Position Overview: As Elemental Impact continues to grow and evolve, the organization is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the senior-most financial executive, to help shape the financial infrastructure and strategy that supports the next phase of growth.
Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer and serving as a member of the executive leadership team, the CFO will lead Elemental Impact’s finance function while partnering across the organization to advance strategic priorities.
Collaborating closely with colleagues, Board members, fund leaders, and external partners, the CFO will ensure ElementalImpact continues to operate with financial rigor while designingdynamic and responsive systems, structures, and processes that support organizational scalability and increasingly sophisticated investment activities.
Operating at the intersection of nonprofit finance, philanthropy and private investing (including venture investments, program-related investments, debt and projectfinance, and strategicportfolio management), the CFO will:
- Own the development and implementation of the long-term financial strategy for Elemental Impact, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit investment organization;
- Design and implement a comprehensive framework of financial management that ensures donor compliance, investment rigor,and organizational scalability at the 501(c)(3);
- Help design and strengthen the financial infrastructure, governance, and operating framework that supports the continued growth of Elemental's multi-asset investment platform,which will include diverseinvestment strategies, servicecapabilities, and funds;
- Support the design of economic and investment relationships across the platformthat optimize exposure and information sharing,while keeping compliance as a top priority;
- Work collaboratively across various funds and funding strategies and may provide direct or advisory support including working directly with fund leads, teams, and service providers to manage and optimize financial assets.
The successful candidate will thrive in a collaborative, mission-driven, and intellectually curious environment. They will enjoy building new capabilities, navigating ambiguity, thinking strategically while remaining hands-on, and partnering across functions to help shape the organization's future.
Key Responsibilities:
Non-Profit FinancialOperations & RevenueCompliance
- Non-Profit Leadership & Oversight: Lead the finance team in managing the accounting, planning and administrative functions across a $30M-$40M budget,multiple entities and inter-company transactions while buildinga scalable financefunction to supportElemental Impact’s continued growth. Lead the creationand delivery of financial materials for the Board of Directors.
- Strong Systems & Processes: Lead the continued evolutionof financial systems,controls, risk managementand operating processes to strengthen compliance, improve efficiency, and support the organization's continued growth
- Grant Revenue Compliance: Manage a sophisticated framework for grant administration, ensuring 100% adherence to industry standards, donor requirements and federal regulations, including GAAP, 2CFR200, and IRS Form 990.
- Strategic FP&A: Oversee the annual budgeting process, cash flow forecasting, and the integration of diverse revenue streams from 40+ funders into a cohesive financial plan.
- Treasury & Controls: Manage institutional banking relationships, assess payment controls against emergingthreats, and executetransactions for companybank/brokerage accounts.
- Team Management: Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing team, including the Controller and Senior Director of Finance and Revenue Compliance and others, fostering collaboration, professional growthand development, and organizational excellence.
- Strategic Leadership: Serve as a member of the executive leadership team, helping shape financial strategy, strengthen organizational decision-making, and build the financial infrastructure needed to support Elemental's long-term growth and evolving investment platform.
Platform Growth & Diversification
- Platform Design & Development: Help design and strengthen the financial infrastructure, governance, operating framework, and scalable systems that support the continued growth of Elemental's multi-asset investment platform, with diversestrategies, capabilities and funds.
- Capital Innovation: Develop and implementthe financial infrastructure and strategies to support new capital sources, including Recoverable Grants and Program-Related Investments (PRIs), to increase Elemental’s reach and impact.
- Portfolio Payments & Risk Management: Support risk management functions, oversee impairment analysis and ensure timely execution of investment transactions in partnership with the Portfolio & Investments team.
The Leader: This senior executive will bring the strategic perspective and experience of a forward-thinking finance leader with the operational discipline required to support a complex and evolving nonprofit investment organization.
The ideal candidate will bring experience that encompasses the financial and operational leadership of innovative multi-asset classinvestment strategies, as well as a strong understanding of 501(c)(3) financial operations, and supporting innovative investment structures through strong financial management, governance, and operational excellence.
Strong candidates for this role will have a deep appreciation for, and commitment to, Elemental Impact’s mission and values,and will possessa majority of the following qualifications and attributes:
Desired skills:
- Financial Leadership: Extensive senior financial leadership experience within complex, multi-entity 501(c)(3) organizations that receive multiplesources of philanthropic income.
- Additional For-profit Expertise: Demonstrated financial leadership experience spanning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations is required, but additional experience in investment, venture capital, private finance, lending,or other complexcapital environments is beneficial.
- Builder's Mindset: Demonstrated success designing scalable financial infrastructure, strengthening systems and processes, and leading/seeking solutions for organizations through periods of growth, complexity, and change.
- Systems Fluency: Deep experience with ERP and accounting software(e.g., NetSuite) and the ability to leverage technology to drive operational efficiency.
- Compliance & Risk Management Rigor: Advanced knowledge of GAAP, FASB, federal single-audit requirements, and appropriate risk management approaches.
- Communications: Excellent analytical, communication, and presentation skills across financial and non-financial constituent groups.
- Values Aligned: A leader with integrity, accountability, intellectual curiosity, and a collaborative approach. A proactive executive who embraces continuous learning, exercises sound judgement, and demonstrates Elemental Impact’s values: Be Brave, Keep Innovating; Live your Kuleana, Master your Craft, and Cultivate Joy.
Standout skills:
- Architectural Vision:Experience designing complexmulti-entity platforms that bridge 501(c)(3) philanthropy with for-profit venture or project finance.
- Blended Finance Expertise: Proven track record of layering federal funding / philanthropic funding with investment capital to de-riskFirst-of-a-Kind (FOAK) technology.
- Strategic Capital Recycling: Innovative approach to managingrecoverable grants and PRIs to create sustainable, "evergreen" funding loops.
Location:
- Candidates located near one of Elemental Impact’s headquarters - Honolulu, San Francisco, and New York - are strongly preferred, however Elemental is also open to leaders based remotely.
- Elemental Impact has a hybrid workingmodel and if you are within a reasonable distanceto one of offices in New York, Bay Area, or Honolulu, they ask employees to come into the office at least once a week. Currently, most people come in two times a week to build community with team members.
Compensation & Benefits:
- This is a full-time"at-will" position workingat least 40 hours per week. You will be asked to travel for work periodically.
- The salary range for this role is $262,200 - $330,000 which is based on market data and the organization's compensation philosophy. The offerwill be within the range as required by certain state laws and individual salary offers will vary within the range depending on location, relevant education, knowledge, skills, and experience. Elemental Impact also offers comprehensive employee benefits, including a professional development stipend and three weeks paid time off.
