Assistant Chief Financial Officer

The Bronx; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work flexibility

Strong benefits package

Job summary

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is seeking an accomplished Assistant Chief Financial Officer to strengthen core accounting, financial reporting, grants management, budgeting, and audit readiness across its multi-entity nonprofit structure in New York City.

The role oversees a 25+ person accounting team, reports to the CFO and COO, and offers a hybrid work arrangement with a competitive compensation package.

Qualifications

• At least five years of senior financial leadership in a complex organization.
• Strong accounting and financial management expertise is required.
• Experience with grants, nonprofit reporting, or government-funded programs is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in overseeing large budgets, grant financial management, and multi-entity reporting.
• Knowledge of Form 990, Form 5500, LM-2 or similar regulatory filings is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for core financial activities including multi-year planning, budgeting, forecasting, general accounting, cash management, and audit preparation.
• Oversee budgets, grant programs, accounts payable and receivable, consolidated reporting, and management of related legal entities.
• Ensure accurate nonprofit, labor, government, grant, tax, and compliance reporting with strong internal controls and clean audits.
• Collaborate with CFO, COO, Controller, and finance staff to learn the organization and strengthen processes.
• Lead and develop a diverse finance team with focus on talent development and succession planning.
• Communicate financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial audiences; advise executive leadership.

Skills

Financial leadership

Nonprofit accounting

Grants management

Budgets & forecasting

Internal controls

Strategic partnering

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

CPA preferred

Tools

Infor

Salesforce

Job description

Scion Executive Search is proud to partner with the United Federation of Teachers to identify its next Assistant Chief Financial Officer. This executive leadership opportunity is designed for an accomplished, mission-driven financial professional ready to strengthen the core finance operations of a complex, multi-entity organization representing nearly 200,000 members across New York City's public schools and related institutions. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Assistant CFO will initially focus on accounting operations, financial reporting, grants, budgeting, audit readiness, compliance, and the management of related legal entities. As the individual builds knowledge of the organization and demonstrates success, the role offers meaningful potential to assume broader financial and organizational responsibilities. This is a full-time, hybrid opportunity based in New York City, NY.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Assistant Chief Financial Officer will work closely with the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer to strengthen UFT's financial operations and develop into broader executive responsibility over time. The initial mandate is to master and lead the organization's core financial functions, including general accounting, accounts payable and receivable, budgeting, forecasting, audit preparation, grant financial management, compliance, and consolidated reporting. The role will provide leadership and support to an Accounting Department of more than 25 professionals and support the management of an annual budget of approximately $100 million. Given UFT's diverse structure, including multiple legal entities such as 501(c)(3), 501(c)(5), and LLC organizations, experience with nonprofit, labor, and multi-entity financial reporting will be essential. Broader responsibilities may be added gradually as the individual learns the organization, builds strong working relationships, demonstrates sound judgment, and shows readiness for continued growth.

ABOUT THE UNITED FEDERATION OF TEACHERS

The United Federation of Teachers (UFT) is one of the nation’s largest and most influential local labor unions, representing nearly 200,000 members across New York City’s public schools and related institutions. Its membership is diverse, encompassing teachers, paraprofessionals, nurses, school counselors, and a significant body of retired educators. As the official bargaining agent for most non-supervisory education professionals in the city, UFT plays a vital role in advocating for the rights and working conditions of its members, shaping education policy, and supporting the professional and personal well-being of New York’s public educators through robust collective action and community engagement.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for core financial activities, including multi-year financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, general accounting, cash management, and audit preparation.
• Oversee complex budgets, a significant portfolio of grant programs, accounts payable and receivable, consolidated reporting, and the financial management of multiple related legal entities and sets of books.
• Ensure accurate and timely nonprofit, labor, government, grant, tax, and compliance reporting while maintaining strong internal controls, clean audits, and reliable financial information.
• Partner closely with the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Controller, Assistant Controller, and finance staff to learn the organization, strengthen internal processes, and support thoughtful leadership and succession transitions.
• Lead, coach, and develop a diverse finance team, with a focus on talent development, collaboration, accountability, and respect for institutional knowledge.
• Communicate financial information clearly to financial and non-financial audiences and serve as a practical, trusted advisor to executive leadership.
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and strengthen reporting, controls, and financial systems, including Infor and Salesforce, as the role expands over time.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• At least five years of senior financial leadership experience within a complex organization, preferably in a nonprofit, union, public-sector, education, or similarly mission-driven environment.
• Strong accounting and financial management expertise is required.
• Experience with grants, nonprofit reporting, or government-funded programs is highly preferred.
• Demonstrated success overseeing large, multifaceted budgets, grant financial management, consolidated reporting, and organizations with multiple legal entities or sets of books.
• Knowledge of nonprofit, employee benefit plan, or labor-related reporting, including Form 990, Form 5500, LM-2, or comparable regulatory filings, is highly desirable.
• Track record of developing teams, working through leadership transitions, and building credibility with experienced finance professionals and executive stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, and communication skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly and serve as a strategic partner to executive leaders.
• Ability to navigate a complex organizational culture, set and shift priorities, and manage strong personalities with professionalism, pragmatism, humility, and sound judgment.
• Unquestioned integrity and a consistent record of transparency, accuracy, fairness, and responsible decision-making.
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is required. An advanced degree or relevant professional certification, such as a CPA, is strongly preferred.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• The position offers a competitive base salary of $170,000 to $200,000, depending on experience, along with an exceptionally strong benefits package.
• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage at no cost to the employee, a pension, generous paid time off and holidays, summer Fridays, hybrid flexibility, and a work environment that supports meaningful public service and work-life balance.

APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS

The United Federation of Teachers has retained the services of Scion Executive Search, a national executive search firm specializing in mission-driven organization recruitment, to assist in conducting this important search. For immediate consideration, please apply with your resume and cover letter, formatted in Microsoft Word, via: https://scionexecutivesearch.com/job/15031/ Please address applications to: Chelsea Zimmer Senior Executive Search Principal Scion Executive Search Review of applications, nominations, and expressions of interest will begin immediately and continue on a confidential basis until an appointment is made.

ABOUT OUR FIRM

Scion Executive Search is an award-winning retained executive search firm. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the United States. Through innovative team building and recruitment solutions, Scion Executive Search seamlessly bridges the gap in interim and executive searches. Our track record and recruitment process have made us one of the top recruitment firms in the nation. We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times . Additional information about our firm and our practices can be found online . Scion Executive Search is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent. For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.