Chief Financial Officer Job Posting
Are you prepared to lead enterprise strategy at the intersection of mission impact, financial stewardship, and operational excellence? Do you bring the judgment and perspective to navigate complex environments where finance, investments, and operations must align to enable long term sustainability? National 4-H Council is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to lead enterprise wide financial strategy, strengthen organizational infrastructure, and serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board in advancing mission impact across the nation.
At National 4-H Council, we empower nearly 6 million young people each year to become confident leaders who are ready for life and work. As the nation’s largest youth development organization, we prepare young people to be Beyond Ready through hands-on learning experiences in STEM, Agriculture, Healthy Living, and Civic Engagement.
As the Chief Financial Officer, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the financial, operational, and investment foundation of the organization by leading enterprise finance, accounting, investments, and business operations. You will steward financial strategy and planning, oversee a portfolio of approximately 100 million dollars in investments, ensure strong accounting controls and reporting, and build scalable systems that enable clarity, accountability, and performance across a distributed national organization. Partnering closely with the CEO, Board, Treasurer, and executive team, you will translate financial insight into strategic direction while strengthening risk management, operational discipline, and organizational effectiveness.
Join us in strengthening the financial and operational foundation that powers the 4-H mission and ensures even more young people have access to the experiences, mentorship, and opportunities that prepare them to be Beyond Ready for the future. #4HBeyondReady
Mission
4-H, the nation’s largest youth development organization, grows confident young people empowered for life today and prepared for careers tomorrow. In collaboration with the USDA and our network of 110 public universities, we serve every county and parish in the United States in more than 3,000 local 4-H Extension offices. Our programs have a positive impact on young people: 4-H youth are 2x more likely to excel in school, 4x more likely to contribute to their communities, 2x more likely to make healthier choices, and 2x more likely to pursue STEM education or careers.
National 4-H Council (Council), 4-H’s private sector nonprofit partner, builds public-private partnerships and provides resources and leadership development opportunities that expand the reach and impact of 4-H. With the Beyond Ready Initiative, 4-H has the potential to reach 10 million young people annually to help them lead healthy, productive, and engaged lives. Young leaders will have the experience and mentorship to succeed in an evolving workforce and thrive in their communities.
Position Summary
You will lead enterprise finance and operations, with full accountability for financial strategy, investment oversight, and the operational infrastructure that supports a national nonprofit organization.
As a core member of the Executive Team, you will serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board. You will connect financial strategy to mission impact, ensure strong stewardship of resources, and build systems that enable speed, clarity, and accountability across a distributed organization.
This role requires deep accounting and finance expertise, strong operational leadership, and the ability to drive change across a complex, mission-driven enterprise.
Scope and Impact
- Enterprise-wide leadership of finance, accounting, and business operations, including procurement, contracts management, and facilities
- Stewardship of approximately $100M investment portfolio and quasi-endowment
- Leadership of a multidisciplinary team supporting a national organization
- Board-level engagement on financial strategy, governance, risk, and investment oversight
- Direct engagement with the Board and key committees on finance, audit, and investment matters
Primary Responsibilities
Strategic Finance
- Lead enterprise financial strategy, long-range planning, and capital allocation in partnership with the CEO, Treasurer, and Board
- Own budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes across the organization
- Provide high-quality financial analysis, modeling, and insights to support executive and Board decision making
- Align financial strategy with organizational priorities, program growth, and revenue development priorities
- Drive financial strategy supporting marketing and fundraising initiatives, including 4-H program partnerships
- Partner with Chief People Officer to align workforce planning with financial strategy
Investment and Treasury
- Steward investment strategy and performance in partnership with the Treasurer and Outsourced Chief Investment Officer
- Manage a ~$100M investment portfolio, including asset allocation, performance monitoring, and risk management
- Maintain and evolve investment policy to align with long-term organizational goals
- Lead liquidity strategy, including cash management, operating reserves, and credit facilities
- Manage banking and investment management relationships
Accounting
- Oversee all accounting operations, including monthly close, financial reporting, and GAAP compliance
