Grants Finance Manager

ORGANIZATION:

Accelerating Appalachia (ACAP), founded in 2013 by Kentuckian SaraDay Evans, builds networks of regenerative agriculture and supports resilient regenerative supply chains and local economies across an eight-state southeastern region. Working directly with producers — largely those the USDA identifies as historically underserved — across Central and Southern Appalachia, ACAP connects producers to technical assistance, financial resources, and market opportunities. In addition to supporting farmers, ACAP supports regional growth-stage regenerative companies in food, fiber, and forest products, accelerating a regional regenerative economy across the Southeast and Appalachia. In 2023, ACAP launched Building Appalachian Agricultural Resilience (BAAR), a program incentivizing regenerative agriculture practices across eight states, funded by the USDA with an $18 million Farmer Fund ($12 million in cash incentives, $6 million in training and marketing assistance).

POSITION:

The Grants Finance Manager oversees ACAP's fiscal health: managing the books, ensuring compliance with federal and state grant requirements, forecasting revenue, advising on financial policy, and managing budgets across the business accelerator and Farmer Funding Program (including BAAR). It is a bonus, though not required, if the Grants Finance Manager brings experience in social enterprise, business accelerators, and/or impact investing and blended capital models relevant to ACAP's farmer funding and capital strategy.

REPORTING STRUCTURE:

The Grants Finance Manager reports directly to the CEO, preserving financial independence for audit readiness, grant compliance, and board reporting. The Grants Finance Manager works in close, day-to-day coordination with executive leadership and program team on budgets, disbursements, program financial matters, and operational needs. All financial reports and materials prepared by the grants Finance Manager are subject to CEO final review and, as appropriate, submission to the Board.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Management:

• Oversee bookkeeping, payroll, invoicing, contract and producer payment disbursements, and reimbursement processing
• Maintain an up-to-date, detailed ledger and financial records in QuickBooks
• Oversee accounts receivable/payable and maintain audit compliance
• Direct organizational budgets and monitor daily cash flow
• Work closely with executive leadership to ensure project expenditures and recording comply with GAAP, with resulting reports prepared for CEO review
• Collaborate with executive leadership to formalize processes for accounts payable, expense reconciliation, bank reconciliations, and credit card statements
• Collaborate with the fundraising team to support long-term financial planning
• Work with the CDO to reconcile financial records against the program database

Federal & Grant Compliance:

• Support execution of all grants and private funding, ensuring compliance with granting agency requirements, including USDA and Appalachian Regional Commission funding
• Ensure compliance with OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), including allowability, allocability, and reasonableness of costs
• Coordinate with executive leadership on grant financial requirements, including managing the transition from the current contract accountant, with compliance reports prepared for CEO review
• Enforce internal controls and ensure financial operations adhere to local, state, and federal regulations
• Maintain documentation and internal controls to withstand federal monitoring and audits

Financial Reporting:

• Prepare accurate financial statements, business activity reports, and forecasts for executive team meetings
• Support semi-annual and quarterly financial reports on grant expenditures, cost-share amounts and sources, and supporting documentation, in coordination with executive leadership and subject to final review by the CEO
• Provide financial reports and documentation for the annual external audit
• Work with executive leadership to develop the annual budget and five-year projections for Board approval, with final sign-off by the CEO
• Prepare materials for CEO updates to the Board on fiscal health and alignment with program goals
• Provide the executive team perspective on financial affairs, organizational health, and cash flow

Impact Investing & Capital Strategy (Bonus — Desired, Not Required):

This is not a core requirement of the role — the heart of this position is federal and state grants management, nonprofit financial reporting, and QuickBooks-based bookkeeping. Experience in the following areas is a valued bonus, not a prerequisite:

• Collaborate with the CEO on capital investment strategies for growth-stage regenerative companies, including program-related investments (PRIs), revenue-based financing, and other impact-aligned investment vehicles
• Support financial modeling and structuring for capital investment in growth-stage regenerative companies, as well as farmer funding and accelerator investment products
• Bring familiarity with impact measurement frameworks and investor reporting expectations to organizational strategy
• Help evaluate new funding mechanisms and capital partners aligned with ACAP's mission

Required:

• 5+ years of experience with accounting systems and nonprofit finances
• Experience managing budgets and fiscal systems for federal and state grants requiring audits and regular reporting
• Experience working with complex federal grant reporting
• Proficiency in QuickBooks and federal/state/local tax requirements for corporate compliance
• Fluency with Google Suite, Adobe, and Microsoft Office Suite; Airtable experience preferred
• Demonstrated high levels of personal accountability for remote/flexible work
• Experience developing and implementing internal financial processes and protocols

Strongly Preferred:

• High preference for specific experience USDA and Appalachian Regional Commission grants
• Experience with impact investing, blended finance, or alternative capital models
• Baseline knowledge of Central and Southern Appalachian culture, partners, and relevant regulatory agencies
• Proven track record of strategic thinking, analytical ability, and process improvement
• Values-driven, with a commitment to inclusion, transparency, and non-hierarchical organizational practices
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills across diverse stakeholders and partner organizations
• Bonus (desired, not required): background in social enterprise, business accelerators, and/or impact investing

ACAP strives to design compensation and benefit packages to be mutualistic between the organization and the individual, allowing each person to thrive in their role with autonomy, support, encouragement, and energy.

• Salary range starting at $65,000, commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including flexible time off (consisting of vacation, sick, mental health, and family leave), health insurance, and retirement.
• Collaborative and supportive work environment with passionate colleagues and partners.
• Opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of farmers, communities, and ecosystems in Central Appalachia and the rural Southeast.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Accelerating Appalachia offers equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression or marital status. We are committed to a diverse and culturally inclusive workplace.