Manager, Finance Compliance

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Compliance Manager plays a key role in ensuring the nonprofit’s financial operations are accurate, transparent, and compliant with all applicable laws, grant requirements, and internal policies. This position oversees payroll, accounts payable, and government filings, and provides critical support during annual financial and compliance audits. The Finance Compliance Manager works closely with the Finance Director to strengthen internal controls and promote fiscal accountability across the organization.

The Compliance Manager is responsible for all journal entries related to accounts payable, payroll and health benefits and works closely with the rest of the Finance team to ensure a timely monthly financial close. This role provides assistance with the annual financial audit and is relied upon by Project Open Hand to be an integral member of our agency who is engaged with members of all departments.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; CPA or equivalent certification preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in nonprofit finance or accounting, including supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting, grant compliance, and federal cost principles (2 CFR Part 200.)  Experience overseeing payroll and accounts payable functions.
• Familiarity with fund accounting software (e.g., Sage Intacct, MIP, QuickBooks Nonprofit or similar.)  Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work effectively across departments.

Competencies

• Integrity and commitment to nonprofit financial stewardship
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Collaborative team player with a service-oriented mindset

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Compliance & Financial Controls

• Ensure compliance with nonprofit accounting standards (GAAP) and local, state, and federal regulations.
• Maintain and update finance policies and internal control procedures to support transparency and good governance.
• Monitor compliance with grant and contract financial reporting requirements.
• Prepare and submit required state and federal filings, including Form 990, Secretary of State, and other annual reports.

Payroll Oversight

• Oversee biweekly payroll processing in coordination with HR, ensuring accuracy and compliance with California labor laws.
• Manager payroll-related reconciliations and year-end reporting (W-2s, 1099s, etc.)  Support HR in maintaining accurate payroll records and employee benefit deductions.

Accounts Payable (AP)

• Supervise AP processing, ensuring timely and accurate payments to vendors, contractors and grantees.
• Review and approve invoices, ensuring proper documentation, coding and authorization per grant or program budget.
• Oversee vendor compliance documentation (e.g., W-9s, insurance certificates.)

Government & Regulatory Filings

• Manager preparation and submission of local, state and federal filings, including city business registrations, charitable registrations (e.g., California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts), and annual reporting requirements.
• Coordinate with external tax preparers and legal advisors on compliance matters as needed.

Audit & Reporting

• Support annual financial and single audit processes by preparing schedules, reconciliations, and documentation.
• Work closely with auditors to ensure timely completion of audits and implementation of recommendations.
• Maintain organized and complete financial records for audit and grant monitoring purposes.

Process Improvement

• Identity and implement process improvements to enhance financial efficiency, compliance and accuracy.
• Support system upgrades, automation or workflow enhancements in payroll and AP functions.

JOB COMPETENCIES/SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Team player: Demonstrates cooperative spirit, respects professional boundaries and is successful at sharing responsibilities with others
• Self-led: Knows and completes responsibilities in assigned timelines, asks for clarifications when needed
• Sensitive to the circumstances and needs of the critically ill and seniors, as well as people with mental health and substance abuse issues
• Customer oriented: Works well with all customers (internal staff and external contacts), promotes a positive image of the agency and works diligently to resolve customer issues
• Poised: able to maintain a calm, positive and constructive attitude during interactions with diverse populations, sometimes in challenging situations
• Ethical: Honest, accountable, maintains confidentiality
• Decisive: Thoughtful when considering options, seeks input from others, makes difficult decisions when necessary
• Knowledgeable: Understands facets of job, keeps job knowledge current
• Well organized: Information organized and accessible, maintains efficient work space, manages time well
• Strong communicator: excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Technical savvy: Skilled with computers, proficient with function appropriate technology, learns quickly, uses technology to enhance job performance with the interest and ability to learn new technology
• Leadership I: Completes all assigned tasks in a timely manner and is able to identify projects or work needed for future completion. Anticipates needs before they are assigned. Recognizes themselves as a departmental or function representative
• Detail oriented: Meticulous and thorough when entering, reviewing and providing information

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT: The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical demands: While performing duties of job, incumbent is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit for long periods of times; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds unassisted. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus

Work environment: The noise level in the work environment varies from quiet to loud. The temperature in the work environment will range from cold to warm