Career Opportunity
American Civil Liberties Union
Associate Director of Finance [ADMF-11]
Administration & Finance, NY

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:
The ACLU was founded by Roger Baldwin, Crystal Eastman, Albert DeSilver and others in 1920. We are nonprofit and nonpartisan and have grown from a roomful of civil liberties activists to an organization of more than 500,000 members and supporters. We handle nearly 6,000 court cases annually from our offices in almost every state.

The ACLU is supported by annual dues and contributions from its members, plus grants from private foundations and individuals. It does not receive any government funding. It is entirely non-partisan, criticizing and working with Democrats and Republicans alike and establishing coalitions with groups as diverse as the NAACP and the NRA.

The mission of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is to preserve and guarantee:

• Your First Amendment rights - freedom of speech, association and assembly; freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.
• Your right to equal protection under the law - equal treatment regardless of race, sex, religion or national origin.
• Your right to due process - fair treatment by the government whenever the loss of your liberty or property is at stake.
• Your right to privacy - freedom from unwarranted government intrusion into your personal and private affairs.

We also work to extend rights to segments of our population that have traditionally been denied their rights, including immigrants and people of color; lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people; women; mental-health patients; prisoners; people with disabilities; and the poor.

More information can be found on the website: www.aclu.org

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The ACLU seeks an experienced professional for the newly created position of Associate Director of Finance. He/she will be one of the key employees of the organization and will report to the ACLU Senior Staff member responsible for all Administrative and Finance Systems. The Associate Director of Finance will also work closely with the ACLU Executive Director. As the senior finance executive, the Associate Director of Finance will have management oversight and responsibility for all financial functions and will oversee ACLU’s revenues, costs, capital expenditures, and debt.

The Associate Director of Finance will partner with the leadership of the ACLU and work with the Board of Directors’ Finance, Audit & Investment Committees to efficiently and effectively manage the finances of the organization. As this is a new position, he/she will have the opportunity to help define the role through effective partnering and engagement with the senior leadership team.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Associate Director of Finance will be responsible for:

• Overseeing all comptroller and accounting personnel and functions; producing internal and external financial reporting; overseeing investment management and functions.
• Partnership with the ACLU - proactively develop processes, procedures and systems that provide useful information and support decision making.
• Revenue and Cost Management - understand the financial dynamics of the ACLU, strategies for maximizing investment returns and cash management; and lead opportunities for improved cost management consistent with the ACLU’s mission and values.
• Financial Management - have ultimate responsibility for the financial systems needed to process transactions that represent the activity of the ACLU, and translate that data into useful, actionable information by partnering (see above).
• Audit Committee Relations - lead the reporting necessary for the Board of Director’s Audit, Finance & Investment committees and work with the audit function of the ACLU to meet its regulatory and fiduciary obligations to regulators.
• Communications - effectively communicate the ACLU’s business objectives and financial results to multiple constituents – directors, leadership, members, foundations, and donors (potential and active).
• Employee Engagement - oversee the management of finance resources for the organization consistent with being a “best employer,” and develop staff who can take leadership roles.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• The ACLU is seeking a broad-gauged leader and highly competent manager with superior financial and business acumen. The successful candidate will have experience leading and managing the financial affairs of a large, complex organization, and the demonstrated ability to drive change and results. The ideal candidate should have a record of professional accomplishment and achievement commensurate with a senior officer of a large public or private corporation and/or non-profit organization. He/she should also have a deep passion for the organization’s mission and work.
• This challenging position requires the highest integrity, sound judgment, administrative experience, and strong communication skills.

The successful candidate should also possess the following attributes, education, and experience:

• An undergraduate degree is required and a CPA and/or MBA in accounting and finance are highly desirable.
• Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience at the leadership level in finance and accounting.
• Sound technical skills and knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Expertise in financial reporting, internal control, audit, budgeting, revenue and cost analysis, capital projects and capital markets.
• Knowledge of fund accounting.
• Dedication to the ACLU’s mission.

The following qualifications are also highly desirable:

• A background that combines experience in the not-for-profit sector and for-profit sectors.
• Experience working with a chief executive officer, a varied senior management team and a board of directors.
• Familiarity with affiliate structures preferred.
• An appetite for talent development, including knowing how to lead and motivate teams of people, and the ability to partner with and influence senior management, peers and others using a collaborative mentality and style.
• Political acumen and an understanding of and ability to interact with government regulatory agencies as well as a nation-wide network of demanding state affiliates.
• Strong communications skills with a variety of audiences including the Board.

COMPENSATION:
The ACLU offers a generous and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, commensurate with experience and within parameters of the ACLU compensation scale.

HOW TO APPLY:
Please submit your cover letter and resume to:

Jeannie Kwok
Russell Reynolds Associates
200 Park Avenue
Suite 2300
New York, NY 10166-0002
Tel: (212) 351-2000, ext. 2058
Fax: (212) 370-0896
aclufinance@russellreynolds.com

Please indicate where you learned of this job posting. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled, which will not be before December 8, 2008.

The ACLU is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, people of color, persons with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals.