Finance Specialist - California

TITLE:

Finance Specialist
 

FLSA STATUS:

Exempt   
 

LOCATION:

Los Angeles, CA
California
 

HIRING RANGE:

$ 66,560 to $68,000 – Depending on experience.

About UFW Foundation: For 17 years, the UFW Foundation has mobilized farm workers and their organizations across the country to advocate for more equitable policies, such as immigration reform, pesticide protections, heat standards, hazard pay and other worker protections. We engage constituents in systemic change to break the cycle of poverty while also providing critical services. In fact, the UFW Foundation is the largest federally accredited immigration legal service provider in the state of California. The organization has staff in California, Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan and Maryland.  

SUMMARY: The UFW Foundation is looking for an experienced Finance Specialist to join our team. This position is a great opportunity for someone who has experience with federal and state contract and grant awards. The position will work collaboratively with the Finance team and organizational directors to support finance activities of several programs and contracts. This position is a key role in the organization and will have interaction with a wide array of stakeholders including external partners and funders (local, county, state and federal). This position reports to the Budget and Grants Director.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (This list is not exhaustive):

• Be a trusted resource and support to internal clients with data driven management and financial analysis as needed across the organization. 
• Review grants and contracts for understanding of budgetary restrictions within the grant. 
• Monitor, prepare, review and manage grant and contract invoicing/advances, financial analysis.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, annual expense reports for grants and contracts.
• Prepare and process journal entry transactions for appropriate grant and contract expenditures.
• Monitor and ensure subrecipient’s fiscal compliance with all applicable terms and conditions.
• Responsible for monitoring subrecipients to ensure proper stewardship of awarded funds.
• Coordinate the collection, preparation and delivery of sub-recipient financial documents to funders.
• Closeout grants and contracts when project period has ended and all funder requirements are complete.
• Complete ad hoc projects as directed by Chief Finance Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Executive Team members, and / or other staff as requested. 
• In partnership with the Budget and Grants Director and/or Chief Finance Officer, review grant spend-down of available funds on a monthly basis. 
• Assist the Budget and Grants Director in creating the annual budget and midyear revised budget, creating tools for and collecting data from multiple programs. 
• On a quarterly basis and as needed, check in with all program directors to anticipate any significant variances from organizational budget. 
• Identify when budget modifications are necessary and partner with the Budget and Grants Director and/or Chief Finance Officer on managing the budget modification process, ensuring that changes to the budget are appropriate. 
• Prepare financial pro forma and /or budgets for funding and grant applications. 
• Make and implement recommendations to improve finance processes and procedures. 
• Assist with annual audit as determined by the Chief Finance Officer. 
• Create and maintain documentation of processes and procedures in relation to duties of the job. 
• Actively participate in reflective supervision.
• Other duties and functions as are necessary or incidental to the proper performance of this position and as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• May involve the coordination and supervision of volunteers/interns as needed. 
  
  

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS: 

The ideal candidate for this position must have a high level of professionalism and organization. The candidate must demonstrate competency in the following areas:

• Dedication to Mission. A genuine interest in immigrant and farm worker rights.
• Demonstrated ability to speak and write in a succinct, informative, and respectful manner. such that content, expectations and timelines are clearly understood by diverse audiences.
• Experience creating complex financial models, forecasts and reports. Knowledge of regulatory requirements for state and federal funding streams preferred.
• Outstanding computer literacy including advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel. 
• Provide excellent customer service by responding timely and thoroughly to inquiries from internal and external stakeholders. 
• Si Se Puede (It Can Be Done) Attitude. The embodiment of a personal spirit that promotes confidence, courage and risk-taking.
• Speed, Precision, and Accuracy: Ability to work in a fast-paced, constantly changing environment with speed, precision and accuracy. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (oral and written), including the ability to listen and be responsive to coworkers and customers from outside agencies.
• Understanding of nonprofit accounting.
• Works well independently and within a multi-disciplinary team environment, managing multiple projects and priorities, and working cooperatively to meet internal and external requests. A teamwork mindset is essential. 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

LANGUAGE SKILLS: 

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Requires ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.   

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: 

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. 

REASONING ABILITY: 

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. 

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: 

• A BA/BS degree in accounting or finance, a related field or equivalent experience.  
• Minimum of 3 years of financial analysis, subrecipient monitoring and budgeting experience ideally in the nonprofit sector responsible for reporting in compliance with local, state and federal requirements.
• Prior experience working in non-profit organization management, contract administration, budgeting, and fundraising. 
• Comprehensive knowledge of standard office practices, procedures, equipment, and techniques; excellent organizational, managerial, and communication skills.  
• Ability to plan and achieve annual goals and objectives. Experience with and knowledge of computer operation; knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.), and database applications.
  
  

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: 

• None.

COMPENSATION:  

The annual salary pay range for this position is $66,560.00 to $68,000.00, and benefits include:

• Accruals of 2, 3, and 4 vacation weeks per year depending on tenure
• 16 paid holidays (includes a personal day)
• 1 mental health day per calendar year
• Paid sick days
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• Life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employee Assistance Program for support with personal and work-related challenges
• 403(b) retirement plan with 2% employer match (providing employee meets criteria)
• 401(k) retirement plan with no employer match (providing employee meets criteria) 
• Employer-sponsored pension plan
• Supplemental insurance (within 30 days of hire date)
• Professional development opportunities and access to thousands of courses
• 20% discount for immigration services through the UFW Foundation
• Many discounts, such as entertainment discounts for movie theaters, theme parks, etc. via ADP Lifemart, TicketsatWork, and UnionPlus

ADDITIONAL AND/OR SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS: 

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement – The UFW Foundation is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our community, employees, and program participants. While vaccinations and boosters are not currently mandatory, we strongly recommend their use as a crucial measure in reducing the transmission of COVID-19. It is imperative to emphasize that if a pandemic situation arises that necessitates vaccines and/or boosters, we will reinstate this requirement to protect everyone effectively. Vaccinations have proven to be effective in preventing the spread of the virus and reducing severe illness. By choosing to get vaccinated, individuals contribute to the collective effort in mitigating the impact of the pandemic and creating a safer environment for all. We will continually monitor the evolving situation and follow the guidance of health authorities.  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.  The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.  The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:   

The UFW Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe a strong commitment to equal employment opportunity is more than a legal and moral obligation – it is also a sound business practice to realize the potential of every individual. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all! To provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at the UFW Foundation will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities. Except where required or permitted by law, employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant's or employee's race, color, religion, sex/gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, ancestry, disability, genetic information, age, or any characteristic protected by law. 

We encourage all qualified applicants to apply for a position fighting for farmworker and immigrant communities! The UFW Foundation believes in second chances. As an organization, we will rely on individualized assessments in the hiring of those with past criminal convictions. The UFW Foundation will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with qualified disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. Persons of color, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, persons with disabilities, persons who have lived in poverty, formerly incarcerated, persons 40 years old or older, and people fluent in more than one language are strongly encouraged to apply for open positions with the UFW Foundation. 

This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, counseling, discipline, termination, access to benefits, and training. Our commitment to equal opportunity employment applies to all persons involved in our operations and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee, including supervisors and co-workers.