Director of Finance

Title: Director of Finance  

Supervisor: Chief Financial Officer

Pay Grade: 10

Starting Salary Range: $120,000-$130,000

Overview: 

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) develops and delivers collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges.  We are dedicated to the resilience of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it.  To learn more, visit gmri.org.

The Director of Finance will be a key partner in driving the financial strategy and fiscal sustainability of the organization. Reporting to the CFO, they will oversee the day-to-day financial functions of the organization, ensuring strong financial management, accurate financial planning and analysis, operational compliance, and strategic alignment with the company’s long-term goals. This role will be instrumental in shaping financial policies, optimizing financial strategies, and providing analysis that drives executive decision-making.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership:

• Engage, develop, and mentor a high-performing finance team, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence
• Provide leadership and development opportunities to ensure a strong financial talent pipeline
• Collaborate with program leads to translate their needs into detailed financial plans, including resource allocation and budget forecasting
• Establish periodic meetings with program leads to hold them accountable to their budgets
• Develop forward-looking financial insights and risk assessments to inform executive decisions
• Lead the annual budgeting and forecasting process, ensuring accuracy and alignment with strategic priorities
• Present financial reports and key performance metrics to senior leadership and assist CFO with preparation for quarterly board meetings

Operations and Compliance:

• Identify and mitigate financial risks, ensuring the organization is prepared for market fluctuations, regulatory changes, and economic shifts
• Develop financial contingency plans and scenario analysis to guide decision-making in uncertain environment
• Monitor financial performance, analyze variances, and develop actionable insights to optimize resource allocation
• Oversee financial operations, including accounting, financial reporting, audits, and tax preparation
• Ensure internal financial controls, policies, and regulatory requirements are met and continuously improved
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and automation to enhance departmental efficiency and accuracy

Investment Strategy and Cash Flow Management:

• Assess financial opportunities, providing CFO and leadership with data-driven recommendations
• Manage cash flow to support organizational growth and sustainability
• Develop and oversee financial models that evaluate the financial impact of strategic initiatives
• Translate complex models into concepts that colleagues and collaborators who do not have finance backgrounds can understand

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in business administration, Finance, or Accounting; MBA and/or CPA preferred
• 8+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, including managing teams
• Expertise in financial planning and modeling within a complex organization
• Advanced accounting and analytical skills with the ability to translate complex financial data into actionable insights and strategies
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills, with experience presenting to executives 
• Extensive experience with financial systems, Excel, and data analytics tools
• Proven track record of driving financial strategy and operational improvements in a dynamic environment

Diversity and Inclusion: 

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) has a long-standing policy and commitment to providing equal access and equal employment opportunities in all terms, conditions, processes, and benefits of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, family status, veteran status, or any other classification protected by law. GMRI's employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, family status, veteran status, or any other classification protected by law.  

Applicants and employees are encouraged to voluntarily provide certain status data to assist GMRI in fulfilling various reporting requirements of the federal government. This self-identification is completely voluntary, will be kept confidential and separate from your application data, and used only to meet certain state or federal reporting requirements. Providing or declining to provide this information will not result in adverse action of any kind. 

Salary and Benefits: 

Gulf of Maine Research Institute offers a competitive salary and benefits package. 

Application Instructions: 

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the successful candidate has been selected. The deadline to submit applications is April 18th, 2025.