CFTC - Vice President of Finance and Operations

Vice President of Finance and Operations

About Canadian Feed The Children

Canadian Feed the Children’s vision is a world in which children thrive, free of poverty. CFTC works with and through local partners in Uganda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Bolivia, and with Indigenous Nations and communities in Canada, to deliver programs that have positive, meaningful, and sustained impact on the health, education and well-being of children and the selfsufficiency of their families and communities.

CFTC is a community and partner-led organization founded over 35 years ago. CFTC helps people achieve long-term change for children, families and communities with a focus on food security and education as catalysts of change, and capacity building to ensure sustainability.

CFTC is achieving significant advances in creating greater food security – especially in the face of the growing impacts of climate change on smallholder farmers – for families and communities through largescale, collaborative and institutionally-funded projects.

Last year, CFTC reached 147,392 people in 111 high-need communities recognizing that supporting immediate food security and education needs is the first step to healthy futures for children, families and communities. In Canada, support is reaching across Turtle Island where 31 Indigenous partners and communities are helping children and youth re-connect to their heritage, and repair ties broken by colonization and residential schools.

Globally, programs are helping women access financial services, support their families and build new businesses around the world. All through the support of institutional and individual donors as well as foundations.

In 2022, the organization began an exciting new chapter, a revisioning of its future with the launch of a new strategic planning process and rebranding exercise. 2023 will see the completion of this new strategy and the launch of an exciting new brand identity that more closely aligns with the organization’s values.

Mission

To unlock children’s potential through community-led action in Canada and around the world

Vision

A world where children thrive free from poverty

Values

With shared values as touchstones, we are able to act with courage, honesty and integrity to deliver impact.

• We are driven by our mission

• We are innovative and open to change

• We are a listening and respectful organization

• We believe in each other’s potential

Role Summary

Canadian Feed the Children (CFTC) is seeking a strategic and highly collaborative Vice President of Finance and Operations (VPFO). The VPFO will be a key member of the senior leadership team and central to leading a growing global organization working in partnerships across five countries, including in Canada. The role will appeal to a purpose driven finance and administration leader with a proven track record of building new processes and controls and transforming business through the use of technology as well as extensive financial management and reporting experience. Strong leadership skills, business acumen combined with strong communication skills and high emotional intelligence are key to the success of this role.

The Vice President of Finance and Operations (VPFO) has principal oversight for CFTC’s financial management, operations, IT/knowledge management, procurement, and facilities. This includes strategic leadership and management as well as all aspects of financial operations, accounting, payroll, forecasting, budgeting, risk management, managing key performance indicators and financial reporting, funder reporting and relationships, and support to the board. This role is responsible for leading the integration and collaboration of teams and functional areas,

ensuring cohesive and strategically aligned annual operating plans, and facilitating a process to enhance, design and roll-out organizational-wide systems and processes. The VPFO works closely with seniorlevel leaders across the organization, serving as an operational business partner and trusted advisor to the Senior Leadership Team, the President & CEO, and the volunteer Board of Directors.

As part of the Senior Leadership team, the VPFO contributes to building and modeling a positive and engaging organizational culture, and establishing a great working relationship with staff, the board of directors and all the stakeholders, including supporting and advancing CFTC’s diversity, equity, inclusion, antiracism and decolonization efforts. This contribution is of great importance to CFTC work internationally and its work with Indigenous Peoples and organizations across Turtle Island, to ensure alignment with CFTC’s vision, mission and values.

2023 will mark a very exciting year at Canadian Feed the Children. An Indigenous-led strategic planning process is underway and as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the VPFO will play a key role in developing and operationalizing this new plan.

Responsibilities

Finance

• Oversee CFTC’s financial accountability and controls and ensure appropriate fiscal controls are in place to meet statutory compliance, both in Canada and internationally, including the integrity of data and statements.

• Oversee and manage direct reports to ensure the delivery of effective financial and accounting functions including budgeting, financial forecasting, cash flow management and grants management, both in Canada and abroad, ensuring that all transactions are undertaken in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and all policies of the organization.

• Develop and manage the finance departmental budget which includes facilities, IT and administration. In consultation with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), develop the annual CFTC budget on behalf of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee (FAC) for Board approval.

• Provide internal customer service to develop and administer a financial management system to serve organizational needs including grants and donations, banking, planning, controls, reporting and analysis.

• Review, recommend and make process improvement of financial, accounting and budgeting systems, improving financial controls where necessary.

• Provide support and advice to the SLT on resource allocation, risk assessment, budgets and financial management.

