Chief Financial Officer

The **Community Foundation of Nova Scotia (CFNS)** is a charitable giving facilitator. We help donors make sustainable philanthropic impact on causes they care about at the grassroots level. We endow funds for donors, manage donation programs, and convene conversations that make a positive difference in our communities. We do this through three funding streams: donor-advised funds, impact funds that target specific priorities, and community funds created and managed by communities. In 2024, CFNS granted over $4 million to communities across Nova Scotia, and we currently steward than $40 million in philanthropic assets.

Our ultimate vision is to build vibrant communities of respect, belonging and possibility across Nova Scotia that have the resources to care for their own needs.

**The Opportunity**

The Community Foundation of Nova Scotia is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to work closely with the CEO and a growing team of professionals to steward funds while ensuring the financial sustainability and integrity of the Foundation as it continues to grow. This role in fiduciary leadership will include responsibility for managing and evaluating the Foundation’s financial strategy, systems, and reporting in alignment with its mission and long-term goals.

After years of steady growth, CFNS has set an ambitious goal to significantly increase philanthropic impact in Nova Scotia. This qualified professional will play a critical role in shaping the future of the Community Foundation by ensuring strong financial leadership and operational sustainability. As we strive to enable greater impact in communities and charitable causes across the province, we will place emphasis on stewarding donor funds with transparency and integrity, building trust through robust financial reporting, and ensuring the Foundation’s readiness for future growth. The Chief Financial Officer will work as a partner and collaborator with the CEO in building and advancing the Foundation’s financial strategy for more than 170 donor-advised and donor-directed funds.

**Key Objectives**
- Provide strategic financial leadership
- Lead budgeting, forecasting, and audit processes
- Manage and oversee financial systems, controls and risk management
- Support operational effectiveness

**Role Structure**
- Permanent and Part Time staff member
- Reporting to the CEO
- 20 hours per week (with potential to increase in future years by mutual agreement)
- The role is based in our Halifax office, with some work-from-home flexibility
- This position currently has one direct report: Accounting Manager (with future potential to grow a small team)

**Key Responsibilities**
- Financial Oversight & Reporting_
- Review bi-weekly payments for accuracy (payment details and coding) and completeness of documentation, first approval.
- Perform cash management duties, including analyzing the weekly bank report from the Accounting Manager and funding cash flow deficits from investment accounts when required.
- Provide backup for payroll, as required.
- Review the month-end working papers, reconciliation from investment accounts and interfund accounting as prepared by the Accounting Manager, as well as segregation of duty check regarding donations.
- Based on above point, perform required transfers to satisfy fund balances.
- Prepare Summary Financials as well as operational budget to actual report for CEO and Treasurer monthly.
- Prepare forecast and cash flow reports for CEO, Treasurer and presentation to Finance & Audit Committee on quarterly basis.
- Together with Accounting Manager, coordinate and complete annual audit.
- Coordinate and complete annual budget.
- Together with Accounting Manager and Treasurer, complete the CRA Charity Return and related documentation.
- Review fundholder (client) accounts (fee schedules) and related calculations and entries, as prepared by the Accounting Manager.
- Review annual and semi-annual fundholder (client) reports, as prepared by the Accounting Manager.
- Facilitate the disbursement reserve and disbursable balances in agreement with the Disbursement Reserve and Capital Preservation Policy.
- Assist Treasurer with Finance & Audit Committee tasks, including but not limited to Terms of Reference, Education, and Audit RFP.
- Maintain banking relationships, including credit facility reporting and investment manager relationships.
- Annual review of Insurance policy for the Foundation.
- Ad-hoc analysis and support as required.
- Coordination of employee benefits program with provider.
- Leadership of Financial Management_
- Collaborate as a strategic partner with the CEO as a member of the senior management team.
- Is comfortable working in a small team setting and managing staff (1 or more direct reports), including staff coaching and development.
- Meet with team members monthly to update budget.
- Other Accounting & Reconciliation_
- Prepare and submit semi-annual HST filings.
- Analyze interfund transfers, ensuring accuracy and