Department: Finance
Location: Association Office
Compensation: $240,000 - $260,000 / year
Description
Chief Financial Officer - YMCA of Greater Boston
Role Context, Vision & Impact
Building on its deep history, scale, momentum, and strong community credibility, the YMCA of Greater Boston (YGB) is seeking its next Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to help guide this dynamic, nearly 175-year-old organization. YGB successfully navigated the evolving challenges of the pandemic and is now focused on innovation, responsiveness, and long-term stability. The organization has grown to a $100M+ operating budget across multiple verticals and maintains a strong financial position. YGB is poised to take the next leap in advancing its financial strategy with clarity and agility. This means embracing complexity and inter-connectedness to proactively identify and respond to opportunities, drive resource development for both programs and capital assets, and ensure long-term sustainability. YGB, America's First Y strives to be a world-class organization, meeting the moment and laying the foundation for the next 175 years.
YGB's work spans health and wellness, aquatics, youth development, early education, workforce development, adult education, food stability and nutrition, supportive housing, and community building, impacting 75,000 people daily. With nine Centers in Boston, four in surrounding towns, a range of day camp, early education and social service properties, and three overnight camps on Lake Winnipesaukee, YGB manages an expansive and diverse footprint leveraged in service to community stability and thriving. Our mission is powered by more than 2,000 team members and hundreds of volunteers, making YGB one of the largest non-profits in the state.
YGB is seeking a CFO to provide leadership and partnership in financial operations, management, performance, and strategy. The CFO's portfolio also includes key leadership responsibilities in enterprise risk management, information systems, real estate and facility financing, and investment management.
The CFO will be a visible member of the executive leadership team, a key strategist and communicator grounded in a mix of education, empowerment, opportunity, performance, and accountability.
The CFO leads a high-performing and experienced centralized finance team with business leaders assigned across the service area and verticals. The Finance team contributes, collaborates, and communicates while remaining proximate and responsive. To achieve this, the CFO and the Finance team must work cross-functionally with talented and enthusiastic colleagues across our centers and programs, as well as the entire dynamic Y family in the region and Ys across the nation. The CFO will be expected to have experience and/or understanding of sustainable business practices, government, and private payer services.
This is an outstanding opportunity for a seasoned, strategic, data-driven, and relationship-oriented continuous learner and leader with deep experience in financial systems, strategy, planning, and development across multiple fields and business models. With YGB's strong foundation and ambitious vision for the future, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact, drive innovation, and shape the financial strategy and stability of a large mission-driven organization which impacts the lives of our youngest to oldest neighbors.
Position Overview
As the CFO, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing the fiscal management, strategy, analysis, and reporting necessary to ensure the organization's long-term stability and impact. The CFO's portfolio also includes enterprise risk management, management of legal counsel, and technology infrastructure. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the CFO will guide the organization's financial strategy, planning, operations, opportunities and accountabilities in concert with its mission, values, impact, and long-term sustainability. The CFO has four direct reports: VP of Finance, VP of Risk Management, AVP of Business Operations, and VP of Information Systems. The CFO serves as the lead member of management for three Board Committees- Finance, Investment, and Audit & Risk.
Key Responsibilities
- Financial Leadership and Strategy:
- Manage the financial health of the organization, ensuring economic integrity, transparency, and clarity.
- Lead strategic financial planning and forecasting, including the development of predictive analytics to drive stability and sustainability.
- Align financial strategy with the organization's mission and growth objectives across multiple lines of business, revenue streams, and funding models.
- Strengthen financial reporting processes and leverage data-driven insights to enhance decision-making and long-term planning.
- Drive innovation in financial modeling, budget optimization, and cost-efficiency strategies to maximize impact and sustainability.
- Lead the development of the annual operating budget. Work closely with operations leadership to ensure that budgets are well-planned, realistic, strategically aligned and prepared in a timely manner.
- Monitor budget-to-actual performance and collaborate with stakeholders to implement corrective actions, as needed, to ensure financial goals are met.
- Manage investments in partnership with professional advisors, adhering to the asset allocation policy and risk tolerance set by the Board.
- Oversee the annual audit and meet periodically with the audit committee and outside auditors to maintain communications and keep them informed of changes in the organization. Ensures that current accounting standards and legal requirements are met.
- Ensure timely and accurate tax filings, including Form 990, and compliance with tax-exempt bond transactions or other available tax credits.
- Manage all key third party relationships with our audit firm, bankers, insurance advisors and attorneys.
- Operational Excellence:
- Manage a diverse portfolio of financial activities, including earned income, membership models, government funding, philanthropy, and investment/endowment portfolios.
