Lead, Finance & Administration

Promise Venture Studio
Lead, Finance & Administration

 

Description

About the Organization

Who We Are

Promise is an early childhood-focused nonprofit organization driving towards a vision of an abundant and just world where all children can fulfill their innate promise. To work toward that vision, we advance change through two mutually-reinforcing strategies: 1) activate and strengthen the early childhood ecosystem by aligning funders, policy leaders, and practitioners around a shared vision and collective action, and 2) nurture and grow the impact of proximate leaders and their social ventures by increasing resources, connections, and sustainability.

 

What We Do

 

• Our strategies come to life through Promise's three programmatic buckets:Ecosystem: Ignites a cross-sector movement — uniting champions, capital, and collective will behind bold visions and narratives for America's youngest children and families

• Changemaker Communities: Drive the sustainability, social capital, and power of proximate changemakers across the early childhood field and in their communities

• The Promise Fund: Identifies, resources, and scales proximate-led social innovations that prove the future young children and families deserve is within reach

Our Impact

To date, we've supported more than 760 early childhood ventures nationwide through coaching, connections to capital, and community. We've catalyzed over $25M to social ventures, and among our most deeply supported organizations, 91% grew their impact, 80% increased budgets, and 72% expanded their teams. Through the Early Childhood Leaders of Color Collaborative, 500+ leaders across 40+ states are building collective power to reach millions of children – proof that when BIPOC leaders come together, they don't just survive, they thrive.

 

Role Summary

The Lead, Finance and Administration ensures that Promise’s financial operations are accurate, reliable, and well-coordinated - enabling teams to stay focused on mission delivery. This role translates organizational needs into practical finance and administration systems that balance compliance, management, accountability, efficiency, and day-to-day realities.

 

This is an operationally-focused individual contributor role reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO). It operates with a high degree of independence and owns financial coordination across teams, while staying aligned with the priorities and guardrails set by the COO. The role does not set organizational financial strategy, but is accountable for strong systems, predictable processes, and clear coordination that build trust and support organizational sustainability.

 

Promise Venture Studio is a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA). Promise’s accounting and finance systems are currently shaped by RPA’s infrastructure, requirements, and timelines. A core part of this role is making finance work well within RPA’s systems, while building internal practices and and tools that would support a potential future spinout. Candidates should be comfortable in a fiscally-sponsored environment and motivated to build systems that scale in the current model and a possible independent structure.

 

Requirements

Key Qualifications

 

• 6+ years of experience in finance, accounting, or operations, with demonstrated ownership of core financial and administrative systems

• Experience managing finance and administrative operations in a complex, mission-driven organization

• Comfort operating within externally-defined finance infrastructure and requirements, and making systems work well within those constraints

• Track record of reliable delivery, sound judgement, and discernment

• Strong project management skills, including planning, prioritization, and follow-through across multiple projects and timelines

• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams

• Clear and thoughtful communicator who can translate complex financial information for different audiences

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, clarity, and care in how systems are designed and applied

• Ability to stay grounded and constructive when navigating ambiguity, tradeoffs, and competing demands

• Comfort improving and refining finance systems that are durable now and would translate well if Promise becomes independent in the future

Responsibilities

Financial Operations

 

• Own day-to-day financial operations — accounts payable/receivable, payroll coordination, and month-end and year-end close — with accuracy, consistency, and follow-through

• Track budgets against actuals, surface variances with clear context and recommendations, and maintain cash flow visibility

• Prepare financial and operational inputs that support leadership planning and decision-making, calibrating detail to the audience

• Design, maintain, and improve finance and administration processes so they are clear, usable, and accessible to non-finance teammates

RPA Partnership & Compliance

 

• Serve as Promise's primary finance operator within RPA's infrastructure, aligning Promise's needs with RPA processes, timelines, and requirements

• Maintain compliance through organized systems, appropriate controls, and clear documentation

• Build internal finance practices and tools that work well today and position Promise for potential future independence

Forecasting & Development Support

 

• Partner with the Development team to strengthen short- and medium-term revenue forecasting, keeping projections current and actionable

• Lead revenue/expense scenario planning — mapping grant probabilities and timing to budget, staffing, and operating implications

• Ensure funder and funding source reporting is seamless and timely, with clean tracking and smooth coordination across Development and RPA

Risk & Cross-Functional Coordination

 

• Identify financial and operational risks within current systems and propose practical solutions within established guardrails

• Coordinate finance and administrative work across teams, resolving dependencies through early problem-solving and collaboration

• Maintain up-to-date documentation so systems are transparent, durable, and easy to navigate

This role may expand as organizational needs evolve.

 

First Six Months Priorities

The first six months are focused on establishing a reliable operating rhythm, strengthening reporting and forecasting, and building trusted partnerships across teams and with RPA.

 

• Build a working understanding of RPA’s finance infrastructure, requirements, timelines, and key contacts, and clarify where Promise depends on RPA vs. operates autonomously

• Confirm clean budget tracking, dependable AP/AR, and a calm close process with clear internal timelines and responsibilities

• Improve the accuracy and timeliness of funder reporting, with tighter coordination with Development and clearer tracking systems

• Establish a short- to medium-term forecasting system and begin scenario planning that maps grant probabilities and timing to budget and staffing implications.

• Document key workflows, decisions, and dependencies so the system is clear today and supports future scale

Success in This Role Looks Like

 

• Financial reporting and budget tracking are accurate, timely, and well communicated - clean reports, clear variance explanations, and minimal rework

• Month-end and year-end close processes are calm and predictable - on-time, with few last-minute escalations

• Payroll, payments, and invoicing are handled accurately and on schedule - staff and partners have full confidence

• Development reporting is reliable and timely - smooth funder reporting cycles, clean documentation, and few last-minute scrambles

• Forecasting and scenario planning inform decisions - shared view of revenue probabilities and timing, clear expense implications, and practical guidance for operating decisions

• Finance and administrative processes are predictable and reduce friction for teams - smooth handoffs, met deadlines, and minimal confusion or escalation

• Risks are identified early and addressed proactively and collaboratively - audit readiness, strong working relationships, and few surprises

• Staff experience clarity and trust in finance systems - strong internal understanding and positive feedback

• Finance and administrative operations support organizational sustainability, as evidenced by leadership confidence in systems and practices
  

Benefits

 

• Medical, Vision, & Dental Insurance Plans

• Mental Health & Wellness and Employee Assistance Program

• Up to 12 weeks of Family and Medical Leave

• Up to 24 weeks of Parental Leave

• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Employer Automatic Contribution of 3%, plus Employer Match up to 3%

• Health Reimbursement and Flexible Spending Accounts

• Unlimited Paid Time Off and Unlimited Sick Time

• Home Office Equipment Stipend

The salary range for this role is $125K - $140K.