Operational Leadership

• Build and improve operational and administrative systems ensuring all are fit for purpose.

• Interface with all departments of the organization to ensure that daily operations are aligned to strategic plans.

• Foster and develop collaboration between departments, business units, and other internal groups to ensure an integrated approach to operations and support CFTC’s strategic goals and objectives.

• In collaboration with the VP of Programs and Partnerships (VPPP), ensure a cross functional team approach is developed and implemented across the program and finance teams to support program operations.

• In close collaboration with the VP Philanthropy monitor fundraising revenue and track annual targets to ensure fundraising goals are met.

Information Technology

• Lead the IT strategy and functions of the organization, including SharePoint, information systems development and maintenance, networks, security, hardware, relations with vendors and all other related activities.

• Ensure an enabling information technology (IT) and knowledge management environment.

• Oversee cybersecurity and consistent implementation of security controls to protect CFTC assets (physical or logical) and confidential and sensitive information.

Candidate Profile

• Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation along with a post-secondary degree in a relevant discipline.

• At least ten or more years of relevant and progressive senior financial management experience with direct responsibility for international and Canadian financial activities.

• Demonstrated senior financial management expertise, gained from working within complex non-profits, charities or international development organizations.

• Excellent knowledge of the Income Tax Act as it relates to charitable organizations, experience with charitable tax audits, CRA audits, etc.

• Experience in the financial oversight of donor funded programs, in particular GAC, and the ability to manage direct reports to do the same.

• Knowledge of Canada’s colonial history and its impact on Indigenous Peoples.

• Demonstrated success in cultivating highperformance teams, an inclusive and collaborative leadership style, respectful and effective communication skills, inspiring coaching and supervisory skills.

• Strong business sense and change management skills.

• Strong operational experience with an entrepreneurial mindset to generate new approaches, identify improvements and initiate action.

• Demonstrated cultural knowledge, sensitivity and awareness of diverse communities.

• Demonstrated strategic, financial leadership and management abilities.

• Able to navigate ambiguity and organizational change effectively combined with the talent for improving process, practice and structure.

• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to act as a team player and provide a high level of service to internal and external customers.

• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability and willingness to work additional and flexible hours when required.

• Ability and willingness to travel to CFTC offices in various locations.

• Desire to make a difference while having fun in the process.

• Eligible to work in Canada.

• Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, decolonization, anti-racism and anti-oppression including demonstrated cultural knowledge, sensitivity and awareness of diverse communities.

Desired:

• Living experience as a person of Indigenous identity.

• Living or lived experience in the Global South.

• Living or lived experience in an Indigenous community.

Equality Statement

Canadian Feed the Children is dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace, If you’re excited about this role and believe you have what it takes, but your skills and experience don’t align perfectly with every qualification in this profile, we encourage you to apply.

Ongoing compliance with CFTC policies is a condition of employment and a requirement of this position. These policies include but are not limited to child protection, confidentiality, respect in the workplace and code of conduct.

Equality and diversity are at the core of CFTC’s values. Staff are expected to work collectively and individually to promote a constructive and sensitive approach to others from a variety of backgrounds, where the work of others is valued and respected.

How to Apply

All correspondence, at this stage, should be via Oxford HR. To apply for this post, click on the “Apply” button on the job advert page, complete our online application form, and submit your CV and cover letter. Please provide a CV and cover letter in two different documents, which should be prepared before applying as they will be considered in the application process. The cover letter should be no more than two pages long and explain why you are interested in this post and how your skills and experience make you a good fit.

The document should be saved in PDF in the following format: Your First Name-Your Last Name-Document Name-Date (mmyy) e.g., Pat-Jones-CV-122022-CFTC or Pat-JonesCoverLetter-122022-CFTC.

Timeline Closing

Date: February 7th, 2023

Selection Process

All candidates will receive an update regarding their application after the closing date. We advise candidates to add the role email to their safe senders list and regularly check their spam folder.

Queries

If you have any queries on any aspect of the appointment process, need additional information, or would like to have an informal discussion, please email at canadianfeedthechild-vpfinance@oxfordhr.com in the first instance.

About Oxford HR

Oxford HR operates globally - mainly within the international development and charity sectors. We carry out retained executive search mandates at board and senior management levels. We also offer human resource and organisational development consultancy.

Oxford HR has many years of experience in search as well as an extensive network of international development, social sector, corporate, public sector, and academic contacts from across the world. We carry out comprehensive and often international searches designed to meet the specific needs of our client.