Chief Financial and Administrative Officer

Chicago, IL

Full Time

Executive

The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights invites applications for the full-time position of Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, to be based in Chicago, remote considered. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Financial & Administrative Officer (CFAO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and provides strategic oversight of The Young Center’s finance, operations, human resources, knowledge management and learning (KML), and administrative functions. The CFAO ensures organizational sustainability, operational excellence, fiscal strength, and compliance across the institution. This role aligns people, systems, financial resources, infrastructure, and organizational learning to support the long-term health and mission of The Young Center. The CFAO is responsible for building and maintaining a strong administrative and operational foundation that supports the organization’s programmatic work, ensures accountability, and promotes a culture of learning, collaboration, and equity.

ABOUT THE YOUNG CENTER

The Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights is a national organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights and best interests—safety and well-being—of immigrant children in the United States. The Young Center’s Child Advocate Program (CAP) serves as the federally appointed, independent best interests representative for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children in federal custody. Through CAP’s state initiative, we also serve and are appointed by the Superior Courts of New Jersey as independent Child Advocates to children released from federal custody into the New Jersey community. Child Advocates meet with children and learn their stories in order to identify and advocate for their best interests through an interdisciplinary, trauma-informed, and culturally sensitive lens. The Technical Assistance Program offers intersectional expertise and critical resources to advocates and service providers working with immigrant children involved in child welfare and other state court systems. The Litigation Program, the Young Center’s newest program, engages in impact litigation to advance policies that promote the safety, well-being, and best interests of immigrant children; to challenge policies and actions that harm immigrant children; and to ensure that their experiences and perspectives are considered by courts in decisions that affect them. The Young Center’s Policy Program fights for wholesale reform of the immigration system while pursuing immediate changes in policy and practice that center children’s rights and best interests in all decisions. 

The Young Center has offices in Houston, San Antonio, and Harlingen, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; New York, New York; Washington, D.C.; Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; and Grand Rapids, Michigan. We also serve children through our programs in New Jersey. 

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic and Organizational Leadership

Serve as a strategic partner to the Executive Director and executive leadership team in shaping and implementing organizational priorities, operational strategy, and financial sustainability.
Lead long-term financial and administrative planning processes, ensuring systems and resources align with strategic goals.
Oversee the development and refinement of organizational performance metrics (KPIs) to strengthen accountability and support data-informed decision-making.
Support Board committees by providing information relevant to Board decisions/votes, including Finance, Audit, and Operations, ensuring transparent reporting and timely communication.
Advise on organizational structure, operational capacity and resource allocation.

Financial Leadership and Oversight

Provide executive oversight of all financial functions, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, reporting, and compliance.
Partner with the Senior Accounting Manager to develop the annual organization-wide budget and long-term financial models.
Ensure strong internal controls, sound fiscal stewardship, and compliance with federal, state, and grant requirements.
Oversee restricted and unrestricted funding allocations in collaboration with Development and Program leadership.
Lead the annual audit, coordinating with external auditors and ensuring timely and accurate submissions.
Provide financial updates and strategic recommendations to the Executive Director and Board of Directors.

Operational Management

In collaboration with the Director of HR & Operations, lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of administrative and operational systems that enhance organizational effectiveness.
Oversee facilities, technology systems, IT support, office management, and risk management practices.
Ensure administrators and support staff have systems and processes that allow for efficiency across a multi-site, hybrid work environment.
Maintain organization-wide risk management plans, safety protocols, and insurance coverage.

Human Resources & Organizational Culture

Provide executive oversight of Human Resources, ensuring equitable and transparent policies and practices in recruitment, compensation, benefits, performance management, and employee relations.
Strengthen a culture of inclusion, well-being, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Partner with the Director of HR & Operations to maintain compliance with employment laws and best practices.
Support leadership development, workforce planning, staff performance management, and succession planning across the organization.

Knowledge Management & Learning (KML)

Provide strategic oversight and supervision of the KML Manager and team.
Ensure the acquisition, development, monitoring, and ongoing improvement of systems that collect, analyze, and share organizational knowledge, data, and learning.
Align KML frameworks with organizational strategy, program needs, effectiveness, and compliance requirements.
Promote a culture of reflection, data-informed decision-making, and continuous learning across all departments.
Ensure organizational data is accurate, accessible, and leveraged for improvement.

Compliance and Risk Management

Oversee organizational compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including grant and contract obligations.
Maintain organization-wide policies and procedures that support efficient, ethical, and legally compliant operations.
Oversee contract review, vendor management, insurance requirements, and organizational risk mitigation.
Advise on proactive risk management measures.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with the Executive Director, Chief Program Officer, Chief Development and External Affairs Officer, Director of HR & Operations, Director of Institutional Giving, Senior Accounting Manager and KML Manager to ensure alignment between administrative infrastructure and programmatic needs.
Promote transparent communication, shared accountability, and collaboration across teams.
Lead organization-wide initiatives that improve workflow, knowledge sharing, and operational consistency.
Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

10+ years of progressively responsible leadership experience in nonprofit or public sector finance, operations, and administration.
At least 5 years of senior leadership experience overseeing financial management.
Strong understanding of nonprofit accounting, compliance, financial analysis, and budgeting.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams, engaging in future scenarios planning, and managing operational infrastructure.
Experience with HR functions, organizational policy development, and risk management.
Experience supervising data, knowledge management, or learning functions.
Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and the mission of The Young Center.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Master’s degree in nonprofit management, public administration, business administration, finance, or related field.
Experience with multi-site, hybrid workforce structures.
Familiarity with knowledge management systems, evaluation frameworks, or data visualization tools.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical demands include regular meeting attendance, keyboarding, and sitting for long periods in front of a computer (at least 5 hours a day). Ability to use computer, telephone, and scanner/printer/copy machine. Ability to travel by plane, car and other conveyances within U.S. Occasional lifting for event setup/preparation.

APPLICATION DETAILS

The Young Center is an "at-will" and equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate in and affirmatively factors diversity into its hiring practices. Young Center encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, creed, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, ancestry, marital or parental status, pregnancy, citizenship, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veterans’ status. Reasonable accommodation will be made so that qualified disabled applicants may participate in the application process; no applicant will be penalized for requesting an accommodation. Please advise in writing of special needs at the time of application.

$149,958 to $193,623 is the standard new hire range for this position ($164,953-$212,985 for those residing in the Los Angeles and DC metropolitan areas; $172,451-$222,666 for those residing in the NYC metropolitan area). Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to location and experience. The Young Center does not ask for prior pay history from our candidates and our offer-making process is negotiation-free for salaries and benefits. We offer our best possible salary based on relevant experience. The range listed is just one component of the Young Center’s total compensation package for employees. The Young Center provides excellent benefits, including health/dental/vision insurance (employee & dependents) at no cost to the employee, paid vacation, sick time, and a 401(k) plan with employer match.

A criminal background check will be conducted.

Review of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please apply on the Young Center website with a cover letter, resume and six references (2 Supervisors; 2 Peers/Cross-Functional Partner; 2 Direct Reports). Please contact Liz Farias, Talent & Culture Manager with any questions. [email protected]

To learn more about the Young Center’s work, please visit www.TheYoungCenter.org.

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