Job Description

Children International (CI) is at an exciting moment in its journey—poised for growth, evolving, and launching a bold new strategic plan to expand its global impact. As a purpose-driven non-profit organization committed to investing in children so they can break the cycle of poverty, the organization is seeking a transformational Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to develop new strategies to increase the organization’s impact in a changing world, driving financial excellence and strategic growth while maximizing impact on the communities. This is more than a financial leadership role; it is a mission-critical opportunity to shape the future of a global nonprofit, ensuring sustainable growth, operational excellence, and greater reach for our life-changing programs.

The next CFO will step into a high-impact leadership role, working as a thought leader and true strategic partner to our dynamic President & CEO and executive team to drive innovation, steward resources, and enhance financial systems and capabilities in support our expanding mission. This is a rare opportunity for a visionary leader to transition from “Success to Significance”—from holding significant financial leadership roles to a position of true significance—directly influencing the lives of children worldwide. We need a CFO who brings not only deep financial expertise but also the ability to embrace bold thinking, drive change, and leverage technology as an enabler to help lead CI into its next era of growth and transformation.

HISTORY

Founded in 1936, Children International is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to providing life-changing support to children and families in underserved communities worldwide. Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, CI operates in 10 countries, focusing on health, education, empowerment, and employment programs to help children break the cycle of poverty and unleash children and youth to multiply good in the world. Over their 90 year history, the organization has grown their ability to deliver critical programs, by working closely within the communities they serve around the world.

POSITION OVERVIEW

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the CFO will serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and play a pivotal role in shaping the financial strategy of the organization. The new CFO will be responsible for all traditional functions of the finance department, including advising the CEO and partnering with the audit committee of the board of directors. This role will also build financial capabilities and leverage technology to enable a strategic transformation to support CI’s long-term sustainability and vision of the future. This is a high-visibility leadership role that calls for exceptional strategic and communications skills, as well as functional expertise. While the organization is financially healthy and well-positioned today, the new CFO will help look to the future. This means working to innovate global strategies for maximum local impact and driving sustainable growth. They will also lead efforts to expand support for initiatives that directly impact children and communities worldwide.

The CFO will oversee all aspects of financial operations, including controllership, budgeting, financial planning and analysis, data analytics, treasury, risk management, legal, and compliance, leading a team of 15 staff including 3 direct reports. The role is based in Kansas City, Missouri, and an onsite office presence is required on a regular basis.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Overall Leadership & Strategic Priorities:

• Lead the development and implementation of strategic financial strategies to support a growth-enabling operating model that aligns with CI’s mission, goals and long-term growth priorities, integrating revenue strategies, operational effectiveness, and financial sustainability over a multi-year horizon.
• Develop frameworks to optimize the cost-effectiveness of CI’s programs, ensuring the organization is delivering impact in the most cost-effective way.
• Embrace digital transformation and data-driven tools to improve decision-making, operational efficiency, and long-term planning.
• Assess and upgrade finance capabilities. Align people and resources within the Finance and Data teams to meet the evolving needs of the organization. Invest in succession planning.
• Design and implement a financial framework of planning, reporting, metrics, including a comprehensive KPI dashboard, to drive end to end aligned decision at the right level across the organization.
• Develop an agile, data-driven budgeting, forecasting and reporting process clearly aligned with CI’s strategic plan, highlighting clear financial implications for leadership decision-making over multiple years.
• Ensure alignment of CI’s investment strategy with evolving business models and longterm financial objectives.
• Integrate the data analytics team within into the Finance organization to foster a collaborative, technology-enabled approach to support critical analysis.

Technology & Finance Team Optimization:

• Develop, lead and mentor the finance team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development, to enhance overall competence and partner confidence with the finance team interactions and output.
• Play a leadership role in building a financial operations Center of Excellence within the organization.
• Identify, assess, and implement digital transformation initiatives to enhance organizational value, including automation of finance processes, advanced data analytics, and the adoption of emerging financial technologies to improve efficiency and financial transparency.
• Lead CI’s Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) strategy, proactively identifying financial risks impacting CI’s ability to deliver on its mandate and mission and developing mitigation plans to ensure financial stability.

BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE

• 15 - 20 years’ progressive financial leadership experience, including previous experience as CFO and/or VP Finance with CFO responsibilities.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or business administration, coupled with an MBA; a CPA certification is helpful, but not required.
• Demonstrated analytical skills and business acumen, including strong overall knowledge of financial and management reporting, financial planning and analysis, treasury, risk management, audit, taxation, controllership, and internal controls.
• Tech-savvy, with a track record of developing, implementing and scaling financial systems and processes to meet the evolving needs of the organization. Experience leveraging innovative technologies is an essential requirement; use of AI solutions would be helpful.
• The ideal candidate will bring a combination of private sector/for-profit and non-profit experience, blending a ‘for-profit mindset’ with a great heart for CI’s mission. Prior experience serving on the board of a large non-profit organization is an asset.
• Ability to travel outside of the United States to the regions where CI operates is required.
• Spanish language bilingual highly preferred but not required.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA – IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Values Alignment – Exudes a deep personal commitment to the values of Children International, including humility, compassion, continuous learning, and the belief in the potential of every individual. Bold and results-oriented, while balancing a “highly accountable” and “highly human” mindset.
• Strategic Agility and Adaptability – Intellectually sharp and able to think on their feet while demonstrating outstanding business judgment. Demonstrates superior strategic thinking, financial acumen and analytical skills to re-think business models, drive long-range planning initiatives, elevate performance, and help transform and lead the organization into the future.
• Broad Experience and Leadership – Deep functional and multi-sector experience, with a proven ability to thrive in a diverse and complex organizational structure. High capacity thought and people leader who can influence and lead others to achieve results aligned with the mission and values of the organization. Demonstrated potential for long-term succession.
• Performance-Orientation – Operates with urgency, resourcefulness, and accountability, consistently driving measurable outcomes. Comfortable working both operationally and strategically, with an ability to ‘zoom in, zoom out’ as needed.
• Communication and Influencing Skills – Demonstrated executive presence and gravitas. Open and clear communicator with high interpersonal sensitivity, working as a trusted advisor and partner to the CEO, Leadership Team, Board of Directors. “Collaborator Extraordinaire” who takes a thoughtful and authentic approach to building and nurturing strong, trusting relationships.

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