The Foraker Group

Job Summary

Job Description

Financial Shared Services

Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Consultant

(Independent Contractor)

The Position: Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Consultant (Independent Contractor)

The Foraker Group is expanding its team of Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Consultants. Consultants are critical members of Foraker Financial Shared Services (FSS) Team, helping nonprofits achieve their financial goals and maintain transparency and accountability in their financial activities. The Consultant is a professional specializing in accounting and financial management providing expert guidance and support to nonprofit organizations seeking to optimize their financial operations, enhance financial sustainability, and ensure compliance with accounting standards and regulations.  This consultant works on a project basis, offering tailored solutions and strategic support to an array of nonprofits and tribes across Alaska.  This position requires excellent communication skills and exceptional follow-through in managing high-volume, high-quality work.  The consultant is responsible for ensuring that the accounting and financial reporting needs of Partner nonprofits are met in a timely and accurate manner and in accordance with Foraker’s purpose, values, and goals.

Foraker’s Financial Shared Services

Foraker provides consolidated back-of-house services for nonprofits to maximize resources, ensure accountability, and clear the way to focus on mission results. Foraker’s financial shared service allows organizations to execute their financial and accounting functions with the support of professionals who understand the specific needs of nonprofits.  In this shared environment, Partners are able to stay in their decision-making role while Foraker supports access to technical expertise and accurate financial information at an affordable cost.

Responsibilities:

The Vice President of Leadership Development manages the contract with the Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Consultant. The Consultant collaborates directly with the Chief Financial Officer and Finance Director for engagement with Foraker Clients (Partners). The Consultant is invited to bring a strategic voice as the team works to collaboratively support each Partner.  Work typically performed by the Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Consultant includes, but is not limited to:

• Providing assigned organizations' accounting and reporting functions.  This will include monthly or quarterly financial statements and written narratives for management personnel and members of the Partner Board.
• Assisting in maintaining and developing the chart of accounts for assigned Partners, as needed.
• Assisting with annual budget compilation of assigned Partner organizations.
• Preparing journal entries, or review journal entries prepared by others.
• Preparing bank reconciliations, or review bank reconciliations prepared by others.
• Regularly monitoring balance sheet activity and prepares reconciliations as necessary to gain a thorough understanding of balance sheet balances for assigned organizations.
• Preparing financial statements.
• Meeting with Partners regularly, and provide financial analysis.
• Presenting financial statements at board and finance committee meetings.
• Preparing and files annual gaming reports for assigned organizations as applicable.
• Preparing schedules and work papers for annual financial audits of assigned organizations and works with auditors to answer questions and provide additional information for assigned organizations.
• Reviewing draft audited financials and draft 990 reports for assigned organizations.
• Reconciling grant reports to QuickBooks as needed for assigned organizations.
• Reviewing and approving accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll data entry prepared by staff.
• Providing input on best practices, GAAP compliance, payroll compliance, etc.  Share knowledge with Partners and other team members as a technical resource for complex accounting questions.
• Attending regular training and consultant enrichment activities.
• Collaborating with other team members (Foraker staff and consultants). Assisting with brainstorming, answering questions, and working together to problem-solve.
• Sharing knowledge, and collaborate across the organization and programs to serve our partners cohesively.

NOTE:  Any description of work is a picture of the major responsibilities that may be performed at a given point in time. Assignments and priorities may change.

Ideal Skills & Abilities of individuals performing work on behalf of Foraker include:

