Chief Financial Officer

Center for Children; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 210,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) employer match (up to 3%)

Generous paid time off

Tuition reimbursement or assistance

Employee discounts

Employee recognition program

EAP – Employee Assistance Program

Wellness programs

Job summary

The San Diego Center for Children is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to lead financial strategy, reporting, and risk management for a mission-driven nonprofit serving children and families.

You will partner with the CEO and Board, oversee budgeting, forecasting, audits, treasury, and program finance, while building a high-performing finance team across departments.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, or related field.
• At least 10 years of progressive financial leadership experience.
• Experience as CFO/VP Finance or senior financial leader in a complex organization.
• Proven ability to improve liquidity, sustainability, and performance.
• Strong GAAP, internal controls, audit, and nonprofit accounting knowledge.
• Experience with complex revenue streams and contracts.
• Strong financial modeling, forecasting, and data-analysis skills.
• Ability to present to executives and boards.
• Leadership to build and retain high-performing teams.
• Ability to balance financial stewardship with mission.

Responsibilities

• Advise CEO and Board on financial performance and organizational sustainability.
• Lead development of long-term financial strategy to strengthen margins and liquidity.
• Translate financial data into actionable insights for decision-making.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
• Ensure GAAP-compliant reporting and audits and oversee audits.
• Manage cash, liquidity, and treasury; oversee investments.
• Develop financial models for program expansion, staffing, and contracts.
• Collaborate with leadership to ensure sustainability and responsible reserves.
• Mentor and develop the finance team and partner across programs.

Skills

Financial leadership

Budgeting & forecasting

Financial analysis

Strategic planning

Communication

Nonprofit accounting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field

MBA or related advanced degree (preferred)

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Main Campus - San Diego, CA 92111

Salary Range: $210,000.00 - $240,000.00 Salary/year

Job Shift: Day

By joining the San Diego Center for Children, you will empower children and families through transformative mental health care and educational services. Our vision is to inspire a world where children and families live joyful, healthy lives. We serve over 1,000 people every day - are you ready to make an impact?

Join us - and work with purpose!

POSITION BENEFITS

• Team-Oriented, Multidisciplinary Approach
• Ongoing, High-Level Learning and Development Opportunities
• Culturally Diverse Environment
• Joint Commission Accredited Organization
• Comprehensive Health Insurance (Medical, Dental, Vision, Pet)
• Retirement Savings Plan: 403(b) - With Employer Match Up To 3%
• Generous Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick Leave, Holidays)
• Wellness Programs
• EAP - Employee Assistance Program
• Tuition Reimbursement or Assistance For Continuing Education
• Employee Discounts
• Employee Recognition Program
• Opportunities For Career Advancement
• May Be Eligible For State or Federal Loan Forgiveness Programs For Work With Underserved Populations

SUMMARY

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the executive leadership team responsible for the financial leadership, strategy, and long-term sustainability of San Diego Center for Children. The CFO provides strategic financial guidance to the CEO, Board of Trustees, and organizational leaders while ensuring the organization maintains strong financial controls, accurate reporting, effective cash management, and regulatory compliance.

The CFO serves as both a strategic partner and operational leader, translating complex financial information into actionable insights that support organizational decision-making. The role oversees financial planning and analysis, accounting, budgeting, forecasting, revenue cycle and contract financial management, treasury, audit, and financial risk management. Working closely with program and administrative leaders, the CFO helps ensure that programs are financially sustainable, resources are deployed effectively, and financial strategy remains aligned with SDCC’s mission and long-term priorities.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Financial Leadership:

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, executive leadership team, and Board on financial performance, organizational sustainability, growth opportunities, and financial risk.
• Lead development of the organization’s long-term financial strategy, including strategies to strengthen operating margins, liquidity, reserves, and overall financial sustainability.
• Translate financial data and trends into clear insights and recommendations that support timely and informed organizational decision-making.
• Evaluate new programs, contracts, investments, partnerships, and other strategic opportunities through financial modeling, scenario analysis, and assessment of organizational capacity.
• Partner with organizational leadership on strategic planning, resource allocation, organizational investments, and development of annual and multi-year financial objectives.

