Finance Director

Burkecountychamber; Morganton, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Community Foundation of Burke County (CFBC) located in Morganton, NC seeks an experienced Finance Director to lead financial management, accounting, investments, and payroll functions. Reporting to the President & CEO, you will safeguard the financial integrity of the Foundation and provide clear analysis and forecasting to support strategic decisions.

The role requires nonprofit accounting expertise, strong judgment, and a collaborative approach.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• At least five years of non-profit accounting experience; seven or more preferred.
• Five years’ experience at a senior/executive level preferred.
• Strong knowledge of day-to-day nonprofit accounting practices; fund accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and flexibility.
• Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, discretion, accountability, and a strong work ethic.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a small team.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build confidence and maintain productive relationships with colleagues, Board members, donors, advisors, and community partners.

Responsibilities

• Safeguard the financial integrity and accountability of the Foundation’s charitable funds and multimillion-dollar asset portfolio.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly financial statements for the President & CEO and Board of Directors, as well as quarterly statements for charitable fund advisors.
• Provide financial analysis and forecasting to support the Foundation’s strategic goals and inform decision-making by the President & CEO and Board.
• Partner with the President & CEO to develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets.
• Monitor and manage cash flow.
• Prepare reports and support quarterly Finance Committee meetings, as needed.
• Regarding investments: execute asset-allocation decisions in accordance with Investment Committee direction. Ensure new monies are invested properly and timely with strict adherence to policy.
• Prepare materials and support monthly Investment Committee meetings.
• Manage the annual financial audit and Form 990 filing in collaboration with independent auditors.
• Develop, document, maintain, and monitor strong internal controls and compliance with all fiscal policies and procedures.
• Partner with the President & CEO to maintain documentation and compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.
• Stay current on applicable federal, state, and local requirements and help ensure the Foundation’s continued compliance with nonprofit laws and regulations.
• Manage all accounting functions, including general ledger maintenance, journal entries, account reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, and fixed-asset tracking.
• Maintain the Foundation’s donor management and accounting database systems.
• Oversee technology systems related to financial operations and coordinate with vendors or service providers as needed.
• Administer semimonthly payroll and prepare related accounting entries.
• Manage employee benefit programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave.
• Serve as the primary contact for employee benefit vendors and ensure compliance with enrollment, renewal, and reporting deadlines.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the President & CEO.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Independent & collaborative work

Integrity & judgment

Education

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

Tools

Foundant

QuickBooks Payroll

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Finance Director
Community Foundation of Burke County
Location: Morganton, North Carolina
Reports to: President & CEO
Status: Full-time, exempt, on-site
Starting salary: $95,000–$110,000, commensurate with experience
Priority application deadline: O pen until filled

About the Community Foundation of Burke County

Founded in 2000, the Community Foundation of Burke County (CFBC) is a tax-exempt nonprofit organization that strengthens our community through philanthropy. CFBC accepts gifts, endowments, and bequests from individuals, families, businesses, and organizations and makes grants from those funds to qualified charitable organizations and institutions, primarily serving residents of Burke County, North Carolina.
Our mission is to encourage, develop, and participate in philanthropy by providing flexible giving opportunities, professional support, and responsible stewardship for the benefit of donors and qualified recipients.
CFBC currently manages approximately $70 million across more than 200 charitable funds. In 2025, the Foundation distributed more than $2 million in grants and scholarships.

The Opportunity

CFBC seeks an experienced, detail-oriented and forward-looking Finance Director to lead the Foundation’s financial management, accounting, investment, compliance, payroll, and benefits functions. Reporting to and working closely with the President & CEO, the Finance Director will safeguard the financial integrity of the Foundation and its charitable funds while providing clear analysis, business planning and reliable information to support sound decision-making by staff and the Board of Directors.
The successful candidate will combine strong nonprofit accounting expertise with excellent judgment, integrity, communication skills, and a collaborative approach. The ideal candidate thrives in a hands-on work environment with strong growth potential and proactively seeks improvements. You are comfortable switching from immediate detailed transactions to big thinking long-term strategic plans. You are excited to play an active role in growing the foundation and with it, building a Finance team. You are either a resident of Burke County, very close by, or eager to relocate to the area. We are in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and enjoy a vibrant cultural scene with free TGIF concerts at the courthouse square in the summer, local craft breweries, restaurants, an active Burke Arts Council and many more festivals and activities for all ages.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Management and Oversight

• Safeguard the financial integrity and accountability of the Foundation’s charitable funds and multimillion-dollar asset portfolio.
• Prepare accurate and timely monthly financial statements for the President & CEO and Board of Directors, as well as quarterly statements for charitable fund advisors.
• Provide financial analysis and forecasting to support the Foundation’s strategic goals and inform decision-making by the President & CEO and Board.
• Partner with the President & CEO to develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets.
• Monitor and manage cash flow.
• Prepare reports and support quarterly Finance Committee meetings, as needed.
• Regarding investments: execute asset-allocation decisions in accordance with Investment Committee direction. Ensure new monies are invested properly and timely with strict adherence to policy.
• Prepare materials and support monthly Investment Committee meetings.

Audit and Compliance

• Manage the annual financial audit and Form 990 filing in collaboration with independent auditors.
• Develop, document, maintain, and monitor strong internal controls and compliance with all fiscal policies and procedures. Lead the regular review and updating of all internal policies.
• Partner with the President & CEO to maintain documentation and compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.
• Stay current on applicable federal, state, and local requirements and help ensure the Foundation’s continued compliance with nonprofit laws and regulations.

Accounting and Operations

• Manage all accounting functions, including general ledger maintenance, journal entries, account reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, and fixed-asset tracking.
• Maintain the Foundation’s donor management and accounting database systems.
• Oversee technology systems related to financial operations and coordinate with vendors or service providers as needed.

Payroll and Benefits

• Administer semimonthly payroll and prepare related accounting entries.
• Manage employee benefit programs, including health insurance, retirement plans, and paid leave.
• Serve as the primary contact for employee benefit vendors and ensure compliance with enrollment, renewal, and reporting deadlines.

Additional Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned by the President & CEO.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• At least five years of non-profit accounting experience; seven or more years preferred.
• Five years’ experience at a senior/executive level preferred.
• Strong knowledge of day-to-day nonprofit accounting practices; fund accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills, with exceptional attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities with accuracy and flexibility.
• Demonstrated integrity, sound judgment, discretion, accountability, and a strong work ethic.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a small team.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build confidence and maintain productive relationships with colleagues, Board members, donors, advisors, and community partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
• Experience with Foundant or a comparable community foundation or donor management system.
• Experience with QuickBooks Payroll.
• Experience with financial analysis, trend analysis, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Confidence using and overseeing technology that supports financial operations.