About the Role

The Manager of Finance & Operations plays a key role in ensuring that YCJF’s financial and operational systems run smoothly, efficiently, and in alignment with our values of equity, care, and accountability.

Working closely with the Director of Operations, this position will lead on day-to-day financial management, grant expenditures, and internal operational coordination. The role will support a globally distributed team by strengthening financial systems, improving compliance processes, and ensuring seamless coordination with our fiscal sponsor.

This role is ideal for someone who is highly organized, detail-oriented, and proactive, with strong financial management skills and an appreciation for the operational processes of a fast-growing, youth-led global fund.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Management (Primary Focus)

• Manage day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable, budget tracking, and reconciliation in coordination with our fiscal sponsor.
• Support the Director of Operations in developing and monitoring YCJF’s annual and multi-year budgets and expenditures, ensuring alignment with funder commitments and internal priorities.
• Prepare and maintain accurate financial reports, dashboards, and expenditure forecasts for the leadership team and funders.
• Coordinate financial data and analysis needed for fundraising proposals, renewals, and reports.
• Review and code expenses, ensuring all transactions align with budget lines and grant requirements.
• Support the preparation of financial and compliance documentation, including funder reports and audit materials.
• Maintain financial trackers across grants, programs, and operations to enhance visibility and accountability.
• Strengthen internal controls and documentation procedures in collaboration with our fiscal sponsor.
• Support financial planning for events, retreats, and convenings (including vendor payments, reimbursements, and cash flow monitoring).

2. Grants Administration

• Coordinate with the Grants team to process grant disbursements, ensuring accuracy and compliance with our fiscal sponsor's protocols.
• Track and maintain documentation for all grantee payments, fiscal sponsorship agreements, and supporting records.
• Identify and troubleshoot operational bottlenecks related to payments and documentation.
• Support the integration of financial data into grantmaking systems (Fluxx, Monday.com).

3. Operations and Systems Support

• Support the development and implementation of streamlined operational systems and processes for the YCJF team.
• Oversee vendor contracts, consultant payments, and record keeping to ensure compliance and timely processing.
• Maintain organized and accessible documentation of financial and operational records within shared systems (Google Drive, Monday.com).
• Assist in operational planning for key organizational events, including team retreats and convenings.
• Support procurement, travel logistics, and reimbursements for staff and consultants as needed.

4. Cross-Team Collaboration

• Work closely with the Operations, Grants, Community, MEL, and Development teams to ensure alignment between financial systems and programmatic priorities.
• Provide guidance to team members on expense coding, budget tracking, and compliance best practices.

Candidate Profile

Essential:

• At least 5 years of experience in finance and operations within the philanthropy or nonprofit sectors.
• Strong understanding of financial management, budgeting, and reporting for multi-funder projects or grants.
• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Excel/Sheets, and familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Monday.com).
• Demonstrated ability to maintain financial systems and ensure compliance in distributed teams.
• Commitment to climate justice, youth leadership, and values of equity and inclusion.
• Excellent project management, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.

Desirable:

• Experience working with fiscal sponsors, or in private-sector finance.
• Experience with participatory governance or youth-led organizations.
• Familiarity with digital tools like Monday.com, Google Suite, Slack, and Fluxx.
• Lived experience in and/or close connection to frontline communities.

Reporting and Team Structure

This role reports to the Director of Operations. Additionally, the role collaborates with the Grants, MEL, and Development teams. The Manager of Finance and Operations may supervise Operations staff and consultants, and will coordinate closely with our fiscal sponsor and other administrative partners.

• Manage day-to-day financial operations, including accounts payable, budget tracking, and reconciliation in coordination with our fiscal sponsor.
• Support the Director of Operations in developing and monitoring YCJF’s annual and multi-year budgets and expenditures, ensuring alignment with funder commitments and internal priorities.
• Prepare and maintain accurate financial reports, dashboards, and expenditure forecasts for the leadership team and funders.
• Coordinate financial data and analysis needed for fundraising proposals, renewals, and reports.
• Review and code expenses, ensuring all transactions align with budget lines and grant requirements.
• Support the preparation of financial and compliance documentation, including funder reports and audit materials.
• Maintain financial trackers across grants, programs, and operations to enhance visibility and accountability.
• Strengthen internal controls and documentation procedures in collaboration with our fiscal sponsor.
• Support financial planning for events, retreats, and convenings (including vendor payments, reimbursements, and cash flow monitoring).
• Coordinate with the Grants team to process grant disbursements, ensuring accuracy and compliance with our fiscal sponsor's protocols.
• Track and maintain documentation for all grantee payments, fiscal sponsorship agreements, and supporting records.
• Identify and troubleshoot operational bottlenecks related to payments and documentation.
• Support the integration of financial data into grantmaking systems (Fluxx, Monday.com).
• Support the development and implementation of streamlined operational systems and processes for the YCJF team.
• Oversee vendor contracts, consultant payments, and record keeping to ensure compliance and timely processing.
• Maintain organized and accessible documentation of financial and operational records within shared systems (Google Drive, Monday.com).
• Assist in operational planning for key organizational events, including team retreats and convenings.
• Support procurement, travel logistics, and reimbursements for staff and consultants as needed.
• Work closely with the Operations, Grants, Community, MEL, and Development teams to ensure alignment between financial systems and programmatic priorities.
• Provide guidance to team members on expense coding, budget tracking, and compliance best practices.

• Proficiency with Google Workspace, Excel/Sheets, and familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Monday.com).
• Demonstrated ability to maintain financial systems and ensure compliance in distributed teams.
• Excellent project management, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Familiarity with digital tools like Monday.com, Google Suite, Slack, and Fluxx.

• At least 5 years of experience in finance and operations within the philanthropy or nonprofit sectors.
• Strong understanding of financial management, budgeting, and reporting for multi-funder projects or grants.
• Commitment to climate justice, youth leadership, and values of equity and inclusion.
• Experience working with fiscal sponsors, or in private-sector finance.
• Experience with participatory governance or youth-led organizations.
• Lived experience in and/or close connection to frontline communities.