Senior Director, Finance

Position: Senior Director, Finance / Controller
Position Type: Full-Time
Reports to: Kelli Herrick, Interim COO
Location: Hybrid in Washington, DC

Anticipated Start: December 2026 / January 2027

ABOUT THE ROLE
Future Caucus seeks an experienced and detail-oriented Senior Director of Finance / Controller to lead finance operations on our team. They are responsible for the integrity of our financial systems, reporting, controls, compliance, planning, and analysis. This position will also ensure high-quality accounting practices, support strategic organizational decision-making and budgeting, oversee financial grant reporting & contracts, and equip our executive team and department leads with the financial information, tools, processes, and guidance they need to actively manage their budgets and be effective stewards of organizational funds.

We’re looking for someone who gets excited about the idea of finance system transformation on a growing team. You are just as eager to think big picture about the systems of the future as you are to roll up your sleeves and actualize those systems in the day to day.

At Future Caucus, the operations & finance teams are service-oriented and exist to enable impact and efficiency across the organization. We understand that a strong financial & operational backbone equips those within the organization to dream up and do big things while sufficiently managing organizational risks. We’re looking for someone who possesses a similar orientation to their work: someone who asks the right questions, surfaces risks early, and helps us model what’s possible by working with the COO to translate big ideas and organizational ambitions into clear financial scenarios, tradeoffs, and pathways for sustainable growth. This job is for you if you can effectively communicate with stakeholders ranging from the coordinator level to the C-suite and Board of Directors and have an exceptional ability to manage up and laterally.

The ideal candidate has a strong background in nonprofit finance, is a proactive communicator, and is known for letting no detail go unnoticed. They will report to the Chief Operating Officer and oversee the relationship with our part-time external accountant, audit team, and other financial vendors. Our hope is to bring someone on to our team who is eager to lead on establishing systems that will help us scale to our next level of impact, and wants to grow alongside the organization.

ABOUT FUTURE CAUCUS
Future Caucus has an audacious mission: activate young leaders to bridge the partisan divide and transform American politics. Future Caucus is a national, nonpartisan organization dedicated to supporting the next generation of elected leaders. We provide the resources, networking, and capacity-building opportunities for these policymakers to forge productive partnerships on critical national issues.

In 2013, Future Caucus organized the nation’s first and only caucus for young members of Congress, the Congressional Future Caucus, to build coalitions on future-oriented challenges. Future Caucus also scaled this model into 36 state legislatures, each with a Future Caucus consisting of young, high-potential legislators, and now engages more than 2,100 young legislators nationwide. In 2025, Future Caucus’ President & CEO was named to the TIME100 Next list. Learn more at www.futurecaucus.org.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Strategy & Leadership

• Serve as Future Caucus’ senior internal finance leader, providing strategic financial guidance to the CEO, COO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership team
• Develop and maintain financial plans and projects, including cash flow, reserves, and investment strategies analyses
• Contribute to the development of the organization's long-term strategic and operational plans with a focus on financial sustainability
• Communicate regularly with the CEO, COO, and senior leadership regarding financial performance & forecasts, proactively surfacing significant risks, opportunities, trends, and tradeoffs
• Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable, and timely insights for stakeholders with varying levels of financial expertise, building financial fluency and accountability across the organization
• Prepare the CEO and COO to present quarterly financial reports and narratives for Board meetings, providing clear, actionable, and future-oriented recommendations

Budgeting & Financial Planning

• Alongside the COO and President & CEO, oversee the preparation and management of the annual operating budget, ensuring participatory budget practices and alignment with the organization’s mission, programs, and strategic priorities
• Lead the forecasting process and establish appropriate forecasting cadences to ensure budget projections are accurate and reflective of current financial performance, revenue expectations, organizational priorities, and risks, partnering closely with the Development and Program teams
• Monitor financial performance, identify variances, and recommend corrective actions as needed
• Build and embed financial processes, tools, and policies that empower department heads with the financial fluency to make strong decisions on expenditures
• Lead budget reviews with department heads to ensure financial targets are met and budget forecasts are accurate
• Provide financial oversight of organizational grants, including budget development, financial reporting, compliance, cost allocation, reimbursement process, etc.

