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Overview

The Housing Assistance Council (HAC), a national nonprofit organization helping build homes and communities across rural America, is seeking a dynamic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) with the vision and skill to continue the organization’s successful trajectory. The CFO will oversee and safeguard HAC’s financial position, ensuring best practices in current financial operations and always looking two steps ahead at the financial and organizational implications of decision-making.

THE POSITION

The CFO oversees the accounting, finance, capital markets, and administrative functions and contributes to HAC’s overall leadership and strategy. The CFO balances financial savviness, strategic ability, and interpersonal skills to manage teams and serve as a strategic advisor and resource to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team. The successful candidate will embody the unique combination of HAC’s mission-driven and business-minded approach to serving rural communities and alleviating poverty through affordable housing.

A member of HAC’s Senior Leadership Team, the CFO reports to David Lipsetz, President & CEO; works closely with HAC’s Board of Directors, Treasurer, and Finance Committee; and engages effectively with teammates on strategic planning, crosscutting initiatives, and the regular activities required to operate a high-functioning organization.

The CFO manages the Finance and Administration Department (FAD) that supports HAC’s budgeting, finance, and administrative needs. The FAD team includes a Controller, accounting staff, budget analyst, and managers of the organization’s human resources, computer systems, and new business development. FAD supports the entire organization on a state-of-the-art accounting and enterprise resource planning system that integrates NetSuite for accounting and budgeting, Concur for expense management, ADP for human resources, and Nortridge for lending.

Core responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO and Senior Leadership Team on the financial performance, planning, and opportunities of the organization
• Think holistically about each component of the organization and how decisions made across the board could affect HAC’s financial health
• Utilize creativity and resourcefulness to turn abstract solutions into reality

Accounting & Reporting

• Manage day-to-day finance and accounting operations, ensuring effective policies, procedures, internal controls, and systems are maintained
• Report to leadership on HAC’s financial health, including budget, investments, lending, and program operating activities
• Ensure timely, accurate, and understandable financial reporting for funders, management team, and Board of Directors
• Lead audits and ensure proper preparation and filing of all tax returns
• Develop and utilize forward-looking, predictive models and activity-based financial analyses to provide insight into the organization’s operations and business plans
• Produce an annual budget that aligns with strategic objectives and is used effectively for resource allocation and decision-making

Capital Planning

• Support the development of annual and multi-year capital plans to expand the scale of affordable housing lending activities
• Apply capital markets methods to help facilitate new financing facilities and relationships with banks, foundations, and other financial institutions interested in impact investment partnerships
• Serve as a thought partner on fundraising activities, negotiate terms to meet HAC’s priorities, and limit compliance burden

Capital Management & Compliance

• Ensure timely loan and other capital product closings, disbursements, and related fund transfers
• Support compliance with programmatic and funder requirements
• Collaborate with the Loan Department to oversee financial asset management of outstanding loan and grant portfolios
• Manage and report on lending, administrative, and organizational compliance to funders and investors, including commercial banks, private foundations, federal agency programs
• Maintain HAC’s good standing as a CDFI

Internal Leadership

• Manage and mentor the accounting, finance, and operations teams
• Lead administrative oversight functions (human resources, IT, office management)
• Serve as executive champion of application software development and organization-wide financial accounting and loan management systems
• Participate in developing and executing HAC’s strategic plans and policy development

External Leadership

• Represent the organization to financial partners (investors, foundation executives, auditors, public officials) and to the CDFI industry, rural community stakeholders, and affordable housing professionals
• Translate financial reports and teach financial literacy to non-financial constituents

QUALIFICATIONS

Candidates will bring a background in accounting or finance, experience managing staff, and service as a senior leader at a multidimensional organization such as another CDFI, community lending institution, or housing-related non-profit. HAC seeks applicants who are seasoned professionals, mid-career high-performers ready to join a C-suite, or current CFOs wanting to be part of an excellent organization at an exciting moment in its history.

Successful candidates will bring:

• 15+ years of accounting and/or finance experience in the non-profit sector with a focus on affordable housing and CDFI lending
• Experience in a senior finance role, including developing and implementing effective financial management strategies
• Knowledge of/experience in accounting for non-profits and/or loan funds, including sophisticated fund and grant accounting, compliance, and reporting
• Familiarity with Federal funding principles (e.g., NICRA) and covenants in private capital
• Demonstrated experience partnering with a CEO to lead and execute strategic initiatives, business development, innovation, and organizational change
• Ability to think strategically, anticipate future trends and consequences, manage growth, and build the organization framework to address dynamic circumstances
• Demonstrated ability to build and manage strategic financial relationships with public and private capital providers
• Strong track record in relationship and trust building with staff, Board members, community leaders, and clients
• Experience implementing innovative finance and accounting software
• Connection to rural housing a plus
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (esp. an MBA) preferred. CPA a plus but not required

HAC’s tight-knit staff ("HACsters") are a diverse bunch and pride themselves on being welcoming. We enjoy our work and maintain a healthy balance with our lives. We care deeply about helping others. The successful candidate will bring the following personal attributes:

• A holistic approach, leveraging intellectual curiosity about the business and mission of HAC to add value to the overall organization well beyond the finance function
• Demonstrated effective managerial, coaching, and leadership skills with the ability to achieve results for the organization as a creative partner and valued colleague
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and negotiation skills
• A positive outlook, with humor, humility and compassion
• Effective planning and deadline orientation to business management and operations
• Supportive of HAC’s mission, as evidenced through professional, volunteer, or personal experience

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

HAC offers competitive wages, benefits, and growth opportunities. Salary range is $200,000 to $225,000 per year, depending on qualifications. Flexible benefits include health, life, and other insurances; retirement plan with partial employer match; time off; and work/life benefits. The CFO works in HAC’s downtown Washington, DC office with a portion of their work eligible for remote work.

To apply, upload a resume and cover letter to the application portal. For inquiries, contact karen.schuler@cbiz.com.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION

HAC is an equal opportunity provider and employer. HAC does not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

ABOUT HAC

Founded in 1971 and working in all 50 states, HAC envisions all families in rural America having a safe, decent, and affordable place to live. HAC provides loans for affordable housing development, training and technical assistance to community-based organizations, policy formulation, and in-depth research on rural community conditions.

During 55 years of leadership in the housing industry, HAC has: invested over $350 million into local organizations that build affordable housing; assisted in the development of homes for over 75,000 families in need; and delivered over 250,000 hours of training to generations of small town and rural community builders. As an independent and assiduously nonpartisan organization, HAC regularly provides federal agencies, congress, and local officials with the information needed to shape evidence-based policy and systems that have disproportionately impacted rural places with the most need. HAC continues to build on its legacy as the only national intermediary that focuses 100 percent of its attention and resources on rural communities.

HAC has an annual budget of $12.5 million, $80 million in total assets, and $45 million in net assets. Approximately two-thirds of the annual budget comes from grants and contracts. The remainder is earned revenue as a CDFI. Governed by a 16-person Board of Directors, HAC employs more than 50 staff across the nation.

To learn more, please visit the website at https://ruralhome.org/.

To apply, please submit your materials as directed above. This description reflects the core responsibilities and qualifications for the Chief Financial Officer role at HAC.