- Navigate and support a matrixed organizational structure, balancing centralized support with decentralized program and location needs.
- Partner with other leaders to ensure alignment of resources, empowerment, accountability, and effective communication across the organization.
- Implement financial controls, operational efficiencies, and process improvements to strengthen fiscal management and compliance.
- Ensure effective cash flow management and liquidity planning to support both short-term operational needs and long-term strategic objectives.
- Manage treasury requirements associated with operating cash, short-term investments and the $35M Endowment.
- Real Estate and Facility Financing:
- Key partner to CEO, COO, VP of Real Estate/Facilities and Facilities Committee in real estate development, renovation, and maintenance through leadership around capital planning, allocation, and financing initiatives, ensuring alignment with the organization's financial strategy.
- Manage risk and contractual transactions related to real estate, programming, grants and facilities.
- Lead financial due diligence for capital projects and infrastructure investments, ensuring fiscal responsibility and strategic alignment.
- Technology and Information Infrastructure:
- Oversee the strategic, operational, and financial aspects of technology infrastructure, reporting tools, and security.
- Working with the VP of Information Services, lead initiatives to maintain and improve systems and processes for business operations, financial reporting, analysis, and decision-making while safeguarding all operating systems and personal information through robust cybersecurity capabilities.
- Enterprise Risk Management:
- Oversee the Association's Insurance Program to ensure adequate insurance protection for the organization's assets, activities, and personnel, while proactively identifying and mitigating potential future coverage risks.
- In concert with VP of Risk Management, oversee the Enterprise Risk Management work of the organization to identify, assess, and mitigate risks, ensuring the organization achieves its strategic goals in a secure and sustainable manner.
- Leadership and Talent Development:
- Build and lead high-performing teams, prioritizing management, talent development, and continuous improvement.
- Foster a culture of proactive communication, collaboration, and learning throughout the organization.
- Serve as a mentor and coach to financial and non-financial leaders to strengthen organizational capacity.
- Develop and implement training programs to enhance financial literacy across departments, ensuring effective budget management and resource allocation.
- Partnership and Collaboration:
- Work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and leadership team to develop and implement strategies that advance the mission and goals of the organization.
- Provide clear, insightful financial reports and recommendations to inform decision-making at all levels.
- Engage with external stakeholders, including donors, financial institutions, and regulatory bodies, to enhance financial partnerships and sustainability.
- Partner with Finance, Investment and Audit and Risk Committees to perform the critical work of those committees and the deliverables associated with all fiduciary and compliance requirements.
Skills, Knowledge And Expertise
- Leadership Skills: Proven track record of leading high-performing teams, managing complex organizational structures, collaborative decision making balancing diverse experiences and perspectives, and fostering supportive accountability.
- Strategic Mindset: Ability to translate and communicate financial data into actionable strategies that align with organizational goals.
- Communication Skills: Exceptional ability to communicate financial insights clearly and effectively to diverse audiences using both financial and non-financial data.
- Experience: At least 10 years of progressive financial leadership experience, preferably within mission-driven organizations. Experience in navigating diverse business models, real estate and facility financing, and funding types is essential.
- Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of financial systems preferably in a complex multisite operating business, investment portfolio management, real estate development, and CRM platforms. Salesforce experience a plus.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field. CPA or MBA preferred.
- Sector Knowledge: Experience with nonprofit organizations is preferred, though candidates with transferable skills from other sectors are encouraged to apply.
We are seeking candidates with relevant experience in any or all of the following:
- Complex organizations that deliver multiple programs and services to a range of customers profiles including project/program level analysis and strategy.
- Facilities oriented businesses.
- Diverse mix of revenue sources including memberships, government vouchers and grants, and philanthropy.
- Oversight of Enterprise Risk, Information Systems, Legal.
- Evaluating real estate opportunities.
Attributes of the Ideal Candidate
- A proactive and transparent leader who values consistency, integrity, and accountability.
- A forward-thinking professional driven by predictive analytics, continuous learning, and process improvement.
- A collaborative partner who balances empowerment, partnership, and accountability in a matrixed environment.
- A mission-driven individual committed to the values and goals of the organization.
Travel & Onsite Requirements
- This role requires the ability to travel across the organization's various locations as needed as well as local partners.
- The CFO must be onsite at least three times per week to engage directly with leadership, staff, and key stakeholders, ensuring strong collaboration and operational alignment.
Compensation & Benefits
- The salary range for this position is $240K - $260K, including comprehensive and competitive benefits. This position is exempt and full-time.
