Director of Finance

RISE; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

RISE is seeking a Director of Finance to provide strategic financial leadership as the organization expands. Reporting to the VP of Operations, you will oversee budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls for a growing nonprofit with a current $5M budget and 40+ staff.

You will modernize policies, implement automated reporting, manage grants and compliance, and develop a finance team aligned with RISE’s mission to break cycles of incarceration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• CPA or MBA strongly preferred for leadership role.
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive financial management in nonprofits.

Responsibilities

• Direct financial strategy, forecasting, budgeting, and internal controls.
• Lead financial reporting to CEO, Board, and executives; ensure transparent performance metrics.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Non-profit

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting

CPA or MBA preferred

Tools

ERP/Accounting software

Excel

Job description

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the Director of Finance will serve as a strategic financial leader during an exciting phase of organizational expansion. This role is ideal for a seasoned financial professional ready to deepen the financial management infrastructure of a well-established, financially healthy non-profit with a rapidly increasing budget and team that currently sits at $5M and 40+ staff, respectively, and eventually build out and develop a team of finance professionals who are passionate about RISE’s mission to break generational cycles of incarceration.

The successful candidate will oversee all financial activities, providing a comprehensive view of the organization’s financial health. A key focus of this role will be shaping the future of the finance department by modernizing and strengthening financial policies, procedures, and technologies. Responsibilities include directing financial strategy, forecasting, budgeting, monitoring revenue and expenses, and delivering transparent reporting to a diverse group of stakeholders while ensuring rigorous internal controls and compliance.

About RISE

Position Description

Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the Director of Finance will serve as a strategic financial leader during an exciting phase of organizational expansion. This role is ideal for a seasoned financial professional ready to deepen the financial management infrastructure of a well-established, financially healthy non-profit with a rapidly increasing budget and team that currently sits at $5M and 40+ staff, respectively, and eventually build out and develop a team of finance professionals who are passionate about RISE’s mission to break generational cycles of incarceration.

The successful candidate will oversee all financial activities, providing a comprehensive view of the organization’s financial health. A key focus of this role will be shaping the future of the finance department by modernizing and strengthening financial policies, procedures, and technologies. Responsibilities include directing financial strategy, forecasting, budgeting, monitoring revenue and expenses, and delivering transparent reporting to a diverse group of stakeholders while ensuring rigorous internal controls and compliance.

About RISE

RISE is the largest nonprofit organization in Nebraska focused solely on habilitative programming in prisons and reentry support. At RISE, transformation starts pre-release and continues post-release. Our inside/out model bridges incarceration to the community and considers all the critical steps in that journey. We prepare and train people for each phase through intensive character development, employment readiness, job creation through entrepreneurship, family programming, and case management. We transform people in the community by building awareness and empathy that leads to support and opportunity. These connections heal families, create employment pathways, and lower recidivism.

RISE has received a “Best Places to Work in Omaha” award from Baird Holm and the Greater Omaha Chamber. RISE is a recipient of the Non-Profit Association of the Midlands Catalyst Award, honoring non‑profits that inspire action, advance excellence and innovation, and drive transformation while making a meaningful impact. In 2025, RISE received the Roger Baldwin Civil Libertarian of the Year Award from the ACLU of Nebraska.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Strategy, Planning & Forecasting

• Financial Strategy: Develop and steward a robust, organization‑wide financial strategy in partnership with the Executive Leadership Team, providing proactive fiscal oversight to support sustainable growth.
• Forecasting & Modeling: Lead multi-year financial planning, scenario modeling, and contingency planning to prepare the organization for its projected scale.
• Annual Budgeting: Drive the annual operating budget development process in close consultation with the Vice President of Operations; present the final budget and strategic insights to the organization’s Board of Directors.

Financial Operations, Systems & Reporting

• Financial Reporting: Prepare and deliver accurate, timely monthly financial closes and comprehensive internal financial reports for the CEO, Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team, and Program Directors to ensure unified organizational alignment.
• Systems & Automation: Plan, implement, and maintain a modern, automated budget‑reporting system integrated within the agency’s accounting software to streamline reporting as the organization scales.
• Cash Flow Management: Monitor and project cash flow closely, ensuring adequate liquid reserves to support program expansions and mitigate the timing gaps of cost‑reimbursement grants.

Payroll & Compensation Administration

• Payroll Processing & Compliance: Oversee accurate, timely processing of bi‑weekly payroll, ensuring compliance with wage and hour laws, tax withholding, and FLSA classification requirements.
• Wage Increases & Compensation Changes: Ensure proper authorization and accurate reflection in payroll and the general ledger by coordinating with VP of Operations and HR on administration of merit increases, promotions, and other compensation adjustments.
• Payroll Reconciliation & HR Partnership: Reconcile payroll to the general ledger each cycle for accurate cost allocation across programs and grants, partnering with the VP of Operations and HR to ensure changes are reflected on schedule.
• Year-End & Tax Filings: Oversee year‑end payroll processes, including W‑2 preparation, 1099 issuance for contractors, and coordination with the payroll provider on quarterly and annual tax filings.

Grants, Contracts & Revenue Management

• Budget Collaboration: Partner with the Vice President of Operations to prepare all grant, contract, and project budgets, managing required budget modifications as programs evolve.
• Invoicing & Drawdowns: Oversee the preparation, submission, and tracking of monthly invoice and drawdown processes with funders.
• Cross‑Departmental Support: Collaborate with the Vice President of Operations and Grant Manager to track, reconcile, and report on the allocation and utilization of grants and funding sources.

Compliance, Audit & Internal Controls

• Audit & Tax Leadership: Serve as the lead manager for the organization’s annual audit process—including financial statement audits, Single Audits (Uniform Guidance), and IRS Form 990 preparation—ensuring all deadlines are met.
• Internal Controls: Maintain, update, and enforce the organization’s finance policy and procedure manuals, ensuring rigorous internal controls are maintained across all expanding departments.

Qualifications & Skills

Education & Experience

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field required. CPA or MBA strongly preferred.
• Professional Experience: 7–10 years of progressive, relevant experience in financial management and accounting (within the non‑profit sector is preferred).

Technical & Financial Skills

• Budgeting & Cost Allocation: Proven track record of creating dynamic, usable budgets at various granularities and managing complex shared cost allocation methods (e.g., indirect cost rates).
• Systems Proficiency: High proficiency with non‑profit financial accounting and general ledger software.Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets skills (e.g., VLOOKUPs/XLOOKUPs, pivot tables, financial modeling).

Leadership & Soft Skills Team

• Leadership: Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop accounting/finance staff, fostering a collaborative and growth‑oriented team culture.
• Cross‑Functional Partnership: Exceptional interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to act as a strategic partner to the Executive Leadership Team, Program Directors, and development teams.
• Strategic Communication: Strong written and oral communication skills, with a specific ability to translate complex financial data into user-friendly, digestible reports and presentations for non‑financial stakeholders, the CEO, and the Board.
• Innovative Problem Solving: Strong analytical and creative critical‑thinking skills to develop innovative, scalable solutions for evolving infrastructure needs.
• Project Management: Superior organizational and project management skills; the ability to drive independent initiatives while remaining a deeply integrated team player.

Other

• Must be willing to work flexible hours, occasionally working evenings and weekends.
• Must have access to a vehicle, possess a valid driver’s license and proof of insurance.
• RISE is a background friendly employer and seeks to employ those who have lived experience within the system we serve; however, this job is contingent on receiving approval to enter NDCS facilities based on a security check. Additionally, background checks may be run on final candidates as a compliance measure.
• FLSA classification:Exempt
• Employment Status:Full‑time
• RISE is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.