Director of Finance _@Project Expedite Justice (PEJ)

About Project Expedite Justice

Founded in 2016, Project Expedite Justice (PEJ) is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization advancing accountability for atrocity crimes and serious human rights violations. Working alongside local civil society partners, PEJ combines legal expertise, investigations, training, and mentorship to strengthen local capacities, document violations, and pursue accountability through legal and other accountability mechanisms.

PEJ operates through a globally distributed team, with programming in Ukraine, Sudan, Ethiopia, and other contexts. We are committed to fostering an inclusive working environment and particularly encourage applications from qualified professionals from the Global South and other underrepresented backgrounds.

The Opportunity: Director of Finance

Project Expedite Justice (PEJ) seeks a Director of Finance to lead the organization’s financial strategy, accounting, budgeting, reporting, and fiscal compliance functions and to safeguard PEJ’s financial health and resources.

The Director of Finance will serve as a member of the Senior Management Team and work closely with the Executive Director, Director of Operations, Legal and Program Directors, Development, and the Board of Directors. The role will provide clear financial leadership, ensure timely and accurate financial information, maintain strong internal controls, and support sound organizational and donor-funded decision-making.

Key Deliverables:

• Accurate, timely, and reliable organizational financial reporting and accounting.

• A well-managed annual organizational budget, forecasts, cash flow, and budget variance process.

• Strong financial controls, systems, and procedures that meet audit, donor, and regulatory requirements.

• Timely and accurate grant budgets, donor fiscal reports, and financial compliance support.

• Successful completion of annual audits, tax filings, and other required financial reporting.

• Clear financial guidance, training, and decision support for PEJ leadership and staff.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Leadership and Supervision

• Lead PEJ’s financial strategy and day-to-day financial management as a member of the Senior Management Team.

• Directly or indirectly supervise the Finance team, including recruitment, training, performance management, mentoring, and workload planning.

• Provide financial advice and analysis to the Executive Director, senior leadership, and Board to support organizational planning and decision-making.

• Work closely with the Director of Operations to ensure that financial and operational processes are coordinated without duplicating functional ownership.

Accounting, Financial Systems, and Reporting

• Oversee accounting operations, including bookkeeping, bank reconciliations, receivables, payables, balance-sheet reconciliations, and month-end close.

• Develop and maintain QuickBooks and other financial systems needed to meet fiscal, regulatory, management, and donor reporting requirements.

• Ensure the Statement of Financial Position and Statement of Activities are accurate and circulated to executive management on a routine basis.

• Prepare monthly and ad hoc financial reports for management, the Board, donors, and other audiences as required.

• Manage cash flow, banking relationships, investments in accordance with PEJ policy, and fund transfers between accounts.

Budgeting and Financial Planning

• Lead the annual organizational budget development process and ongoing forecasting.

• Review organizational and program budgets for financial accuracy, sustainability, and compliance before final approval by the appropriate authority.

• Monitor expenditures, budget variances, revenue projections, and financial trends and proactively identify corrective actions where needed.

• Coordinate with Development to incorporate confirmed and prospective funding into organizational financial forecasts, identifying funding gaps and potential financial risks associated with the grant pipeline.

Compliance, Internal Controls, and Risk

• Develop, maintain, and implement financial policies, procedures, and SOPs in accordance with U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP), applicable law, donor requirements, and PEJ policies.

• Maintain strong internal controls to safeguard organizational assets and ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial transactions and reporting.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local tax filings and financially related charitable registrations and requirements.

• Lead financial risk management, including financial aspects of insurance coverage, fraud prevention, and controls over sensitive financial systems and data.

• Maintain organized, accessible, and audit-ready financial records and appropriate document-retention practices for finance.

Grants and Subgrants Financial Management

• Lead preparation and review of grant budgets, budget modifications, grant variance reports, and donor fiscal reports.

• Maintain systems for accurate allocation of payroll and other expenses to grants and cost centers in accordance with funding agreements.

• Oversee financial due diligence of potential subgrantees, review subgrant budgets and financial documentation, and provide financial compliance guidance and training to subgrantees.

• Manage restricted and deferred revenue and oversee grant and donor receivables in coordination with Development.

Audit, Payroll, and Financial Administration

• Manage the annual audit and serve as the primary financial liaison with auditors, including preparation and review of tax preparation/submissions and related financial schedules.

• Oversee payroll processing, payroll tax filings, and the financial administration of insurance and employee benefits in coordination with HR.

• Provide financial review of consultant and vendor payments, contracts, and procurement actions where required by PEJ’s Delegation of Authority and financial policies.

• Ensure payments, advances, and reconciliations are processed accurately, promptly, and in accordance with approved controls.

Board and Senior Management Support

• Prepare and present financial information for the Board of Directors and coordinate financial reporting with the Treasurer as required.

• Participate in strategic planning, organization-wide policy development, and senior-management decision-making.

• Promote organization-wide understanding of financial policies, procedures, budget responsibilities, and submission requirements.