- Ensure a strong internal control environment while improving efficiency and reducing manual processes
- Lead the annual audit and maintain relationships with external auditors
- Ensure full compliance across all federal, state, regulatory, and grant requirements
- Oversee pension liabilities and long-term financial obligations
- Lead selection, implementation, and optimization of ERP and financial systems
- Ensure integrity, integration, and accessibility of financial data across the organization
Business Operations
- Build and lead a modern business operations function that enables scale, efficiency, and accountability
- Lead enterprise procurement, vendor strategy, and contracts management (in partnership with People & Culture for contingent workforce resources)
- Establish and enforce enterprise policies for purchasing, contracting, and document management
- Drive operational excellence through benchmarking, process improvement, and performance metrics
- Lead enterprise risk management framework and mitigation strategies
- Oversee insurance programs and risk transfer strategies
- Ensure business continuity planning and organizational resilience
- Oversee facilities strategy and operations, including Washington, D.C. and Wood Dale, IL locations, aligned with a remote-first workforce
- Drive cross-functional execution through project management discipline and shared accountability
Board and Executive Engagement
- Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board, elevating financial insight, risk visibility, and investment oversight
- Partner closely with the Treasurer, Internal Affairs Committee, and Audit and Risk Committee
- Present clear, concise, and decision-oriented materials to support Board governance
- Strengthen alignment between management and Board on financial strategy and performance
Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing, multidisciplinary team
- Build leadership capability within finance and operations functions
- Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
- Drive cross-functional collaboration across Technology, People & Culture, Development & Marketing, and Stakeholder Relations business units
- Operate as a collaborative enterprise leader with shared accountability for organizational outcomes
Transformation Opportunity
- Build and modernize an integrated finance and operations model that supports enterprise scale and performance
- Lead change initiatives that improve processes, financial discipline, and speed of decision making
- Align financial resources with operational execution and mission outcomes
- Enhance operational discipline while enabling organizational growth
Key Success Factors
- Trusted strategic partner to the CEO, Board, and Outsourced Chief Investment Officer. Leadership decisions are better informed, faster, and grounded in financial and operational reality.
- Scalable discipline and smart controls. Confidence from funders, regulators, and the Board, with less operational drag.
- Operational and financial integration across the enterprise. Fewer rework cycles, cleaner handoffs, and shared accountability for outcomes.
- Stewardship mindset with a growth orientation. Makes funding, staffing, and investment decisions transparent and outcome based. Strong team leader with a service and stewardship mindset.
- High-performing team with strong ownership and accountability
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or business administration or equivalent experience required; advanced degree and CPA strongly preferred
- 15+ years of progressive finance leadership experience, including senior enterprise roles such as CFO, SVP of Finance (Enterprise of Corporate), or equivalent leadership positions with organization-wide scope and accountability
- Experience leading both finance and operational functions in a complex organization
- Experience with investment oversight, endowments, or institutional asset management preferred
- Strong understanding of nonprofit funding models, grants, and regulatory environments preferred
- Track record of building scalable systems, processes, and teams
- Advanced financial modeling and analytical capabilities
Leadership Profile
- Connects financial strategy to mission impact
- Drives clarity and decision making in complex environments
- Operates effectively in a remote, distributed organization
- Balances strategic perspective with hands-on execution when needed
- Communicates with credibility at the executive and Board level
- Strong team leader who develops talent and builds trust
Compensation and Benefits
Competitive executive compensation aligned with nonprofit benchmarks and eligibility to participate in a 403(b) retirement plan and 457 deferred compensation plan. Flexible, remote-first work environment with periodic in-person engagement.
Equal Opportunity and ADA Statement
National 4-H Council is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local employment laws. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, and organizational needs. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, National 4-H Council provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at careers@4-H.org.
This role is primarily performed in a professional office or remote work environment and requires the ability to use standard office technology, including computers and communication tools. Occasional travel and in-person meetings may be required.
