Finance & Operations Lead — Nonprofit Grants & Compliance

Alliance; Virginia; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley is seeking a Finance & Operations Manager in New Market, VA, with the possibility of partial remote work. This full-time, exempt role handles full-cycle accounting, federal grant compliance, payroll, HR administration, and internal operations to support sustainable nonprofit governance.

The ideal candidate will combine nonprofit fund accounting experience with strong compliance, system thinking, and a drive to build efficient workflows for long-term impact in

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3–5 years of accounting or bookkeeping experience, preferably nonprofit fund accounting.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret regulations for federal or state grant compliance and audit prep.
• High-level proficiency with QuickBooks Online.
• Self-directed, able to manage deadlines and work independently as a department of one.
• Meticulous data entry and financial record-keeping with strong attention to detail.
• Genuine commitment to Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley's conservation and community mission.

Responsibilities

• Full-Cycle Accounting: manage daily financial activities in QuickBooks Online including AP/AR, allocations, and reconciliations.
• Federal Grant Compliance: ensure expenditures are properly documented, allocated, and reported per Uniform Guidance.
• Audit & Tax Readiness: lead preparation for annual audit and Form 990, liaising with the external CPA firm.
• Reporting: produce monthly financial statements and grant reports for the Board and grant staff.
• Payroll & HR Ops: oversee payroll processing, benefits, onboarding, and compliance with employment laws.

Skills

Accounting

Compliance

Self-direction

Attention to detail

Commitment

Tools

QuickBooks Online

PayChex

Job description

Supervisor: Executive Director
Location: New Market, Virginia; partial remote work is possible
Job Classification: Full-time, Exempt

Organization Description

Working to ensure that the land, water, and community resources of the Shenandoah Valley will be protected for the future, Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley is a 501(c)3 nonprofit formed in 2018 through a merger of five long-standing Valley organizations. The Alliance serves six counties – Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page and Warren – and the cities within them. The Alliance staff, directors, and supporters are champions for clean water, thriving communities, and protected rural landscapes. The Alliance is led by a talented and engaged volunteer board of directors and a staff of 10 full-time and two part-time employees, with deep community connections throughout the service area.

The Position

The Finance & Operations Manager is a critical professional role responsible for the integrity of the Alliance’s financial systems, personnel administration, and internal operations. This is a “full-cycle” position: the Manager performs daily bookkeeping and administrative tasks while maintaining high-level ownership of federal grant compliance and HR law.

The ideal candidate is a systems-thinker who finds satisfaction in clean books and rigorous compliance, and who wants to be a key partner in ensuring the organization’s long-term sustainability.

Areas of Responsibility

Finance and Budgeting (60%)

• Full-Cycle Accounting: Execute all daily financial activities in QuickBooks Online, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense allocation, and monthly bank reconciliations.
• Federal Grant Compliance: Act as the internal expert on federal grant financial compliance (Uniform Guidance). Ensure all grant-related expenditures are properly documented, allocated, and reported according to federal and state standards.
• Audit & Tax Readiness: Lead the preparation for the annual audit and Form 990 filing, serving as the primary liaison for the external CPA firm.
• Reporting: Produce monthly financial statements and grant-specific reports for the Board of Directors, Executive Director and grant program staff.

Personnel Operations & Compliance (25%)

• Payroll Administration: Manage staff timekeeping and process bi-weekly payroll via PayChex, ensuring accurate cost-allocation across various funding sources.
• Benefits & Compliance: Administer employee benefits (health, retirement) and ensure the organization remains in full compliance with state and federal employment laws and internal policies.
• Onboarding: Coordinate the administrative onboarding and offboarding process for all staff.

Internal Operations & Systems (15%)

• System Stewardship: Manage core digital systems (Google Workspace, Dropbox, Zoom) and serve as the point of contact for basic IT troubleshooting.
• Office Management: Oversee relationships with office vendors (insurance, utilities, maintenance, and supplies) to ensure a productive and professional work environment.

Ideal Candidate Profile

Our ideal candidate brings a solid foundation in fund accounting and a compliance-oriented mindset. While we don’t expect you to arrive as an expert in every facet of this multi-dimensional role, we are looking for a systems-thinker who will take initiative to research regulations and be excited to build the workflows that ensure our long-term sustainability. The Alliance is committed to the professional development of this position, providing the specific training and external mentorship needed to transition each component of the role into long-term leadership strengths.

Requirements of the Position

• Accounting Expertise: Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in accounting or bookkeeping, preferably in a nonprofit “fund accounting” environment.
• Compliance Mindset: Demonstrated experience or technical literacy to interpret regulations associated with managing federal or state grant compliance and audit preparation.
• Technical Proficiency: High-level experience with QuickBooks Online.
• Self-Direction: Proven ability to work independently as a “department of one,” managing high-level deadlines alongside daily tactical tasks.
• Attention to Detail: An obsessive eye for accuracy in data entry and financial record-keeping.
• Commitment: A passion for the Alliance’s conservation and community mission in the Shenandoah Valley.

Preferred Skills

• Experience with PayChex or similar payroll platforms.
• Familiarity with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance) for federal grants.

To Apply

Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley considers all candidates equally without regard to age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability or other non-merit factors. If you meet more than 75% of the qualifications of this description, we will consider your application.