The Opportunity
Year Up United is on a mission to end the Opportunity Divide by connecting young adults to career pathways and meaningful employment. With a national footprint, a revenue model that leverages both philanthropic contributions and earned income through the delivery of services to external partners, and significant scale, the organization is entering its next phase of growth and transformation. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will play a pivotal role in shaping this future, ensuring financial sustainability while enabling innovation, operational excellence, and expanded impact.
About Year Up United
Over 25 years, Year Up United has grown into the nation’s leading workforce development organization focused on young adults, reaching more than 170,000 individuals, building a network of 1,500+ employer partners across more than 25 industries, and raising over 1 billion dollars. The organization has achieved the strongest documented wage gains in the sector, with graduates earning an average starting salary of approximately $55,000, significantly above the national median of $40,000. Among its largest employer partners, more than 75% of participants transition from internships into full-time roles, underscoring both the quality of talent and the strength of employer relationships.
Year Up United offers a range of services, including an advisory arm called Grads of Life. This practice works with employers across many industries to help them adopt skills-based hiring approaches that expand access to opportunities while driving both business results and positive social impact.
The organization also operates YUPRO Placement, a talent agency focused on skills-first hiring that connects and supports individuals who have often been overlooked with strong job opportunities. YUPRO Placement is a wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary of Year Up United, and part of its earnings is funneled back to the parent organization to help advance its mission.
Year Up United has also evolved significantly as an enterprise. By integrating its training programs, community college partnerships, alumni network, placement services, and advisory capabilities into a unified model, the organization has streamlined and modernized its offerings. Today, it combines a robust, data-driven infrastructure with expanding investments in technology and AI-enabled tools, ranging from real-time labor market insights to automated intake and scheduling systems. This transformation positions Year Up United to help employers rethink talent strategies while continuing to scale its impact nationwide, strengthening its role as a critical partner in shaping a more inclusive and future-ready workforce.
The Mandate
Year Up United seeks a seasoned and strategic Chief Financial Officer to join the Executive Team at a critical inflection point. Reporting to the CEO, the CFO will serve as a key enterprise leader responsible for advancing financial sustainability, strengthening organizational discipline, and enabling mission impact through a blended revenue model of philanthropic contributions and earned income.
This is not a traditional controller role - it is a highly strategic, enterprise-facing position requiring a strong, entrepreneurial operator who can translate financial insights into action, elevate decision-making, and help guide the organization through a period of financial complexity and transformation.
The Incoming CFO Will Act As
- A strategic business partner to the CEO and Executive Team (E-Team)
- A driver of financial discipline and rigor across the enterprise
- A translator of financial insights into strategic decisions
- A stabilizing, trusted leader during a period of organizational and financial change
- A builder and amplifier of Finance’s voice and impact internally and externally
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Partner closely with the CEO and senior leadership team to shape and execute a financial strategy that supports mission impact and organizational growth
- Serve as a thought partner and innovator, identifying opportunities to modernize financial systems, tools, and processes
- Lead the design and implementation of forward-looking financial models that inform strategic decisions and investment priorities
- Champion a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging data, technology, and best practices to drive effectiveness, transparency, and scalability
- Contribute to enterprise-wide strategy and decision-making as an active member of the Executive Team
- Serve as primary financial liaison to the Board of Directors and Finance Committee, providing strategic insights, financial reporting, and guidance on key decisions
Financial Planning & Performance
- Lead annual budgeting, long-range planning, and forecasting processes in partnership with cross-functional leaders
- Develop and maintain dynamic financial models to evaluate program effectiveness, growth strategies, and new initiatives
- Monitor financial performance and trends, providing clear insights and actionable recommendations
- Oversee cash flow, capital planning, and resource allocation to ensure financial health and sustainability
- Ensure timely, accurate, and meaningful financial reporting for internal and external stakeholders
Systems & Data Transformation
- Assess current financial operations and lead efforts to streamline, standardize, and strengthen processes
- Implement modern, integrated financial systems that provide real-time visibility and support data-driven decision-making
- Drive thoughtful adoption of automation and technology to reduce manual effort and improve accuracy
- Ensure financial infrastructure can effectively support a multi-site, growing organization
- Collaborate across teams to align financial systems with broader organizational priorities and tools
Team Leadership & Development
- Build, lead, and develop a high-performing finance team grounded in collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning
- Create an inclusive team environment where diverse perspectives are valued and talent can grow
- Strengthen team capabilities in financial analysis, systems thinking, and strategic partnership
- Align team structure and priorities to meet the evolving needs of the organization
- Serve as a coach/mentor for a small number of current students and support student programming
Risk Management & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all financial, regulatory, and legal requirements
- Oversee audit and tax processes with integrity and transparency
- Strengthen internal controls and proactively manage financial and operational risk
- Partner with leadership to ensure responsible stewardship of resources in service of our mission
The Candidate
The ideal candidate will be strategic and values-driven with a proven track record of financial leadership, transformation, and organizational impact. This candidate brings deep expertise alongside a commitment to building high-performing teams and advancing mission-driven outcomes.
