & Analysis is also responsible for reviewing and analyzing capital budgets prepared by the Budget Analyst, ensuring, in collaboration with the Director of Facilities and Preservation, that all capital projects are fully funded and executed within budget. Finally, the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis works closely with the Development, Revenue, and programmatic teams, assisting with financial data associated with funding requests, and grants budgeting, financial management and reporting.

The ideal candidate has a curiosity about and interest in the multiple offerings of the Cathedral, enjoys talking with and working with programmatic personnel, can translate program discussions into financial estimates, is a flexible thinker, and has strong understanding of financial systems. Additionally, the candidate should be comfortable presenting financial and strategic information to a variety of audiences, including Leadership Council, Executive Leadership Council, staff groups, Finance Committee, and other stakeholders, while facilitating productive discussions and building organizational understanding of financial priorities.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

In close collaboration with the CFO, the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis duties and responsibilities include:

Back-up to the CFO:

• Attend Cathedral Finance Committee meetings as needed, primarily during budget season. Present budgetary information, both written and orally, in a clear, concise manner.
• Member of the Cathedral Leadership Council.

Annual Operating Budget:

• Oversee the Budget Analyst in managing and keeping up to date the Planning Maestro system and producing monthly departmental budget vs actual reporting.
• Work closely with the Controller to obtain and further analyze monthly Cathedral financial reports, preparing additional reporting as needed.
• Work with the Budget Analyst to produce thorough analysis of departmental reports and meet monthly with departmental heads to walk through their financial status, understand deviations from budget, and gain insight into forecasted activities.
• Work with the Budget Analyst to maintain an up-to-date revenue and expense annual forecast throughout the year on a rolling basis, based on discussions with CFAO, departmental heads and other personnel, data from the payroll system (Paylocity), and actual GL data.
• Develop and monitor KPIs for financial performance
• Lead the annual planning process and use programmatic/ operational planning information to inform annual budgeting and forecasting.
• Work with Budget Analyst to produce financial schedules to support development and presentation of the Annual Operating Budget.
• Assist the CFAO with sheparding the annual operating budget process and its associated components through the various approval processes, including Compensation Committee Finance Committee and Chapter reviews, prior to presentation to the PECF Finance Committee and Board.
• Stay abreast of new accounting pronouncements and the impact they may have on the activities and reporting of the organization. Keep up to date knowledge of non-profit accounting principles and ensure appropriate implementation of key tenets of non-profit GAAP in building the Cathedral’s budgets and forecasts.

Multi-Year Financial Plan:

• Maintain in Centrage the “default plan” multi-year forecast for up to five years. Ensure operational and programmatic plans are kept up to date on a rolling basis through discussion with programmatic leads, participation in annual planning and Leadership Council meetings, and liaison with the Budget Analyst. This plan is linked to the annual budgeting and forecasting cycles.

Grants and Restricted Funding:

• Working alongside Budget Analyst and with departmental personnel, the CFAO, and the Development team to develop budgets for grants and restricted funding, as well as budget narratives as needed.
• Assist the Budget Analyst in systematizing budgets into Planning Maestro as far as possible, to be able to track budget v actual data for grants and restricted funds each month.
• For budget that cannot be maintained in Planning Maestro, keep up to date excel templates and data.
• In collaboration with the Budget Analyst, departmental personnel, CFAO, and development team, manage preparation of periodic financial reports for restricted funders as required by the gift or grant agreements.

Capital Projects:

• In close collaboration with the Director of Facilities & Preservation, the Deputy Director of Preservation, and the CFAO, create budgets to support multi-year capital planning on an individual project basis.
• For each multi-year project, monitor funding sources and cash received (i.e. grants, restricted gifts, designated funding, etc.).
• Work with the Budget Analyst to monitor actual expenditure against capital budgets and produce monthly reports to enable the Director of Facilities & Preservation to track funds expended relative to percent of project completion.
• Work with the CFAO to explore whether budgets can be systematized into Planning Maestro or other systems.

Other:

• Participate in scheduled finance team and Cathedral staff meetings
• Develop professional working relationships across the organization.
• Other duties as assigned

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

· Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, financial analysis, or other related fields CPA and/or MBA preferred.

· 10+ years of relevant experience working in a nonprofit finance organization, with specific responsibilities relating to budgeting, financial analysis, and financial planning.

· Demonstrated ability to communicate complex financial concepts to diverse audiences, including senior leadership, governing committees, department leaders, and staff, and to facilitate discussions that support informed decision-making.

· Connection to the mission and vision of Washington National Cathedral.

· Curiosity about and interest in the Cathedral’s many programs; ability to interact easily with programmatic, development and facilities personnel, and assist with translating their qualitative plans into numbers.

· Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Outlook, Access, and Excel).

· Proficiency with Centrage and/or similar budget systems.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS:

· Expert level mastery of spreadsheet software sufficient to maintain a sophisticated level of automation in the preparation of complex documents containing links to other documents and linked dynamic formulas.

· Strong presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to lead discussions, influence decision-making, and translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for both financial and non-financial audiences.

· Proven analytical and assessment skills.

· Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills are essential.

· Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills are required.

· Ability to work with confidential information.

ABILITIES:

· Ability to prioritize and move between multiple projects simultaneously.

· Ability to communicate effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds.

· Collaborative and creative spirit.

· Detail oriented and organized with the ability to translate qualitative thinking into financial planning.

· Flexible and collaborative thinker.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

· This position is eligible for a hybrid model of work, averaging 2-3 days a week in the office on site.

· The position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, and stooping in the performance of daily activities.

· The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination in preparing reports using a computer keyboard.

· The position also requires near and far vision for reading and preparing written reports and other requireddocuments.

· Acute hearing is also required when providing phone assistance.

· The need to lift, drag, push, and pull files, reports and other materials weighing up to 25 pounds is also required.

· This position requires work during regular business hours. At times, some work on weekends and outside of regular business hours may be required.

Washington National Cathedral is an equal opportunity employer and strives to create a more diverse and inclusive atmosphere for all. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.

We support an inclusive workplace where associates excel based on personal merit, qualifications, experience, ability, and job performance.

Washington National Cathedral seeks individuals who are committed to our mission. We appreciate interest from those who will contribute to an atmosphere in which diversity is valued and supported.

Salary range is $170,000 - $190,000, commensurate to experience.