Financial Reporting & Systems

• Prepare and present accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports & narratives, including statement of activities, statement of financial position, cash flow statements, and budget-to-actual analyses
• Analyze and interpret financial results, translating reporting into actionable insights, trends, risks, and recommendations for the COO, President & CEO, and senior leadership
• Oversee the preparation of year-end financial statements and ensure compliance with accounting principles (e.g. GAAP, fund accounting)

Administration, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Establish and maintain strong internal controls to safeguard the organization’s financial resources and mitigate financial risks, taking appropriate action when risks are identified
• Establish clear mechanisms for identifying and promptly escalating material financial risks, concerns, or errors to the COO and President & CEO, along with recommended corrective actions
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of all financial data and accounting records, overseeing the organization’s external accounting firm for timely and accurate accounting functions, including keeping the general ledger, accounts payable / receivable, payroll, and month-end close
• Oversee the preparation and filing of annual tax returns (e.g., IRS Form 990) and the annual audit process, ensuring the organization’s external accounting firm & audit team produce accurate and complete audits and tax filings
• Oversee the creation of and training and development of staff on financial policies, procedures, and best practices
• Establish and execute accounts payable procedures & technologies to ensure timely payments, working with the Operations Coordinator and account firm as needed
• Complete all necessary registrations, licenses, and insurance needs

• Perform other related duties as needed

Requirements

ABOUT YOU

• Minimum 7+ years of relevant experience, with non-profit finance experience required
• Experience managing a budget of $4M or more
• Degree in finance, accounting, non-profit/business administration, or equivalent professional experience
• Demonstrated experience with nonprofit financial systems, grant & restricted revenue compliance, and board-level financial reporting
• Detail-orientation and analytical skills, with the ability to ensure accurate reporting and translate it into strategic organizational insights
• Strong interpersonal judgement when communicating with a range of audiences (e.g. stakeholders, funders) in writing and in person
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Excel and other financial tools (ex: Quickbooks, forecasting tools, AP software)
• Strong initiative - a self-motivated individual known for identifying problems alongside solutions and a bias for proactive communication
• Experience in or knowledge of ethics requirements in legislatures a bonus
• Sincere commitment to Future Caucus mission of working across partisan lines
  

OUR VALUES

In 2020, Future Caucus unveiled a set of organizational value statements developed collaboratively by our team. This ethos represents what we believe in at Future Caucus, and what we have worked to establish during the last eleven years. These are the values we have set for ourselves, and what we see come to life through our legislators in our network, partners, and supporters:

• Listen First: communicate openly and respectfully - make room for others at the table
• Say “We”: there is no “I” in Future Caucus - welcome diversity; it makes us stronger
• Build Trust: Integrity in our relationships is fundamental - be reliable and follow through
• Empower Others: Be empathetic - practice transparency and collaborate openly
• Break Barriers: Climb it, go through it, or work around it - limits are challenges to overcome
• Innovate Freely: Disruption leads to creative solutions - forge a new path forward

Benefits

LOCATION
Future Caucus is currently in a hybrid work environment, candidates must be located in the Washington, D.C. metro area, or be willing to relocate.

COMPENSATION
Salary for this position is $101,500 - $109,600. Highly competitive benefits are provided, including commuter/telework stipend, 401(k) with employer contributions, generous vacation policy, professional development stipend, and comprehensive health benefits.

CULTURE AND CONNECTION
Future Caucus aspires to an organizational culture based on our values, where our team is connected and collaborative. We take time to share in the wins and impact of our work, chat over regular employer-paid lunches, learn together, and participate in local social and service activities. We are eager to add team members who share our values and will continue building our positive culture.

HIRING PROCESS

The priority deadline for this role is Oct. 13, 2026 and we anticipate communicating to all candidates following our priority deadline. Applications received after this date will be evaluated on a rolling basis.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As an equal opportunity employer, Future Caucus is committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment. We welcome members of historically underrepresented groups to apply, including people of color, women, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and multilingual individuals. Reference checks are conducted on all prospective new hires.