Director of Finance & Administration at Brown RISD Hillel

Director of Finance & Administration

Brown RISD Hillel

Location: On Site, Brown RISD Hillel | Providence, RI

Employment Status: Exempt salaried staff member

Reporting: Sam Weiss, Executive Director

Salary Range: $100,000 - $110,000

Role Overview

Brown RISD Hillel is a hub for Jewish life on College Hill. Every year, over a thousand Jewish students – and hundreds of their non-Jewish peers – pass through our doors to experience Jewish practice, culture and community. Through holiday and Shabbat celebrations, cultural events, classes, art openings, and social gatherings, BRH is helping the next generation of American Jews to become more confident, committed, and connected.

The Director of Finance & Administration (Director) reports to BRH’s Executive Director. As a team, you will engage effectively with internal and external constituent groups to help Brown RISD Hillel achieve financial and administrative excellence. The Director will move easily between strategic decision-making, governance requirements, and the everyday tactical coordination and planning that brings operational priorities to fruition. The Director serves as a collaborative leader, helping to shape BRH’s organizational culture through the design and implementation of efficient systems and processes.

The Director's role will ensure effective and consistent financial integrity and compliance of this 501(c)(3) institution. Working closely with the Executive Director and other stakeholders, the Director will oversee the planning, coordination, and tracking of institutional annual goals against budget. The Director will serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the Executive Director and staff on organizational priorities, strategic goal setting, project planning, and the alignment of organizational priorities with available financial resources

Key to the success of the Director’s role is increasing the Executive Director’s capacity to focus on the transformation and future of the institution. In year one, the Director will actively engage with colleagues and outsourced providers to modernize financial budgeting systems, tracking, and reporting. Over time, a successful Director will help reshape Brown RISD Hillel, from its finances and administration to its facilities and operations, to move the organization forward.

Anticipated responsibilities are outlined below.

What You'll Do

Annual Planning & Financial Management

Accounting, Banking, Payroll, Benefits, and Insurance: Oversee and, where appropriate, execute the organization’s accounting, banking, payroll, benefits, and insurance functions. Establish and maintain systems, controls, reporting schedules, and annual calendars that support the organization’s financial health and compliance.

Lead and execute the annual budget process, provide regular monthly and quarterly reporting, and ensure organizational alignment with budget priorities, expectations, deadlines and deliverables.

Oversee efficient and timely accounts payable and receivable , including employee and student reimbursements. Ensure reconciliations and month and year end close are efficiently and accurately completed:

Oversee and lead all state and federal reporting including 1099 preparation, and lead the annual audit and financial filing process with an external audit provider.

Engage with a broker and others to manage insurance obligations for this 501(c)(3) organization.

Oversee development fund management and reporting, including restricted fund management, grant and endowment reporting and fund monitoring, and capital campaign budget management

Increase organizational efficiency by redesigning the financial planning, budgeting, tracking, and reporting systems to provide clear, effective tools that meet the needs of the organization.

Board of Directors Operations

Working closely with the Executive Director and Board committees, plan and coordinate finance, audit, and risk-related reporting and meetings to support timely and effective Board oversight. Serve as the primary staff liaison to finance, audit, and risk-related committees, ensuring clear communication, preparation, and follow-through.

Regularly review and update organizational policies related to risk management and business continuity, balancing best practices with the organization’s values, programming, and operational needs.

Establish a regular policy review cycle to ensure policies remain current, reflect best practices and new technologies, and support the effective operation of the organization.

Support committee development, structures, and governance principles and processes to ensure the organization's Bylaws support and drive compliance and governance decision-making in relation to financial risk.

Student Facing Financial Management

In close coordination with the Managing Director and others, actively manage student-led initiatives related to financial controls, guidance on policy, procurement, and expenditures and timely payments of events for student-led projects.

Policy Design and Management

Regularly review and update organizational policies related to risk management and business continuity, balancing best practices with the organization’s values, programming, and operational needs.

Establish a regular policy review cycle to ensure policies remain current, reflect best practices and new technologies, and support the effective operation of the organization.

Human Resources

Work closely with payroll providers and benefits brokers to manage an annual benefits cycle of enrollments and benefits assessments, actively engaging and communicating with staff through a benefits review cycle.

Work with the Executive Director and Operations Manager to design and implement an annual cycle of health and safety protocols specific to this institution. Actively track and monitor staff engagement in mandatory trainings.

Work in close partnership as needed on staff disciplinary activities, including investigations, performance management support, hiring and termination, holding personnel records and record keeping for related human resources materials.

Facilities

Oversee the planning of budgets and coordination support needs for buildings owned or rented by Brown RISD Hillel.

Oversee onsite programmatic activities and events in close liaison with BRH’s Operations Manager, ensuring smooth running of event scheduling, planning, and logistics.

Oversee management and coordination of facilities technologies serve onsite programming through facilities.

Identify and manage cost-savings opportunities for services provided by Brown University, RISD, and others.

Minimum Qualifications

5+ years of experience as a Finance Leader with an administration and operations portfolio, Finance & Administration Manager, or similar role in a nonprofit or community engagement organization.

High comfort in Microsoft Office tools, Google Workspace, QBO, Bill.com, and other financial management platforms.

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

8+ years of progressive experience in nonprofit or mission-driven leadership roles.

Commitment to the organization's mission and respectful of Jewish values.

Demonstrated success in strategic planning and execution, operational systems and tracking, and Board governance. Systems thinker, with strong success operationalizing strategies into trackable, measurable action plans.

Strong financial, project management, and institutional administration skills.

Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.

Highly effective manager of people, projects, and budgets.

Adaptable, sound judgment, diplomatic, and respectful of holding sensitive information.

Ability to successfully balance high emotional intelligence with result-driven project management and serving as an empathetic culture carrier who models collaborative leadership and teamwork.