Finance Director

Finance Director

CAPLP – Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership

Fargo, ND

Full-Time

ABOUT LAKES & PRAIRIESCOMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP (CAPLP)

Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership (CAPLP) provides a wide array of programs and services that are designed to meet the unique needs of the children, families and seniors that live in the communities services by CAPLP. The four main divisions include: Head Start, Housing, Economic Empowerment, and Child Care Connections. All programs and services work together to help achieve the mission to Eliminate Poverty, Empower Families, and Engage Communities. CAPLP believes in a holistic approach to helping people build a better future for families.

ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY

The Finance Director provides overall direction for all financial management, accounting, and budgeting functions in collaboration with the leadership team to achieve our mission of Eliminating Poverty, Empowering Families, Engaging Communities.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES TO ACHIEVE SUCCESS

The Key Accountabilities for the position include but are not limited to the following: 

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Provide overall direction for all financial management, accounting, and budgeting functions in collaboration with the leadership team.
• Maintain strategic oversight of a $15+ million budget, including federal, state, local, and private funding sources.
• Ensure that financial and operational procedures are effective, efficient, economical, and compliant.

Governance, Reporting, and Compliance

• Lead preparation and coordination of the annual agency-wide budget and year-end audit.
• Develop, monitor, and report on program-specific budgets and financial performance.
• Provide timely, accurate financial reports to the Executive Director, Board of Directors, Head Start Policy Council, and external funders.
• Review and authorize financial transactions, ensuring appropriate controls and compliance with applicable regulations.

Organizational Impact and Decision Support

• Serve as a strategic thought partner, helping to guide agency-wide decisions with financial insight and forecasting.
• Communicate complex financial information in accessible terms for a variety of stakeholders.
• Balance regulatory compliance with responsiveness to programmatic and client service needs.

Leadership and Team Development

• Directly supervise and develop the Finance Manager and Finance Technician.
• Coach and engage staff at varying levels of development to ensure capacity and performance.
• Champion a collaborative, accountable, and mission-aligned finance team culture.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE POSITION

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.
• Minimum of four years of experience in accounting and/or financial operations.
• Demonstrated success leading a team in a financial management context.
• Expertise in fund accounting and/or nonprofit financial management.

Accountabilities:

• Operational Oversight & Compliance: Demonstrates strong understanding and oversight of financial operations and regulatory adherence.
• Process Improvement & Financial Systems Management: Identifies inefficiencies, implements system enhancements, and ensures continuous improvement in financial operations agency-wide.
• Strategic Agility: Balances high-level strategic thinking with the ability to focus on operational details when necessary.
• Team Leadership & Development: Builds team capacity through clear expectations, coaching, performance management, and ongoing support.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness & Cultural Alignment: Builds trust and connection across stakeholder groups, models approachability, collaboration, and alignment with mission.
• Financial Communication & Translation: Conveys complex financial information in clear, actionable terms for diverse audiences.
• Accountability & Decision-Making Under Pressure: Takes ownership of outcomes, exercises sound judgment, and follows through with consistency, even in high-stakes scenarios.

Core Competencies and Attributes:

• Ability to provide high-level oversight while ensuring operational compliance and control.
• Proven capacity to implement and improve financial systems and procedures.
• Strategic thinker capable of toggling between organizational and divisional perspectives.
• Skilled in leading teams with a balance of accountability, training, and motivation.
• Approachable, collaborative, and mission-driven.
• Strong communication skills, especially in simplifying financial information for non-financial stakeholders.
• Demonstrates follow-through, ownership, and sound decision-making under pressure.

Compensation and Benefits: 

·Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement contributions, paid time off, and professional development support (specifics to be confirmed based on organizational offerings).

THE SEARCH

Sagency, an executive search and leadership consulting firm, has been retained by CAPLP for this Finance Director search.  

Sagency consultants will review and evaluate all interested parties to help the hiring team review a final group for consideration.

The search will be conducted in a professional manner and all potential candidates will be given consideration. Candidate conversations and information will be handled with great discretion and confidentiality. Sagency and CAPLP are equal-opportunity employers.

If after reviewing this Opportunity Profile, you believe your experience, capabilities, and passion align with the mission of the organization and the requirements of this role, we welcome your interest. The application and selection process will proceed as follows:

Step 1: Submit Your Application

Complete the online application and upload your resume.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Step 2: Interview with Sagency

Qualified candidates may first be contacted for a brief phone conversation, followed by a 60-minute video interview with a Sagency Executive Search Consultant.

Step 3: Client Interviews

Top candidates will be invited to participate in the first round of interviews with the client organization.

Thank you for your time and interest in this role.