Sr. Director, Finance and Operations

General Summary

The Society of American Foresters (SAF) is the national scientific and educational organization representing the forestry profession in the United States. Founded in 1900 by Gifford Pinchot, it is the largest professional society for foresters and forest management professionals and academics in the world. SAF’s mission is to advance sustainable management of forest resources through science, education, and technology, promoting professional excellence while ensuring the continued health, integrity, and use of forests to benefit society in perpetuity. More information about SAF is available at www.eforester.org.

The Senior Director of Finance and Operations is a strategic partner to the CEO and a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for the financial health, administrative operations, and enterprise data infrastructure of SAF. This role provides leadership across finance, human resources, administration, technology, and data/knowledge management, ensuring effective systems, data integrity, compliance, and operational excellence to support organizational growth.

The Senior Director leads financial planning and analysis, maintains strong internal controls, and ensures compliance with nonprofit accounting standards. They also oversee administrative infrastructure and enterprise data strategy to improve efficiency, scalability, and data-informed decision-making.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS)

Finance & Accounting Leadership

Serve as the primary financial advisor to the CEO and Finance Committee, supporting strategic decision-making through financial analysis and forecasting

Develop and maintain short-, medium-, and long-term financial plans, including a rolling 5-year financial model

Lead the annual budgeting process in collaboration with fellow senior leaders and department directors; monitor performance and analyze variances

Partner with internal stakeholders to forecast revenue and align financial planning with organizational trends

Oversee all accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, payroll reconciliation, and financial reporting, partnering with accounting firm

Ensure timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements

Maintain and strengthen internal controls and financial policies to mitigate risk and ensure compliance with GAAP and nonprofit standards

Manage organizational cash flow, forecasting, and banking relationships

Oversee grant invoicing, federal grant compliance, and revenue recognition

Monitor investment accounts and report on performance

Data & Analytics

Provide leadership to the Director of Data and Knowledge Management to ensure alignment of data systems and reporting across the organization

Ensure integrity, accuracy, security, and accessibility of organizational data across systems

Develop and maintain dashboards and report on key organizational metrics (growth, retention, engagement, revenue, program impact)

Analyze organizational and program data to generate insights that inform strategy and improve outcomes

Align data and trends with financial forecasting and organizational planning

Evaluate and optimize systems to improve data integration, reporting, and usability across departments

Establish and maintain enterprise data governance standards, including policies for data entry, access, reporting, and knowledge management

Audit, Compliance & Risk Management

Lead the annual financial statement audit and Single Audit, serving as the primary liaison to external auditors and the Audit Committee

Ensure timely preparation and filing of Form 990 and other required federal and state filings

Oversee submission of required reports and standard forms, including Forest Service reporting and RxDC data submissions

Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as organizational policies and bylaws

Lead enterprise risk management efforts, ensuring risks are identified, monitored, and mitigated

Administration & Operations

Oversee administrative operations through the Office Manager/Administrator, including facilities, insurance, vendor contracts, and office management

Ensure efficient day-to-day office operations and a high level of internal customer service

Establish and maintain contract management systems and support staff in contract review and compliance

Lead organizational process improvements and implementation of administrative systems

Oversee corporate credit card and expense management programs

Team Leadership & Oversight

Directly supervise the Office Manager/Administrator, HR Manager, and Director of Data and Knowledge Management, including goal setting, coaching, and performance management

Serve as point of contact for current financial consulting firm

Provide strategic oversight to the HR Manager and coordinate with staff responsible for IT/vendor management

Foster alignment across finance, data, and operations to ensure integrated systems and workflows

Promote a data-driven, service-oriented culture across administrative and operational functions

Human Resources Oversight

Provide strategic oversight of HR functions, partnering with the HR Manager on execution

Ensure effective payroll administration, benefits management, and personnel recordkeeping

Maintain compliance with employment laws and regulations

Support organizational development, onboarding, and policy development

Technology Oversight

Provide strategic oversight of organizational technology and systems

Partner with internal staff responsible for IT vendor management to ensure systems meet business needs

Evaluate and recommend system improvements to enhance efficiency, integration, and data integrity

Leadership & Collaboration

Serve as staff liaison to the Finance Committee and Audit Committee

Build strong cross-functional relationships and foster collaboration across departments

Contribute to organizational strategy and continuous improvement initiatives

Other Duties

Perform other duties as assigned by the CEO

Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; MBA and/or CPA preferred

Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive leadership experience in finance and operations, preferably within a nonprofit or association environment

Deep knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards

Demonstrated experience with financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and audit management

Experience overseeing federal grants and compliance requirements (including Single Audit preferred)

Experience leading or partnering with data/analytics or knowledge management functions strongly preferred

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, including experience with data analysis and reporting

Proven ability to translate strategy into operational and financial plans

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with executive leadership and board committees

High level of integrity and discretion in handling confidential information

Technical Skills

Experience with financial systems such as QuickBooks Online and Bill.com

Experience with data reporting tools, dashboards, and data governance practices strongly preferred

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial modeling

Additional Attributes

Strategic thinker with a hands-on, solutions-oriented approach

Highly organized with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities

Collaborative leadership style with strong customer service orientation

Commitment to staying current on nonprofit best practices and regulatory changes

Willingness to travel occasionally (less than 10%)

Benefits

SAF takes pride in offering outstanding benefits to our employees. Benefits package includes:

Medical

Dental

Vision

20 days of PTO

13 Paid Holidays

3% 401(k) non-elective contribution

Short-term disability, long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate by means of talking or hearing. The employee frequently uses hands for tools and machines requiring manual dexterity and agility, handles or feels objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee must be able to work at a desk and may be required to travel by air or vehicle to perform job-related duties.

Other demands of the position may vary as determined by management. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but may occasionally be loud or distracting.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Remote or hybrid position

EEO Statement

SAF is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.

SAF expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of SAF’s employees to perform their job duties may result in discipline up to and including discharge.

In addition to federal law requirements, SAF complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall and transfers, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Disclaimer

This job description is intended to provide an overview of the general duties and responsibilities of the position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, and employees may be required to perform additional job-related duties as requested by their supervisor or other authorized personnel.

All job duties and responsibilities are essential functions of the position and are subject to reasonable accommodation to comply with applicable laws. To perform this job successfully, incumbents must possess the necessary skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently.

Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities required. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, and employment is at-will.

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