Chief Financial Officer

Korn Ferry; Toronto; On-site; CAD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A respected charitable organization in Canada is seeking a purpose-driven Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This role involves overseeing a $100M budget, leading a finance team, and ensuring financial strategy and governance. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of experience in finance, preferably in the not-for-profit sector, and a strong connection to the organization's mission.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in progressively senior roles in finance.
• Experience in fund accounting and financial management.
• Strong track record in business transformation within the not-for-profit sector.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all financial aspects and ensure compliance.
• Lead strategic financial planning and reporting.
• Establish strong relationships with the Board of Directors.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Leadership and strategic thinking

Proficiency in financial software

Understanding of non-profit accounting principles

Education

Undergraduate Degree in Business, Finance or Economics

CPA designation or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Korn Ferry is exclusively partnering with our client – one of Canada’s most respected charitable organizations – in seeking a purpose-driven Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join their executive leadership team based in Toronto. With a legacy of over 100 years and a national footprint of 800 employees and 5,000 volunteers, our client is dedicated to empowering individuals who are blind, partially sighted, or Deafblind.

As CFO, you will partner with the CEO to embed financial strategy, governance, and transformation across the organization and its affiliates. You will oversee a combined budget of over $100M, lead a 22-person finance team, and work with the Board of Directors and investment advisors to drive financial stewardship across the organization and its affiliates.

Candidates with a personal connection to blindness, Deafblindness, or low vision are especially encouraged to apply.

Key Responsibilities

• Operational Oversight
• Lead and oversee all financial aspects of operations, ensuring compliance and strategic alignment.
• Advise executive leadership on financial regulations, risk management, and decision-making.
• Collaborate with the CEO, Board, and affiliated entities to manage financial risk and ensure stability.
• Support financial governance across CNIB and CNIB Deafblind Community Services.
• Drive business transformation, policy enforcement, and data integrity across initiatives.
• Deliver outcomes-based reporting using efficient tools and strategic frameworks.
• Oversee operational support for all programs and services including payroll and staffing, insurance, pensions, cash management, estates management, data governance, budget, and audit, warehouse, systemic systems integration, gaming operations, internal audit, and procurement to maximize revenues, and ensure compliance with accounting policies, standards and procedures.
• Provide leadership on legal, governance, and risk matters across multiple boards and committees.
• Ensure corporate governance through planning, compliance, and risk management.

Financial Operations Review and Transformation

• Review of Finance Operations
• Conduct a thorough assessment of finance operations, identifying inefficiencies, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Refine and streamline financial management and reporting structures to :
• Simplify processes for ease of understanding.
• Highlight trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Align reporting with strategic priorities and forecasts.
• Enable management and stakeholders to make informed decisions.
• Focus on optimizing revenue, cash flow, growth, and value creation while emphasizing impact and alignment with strategic goals.

Finance Team Optimization

• Evaluate the finance team’s structure, talent, accountabilities, and cross-functional collaboration to identify opportunities for meaningful support and enhanced outcomes.
• Develop an organizational and staffing strategy, including revised job descriptions, reporting relationships, and a roadmap for talent development.
• Benchmark the organization’s finance structure against similar organizations of comparable size, scope, and scale in Canada, providing insights and recommendations.
• The CFO will leverage AI to enhance financial forecasting, risk management, and operational efficiency across the enterprise. They will integrate AI-driven analytics into core finance functions—enhancing forecasting, risk management, and operational efficiency—while ensuring transparency, governance, and alignment with strategic priorities.

Board and Finance Committee Engagement

• Establish key processes with the Finance Committee and Board of Directors, ensuring clarity, transparency, and accountability.
• Drive engagement by presenting clear, actionable financial insights tied to strategic priorities, impact, and long-term growth.
• Review and update signing authorities, governance structures, and the enterprise risk policy to reflect best practices and organizational needs.

Financial Planning and Strategic Integration

• Develop a multi-year financial plan and a detailed capital plan aligned with the organization’s strategic plan, including integration with advancement / fundraising and investment strategies.
• Contribute to the client’s fund development strategy by assisting with the identification and diversification of revenue streams.
• Willingness to leverage personal and professional networks to advance the mission and expand reach and impact.
• Review and update of investment policies as needed.
• Focus on creating value through sustainable growth while maintaining fiscal responsibility and organizational impact.

Relationships

Internal

• Foster strong relationships with internal stakeholders and the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to ensure seamless communication, collaboration, and alignment on governance, compliance, privacy, and risk management initiatives.
• Work closely with the President and CEO and the Executive Leadership Team across our client and their affiliated entities to provide advice, receive information and provide strategic direction for Board activity.

External

• Auditors, Consulting and Legal firms, Banking Institutions, Pension and Investment Advisors for a variety of business issues.

Board

• Develop and maintain strong, transparent relationships with the Board of Directors and Committee Members ensuring open and regular communication, mutual trust and alignment on governance activities and practices.
• Work with the President and CEO to establish goals, objectives, and operational project plans, providing inclusive, transparent, accountable and empowering leadership.
• Foster an inclusive organizational culture of collaboration and accountability conducive to operational success and effective program delivery.
• Drive organizational change efforts by promoting adaptability, resilience, and innovation.
• Ensure effective implementation of operational plans and strategies to guarantee the timely delivery of programs and services.
• Recognize and develop senior and management leadership potential within the business units under their purview by developing a talent development map, identifying, or providing training, coaching, mentoring and succession planning opportunities.
• Partner with the COO to guide conversations on long-term financial strategy including sustainability plans, economic dependence, business continuity, and reserve planning, to ensure operational stability and the achievement of the strategic plan.
• Exhibit and promote the organization’s core values : empowerment, inclusiveness, passion, innovation, collaboration and integrity.

Education and Position Requirements

• Undergraduate Degree in Business, Finance, Economics or similar discipline.
• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation or equivalent (CPA, CA, CMA, CGA or ACCA) is a strong asset.
• A personal connection to our client’s mission or lived experience is highly desirable.

10+ years of progressively senior roles in finance, with a strong track record in :

• Fund accounting and financial management in risk-sensitive environments.
• Leadership of operational finance functions such as Warehouse, Gaming - Internal audit
• Strategic financial and cash management.
• Business transformation within the not-for-profit sector (strong asset).
• Deep understanding of non-profit accounting principles, regulatory compliance, and governance.
• Experience working with Boards and Committees, with the ability to lead and influence at the executive level.
• Familiarity with philanthropy as a primary revenue source, including managing revenue fluctuations and implementing mitigation strategies.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data to support strategic decision-making.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills, with the ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities in dynamic environments.
• Proficiency in financial software and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

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