What Does a Finance Director Do?
A finance director is responsible for the financial standing of a company. They evaluate markets, identify solutions and improvements, and prepare reports for management on the company’s financial status that are used to make educated decisions on key monetary matters, such as future investments and budgets. They must be able to analyze company performance and risks and drive the financial strategy by recommending solid fiscal plans. Finance directors may also set up and manage the company’s finance IT system.
Finance directors need to have extensive knowledge of accounting, and business principles. They need excellent leadership qualities and should be strategic thinkers to guide the company toward profitability and long-term success. They should be proficient in relevant programs like Quickbooks or SAP. Outstanding organizational, communication and interpersonal skills are also needed. These professionals must be solid decision-makers and able to implement high-level strategies that further company goals and enhance profitability.
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National Average Salary
Finance director salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.
The average U.S. salary for a Finance Director is:
$156,070
Finance Director Job Descriptions
Example 1
Financial management
- Responsible for managing the day to day accounting including accounts payable and receivable, data entry, and reconciliation, following all Bluffton Self Help cash handling procedures to ensure checks and cash are deposited and recorded appropriately
- Provide leadership, support, and backup for annual audit
- Review all incoming donations including tracking restrictions
- Prepare, verify, and disseminate monthly financial statements, supporting schedules, statistical analyses, and accounting reports as necessary and appropriate for management and monitoring agencies
- Prepare monthly balance sheet reconciliations
- Ensure all cash and receipts are collected and proper bank deposits are made
- Perform daily reconciliation of point of sale revenues, tax liabilities, and cash/charge receipts
- Provides entries/approval for payroll to PEO system
- Manage any cash banks (petty cash, cash drawers) at BSH locations and events
- Manage credit card accounts, balance, payments, receipts, and reconciliation
- Prepare and/or supervise the preparation of applicable federal, state, and local tax returns, including coordination/preparation of annual 990 filing
- Works with CEO and Treasurer to ensure nonprofit accounting rules are being followed
- Review, manage, and track all financial investments with financial investment firm
- Communicate any and all discrepancies immediately to CEO
- Ensure proper bookkeeping, accounting, and tracking of all financial and in-kind revenue and expenses
- Maintain knowledge of current (and changing) financial accounting principles
Administrative
- Ensures that all business licenses, liquor licenses, certificates of operation, and other licenses/permits are current and properly maintained
- Ensure that procedures are in place to safeguard company assets, assure that records are accurately maintained and that established policies and practices are satisfactorily and consistently followed
- Review insurance policies on an ongoing basis to ensure they reflect the organization’s needs. Update, manage, and track all organizational insurances including scheduling annual review and presentation from broker
- File necessary paperwork with government entities to satisfy grant requirements as needed.
- Complete projects as assigned by CEO involving data collection and/or analysis
- Grant fund training and reporting
- Oversee and lead annual budgeting process
- Further develop Bluffton Self Helps HR policies, procedures, and onboarding
- Work closely and transparently with all external partners including third-party vendors and consultants
- Oversee technology resources, installations, and upgrades as necessary to include networks, software, hardware, and cyber security
- Negotiate and oversee rental and leasing contracts
- Solicit and evaluate bids for services as needed
Qualifications
- The ideal candidate has experience of final responsibility for the quality and content of all financial data, reporting and audit coordination for either a division or significant program area, and has preferably overseen human resources and IT functions
- Minimum 5 – 10 years of operations and accounting experience
- An understanding of and passion for Bluffton Self Help’s mission and vision
- Proficient in QuickBooks
- Ability to translate financial concepts to – and to effectively collaborate with — programmatic and fundraising colleagues who do not necessarily have finance backgrounds
- A track record in effective project and staff management
- Effective leadership to staff, volunteers and donors
- Must possess strong project management skills, interpersonal skills, and positive relationship building internally and externally
- Must have a high level of work ethic, urgency, and transparency
Work environment
This job operates in an office setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, etc.
Example 2
An ideal candidate will have great communication skills, high level of attention to detail, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced, multitasking environment. We offer competitive compensation and excellent benefits.
Key responsibilities
This role requires a strong understanding of accounting and financial principles, strong communication skills, the desire to drive data based business decisions and the ability to deliver in the following key areas:
- Co-Manage firm and fund accounting functions
- Manage firm audit and tax activities
- Manage firm and fund treasury operations
- Assist CFO in strategic and financial planning design and analysis
- Co-Manage financial, managerial, and regulatory reporting
- Drive cost management processes and improve operational efficiencies
- Augment business development activities through sound financial support and analysis
Required skills, experience, and education
- 10+ years of experience in Finance or Accounting
- Direct industry experience and knowledge of financial markets
- CPA highly desired
- Good customer service skills team oriented, able to work across teams and functions
- Technology and process efficiency driven
- Experience in Geneva or other portfolio accounting system a plus
- Familiarity with data management and visualizations a plus
- Aptitude to finish a project or activity on time the first time.
Example 3
In this role, you will
- Be responsible for all financial performance for a Business Unit, leading a team of Program Financial Analysts and Managers
- In coordination with Programs and Operating Units, implement risk and opportunity management plans for individual programs
- Ensure efficient and effective cash flow for programs within the portfolio
- Partner with the Business Unit Vice President and Growth team to bid new business
- Develop and implement fiscal operating budgets, policies, and procedures
- Develop, implement, and administer financial records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, corporate policies, and government regulations through subordinate analysts
- Develop and administer the cost accounting and financial management systems
- Develop, monitor, and distribute to management essential financial operating budgets, reports, and forecasts
- Review annual and intermediate budgets periodically to analyze trends affecting budget needs
- Responsible for the development of financial management data reflecting financial condition and operating results
- Develop the Business Unit’s funding base to secure present and future service delivery
- Evaluate financial reporting systems, accounting and collection procedures, and investment activities, and make recommendations for changes to procedures, operating systems, budgets, and other financial control functions
Basic requirements
- Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree with 16+ years of relevant experience
- 6 years experience as a manager
- The ability to obtain a TS/SCI with a polygraph. (Can start without a clearance but the expectation is that the clearance process will start upon taking the role)
Preferred qualifications
- Experience working with Intelligence customers and the Maryland Procurement Office specifically
Sample Interview Questions
- What makes a successful financial plan or budget?
- What methods/metrics do you use to evaluate financial performance?
- How would you handle a challenging client?
- Which financial reports are important to upper management and why?
- What key elements would you look at to evaluate the company’s investments?
- Is a cash flow statement enough to tell whether a company is doing well?
- How do you calculate and interpret ROI?
- How do you reward innovation, initiative, and teamwork?
- What is the most challenging part of creating a budget?
- What size budgets have you dealt with?
- Do you have experience managing accounts payable and accounts receivable?
- Tell me about a large financial project you worked on.
- What is your leadership style?
- How would you ensure our department is following policies and regulations?
- How would you support an underperforming employee?
- What strategies can you use to evaluate our company’s financial progress?
- What would you do if your ethics were challenged?