Financial Planning & Analysis:

• Lead the annual budgeting process and ongoing forecasting, ensuring budgets reflect organizational strategy, operational realities, and program-level financial expectations.
• Develop and maintain financial forecasts, scenario models, and other tools that allow leadership to anticipate financial performance and proactively address emerging risks.
• Partner with program leaders to understand revenue, staffing, utilization, productivity, expenses, and other drivers of program financial performance.
• Lead regular program financial reviews and support leaders in developing and implementing strategies to improve program sustainability.
• Develop financial models to evaluate break-even levels, staffing structures, reimbursement changes, capacity utilization, and potential program expansion or restructuring.

Accounting & Financial Reporting:

• Ensure timely, accurate, and transparent financial reporting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and nonprofit accounting requirements.
• Oversee the financial close processes and maintain a disciplined reporting calendar.
• Provide executive leadership and the Board with clear financial reporting that highlights performance, trends, risks, and areas requiring action.
• Maintain an effective system of internal controls that protects organizational assets and ensures the integrity of financial information.
• Oversee annual independent financial statement audit, tax filings, and other required reporting.
• Ensure appropriate accounting and reporting for grants, restricted contributions, endowment funds, capital assets, leases, and other complex transactions.

Cash, Treasury & Capital Management:

• Maintain rigorous oversight of organizational liquidity and short- and long-term cash requirements.
• Lead cash forecasting and working-capital management, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, and timing of major expenditures.
• Manage banking relationships, credit facilities, investments, and other treasury activities.
• Provide oversight of the organization’s investment and endowment assets in partnership with appropriate Board committees and external advisors.
• Evaluate financing alternatives and capital investment decisions and recommend appropriate funding strategies.

Risk Management & Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with applicable financial, tax, contractual, regulatory, and reporting requirements.
• Identify significant financial and operational risks and partner with organizational leaders to develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Maintain strong safeguards against fraud, misuse of organizational resources, and financial control weaknesses.
• Provide financial oversight of insurance coverage, claims exposure, contractual liabilities, and other areas of organizational financial risk.

Leadership & Organizational Partnership:

• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing finance and accounting team, establishing clear expectations for accountability, service, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Build strong relationships with program leaders and ensure the finance function operates as a collaborative business partner rather than solely a reporting or compliance function.
• Strengthen financial literacy and promote a culture of financial accountability in which leaders understand and take ownership of the financial performance of their areas.
• Collaborate across programs and departments to ensure financial considerations are integrated into operational and strategic decisions.
• Support negotiations with government agencies, health plans, vendors, and external partners.
• All other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Directly supervises the Accounting and Finance team. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s values, policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

Ability to read, analyze, and interpret the most complex documents. Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. Ability to make effective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. Ability to deal with nonverbal symbolism in its most difficult phases. Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

DIVERSITY STATEMENT

• Actively recruiting, retaining, and supporting diverse staff at all levels of the organization.
• Ensuring that diverse perspectives are included in the development and implementation of policies, practices and services, and that individuals feel empowered to advance our mission within an atmosphere of trust, safety, and respect.
• Encourage and provide access to professional development in order to deliver equitable and culturally informed services to the population we serve.

Qualifications

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible financial leadership experience, including significant experience leading accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Prior experience serving in a CFO, VP of Finance, or comparable senior financial leadership role in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience developing and executing financial strategies that improve organizational sustainability, operating performance, liquidity, and financial discipline.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, internal controls, audit requirements, cash management, and nonprofit accounting principles.
• Experience managing complex revenue streams and contracts.
• Strong financial modeling, forecasting, scenario planning, and data-analysis capabilities, including advanced proficiency with financial systems, reporting tools, and data visualization tools.
• Experience presenting financial information, recommendations, and complex financial concepts to executives and Boards of Directors.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and retain high-performing finance and accounting teams.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in an environment with competing priorities, evolving funding models, and significant operational complexity.
• Strong business judgment and ability to balance financial stewardship with organizational mission, service quality, and strategic objectives.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and relationship building skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• MBA or other relevant advanced degree preferred.
• Financial leadership experience within a nonprofit healthcare, behavioral health, social services, or human services organization.
• Experience with California government-funded programs, Medi-Cal reimbursement, managed care, or County behavioral health contracts.
• Experience overseeing organizations with multiple programs, locations, funding sources, and service-delivery models.
• Experience managing banking relationships, lines of credit, investments, endowments, or other treasury functions.
• Experience evaluating program expansion, restructuring, new contracts, acquisitions, partnerships, or other strategic initiatives.