Finance Manager at Downtown Women's Center in Los Angeles, CA

Summary

The Finance Manager is responsible for overseeing the financial management and compliance activities of DWC's government and private grants and contracts portfolio. This position serves as the primary manager of the Finance & Grants team and ensures the accuracy of grant budgeting, funder billing, financial reporting, revenue recognition, and grant-related reconciliations.

The Finance Manager works closely with program leadership, Development, Accounting, and Executive Leadership to support strategic financial decision-making, maintain compliance with funder requirements, and maximize reimbursement opportunities. This position partners with the Accounting Manager during month-end close and financial reporting processes by analyzing grant spending trends, investigating budget-to-actual variances, preparing financial narratives, and assisting with monthly financial statement footnotes and management reporting.

The ideal candidate will possess strong nonprofit financial management experience, extensive knowledge of government grants and contracts, exceptional analytical skills, and the ability to lead a high-performing team while balancing day-to-day operational demands with organizational priorities.

Essential Functions

Grants and Contract Financial Management

• Oversee all financial management activities related to government and private grants and contracts, ensuring compliance with funder requirements, Uniform Guidance, and organizational policies.
• Review and approve proposal budgets, contract budgets, grant modifications, and budget realignments prior to submission to funders.
• Partner with Development, Program Leadership, and Executive Leadership in preparing grant application budgets and financial forecasts.
• Monitor grant expenditures against approved budgets and identify potential over-spending, under-spending, or compliance risks.
• Develop financial projections for grants and contracts and communicate budget concerns and recommendations to management.
• Ensure proper revenue recognition and grant accounting treatment in accordance with GAAP and funder requirements.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of government grant regulations, reimbursement methodologies, indirect cost allocations, and allowable cost principles.

Insurance and Certifications:

• Understand insurance requirements and obtain and distribute insurance certificates.
• Ensure all insurance requirements are met and maintained throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Serve as the finance lead for all funder monitoring reviews, site visits, compliance examinations, desk audits, and fiscal assessments conducted by government and private funders. Coordinate cross-functional preparation efforts, establish monitoring timelines, oversee the collection and validation of supporting documentation, and ensure organizational readiness for all fiscal compliance reviews.
• Develop and maintain monitoring readiness tools, compliance checklists, and standard operating procedures to support successful outcomes during funder reviews and audits.
• Lead organization-wide education and training efforts related to grant and contract requirements by partnering with Development, Program, and Operational leadership teams to ensure a clear understanding of funding terms and conditions, allowable and unallowable costs, match requirements, performance obligations, reporting deadlines, revenue restrictions, and compliance risks associated with government and private funding sources.

Billing and Revenue Management

• Oversee the preparation, review, and submission of all government and private funder invoices prepared by Finance & Grants staff.
• Review supporting documentation for billing submissions to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with contract requirements.
• Collaborate with program and accounting staff to resolve billing discrepancies, questioned costs, and reimbursement issues.
• Monitor accounts receivable aging related to grants and contracts and assist with collections as necessary.
• Ensure all billings are submitted timely and maximize revenue recovery opportunities.

Financial Analysis and Reporting

• Analyze monthly grant spending trends, budget-to-actual results, and key financial drivers across government and private grants.
• Partner with the Accounting Manager during month-end close processes to provide grant-related financial analysis and supporting schedules.
• Prepare variance analyses, spending forecasts, and financial narratives to support monthly financial statements and management reporting.
• Assist in preparing financial statement footnotes and other disclosures related to grants, contracts, restricted funding, and program operations.
• Identify emerging financial risks, operational trends, and opportunities for improved financial performance and communicate findings to leadership.
• Assist the Director of Finance & Accounting with budgeting, forecasting, KPI reporting, and board presentation materials.

Accounting and Month-End Close Support

• Review and approve grant-related journal entries, accruals, allocations, and other adjusting entries for accuracy and compliance.
• Assist with monthly and year-end close activities related to grant accounting and revenue recognition.
• Review grant reconciliations and ensure consistency between subledgers, billing schedules, budget tracking reports, and the general ledger.
• Support the preparation of audit schedules and grant-related workpapers for annual financial audits, Single Audit, Yellow Book Audit, and funder monitoring visits.
• Assist with implementation and maintenance of financial controls related to grants and contracts.

