Senior Director of Finance and Administration - Research!America

Research!America is building on a year of significant impact, advancing science as a national priority through strategic advocacy, coalition leadership, and deep engagement with policymakers. As Senior Director of Finance and Administration, you will steward the financial and operational foundation that powers this momentum, ensuring Research!America continues to grow responsibly and amplify its influence.

Reporting to the Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer (EVP/COO), you will serve as the organization’s lead financial executive and head of administration, overseeing two direct reports who manage day-to-day accounting, HR, IT, and facilities. Working closely with the EVP/COO and leadership across the organization, you will lead budgeting, audits, grant accounting, financial reporting, and analysis for an $8 million organization with diverse revenue streams, including membership dues, foundation grants, individual contributions, and corporate sponsorships. You will support the Board of Directors with accurate reporting and clear narratives that communicate performance, trends, and risks. You will also manage Research!America’s $7.5 million investment portfolio, consulting with external advisors and the Finance Committee to meet investment objectives.

In addition to your finance and accounting leadership, you will oversee strategic administrative functions, including HR, IT, facilities, insurance, risk management, and retirement plan administration; manage relationships with external partners and service vendors; and provide operational stability that allows program teams to focus on impact.

This role is ideal for a leader who thrives on collaboration and wants to serve as a strategic partner on every initiative—from building grant budgets with program teams to advising executive leadership on organizational strategy. You will work across the entire organization, serving as the financial lead on major projects while maintaining the autonomy to innovate and drive meaningful improvements.

How You’ll Make an Impact

This is an exciting time to join Research!America as we welcome a new President & CEO this year. You'll play a central role in strengthening infrastructure and ensuring seamless financial and administrative operations during this important transition. Success in your first 1–2 years will be demonstrated by:

• Continuing our 18-year history of clean audits by maintaining strong internal controls, providing support to the Audit Committee, and ensuring financials are audit-ready.
• Building trusting relationships with the Finance Committee and Board through data-driven, transparent presentations that connect financial performance to strategic goals and provide insights for decision-making.
• Identifying improvements in financial systems, exploring integrations between financial and donor technology platforms, and streamlining grant accounting and reporting processes to support program success.
• Enhancing budget-to-actual monitoring, improving cash flow projections that account for grant cycles and fundraising variability, and optimizing the reserve fund to support sustainability.

Work Environment, Salary, and Benefits

• This role offers a hybrid schedule with 2–3 days each week at our Washington, DC, metro area headquarters.
• The budgeted salary range for this position is $160K - 175K, with an outstanding benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage; life insurance; disability insurance; a 403(b) retirement plan; and parking or Metro benefits.
• You’ll join a warm, welcoming, and active team passionate about addressing critical issues impacting the health of our nation and society. We value innovation, flexibility, and adaptability in working together and in our outward-facing roles.

Responsibilities

• Working with the EVP/COO, provide strategic financial guidance to the Board of Directors, including the Finance and Audit Committees.
• Provide staff support to the Audit Committee, assisting the committee with the appointment of an independent auditor and supporting the audit team during the audit and preparation of IRS Form 990.
• Supervise the part-time Controller and the Director of Operations and Human Resources. Cultivate professional growth, accountability, teamwork, and collaboration within a supportive work environment.
• Collaborate with the staff leadership team in developing the annual budget for approval by the Finance Committee and Board of Directors.
• Lead all aspects of financial management, including budget management and reporting. Coordinate AR and CR with the development team to ensure separation of duties and process AP on a timely basis.
• Collaborate with staff across the organization on grants management and provide grant accounting and timely reporting to program leads.
• Evaluate, update, and implement all necessary accounting policies, procedures, and practices as well as business practices. Ensure financial adherence to accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls, including separation of duties.
• Oversee the investment portfolio, maintaining regular communication with account managers at the investment firm and making recommendations to the Finance Committee for changes in investments or asset allocations within Research!America’s investment policy.
• Serve as trustee and plan administrator for the retirement plan. Engage the plan fiduciary consultant (NFP) and bookkeeper (TIAA) to ensure a range of quality investment options and compliance with IRS, DOL, and other requirements for ERISA plans.
• Manage the organization’s insurance coverage and risk management initiatives.
• Manage the relationship with Research!America’s banking institution and other vendors supporting finance and administration.
• Manage contract administration, working with outside legal counsel as necessary.
• Provide oversight of office operations, including leading the process to identify office requirements to secure new office space prior to the current lease expiration in August 2027.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance (CPA preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive nonprofit finance and accounting and general operations leadership, with at least 5 years as a controller or similar senior finance and administration
• Extensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) with proven experience leading audits and preparing IRS Form 990.
• Ability to communicate complex financial data to non-finance stakeholders, including boards of directors and program staff. Prior experience supporting board committees.
• Experience with oversight of investments and endowments.
• Demonstrated experience with grant accounting and budgeting for foundation grants and other non-federal funding sources.
• Proficiency with fund accounting systems (e.g., Sage 100) and financial management tools. Comfortable evaluating systems and improving processes through technology.
• Administrative experience to include HR, IT infrastructure, compliance, risk management, and general operations of a nonprofit.

About Research!America

Research!America is a nonprofit medical and health research advocacy alliance that advocates for science, discovery, and innovation to achieve better health for all. Together with our member organizations that represent a vast array of medical, health, and scientific fields, our goals are: (1) Achieve funding for medical and health research from the public and private sectors at a level warranted by scientific opportunity and supported by public opinion. (2) Better inform the public of the benefits of medical and health research and the institutions that perform research. (3) Motivate the public to actively support medical and health research and the complementary sciences that make advances possible. (4) Promote and empower a more active public and political life by individual members of the research community on behalf of medical and health research, public health, and science overall.

Staffing Advisors is committed to reducing bias in every aspect of the hiring process. We have long recommended a competency-driven approach to hiring. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position description; we will consider people from a variety of backgrounds and career experiences.