Chief Financial Officer

Company Description

The Ember Alliance (TEA) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of wildland fire practitioners, planners, researchers, analysts, and instructors. The mission of TEA is to restore the relationship between communities and fire on the landscape. TEA is a just and transparent workplace that strives to uphold company values of integrity, innovation, and respect. We are dedicated to a workplace that recognizes the inherent value of our employees, supports work/life balance, and encourages growth. Learn more about TEA at https://emberalliance.org/. 

Job Description

Position Description Overview:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as a key member of The Ember Alliance's executive leadership team and is responsible for the strategic and operational leadership of the organization's 501(c)(3) nonprofit financial and HR functions. The CFO provides accurate oversight of financial strategy, forecasting, cash flow, and compliance. Additionally, this position oversees the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of human resources systems and practices. This position works collaboratively with the CEO, leadership team, Board of Directors, Program Managers, and external partners to ensure sound financial stewardship, alignment of financial resources with organizational priorities, and a positive, compliant, and high-performing work culture. 

Estimated job duties: 85-90% CFO/ 10-15% HR  

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Planning and Forecasting

CFO-related Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement the organization's financial strategy in alignment with strategic goals. Work with leadership to develop 5-year strategic plan, as needed.
• Develop and monitor financial dashboards, metrics, and reporting tools to support executive and Board oversight.
• Provide financial leadership and guidance to the executive team and Board (e.g. cash flow, liquidity, investments, and reserves). Ensure accurate and timely preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Lead annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and long-range financial planning processes.
• Help evaluate the financial viability of new programs or expansions, including hiring, benefits increase, raises, etc. Oversee ongoing financial review of funded projects, contracts, and programs. 
• Collaborate with external financial consultants (e.g. NICRA).
• Oversight of month-end close.

HR-Related Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Align HR strategy, in conjunction with the Executive Team and Board of Directors, with organizational priorities and workforce planning needs.
• Monitor HR outcomes and improve organizational effectiveness using data.
• Provide regular reporting and updates to leadership on HR performance, priorities, compliance needs, and recruitment activity.

Compliance and Risk Management

CFO-related Duties/ Responsibilities: 

• Oversees state registration and state payroll compliance, and other filings as required (e.g. SAM, CO Secretary of State, Registered Agent, etc.)
• Establish and maintain effective internal controls and fiscal policies, including development of a Financial Handbook for the organization.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, grant, and contractual financial requirements.
• Oversight of SEFA; direct annual audits and coordinate with external auditors and regulatory agencies.

HR-related Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with state and national employment laws and regulations and prepare compliance reports as needed (e.g., EEO-1).
• Develop, review, and update company policies in coordination with the Director Working Group and Executive Team.

Accounting/HR Department Management

CFO-related Duties/ Responsibilities: 

• Supervises bookkeeping/ accounting personnel (may be in-house or consultant).
• Oversee accounting operations, general ledger management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and financial controls.
• Oversee grant financial management, indirect cost allocation (in conjunction with NICRA advisor), and fund accounting activities.

HR-related Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Lead development and continuous improvement of HR systems, policies, procedures, templates, and workflows.
• Partner with hiring managers to define staffing needs and job descriptions.
• Manage full-cycle recruitment including sourcing, screening, interviewing, and offers in collaboration with Program Managers, Directors, and Executives.
• Coordinate benefits administration, including health, retirement, and wellness programs, with brokers and third-party administrators when applicable.
• Oversee benefits administration processes and ensure accurate payroll compensation.
• Develop and lead departmental pathways for onboarding, offboarding, and training employees with input from managers and leadership.

Team Leadership/Development and Employee Relations

CFO-related Duties/ Responsibilities: 

• Train TEA staff on Program budgeting, forecasting, fiscal  compliance (e.g. 2 CFR).

HR-related Duties/ Responsibilities:

• Serve as primary contact for employee relations matters; investigate and resolve employee concerns.
• Guide leadership through performance management, conflict resolution, disciplinary processes.
• Provide mentorship to employees on human resources and interpersonal workplace issues.
• Track employee satisfaction.

Pay and Benefits:

Pay: $48.5hr / 40-hour work week, annualized as $100,880. Potential for limited overtime based on organizational needs.

Benefits: Paid leave and paid holiday benefits are provided. Employer-sponsored health and dental care coverage is available upon employment. Employer-matched retirement plan is available 3 months after hire.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

CFO-specific Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of responsible financial leadership experience, including a minimum of 3 years in a senior finance leadership role such as CFO, Finance Director, Controller, or equivalent.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation.
• Experience leading accounting, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, cash management, and audit functions.
• Knowledge of nonprofit accounting standards, fund accounting, indirect cost allocation, and Uniform Guidance.
• Experience with Federal Grants Agreements (e.g. PA, JVA), and 2CFR Compliance.
• Ability to develop, monitor, and manage complex budgets and long-range financial plans.
• Ability to present complex financial information in an understandable and actionable manner.
• Experience supervising finance or accounting staff and developing high-performing teams.

HR-specific Qualifications:

• Strong knowledge of employment laws, HR compliance requirements, and HR best practices.
• Experience developing, improving, and administering HR policies, procedures, systems, and employee records.
• Experience supporting recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, leave administration, and benefits coordination.
• Experience with HRIS platforms, applicant tracking systems, benefits administration systems, and employee records management.

General Qualifications:

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work both independently and collaboratively in a mission-driven environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Word, Teams, and SharePoint.
• Experience supporting remote or hybrid employees and multi-state employment compliance.

Desired Qualifications:

• 5+ years in a senior finance leadership role such as CFO, Finance Director, Controller, or equivalent.
• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Accounting, or related field.
• Advanced knowledge of nonprofit financial management, GAAP accounting principles, and financial reporting.
• Experience with grant-funded organizations and federal funding compliance.
• Experience with financial dashboards, performance metrics, Power BI, budgeting tools, or financial reporting systems.
• HR certification such as SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, PHR, or SPHR.
• Experience with Rippling HRIS, Asana, Slack, Microsoft 365.
• Experience preparing HR metrics, employee engagement summaries, compliance reports, or leadership updates.
• Experience designing onboarding, training, professional development, or manager guidance resources.
• Familiarity with wildfire, conservation, natural resource, or mission-driven nonprofit sectors.

 Candidates that meet 75% or more of the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.

Additional Information

Schedule Requirements:

The average work week is 40 hours. The Ember Alliance is based in Fort Collins, CO but we have employees across the United States in different time zones; the daily schedule allows for flexibility, but needs to meet core working hours as agreed upon with the leadership team. 

Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to support time-sensitive organizational needs. Limited travel may be required for leadership meetings (e.g. strategic planning sessions). 

Work Location:

Remote, US-based. Limited travel may be required. 

Other Requirements:

Must be 18 years of age or older, have a current and valid US driver's license, and be legally eligible to work in the US. Employees are required to live in the US. Employees are required to complete a background check and motor vehicle record check prior to employment. Employees are required to hold a company credit card and may be subjected to a credit check. Failure to pass any of these checks does not automatically disqualify you from employment. 

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should review The Ember Alliance website and submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references through the SmartRecruiters website. This position will close on September 2, 2026 at 11:59 PST. Please specify your earliest available start date.  

Application Notice: To be considered for this position, applicants must submit all requested application materials. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed or considered.

Candidates that meet 75% or more of the required qualifications are encouraged to apply.