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Bellwether Housing seeks a highly skilled Chief Financial Officer to lead the organization’s financial function. The CFO will provide leadership on financial planning, risk management, and resource allocation, overseeing accounting, tax, IT, and treasury while guiding executives and the Board on fiscal strategy.
The role supervises four team members and partners with leaders across departments to ensure financial discipline and mission alignment.
Bellwether Housing was founded in 1980 to create housing in downtown Seattle so city workers could live close to their jobs. After over 45 years of success and growth, Bellwether is the Puget Sound region's largest nonprofit affordable housing provider. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Bellwether Housing builds and manages high-quality affordable housing so that people of diverse backgrounds and incomes thrive in urban King County’s high-cost housing market.
Bellwether Housing serves over 7,000 residents annually in more than 3,500 apartments across 38 properties, with 600 more homes under construction. Its Bellwether’s properties are near job centers, schools, childcare, and community amenities in vibrant, transit-rich neighborhoods. The organization serves families, households recovering from homelessness, seniors, immigrants, preschool teachers and social workers, and young people just starting out. Living at Bellwether, residents gain access to the resources and prosperity of their surrounding communities and, in turn, cultivate a more inclusive andequitablecity.
Through the development, ownership, and operation of affordable housing properties, and support of residents through its resident services program, Bellwether Housing has been a trailblazer in transforming the lives of lower-income individuals and families in the region. Bellwether is a leader in state and local housing policy issues, an innovator in financing and housing development strategies, and a trusted partner to a diverse array of organizations in its community, while providing real estate development services to other mission-driven nonprofits around Western Washington.
Bellwether Housing wasalsonamed among Puget Sound Business Journals Best Workplaces for 2026!
SalaryRange:$280,000 - $350,000depending on experience and qualifications.
The posted salary reflects thetargetpay range for this position. Offers made to qualified candidates will be made within this range and will bedeterminedbyvarious factorsincluding knowledge, skills, experience, qualifications, location, and other factors that would be critical to success in this role.
We areseekinga highly skilled,principled,and engaged professional to lead its financial function. The organization takes seriously its leadership role in exemplifying best practices in the financial function of affordable housing.
The Chief Financial Officer is a key member of Bellwether’s Executive Management Team, providing leadership and guidance to the organization on financial planning risk management, and resource allocation issues. The CFO offers strategic thoughtpartnershipon all business matters for the organization.
The CFO oversees all financial, accounting, and information technology activity of Bellwether and its affiliates, including, but not limited to, ensuring systems for financial controls and regulatory compliance are in place; overseeing accounting, tax and financial reporting functions; advising other leaders on real estate financing and government contracts, and overseeing corporate and partnership structuring; overseeing organization and building budgeting and asset management; overseeing treasury and cash flow and enterprise-level financing activity; maintaining relationships with financial partners; providing leadership in planning and policy development; overseeing financial information systems and administration; overseeing risk management; and sharing in the oversight of appropriate legal matters.
They will directly supervise four team members: Controller, Director of Finance, Director of Information Technology, and the Director of Asset Management.
Bellwether’s organizational culture reflects its genuine commitment to mission and a caring, expert workforce. The new CFO will ensure cross-departmental communication and organization-wide financial discipline.
This is an exciting opportunity for a committed, hard-working,and self-motivated professional to join the leadership of an organization that is regionally premier and nationally recognized.
Advise and support the CEO and Board of Directors on issues related to Bellwether’s finances and assets
Staff the Finance and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors
Advise and support Executive Management Team members on financial concerns related to their departments and programs
Play a leadership role in Executive Management Team and Board of Directors meetings
Oversee Controller’s management of Bellwether’s accounting staff in the completion of all accounting responsibilities
Oversee the preparation and distribution of monthly financial statements and create accompanying performance analysis and commentary
Analyze financial statements; prepare reports for the CEO, the Board of Directors, and staff leaders
Oversee all internal and external audits
Ensure compliance with all financial covenants
Oversee the annual budgeting process, as well as long term financial planning for the organization and monitor budget compliance
Oversee development of building operations budgets
Play financial leadership role in developing long and short-term organizational strategies and business plans
Create financial forecasts, models or analyses as needed orrequiredto support both short-term decision making and longer-term strategic planning
Play financial leadership role in corporate policy development
Oversee enterprise-level financing strategies,activitiesand banking relationships
Oversee cash and investments to appropriately balance risk, return and liquidity
Represent the organization, along with other Executive Management Team members, to financial partners including financial institutions, investors, foundation executives, public officials, and others
Through supervising the Director of Asset Management, oversee asset management activities,including:
portfolio recapitalizations and asset management plans
legal, regulatory and partnership compliance for all properties
analysis of property financial and other performance indicators
preparation and submission of quarterly and annual reports to investors and lenders
Oversee structuring and administration of corporate and partnership entities
Assistwith financial issues related to housing development, including tax-credit finance underwriting and structuring
Oversee government contracts, including budget development, financial reporting, complianceoversightand related tasks
Provide leadership and oversight, along with other directors, of risk management and insurance activities
Manage, along with other Executive Management Team members, attorney relationships and monitor pending and potential litigation within sphere of control
Provide leadership in the management and development of Bellwether Housing
Participate in advocacy and fundraising activities related to the organization whenappropriate
Other responsibilities as required by the CEO, Board ofDirectorsand Executive ManagementTeamcolleagues
An undergraduate degree isrequired. A graduate degree in Business, Finance, RealEstateor another similar field is preferred.
Commitment to working on behalf of the communities Bellwether Housing serves and supporting Bellwether’s mission and culture
Ten years of senior levelfinancial managementexperience
Eight years of broad-based business management experience
Proven ability to manage the finances of an organization with a multi-million-dollar budget
Experience with fund accounting software system
Experience in partnership accounting and public finance
Experience with property financial asset management
Experience with financial risk identification and mitigation
Demonstratedability to provide organizational leadership as a member of the Executive Management Team; able to develop organizational capacity in financial function
Experience leading, managing and mentoring a team of high performing staff in functional areas under the CFO’s purview
Experience in the fields of affordable housing, propertymanagementand/or real estate
Experience in the nonprofit sector
Experience with programs such as low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) and HUD financing
The highest level of professionalism,stewardshipand integrity in executing the CFO role
Excellent leadership skills with the ability to make well-reasoned decisions as part of a high performing team
Demonstrated management skills, able to mentor, motivate and hold team accountable
Technical knowledge to lead the financial function of an extremely complex and sophisticated organization
Demonstrated ability to combine macro strategic, policy and planning perspective with attention to details,controlsand other micro concerns
Excellent interpersonal skills; promptly provides feedback to staff for professional development
Excellent oral, and written communication skills; proactively communicates with the CEO, other senior leaders, direct reports, and whenappropriate, Board members
Well-developed organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to prioritize work effectively and adjust to multiple demands
Ability to balance financial goals and missional goals
Experience working effectively and collegially with a diverse staff
Understands employee performance metrics and professional development
Proficiencywith financial accounting systems (experience with Yardi a plus)
Excellent computer skills including word processing, spreadsheets,databasesand a working knowledge of information technology, both existing and emerging
Highly collaborative with other leaders within their own team and across departments
A strategic thinker and organization builder
A seasoned financial leader capable of both big picture thinking and directing tactical implementation; able to “connect the dots” of disparate lines of Bellwether’s business
Adaptable and able to meet the demands of an organization with a complex underlying financial and legal structure with a substantial real estate portfolio
Highly motivated, with the ability to work independently, take initiative, and follow tasks through to completion
Calm and unflappable in times of stress and pressure
Able to positively respond to strong personalities,maintaina sense of humor; show up with confidence and humility
Bellwether Housing is your platform for growth, empowerment, and purpose. When you join our team, you will receive:
Competitive compensationaccompanied by a generous benefits package.
Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
A403(b)-retirementplan with an employer match, guiding you towards a prosperous future.
Fuel for your personal and professional development with up to $1,500 in employer-paid continuing education per year.
An ORCA Transit Pass to navigate the city with ease.
Up to 24paid days off in your first year, prorated personal days renewed annually,and 8 paid office closure days.
The chance to be part of a transformative mission, leaving a mark on the lives of those we serve in our communities.
At Bellwether Housing, you will elevate your career in a role that's as rewarding as it is impactful, where you’ll be part of a movement that is helping shape the future of affordable housing in the Greater Puget Sound Area and where diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are the pillars of our success.
Bellwether Housing embraces a workplace that is diverse,equitable, and inclusive, and is dedicated to building a team that is made up of a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, and skills that reflect the populations we serve.Weare committed to being an anti-racist organization,while acknowledging we have a long way to go. You can learn more about our DEI work onourwebsite.
All applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We are unable to sponsor employment visas.
Bellwether Housing is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal,state,or local laws. We support the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) toreasonably accommodateall qualified applicants [and employees] by providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. To request Reasonable Accommodation for the application or interviewprocess,please contactrecruiting@bellwetherhousing.org.
Note: This role requires successful completion of a background check in accordance with Seattle’s Fair Chance Employment Ordinance.