Operations and Finance Manager

About finEQUITY.org
finEQUITY is an early-stage nonprofit focused on improving financial outcomes for justice-impacted individuals and their families. We work to expand economic opportunity and advance the financial futures of families impacted by mass incarceration.
For more about our work, visit finEQUITY.org.

Overview
Start Date: January 2025
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Compensation: $80,000–$95,000
Work Style: In‑person onboarding required; hybrid over time
Type: Full-time
Reports to: Executive Director

Role Summary
We are hiring an Operations & Finance Manager to own execution across finance, operations, and cyclical hiring logistics — and to help move the organization forward in moments where progress is stalled.
This is a hands‑on role for someone who thrives in early‑stage environments, clears backlogs, meets deadlines, and exercises judgment about when to act independently versus escalate. This is not a strategy or advisory role.
Leveling note: We’re hiring for a Manager-level scope. If you’re excited about finEQUITY but your experience is earlier-stage, we still encourage you to apply — we may invite you forward for an Associate-level scope and salary band instead. We’re aiming to avoid “stretch applications” where scope and salary expectations don’t match.

Core Responsibilities
Financial Operations and Execution
Own day‑to‑day financial operations: bill pay, expense tracking, payroll coordination, grant allocations, and reconciliations
Manage relationships with accountants, payroll providers, and other vendors
Execute funder reporting, compliance, audits, and 990 preparation in coordination with external partners
Own internal QuickBooks hygiene and monthly close bookkeeping (typically ~5–10 hours total per month when systems are running well, including follow‑ups, waiting on documentation, and coordination with accounting support)
Maintain clean, current financial records that are explainable at any point in time
Important context: The challenge in this role is not the volume of bookkeeping work, but prioritization when finance tasks collide with grants, funder or vendor requests, partner issues, program operations support, and other urgent operational work. Judgment about what must be protected versus what can temporarily be imperfect is critical.
Hiring Operations (Cyclical – 2x/year)
Own hiring logistics for fellow cohorts and short‑term roles (twice per year)
Manage application intake, screening logistics, scheduling, and candidate tracking
Ensure hiring timelines are met and candidates are not stalled or dropped
Coordinate onboarding paperwork and start‑date readiness
Operational Execution Under Pressure
Clear operational backlogs that block participants, partners, or funders
Step in to unblock urgent work when priorities shift or timelines compress
Build lightweight systems or documentation only when they reduce errors or increase speed

How This Role Relates to finEQUITY’s Strategic HIT List
finEQUITY maintains a dynamic, org‑wide Strategic HIT List reflecting our most urgent priorities at any given time. This list is shared across the organization and may change throughout the year.
This role does not own the entire HIT List. However, strong performance includes:
Maintaining situational awareness of high‑priority items
Taking initiative when progress is blocked and action is possible
Exercising judgment about when to act independently versus escalate
Advancing low‑effort, high‑impact actions that materially move work forward

Please Read Before Applying: This Role Is Not for Everyone
Early-stage organizations can be rewarding — and they can also be fluid, interrupt-driven, and demanding. This role requires comfort with shifting priorities while still maintaining strong follow-through and attention to detail.
You may struggle in this role if:
You need stable, highly defined scopes of work to feel effective
You prefer to wait for clear ownership, permission, or full context before taking action
You are most comfortable optimizing processes rather than moving work forward under time pressure
You find ambiguity stressful rather than solvable
You expect priorities to remain fixed quarter to quarter
If you enjoy problem-solving in dynamic environments, exercising judgment about when to act versus escalate, and helping organizations move forward even when conditions aren’t perfect, this role may be a strong fit.

Location & Work Style
This role is based in Philadelphia and requires in‑person work during onboarding and the first several months. As trust and working rhythms are established, the role may transition to a hybrid schedule.
We believe early‑stage operational work benefits from proximity, shared context, and high‑touch communication.