Chief Financial Officer

Center for Child Protection; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous benefits package

Professional development opportunities

Job summary

A prominent nonprofit organization in Austin, Texas, seeks a Chief Financial Officer to lead its financial strategy and operations. The CFO will guide long-term financial planning, oversee accounting functions, and ensure compliance with financial regulations. Ideal candidates will have significant experience in nonprofit financial management, a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, and strong leadership skills. This full-time, on-site position offers a salary range of $150,000-$170,000, along with a generous benefits package.

Qualifications

• Minimum eight to ten years of progressively responsible financial management experience.
• At least three years in a senior finance role.
• Experience building or modernizing financial systems.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Board.
• Oversee accounting and financial operations.
• Lead the annual budgeting process.

Skills

Strong understanding of nonprofit financial management

Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills

Proficiency with accounting software

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field

CPA or MBA preferred

Tools

QuickBooks

Sage Intacct

Job description

About the Center for Child Protection

The Center for Child Protection (CCP) in Austin, TX, is a nationally accredited children’s advocacy center and the only nonprofit in Travis County involved in the investigation and prosecution of crimes against children. For over 30 years, CCP has provided a safe, child-friendly facility where children impacted by abuse or violence can receive trauma-informed services, including recorded forensic interviews, therapy, medical care, and crisis counseling—all completely free of charge in English and Spanish. In collaboration with CCP’s Child Protection Team agency partners, the goal is to reduce trauma for these children while helping them and their families move forward toward hope and healing. The Center for Child Protection also provides free child abuse education programs for parents, professionals, and the wider community to promote awareness and prevention efforts. Together, with agency partners and an informed, engaged community, CCP is working to end child abuse in Travis County.

Position Summary

The Center for Child Protection seeks a seasoned and hands-on Chief Financial Officer who will lead all financial strategy and operations for the organization. This leader will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

The CFO will guide the organization’s long-term financial planning while building the systems and tools needed for a modern, efficient finance function. The Center is financially stable and highly regarded. It has reached a stage of growth that requires strong forecasting, timely and instructive financial reporting, a thoughtfully developed and engaged budgeting process, and an operational approach that supports strategic planning across all departments.

CCP leadership shares a clear vision for a CFO who will strengthen the entire financial foundation of the organization. This includes building financial models, improving the month-end close process, developing financial and operational dashboards, automating routine processes where appropriate, and offering clear insights that help the CEO, Board, and department heads make informed decisions.

The CFO will also guide the financial planning and oversight for an upcoming capital campaign related to the renovation and expansion of the Center’s primary facility. This individual will help assess operational and capital costs, model long-term financial scenarios, and manage cash flow needs as the campaign and project progress.

This role is well-suited to a finance leader who enjoys both strategy and execution. The CFO will work closely with a long-tenured and collaborative team and will help the organization embrace new tools and approaches while honoring the mission and culture that define the Center’s work.

Essential Job Functions

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, Board Treasurer, Executive Leadership Team, and department heads, and support the organization’s long-term planning efforts.
• Create and maintain a long-term financial plan aligned with CCP’s strategic priorities.
• Build and implement rolling forecast tools that offer clear visibility into revenue, expenses, cash flow, and trends that affect decision-making.
• Develop and refine financial models that track revenue from government contracts, fundraising events, individual giving, corporate partnerships, and other income sources.
• Support planning and financial oversight for an upcoming capital campaign, including modeling, risk assessment, and coordination of cash flow requirements for the project.

Financial Operations

• Oversee all accounting and financial operations, including general ledger maintenance, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, reconciliations, and month-end close.
• Modernize financial operations with tools and process improvements that reduce manual work and increase accuracy, efficiency, and transparency.
• Produce monthly and annual financial statements, management reports, operational dashboards, and cash flow projections that meet the needs of the CEO and Board.
• Strengthen management reporting by offering clear and accessible insights that help leaders understand budget performance, cost drivers, and operational trends.
• Coordinate the annual audit and Form 990 preparation, maintain strong internal controls, and ensure timely and accurate reporting.
• Maintain and update accounting policies and procedures in alignment with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and internal policies.

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cash Management

• Lead the annual budgeting process in partnership with the CEO and department heads to create budgets that reflect strategic priorities.
• Develop reliable budget models, variance analyses, and scenario plans that support program and operational decisions.
• Build and maintain cash flow forecasts that reflect the timing of revenue streams, including revenue from major events and government funding.
• Manage liquidity and investment decisions in accordance with the organization’s Investment Policy.
• Oversee the management of restricted funds, grant budgets, and cost allocations to ensure compliance and effective resource use.

Risk Management and Controls

• Identify financial risks and recommend strategies for risk mitigation, including those related to revenue concentration, reserves, capital planning, and cash flow variability.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, IRS regulations for nonprofits, and federal and state grant requirements.
• Oversee internal controls, procurement procedures, expense reimbursement policies, and other financial safeguards.
• Collaborate with the Chief Strategy Officer and Director of Operations + Facilities on risk management topics such as insurance, cybersecurity, and contractual obligations.

Board and Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as the staff liaison to the Board Finance and Compliance Committee.
• Prepare and present financial reports, dashboards, and analyses to the Board and its committees.
• Educate and inform Board members about financial trends, strategic considerations.
• Work closely with the development team to ensure coordination between fundraising strategy, event performance, capital planning, and organizational sustainability.

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Supervise and mentor the finance team.
• Strengthen financial literacy across departments by offering guidance, support, and shared tools that improve decision-making.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field is required.
• CPA or MBA is preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of eight to ten years of progressively responsible financial management experience, ideally within a nonprofit organization.
• At least three years in a senior finance role (e.g., Controller, Finance Director, or CFO).
• Experience building or modernizing financial systems, tools, and reporting for a growing organization.
• Demonstrable success working with executive leadership, boards, and cross-functional teams.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong understanding of nonprofit financial management, GAAP, fund accounting, compliance, and grant management.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills, including scenario analysis and forecasting.
• Proficiency with accounting software (QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, or similar systems).
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial audiences.
• High degree of integrity, sound judgment, and a commitment to CCP’s mission.

Reporting Relationships

The CFO reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer, serves on the Executive Leadership Team, and has the following supervisory responsibilities:

• Finance Manager
• Accountants (2)

The CFO also works closely with the Board Treasurer and serves as staff liaison to the Board Finance and Compliance Committee.

Location

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Austin, Texas.

The salary range for this position is $150,000-$170,000. Center for Child Protection offers a generous benefits package, which is outlined in the full prospectus at www.coopercoleman.com/current-searches.

Submission Instructions

Cooper Coleman is leading this search on behalf of the Center for Child Protection. To apply, please visit www.coopercoleman.com/current-searches. All expressions of interest should be made only through the online application. All inquiries will be held in confidence.

A cover letter is not required with your initial application but is welcome to help us understand your fitness for and interest in this role during our initial evaluation. Candidates invited for interviews will be asked to provide a thoughtful letter of interest indicating their specific qualifications for the opportunity, desire to join the Center for Child Protection, and connection to its mission.

Cooper Coleman LLC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or identity, age, ability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

Before sending your resume for this position, read it over for accuracy. We verify its candidates' employment and academic credentials at the time of offer. Due to the nature of the work involved, the Center for Child Protection conducts multiple background checks before finalizing an offer.