Careers at Farm Aid

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Overview and Organizational Summary
Farm Aid is a non-profit whose mission is to cultivate a vibrant and just family farm-centered system of agriculture in the United States. Farm Aid catalyzes and offers creative ways to champion farmers, inspire civic engagement and leverage our cultural placement to influence positive change in our agricultural and cultural landscape. Farm Aid artists and board members Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Margo Price host an annual food and farm festival to raise funds to support Farm Aid’s year-round work. Since 1985, through the generosity of the artists who contribute their performances each year, Farm Aid has raised more than $78 million to support our programs that help farmers thrive, grow the Good Food Movement, take action to change the dominant system of industrial agriculture and promote food from family farms..

Farm Aid leverages its diverse expertise, assets and activities that span non-profit, music and food enterprises. The organization currently raises most of its revenue through the annual music festival, while creating revenue streams via food, sponsorship, merchandise and cause marketing initiatives.
Farm Aid’s vision—of a transformed America in which family farmers and eaters are partners in a thriving farm and food system that benefits all—is not possible without actively being part of the struggle for racial equity and justice. We are on an active journey of taking stronger action to end racism in our society and in our farm and food system.

Deeply rooted and at a time of exciting growth and transition, Farm Aid seeks a Finance Director to serve as a steward of the organization’s financial well-being, delivering strategic and tactical leadership and implementation. This is a tremendous opportunity for a hands-on financial manager to strengthen and bolster the internal capacity of our financial operations, helping to determine an appropriate team structure as we shift from primary reliance on outsourced staffing. The successful candidate will have a commitment to working in a mission-driven organization.

Job Summary & Purpose
The Finance Director contributes to Farm Aid’s mission by ensuring organizational fiscal health, strategy and effectiveness. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Finance Director develops, directs and supports internal organizational needs (accounting activities, financial reporting, budget management, forecasting and financial risk management), as well as external financial and compliance needs (audit, IRS, state filings, etc.). Additionally, the Finance Director devises and recommends long-term strategy for organizational stability, revenue growth and investment. Reporting to the executive director, this role is a member of the leadership team, which has collective responsibility and accountability for stewarding Farm Aid’s vision and mission and ensuring that the appropriate resources, structures and systems are available to empower staff to bring their individual skills and knowledge forward to achieve the greatest organizational impact.

Key areas of responsibility:

• Provides guidance and expertise on nonprofit financial management and accounting practices to ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and financial reporting standards.
• Leads and supervises the finance team to ensure effective day to day implementation of financial operations (A/P, A/R, monthly reconciliations of all accounts, etc.).
• Collaborates across the organization to support/enhance the finance-related needs and functions of all teams.
• Develops and oversees annual budgeting and forecasting process and business activity reports, ensuring participatory engagement with staff/teams.
• Manages the annual audit, coordinating with internal staff and external controller and auditors to ensure timely and accurate completion of financials, filing of tax returns and compliance with state and federal regulations.
• Ensures compliance and timely filing of annual requirements for state charitable solicitation registrations.
• Proactively evolves the finance systems, internal controls, policies and procedures, identifying and implementing process improvements and increased efficiencies.
• Develops and recommends strategies for the organization’s short- and long-term investments, balanced cash flow and sustainable revenue growth from existing and new business endeavors.
• Ensures on-site festival accounting functions and support.
• Ensures compliance and risk management, including appropriate coverage for organizational insurance policies.
• Member of Revenue team—a cross-functional team that comprises earned revenue, development, cause marketing, finance and operations, programming, communications and marketing—in development, implementation and monitoring of the annual revenue budget and related activities.
• Participate in staff meetings, planning retreats and other related activities in support of organizational goals.
• Lead other cross-functional or ad-hoc teams as needed.
• Other duties as interest and time allows.

Qualifications

• CPA or equivalent background/experience; at least six years of specifically related experience required.
• Expertise in nonprofit QuickBooks, Excel and Microsoft Office Suite software.
• Proven experience in nonprofit accounting, audit processes.
• Knowledge of U.S. GAAP and other relevant accounting principles and regulations.
• Knowledge of federal grant management and compliance.
• Knowledge of treasury management.
• Excellent management and supervisory skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, high attention to detail.
• Strong analytical and technical skills, with experience and success in process improvement.
• Proficient in accounting and tax preparation software.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity and discretion with ability to maintain confidentiality concerning financial and employee files.

Salary & Benefits
Salary is commensurate with experience and organizational compensation framework, within a range of $100-108K.

Benefits include 100% health insurance premium coverage (for up to full family coverage, ranging in value of up to $30K+ annually depending on family size); 20 days (4 weeks) of paid vacation; 15 days paid sick and excused time; 2 civic engagement days; 11 holidays & general office closure from December 24 through January 1; option to participate in company IRA, FSA and Employee Assistance plans; longevity bonus program rewarding each year of service and a paid, twelve-week sabbatical after seven years of service; as well as an exciting work environment with smart, passionate people seeking to make change in our food and farm system.

How To Apply:

If you possess many of Farm Aid’s required and desired characteristics and qualifications and are excited about this opportunity, we’d love to hear from you!

Early applications are strongly encouraged, as applications will be considered as they are received.

Submit your complete application to hiring@farmaid.org with “Finance Director” in the subject line. In the email, please include your personal pronouns for how you like to be addressed and attach the enclosures listed below. Note that incomplete applications may not be reviewed. Enclosures include:

• a cover letter indicating where you learned of this opportunity and highlighting your experience, skills and interests relevant to the position and listed qualifications, and
• a current resume

Farm Aid recognizes that people gain skills through a variety of professional, personal, educational, and volunteer experiences. If you feel passionate about our mission and believe that you have the skills and valuable perspective to contribute to the growth of our organization, we encourage you to apply, even if you don’t believe you meet every one of our described qualifications or have a less traditional background. We believe a diversity of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for everyone and encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the farm and food movement.