Nonprofit Finance Consultant
Position Overview Big Change Consulting helps nonprofit organizations start up, gear up, and clean up their operations, HR, and fundraising. Our clients include grassroots movement builders, equity advocates, arts and service organizations, association networks, funder cohorts, and more. Reporting to the Senior Finance Consultant, this role helps organizations build vital financial clarity and capacity. Over time, the role will also help shape and support new recurring nonprofit finance and back-office services, which may include oversight of bookkeeping workflows. Core Responsibilities Consulting Services
- Train clients on nonprofit finance basics, including accrual accounting, grant recognition, restricted vs. unrestricted funding, and reading and interpreting finance reports.
- Assist clients with strategic financial decision-making, including designing their chart of accounts, budgets, operating reserves, and recommended staffing models.
- Conduct financial analysis (historic and forward-looking) and develop clear narratives to support client understanding and decision-making.
- Support organizations in transition, including those moving out of fiscal sponsorship or early-stage nonprofits establishing core financial systems.
- Maintain and improve reporting templates and tools to ensure consistency and quality across engagements, and to support future service offerings.
Accounting Services
- Prepare recurring financial reports for clients, including budget-to-actuals, dashboards, grant reports, and cash flow summaries.
- Assist with audit and financial review preparation, including reviewing schedules and gathering documentation from clients and bookkeeping partners.
- Oversee bookkeeping details, including quality checks, identification of discrepancies, and coordination of required corrections.
- Perform limited bookkeeping as needed for clean-up work, diagnostic assessments, or piloting new services.
Client Support
- Communicate with clients professionally and clearly to gather inputs, explain findings, and support decision-making.
- Translate financial concepts into accessible, actionable insights for nonprofit leaders, boards, and other stakeholders.
- Participate in client meetings and support follow-up tasks, including revising reports, documenting next steps, and tracking open questions.
- Proactively flag issues or risks—such as cash flow concerns, internal control gaps, or grant compliance issues—and recommend next steps.
Continuous Improvement & Internal Collaboration
- Identify opportunities to improve client-facing tools, templates, and SOPs, with an emphasis on standardization and scalability.
- Stay current on nonprofit finance best practices, trends, and regulatory changes.
- Participate in internal planning, learning sessions, and service improvement efforts.
- Contribute to internal documentation and knowledge sharing to ensure consistent, high-quality work across the team.
- Incorporate feedback to improve outputs and strengthen team processes.
Qualifications
- Commitment to equity-centered client services.
- B.S. in Accounting or related field.
- 5–10 years of nonprofit accounting or finance experience (experience with small and mid-sized organizations preferred).
- Strong understanding of GAAP, fund accounting, and grant management.
- Proficiency in QuickBooks Online and Excel/Google Sheets; comfortable with templates, formulas, and basic data analysis.
- Ability to analyze financial data, identify issues or patterns, and communicate findings clearly to non-finance audiences.
- Experience with early-stage nonprofits building foundational financial systems, organizations transitioning to independent status, and/or multi-entity groups is a plus.
Compensation & Details
- $75 per hour, 1099 contract
- Starting at 15 hours per month on contract with potential for full-time W2 employment
- Remote with preference for Columbus, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; or Washington, DC
Application Process Submit your application here. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.