• Agreement and endorsement of Foraker Consultant and Staff Guiding Principles (handout to be provided)
• Ability to reflect Foraker values in interactions and communications with others
• Superior ability to work within a team and see the value of a team while also working in a self-directed approach on specific projects
  • Ability to organize and prioritize work
  • Ability to be self-motivated and detail-oriented
  • Strong commitment to both process and results
  • Ability to effectively communicate within the engaged team and with the broader Foraker team; be a bridge in the conversation
  • Ability to work in a dynamic environment and to deal effectively under pressure
  • Ability to exercise flexibility, initiative, good judgment, and discretion
• Strong commitment to a relationship-based approach to work
  • Ability to project a welcoming and helpful approach to all requests for assistance or information
  • Ability to work with culturally diverse people and organizations in rural and urban Alaska
  • Ability to treat others with respect and consideration regardless of status or position
• Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner
• Ability to maintain confidentiality
• Ability to review and evaluate data to inform decision-making and team
• Ability to act in humility and ask for support
• Ability to be collaborative and flexible in approach to work
• Desire to provide excellent customer service
• Open to learning and growing personal knowledge of/ support of the nonprofit sector
• Commitment to excellence in culturally appropriate communication

Qualifications specific to the Nonprofit Accounting and Financial Consultant:

• An undergraduate degree in business administration, accounting, or finance preferred, MBA, CPA/CMA candidate desired. 
• Previous controller- level experience required. 
• Expert knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and nonprofit accounting procedures.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, with a particular emphasis on the presentation of financial material to audiences with varying degrees of financial knowledge/experience.
• Strong sense of organization. Ability to develop comprehensive work plans for short, mid-range, and long-term projects such as financial analysis for operating departments, accounting, and internal control considerations; ability to manage such projects and perform many related project tasks.
• Experience with financial statement preparation, including all statements, footnotes, and management discussion and analysis.  It may involve some consolidations for multiple entities.
• Demonstrated experience preparing and analyzing operating, capital, and cash flow proformas and budgets.
• Financial and audit skills commensurate with a corporation the size and functional orientation of Foraker and its affiliates.

Additional expectations:  As an independent contractor it is expected that candidates will have a current business license, relevant insurance, and necessary tools, resources, and training to perform the duties outlined.

Compensation: The Consultant is an independent contractor and remunerated on an hourly basis based on hours authorized for each specific engagement. Compensation ranges from $50-$85/hr based on type of work being done.  The Consultant, Finance Director, and CFO will agree on desired results, activities to achieve the results, and set a budgeted number of hours to achieve the results, if applicable.

Competition: This consultant is required to sign a non-compete for any consulting work in the nonprofit sector (including tribes) in Alaska. Consultant will be asked to acknowledge any pre-existing relationships in Foraker’s service area. 

TO APPLY

Interested parties should send an email detailing specific attributes and skills that demonstrate your qualifications to Raju Shankar at financesearch@forakergroup.org; a cover letter and resume is acceptable. Communications will be treated confidentially and will be accepted until October 31, 2025. Review of credentials will begin immediately.

The Foraker Group is especially interested in consultants whose background and experience have prepared them to grow our commitment to engagement and inclusion with culturally diverse groups.

The Foraker Group:  Purpose and Values:  The Foraker Group is a 501(c)(3) organization with the core purpose of strengthening nonprofits. Our deep commitment to advancing dedicated, skilled, and compassionate professionals and volunteers to serve Alaska’s nonprofit and tribal organizations is guided by the Foraker Nonprofit Sustainability Model. Foraker offers Alaska nonprofits and tribes the knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to thrive.

Our values and theory of change articulate the way we work with organizations, leaders, and the sector to achieve our goals. They ensure that we provide excellence in our programs and services while we strive to achieve new goals.  These values are Sustainability – Strategic – Collaborative – Urban/Rural/Native/Non-Native. The last value reflects our commitment to serving all Alaska’s people and communities.

We are committed to providing mission-centered, creative, high-quality, and cost-effective services to all regions of Alaska. We engage a highly professional cadre of professionals with years of experience to work with the sector through our core program areas – shared services, consulting, educational opportunities, public policy, and fiscal sponsorship.

Our long-term goal is to lead innovative systems change to strengthen Alaska nonprofits' ability to improve our communities significantly. To achieve this goal, the Foraker Group will act as a leader, catalyst, convener, innovator, and connector for the Alaska nonprofit sector.

Foraker offers staff and consultants the opportunity to engage in meaningful work to improve our communities. Foraker team members work collaboratively and creatively in a supportive environment.