Professional Experience
- 12+ years of progressive financial leadership, including experience in complex or growing organizations
- Experience serving as a Chief Financial Officer or similar role, with demonstrated experience with modernization of financial systems and development of financial models
- Demonstrated success leading financial transformation, including systems implementation and process improvement
- Experience operating within a hybrid revenue model and managing diverse funding streams preferred
- Strong understanding of how data, technology, and analytics can enhance financial decision-making
- Experience working with a Board of Directors
- MBA, CPA, or equivalent experience preferred
Personal Attributes
- Proven ability to build and lead high-performing, mission-aligned teams
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate financial insights into organizational action
- Hands-on, adaptable leader who thrives in evolving environments
- Exceptional communication skills, including experience engaging senior leaders and boards
- High integrity, sound judgment, and a commitment to accountability and transparency
- Deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and to advancing opportunity for all
Relationships & Financial Environment
The CFO reports to the CEO and works closely with the executive leadership team and Board of Directors, serving as the primary financial liaison to the Finance Committee.
The organization operates with a revenue model that includes philanthropic funding and earned income. The CFO will oversee financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, capital allocation, and reporting across a multi-site national organization.
Location and Salary
The CFO must be based in one of Year up United’s current markets and able to travel to Year Up United sites nationwide (with an expected travel commitment of up to 20%). They should also be comfortable maintaining a consistent in-office presence.
This role offers a competitive salary along with a comprehensive benefits package. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds who bring the skills needed for success in this position. Compensation will vary based on experience and location, with a projected range of $300,000 to $350,000.
Working At Year Up United
Starting January 5, 2026, employees are expected to work on-site at least two days per week (Monday through Thursday dependent on job requirements). To be eligible for employment, candidates must live and work in a state (or an approved proximate state*) where Year Up United operates. For a list of eligible locations, please visit: https://www.yearup.org/job-training/locations
- Approved proximate states where Year Up United operates are: Connecticut, Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina and Virginia.
Compensation & Benefits
- Year Up United has established salary ranges for each of our sites, which allows us to pay employees competitively, equitably and consistently in different geographic markets. For roles in which the location is listed as flexible, the range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Salary offers take into account a candidate’s skills, experience, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.
- Benefits: Comprehensive healthcare options and dental coverage; 401(k) match for eligible participants.
- Vacation: Earn three weeks paid vacation in first year of employment; four weeks after initial year.
** This is an exempt role (paid on a salaried basis). **
Organization Description
Year Up United is a national 501(c)3 workforce development organization committed to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for all young adults—no matter their background, income, or zip code. Employers face a growing need for talent while millions of talented young adults lack access to meaningful careers. These inequities only further perpetuate the opportunity gap that exists in our country—a gap that Year Up United is determined and positioned to close through three interconnected strategies: providing targeted skills training and connections to livable-wage employment for students and alumni; empowering others to serve and support young adults, and changing systems that perpetuate the opportunity gap. Year Up United’s intensive training program utilizes a high expectations, high support model where students learn in-demand technical and professional skills and apply them during a corporate internship. Year Up United has directly served more than 40,000 young adults since its founding in 2000. Year Up United's nationwide presence includes Arizona, Austin, Bay Area, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital Region, New York City/Jersey City, Pittsburgh, Puget Sound, Rhode Island, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Wilmington.
Voted one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For in the country by The NonProfit Times, Year Up United is a rewarding and impactful place to work. Our staff is passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and committed to positive change and continuous learning. We set high standards for both ourselves and our students and live by a set of core values that reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and potential of our young people. The work we do is life-changing, and we know that our team is the greatest asset in achieving our mission.
Commitment To Diversity
Year Up United embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discharge, or discipline, are based on meritocracy. We do not permit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws. Learn more about our commitment to diversity: http://www.yearup.org/about-us/careers/commitment-to-diversity/
Year Up United is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Your recruiter can provide details regarding the expected work environment and any physical requirements. Please let our hiring team know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.
To Apply
Please submit a thoughtful cover letter and resume through our website.
We respectfully request no phone calls.
