Chief Financial Officer

Socket.dev; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

The Boston Public Health Commission is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to oversee all finance functions for a $250M+ budget, including budgeting, accounting, revenue, and post‑award grants management. The role includes driving policy, internal control, auditing, and regulatory compliance across departments.

Responsibilities emphasize strategic financial planning, leadership of the finance team, enterprise systems implementation (Workday ERP), and advancing racial equity in health outcomes

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field required.
• Knowledge of public health role in addressing health inequities and racism.
• Commitment to health equity and social justice issues.
• CPA and/or MBA or master’s in accounting or finance required.
• 10+ years’ experience in government or not-for-profit finance.
• Basic knowledge of Workday ERP.
• Solid experience with project and grant accounting, federal IDC and fringe benefit rate proposals.
• 7–10 years of prior management experience.

Responsibilities

• Oversee financial operations including budgeting, accounting, revenue, and post‑award grants management.
• Lead annual audits and strengthen internal controls per COSO framework.
• Develop and implement financial policies aligning with mission and objectives.
• Ensure timely financial reporting and data analyses with KPIs and variances.
• Manage treasury functions, cash flow, and banking relationships.
• Lead and mentor Finance staff and coordinate leadership team meetings.
• Ensure compliance with CFR200 and federal regulations.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Collaboration

Inclusive leadership

Communication skills

Negotiation

Problem solving

Writing skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field

CPA and/or MBA or master’s in accounting or finance

Tools

Workday ERP

Job description

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for all functions related to the financial operations of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). The CFO works closely with the Director of Administration and Finance and manages five Finance departments (Finance & Accounting, Budget, Post-Award Grants, Revenue and Procure to Pay) to ensure the Commission is operating within its $250M+ annual budget, while maximizing revenue opportunities, managing the compliance and reporting of funding, allocating funds appropriately, creating and implementing sound financial policies and procedures, and producing accurate and timely financial reporting.

The CFO manages the finances of the Commission to ensure there are sufficient resources to carry out BPHC’s mission of working in partnership with communities to protect and promote the health and well-being of all Boston residents, especially those impacted by racism and systemic inequities. In executing his/her duties, the CFO will be guided by BPHC’s organizing principles of setting and achieving performance targets, growing our people, and making a positive impact. The responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:

I. Financial Operations Oversight

• Lead the BPHC financial operations team including finance and accounting, budgeting, procure to pay, revenue (including EMS revenue), post-award grants management, and management reporting
• Serve as a budget liaison between the Commission and the City of Boston. As needed, attend and or present at city council budget hearing and OBM budget meetings.
• Oversee the budgeting, projection and forecasting, of key performance indicators and financial results
• Serve as the primary organizational agent for managing the balance sheet and ensuring that all balance sheet accounts are reconciled monthly
• Oversee Bank of America P-Card administration and BPHC Gift Card Administration

II.Financial and Management Reporting

• Ensure that quarterly financial statements and periodic reports are completed and distributed timely
• Prepare detailed analyses of financial statements to reflect variances in income, expenditures, and capital asset values from previous periods
• Evaluate fringe benefits and indirect cost recovery rates for accuracy, integrity, and compliance with Federal regulations
• Analyze data and compile reports, including graphs and charts

III. Audit, Risk, and Compliance

• Take the lead in facilitating an independent annual financial statement audit, working closely with BPHC’s. external auditors
• Actively identify opportunities for internal audits of high-risk areas
• Educate the organization about new and existing compliance requirements.
• Establish, implement and monitor an integrated internal control environment in accordance with the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (COSO) framework

IV. Policies and Procedures

• Develop, update and implement policies and procedures and ensure that organizational goals and financial objectives are consistent with the mission and purpose of the Commission
• Support ongoing training of all policy and procedure changes and initiatives for all key personnel, including Bureau employees

V. Cash Management

• Manage BPHC treasury function. approve cash transfers, manage cash balances daily to maximize interest earnings, manage the Bank of America CashPro app, and Bank of America WORKS app, request federal PMS and ASAP LOC cash draws, oversee the management of accounts receivable open accounts, and forecast weekly cash needs.

VI. Operating Performance

• Make recommendations for reducing operating costs and increasing revenues, based on extensive knowledge of market trends, financial reports, and industry operating procedures.
• Continuously improve office operations, streamline work processes, and decrease processing turnaround times

VII. Management

• Direct, supervise, evaluate, and mentor Finance staff. Coordinate weekly Finance Leadership Team meetings.
• Conduct annual performance evaluations, including technical competence, teamwork, communication skills, and personal leadership abilities that result in visible, measurable outcomes for customer service and operational efficiencies.
• Make and recommend management and personnel decisions, including but not limited to, promotion, transfer, and assignment of staff, and imposition of discipline.

VIII. Enterprise Resource Planning

• Oversee the successful completion of the Workday Financial Management implementation, with a projected go-live date of July 1, 2027.
• Review and evaluate the design and configuration of the system, oversee testing, assign security levels to finance staff, document procedures and protocols, and assist with companywide change management and training.

IX. Other Responsibilities

• Work in a confidential capacity with the Director of Administration and Finance
• Meet weekly with the Director of Administration and Finance and provide periodic status reports regarding all aspects of department operations, including but not limited to, issues pertaining to staff and other confidential matters.
• Active member of Senior Leadership Team.
• Perform other duties as required by the Director of Administration and Finance or Executive Director.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social
  determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and
  health equity.
• Commitment to health equity and racial/social justice issues.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, or related field required.
• Knowledge of or willingness to learn about the role of public health in addressing racism, the social determinants of health, and inequities in health outcomes as well as strategies to advance racial justice and health equity.
• Commitment to health equity and racial/social justice issues.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and/or MBA or master’s in accounting or finance required.
• 10+ years’ experience in government or not-for-profit finance required.
• Basic knowledge of and/or experience with Workday enterprise resource planning (ERP).
• Solid experience with project and grant accounting, federal IDC and fringe benefit rate proposals and negotiations, and in-depth knowledge of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR200) required.
• 7-10 years of prior management experience required
• Ability to demonstrate vision, strategic thinking, collaboration and inclusive leadership skills, flexibility and adaptability; and a willingness to embrace and drive change.
• Build relationships with internal and external partners.
• Ability to influence others, negotiate to a successful resolution, and engage in effective problem solving.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills are necessary.
• Must be self-motivated with the ability to recognize and set priorities and work effectively as an individual and as a member of a team.