Chief Financial and Administration Officer, Reach Out and Read National

About the position

As the Chief Financial and Administration Officer (CFAO), you will have the extraordinary opportunity to transform Reach Out and Read's financial and operational foundation into a strategic engine that drives mission impact and organizational growth. In this leadership role, you'll serve as the CEO's key strategic partner, architecting fiscal frameworks that align resources with programmatic priorities while designing strategies that ensure long-term sustainability. Beyond traditional financial management, you'll lead all operational functions including talent management, IT infrastructure, and administrative systems—creating an integrated ecosystem where each element supports organizational excellence. You'll shape the vision for an exceptional employee experience, implement forward-thinking technology strategies, and ensure regulatory compliance across multiple jurisdictions. As a vital member of the nine-person Senior Leadership Team, you'll help steer the organization toward its mission while actively contributing to Reach Out and Read's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. This role represents a unique chance to connect financial stewardship directly to strategic outcomes, transforming support functions into drivers of organizational vision and creating measurable impact through thoughtful resource allocation and cross-functional leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic level leadership and oversight of the financial management functions, including delivering high-quality financial analysis for the CEO and Board Leadership
• Serve as key strategist with the CEO in connecting financial resources to the overall strategic plan and managing funds to meet organizational needs
• Work with board leadership to manage investments and reserves to grow the overall financial foundation of the organization
• Provide strategic direction to the staff leading the partnership with the external accounting vendor
• Ensure accurate financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting to support data-driven decision making
• Serve as liaison to the Finance Committee of the Governing Board to partner with them as they help manage the overall organization and approve the annual budget
• Uphold organizational compliance by ensuring the timely and accurate submission of required reports and filings, while adhering to relevant accounting standards and legal regulations
• Oversee Human Resources (HR) and collaborate with CEO on key HR priorities by providing leadership to the outsourced HR department
• Shape the vision, priorities, and plan for building on the existing talent/HR function to create an exceptional employee experience during organizational growth
• Supervise the process and strategy of hiring and retaining staff across the network, ensuring our team is mission-driven, diverse, and demonstrates the skills needed to excel
• Partner with the senior team to foster a culture of learning and professional development
• Promote diversity and inclusion efforts across the network in hiring and retaining diverse staff
• Manage contracted resources to ensure employment practices are compliant with local, state, and federal law
• Lead and oversee Information Technology services, currently outsourced to a contracted partner
• Set and oversee implementation of IT strategy that ensures best-in-class infrastructure, help desk support, and future planning
• Ensure compliance with various local, state, and federal regulations (e.g., legal questions, trademark/intellectual property, contracts, audit components)
• Manage office-related administrative items, including facilities management for the national office in Boston, MA
• Oversee management of fringe benefits, 401(k) plans, and organizational insurance to ensure comprehensive employee support and compliance
• Serve as a member of the 9-person Senior Leadership Team and help lead the entire organization for effective progress towards meeting its mission
• Identify opportunities to integrate across functional teams; leverage strengths to take advantage of new opportunities and/or address organizational challenges
• Serve as an active participant in our ongoing aspiration to be an antiracist organization
• Maintain a working knowledge of significant developments and trends in nonprofit leadership, finance, and operations

Requirements

• Commitment to increasing equity in opportunity and outcomes for children and to recognizing factors known to significantly impact differential outcomes for children
• 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, preferably in nonprofit organizations
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field; MBA or CPA strongly preferred
• Proven experience in strategic financial planning, budgeting, and resource allocation
• Experience managing outsourced vendor relationships in finance, HR, and IT
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, with the ability to manage relationships with a diverse set of colleagues and stakeholders
• Belief in the power of diversity and excitement for working in a diverse culture and on diverse teams
• Successful track record in setting priorities, managing relationships and ability to work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
• Strong analytical skills and use of data to drive decision-making and to build consensus
• Experience in nonprofit accounting, compliance, and reporting requirements
• Ability to translate complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and adapt flexibly within a growing organization

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with match
• Paid time off