Chief Finance & Operations Officer (CFOO)

Opportunities and Challenges for the CFOO

Working closely with the President and CMF Leadership Team, the CFOO will advance the overall CMF strategies and goals.  The CFOO can expect to engage with the following opportunities and challenges:

Support the CEO, Board, and Leadership Team in Strategic Leadership

• Ensure strong and clear communication and engagement with the CEO about the status of the organization’s business functions, resource development, and support of CMF trustees engaged in audit, finance and investment responsibilities.
• Serve as a key leader and information guide to support the CEO and CMF Leadership Team in robust ways including analysis of data and suggested action steps for efficiencies, reforms and operational innovations.
• Serve as an ambassador for the organization’s work and advisor to CMF members and the broader philanthropic community on financial and operational excellence.

Lead Day-to-Day Operations and Administrative Activities with an Eye Toward Continuous Improvement

• Oversee Operations, Talent Development and Human Resources, Finance and Investments, Data Systems and IT in a manner consistent with CMF’s mission and values.
• Identify and implement new and sustainable approaches to streamline and optimize systems that will improve CMF operations and serve members’ needs.
• Create talent development systems that recruit, develop and retain the best talent in the field.

Operationalize New Strategic Directions and Business Strategies

• Bring a broad organizational perspective and develop an entrepreneurial approach to the business model that includes a new “revenue development” beyond dues, projects and sponsorships while examining high demand special projects needed to maintain the core operations.
• Partner with the CEO to assess risks, note opportunities for expansion, set overall goals and metrics, and propose programs or systems to move CMF’s strategies forward.

Manage and Sustain Financial Systems

• Manage CMF’s sophisticated finances, from revenue generation, investment strategies, resource development, resource allocation, to cost management.
• Work with the Board, CMF Leadership Team and CEO to actively predict, plan, and address short- and long-term cash requirements and create budgets in coordination with department leaders and other executives.
• Deepen the organization’s enterprise development and business model analysis of CMF’s finances to position the organization for long-term growth and sustainability.

Manage Multi-Campus Operations to Support Strategic Performance

• Embrace the “power of place” to increase the effectiveness of the organization and CMF team members and promote relationship building and collaboration in communities where members lead and engage.
• Examine office configurations to ensure effective alignment of geographic office locations with CMF’s current work, including the opening of a Lansing office, continuing its Grand Rapids office, and relocating CMF’s Detroit presence.

Evaluate and Maintain Policies for Sustained Organizational Effectiveness

• Continually analyze, evaluate and recommend administrative policies in alignment with changing organizational needs and compliance regulations using a thorough, consultative decision-making process in close partnership with the CMF Leadership Team and CMF employees broadly.

Qualifications

CMF’s significant transformation process involves every area of the organization.  Along with deep financial and operational acumen, the successful candidate will also be a strategist and an innovator who understands the complexities of a membership organization that supports philanthropy.  While no one candidate will embody all the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal abilities, attributes, and experiences:

• Innovative leader with proven track record of effective, transparent and engaging leadership in a dynamic, complex organization;
• Strong skills and experience in finance, accounting, and investment monitoring and controls;
• Experience with nonprofit finances and customer focused portfolios preferred;
• Demonstrated ability to drive institutional goals and aspirations;
• Entrepreneurial mindset and analytical, problem solving abilities;
• Experience managing complex operations in a multi-campus environment;
• Excellent communicator with demonstrated written, verbal and interpersonal skills;
• Customer service mindset and demonstrated ability to communicate, influence and develop meaningful relationships with stakeholders;
• Understanding of philanthropy (grant makers and donors) and the nonprofit sector and their unique business models;
• Knowledge of Michigan philanthropy, the values of the field, and CMF’s role in advancing them preferred;
• Strong organizational skills;
• Strong collaboration and facilitation skills;
• Ability to steward a talent agenda that ensures CMF can attract and retain the top talent in the field; and
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion and the desire to advance equity in the work of the organization.