Leadership and Team Management

• Hire, supervise, train, mentor, and evaluate Finance & Grants team members.
• Establish departmental performance expectations and ensure accountability for quality and timely work product.
• Develop and enhance grant finance processes, reporting tools, and internal controls.
• Promote collaboration between Finance, Accounting, Development, and Program teams.
• Other duties as assigned.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Competencies

• Professionalism and Ethics
• Government Grant Management and Compliance
• Financial Planning and Analysis
• Budget Development and Forecasting
• Revenue Recognition
• Governance, Risk, and Internal Controls
• Financial Reporting
• Leadership, Coaching, and Mentorship
• Stakeholder Relationship Management
• Audit and Assurance
• Advanced Excel and Financial Modeling Skills
• Strategic Thinking
• Collaboration and Communication
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Emotional Intelligence
• Cultural Humility

Assessment Exam

As part of our selection process, all candidates invited for an in-person interview will be required to complete an assessment exam. The exam will cover the following topics:

Excel proficiency and its application in financial analysis.

Financial statements and accounting principles.

The purpose of the assessment exam is to evaluate candidates' knowledge and skills relevant to the position. The same exam will be administered to all candidates to ensure fairness and consistency in our evaluation process.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position supervises:

• Senior Analyst – Finance & Grants
• Finance & Grants Analysts

Work Environment

Downtown Women’s Center operates several program and administrative locations in the Skid Row neighborhood of Downtown Los Angeles. The organization’s primary hub is located on San Pedro Street (SP) and includes participant-facing services, staff and departmental offices, and Permanent Supportive Housing units.

Programs at the SP site include the Day Center, Women’s Health Clinic, kitchen and meal services, Trauma Recovery Center, supportive service offices, and housing units, among other operations.

Although some positions may have a primary work location at another DWC program site or within the community, employees in all roles may be expected to attend trainings, meetings, or other work-related activities at the San Pedro (SP) location. Parking near the San Pedro (SP) Access Center is limited, and employees should plan for offsite parking with a short walk to the site.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position:

• Ability to walk moderate distances between DWC sites or within the surrounding community.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Occasional standing, bending, or reaching for files and office supplies.
• Ability to lift up to 15 lbs. (e.g., binders, reports, or office materials).
• Ability to maintain focus and attention to detail for extended periods of time.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time exempt position. Office hours are 9:00am to 5:30pm with flexibility to work evenings and weekends when necessary

Travel

Minimal travel throughout LA County for trainings, conferences, and meetings.

Work Location

Hybrid (minimum 2 Days Weekly onsite)

Required Education, Experience, and Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required.
• Master's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or related field preferred.
• CPA, CGMA, MBA, or similar professional credential preferred.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience serving in a Finance Manager or equivalent leadership capacity within a nonprofit organization.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in nonprofit finance, grants management, budgeting, financial planning, and reporting.
• Significant experience managing government grants and contracts, including federal, state, county, and city funding sources.
• Demonstrated experience with OMB 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance.
• Experience preparing and reviewing grant budgets, funder invoices, and financial reports.
• Experience supervising professional finance staff.
• Strong understanding of nonprofit accounting principles and GAAP.
• Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills.
• Experience with ERP accounting systems (Sage Intacct preferred).
• Excellent verbal, written, analytical, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural humility.
• Must be a CA resident and live no more than 80 miles from DWC; must be available for in-person meetings at DWC.
• Must provide documentation of a negative TB test result within the last twelve months, on first day of hire.

Pay Range

$95,927 - $124,000/yearly

Work Authorization

Being authorized to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment. DWC does not sponsor employment visas, such as H-1B.

Fair Chance Act Statement

Downtown Women’s Center will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Downtown Women’s Center is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the Civil Right’s Department Fair Chance Act webpage.

Downtown Women’s Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants and actively seeks candidates who reflect the rich diversity of the communities that we serve. We are committed to a work environment that embraces and promotes individuality and inclusion. We believe that diversity and inclusion of varied perspectives, backgrounds, and life experiences are essential to our organization’s effectiveness, and allow us to serve our clients in the respectful, responsive, and understanding way that they deserve. We define diversity in broad terms to include race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, mental or physical disability, marital status, pregnancy, military and veteran status, medical condition, geography, socio-economic status, and other unique attributes that make us who we are.

Downtown Women’s Center complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of all activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.