Due to integration issues, applications submitted through third party sites such as Indeed and LinkedIn may not be received. 

The Opportunity 

This is an incredible opportunity for a strategic and team-oriented leader with a servant heart to join a trusted nonprofit organization with an experienced board, an amazing staff, and thousands of devoted volunteers. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will join a team that involves, educates, and unites people in the work of ending hunger in western North Carolina.  MANNA FoodBank is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief organization. 

The CFO leads the financial and accounting practices of the organization. This includes accounting, budgeting, audit activities, regulatory compliance, grant financial activity, banking, payroll, benefits, insurance, information technology, and a comprehensive set of controls to mitigate risk. It also means tracking cash flow and financial planning, as well as analyzing the organization’s financial strengths and weakness and proposing appropriate adjustments or corrective actions. The CFO is a key leader in fulfilling the food bank’s reporting and record keeping commitments in compliance with Feeding America. 

The CFO reports directly to the CEO and is an active member of the leadership team. The CFO works closely with the Board and serves as the primary liaison with the Finance Committee. 

The CFO will have the privilege of working alongside a committed MANNA FoodBank team: 

• In addition to the Board of Directors and the Finance Committee, there are four other Board Committees including Executive, Audit, Membership & Governance, and Development that guide and support the enterprise functions of the organization.  
• The Senior Leadership Team includes the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Development Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Director of Human Resources.  
• The Finance Team includes the CFO, Bookkeeper, and Director of IT. The CFO will provide recommendations for additional positions as needed to support the mission. 

The Ideal Candidate Profile 

The ideal candidate will have a combination of these qualities, skills, and experiences. We welcome people of all backgrounds to apply. 

Systems thinker 
The CFO will have demonstrated experience with strategy and systems integration and a talent for building and improving processes that are efficient, reliable and give our team the information needed for strong decision-making. The ideal candidate will be a lifelong learner with a passion for designing solutions; someone who can look at our financial picture and processes and recommend strategies to meet organizational needs. This person will be an innate problem-solver, who will understand needs and design processes to get things done, providing critical information in easily accessible and timely ways.  

Effective communicator and trusted partner  
The CFO will have the ability to clearly communicate and collaborate with a wide range of people, including food bank Board members, staff, and external partners. They will possess strong listening skills and be solutions oriented using financial data, projections and drivers to help the organization make sound decisions. They will have a unique ability to translate financial information in ways that others can understand and leverage in creating their own solutions to organizational challenges. 

The CFO will embody the values and mission of the organization by embracing inclusivity and caring.  They will develop relationships with Board, peers, and staff so all can belong, contribute, and succeed. The CFO will have a collaborative spirit and will be a caring leader who treats all with respect. The ideal candidate will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values; someone who can be trusted without reservation.  

Strong Organizational Skills 

The CFO will have experience and understanding of managing organizational teams and budgets. They will be familiar with management of multiple funding streams, including individual giving, government programs, contracts for service, and grant support. They will be highly strategic, setting priorities decisively but collaboratively, delegating responsibilities, and ensuring accountability. They will have experience anticipating organizational needs and planning for systems that work together to meet the mission.  

They will also effectively use technology including Microsoft Office applications, online grant applications, and other software.  Knowledge of or experience with the charitable food system is preferred. 

A team-focused leader 

The ideal candidate will have an eye consistently focused on the future and how to best adapt the team and organization to potential changes. The ideal candidate can balance collaboration and efficiency, understanding where input is needed while getting things done. The leader will have a high level of emotional intelligence with a demonstrated ability to quickly build trust and credibility with others. The CFO will have an engaging, creative, and humble character that enables them to be an effective team leader that can fully leverage the strengths of the whole team towards the mission.  

They will be skilled at listening to and learning from others with a deep belief in fostering a transparent, empowered, and productive organizational culture. The CFO will recognize the importance of the commitment of staff and will foster an atmosphere of collaboration and partnership across the organization.  

Why MANNA FoodBank? 

MANNA FoodBank, located in Asheville, North Carolina, is a private, not-for-profit service organization working to end food insecurity in the 16 counties of Western North Carolina, including the Qualla Boundary.  

At the forefront of the daily work of food distribution is a partner network of nonprofit organizations across Western North Carolina driven by caring people who are passionate about serving our communities’ most basic needs. The MANNA Partner Network is a 200+ member alliance of food pantries, meal providers, domestic violence and housing insecure shelters, care centers for seniors and children, and other direct human service organizations who also provide free food to the community they support.  

MANNA sources food to fill the pipeline to this dedicated network, and together with an army of volunteers, distributes more than 50,000 pounds of food, every day of the year, to our WNC friends and neighbors who can’t afford groceries. 

People experiencing hunger and food insecurity in our region are at the center of our actions and decisions. We envision a hunger-free Western North Carolina where everyone can participate, prosper, and have access to food that is both nourishing and culturally responsive. We recognize that systemic injustices and oppression exist, and that these create and perpetuate conditions that sustain poverty, hunger, and health disparities. 

Understanding this, we commit to serving marginalized communities, in both urban and rural environments, in ways that value identity, lived experiences, and unique barriers to accessing food. We resolve to educate ourselves, listen to our communities, elevate marginalized voices, and respond to bias and inequities that occur. We confront oppression and poverty by developing solutions to hunger that are community-driven, equitable, accessible, honor a diversity of needs, and value everyone. Our food programs and public policy efforts aim to build a society where everyone can thrive—celebrating our differences and working together to overcome injustices that might divide us… because no one should be hungry. 

Stewardship Commitment: As an excellent steward of the public trust, the CFO must uphold the highest ethical standards and transparency with financial accountability. MANNA has achieved a Charity Navigator four-star rating for 12 consecutive years, placing MANNA FoodBank in the top 2% of nonprofits nationwide. 

Want to know more? Visit MANNA FoodBank’s website at www.mannafoodbank.org.  

Key lived experiences, attributes, and skillsets sought in the CFO 

• Professionally and personally uphold our core values of compassion, collaboration, accountability, and integrity. 
• Proven leadership in financial management, high-level accounting, budgeting and forecasting, auditing, and grants management.  
• Able to build and lead a collaborative team with confidence and humility. 
• Clear commitment to the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion. 
• Organized and detailed-oriented with demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments. 
• Success working with a non-profit board of directors and finance committees. 
• Thorough knowledge of nonprofit financial and accounting practices and procedures. 
• Proven track record of successfully managing multiple complex funding streams and contracts – including federal funding - with the ability to deliver against deadlines while maintaining the flexibility necessary to adapt, respond, and meet the needs of the organization. 
• Cost conscious and problem-solving approach to daily work and oversight of expenditures to include making recommendations for changes to improve reporting to and through the departments or functions. 
• Experience with food banks and the non-profit sector is favored. 
• Advanced degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration. 

Preferred Education, Skills, Knowledge, and Experience 

• CPA certification 
• Information Technology skills and experience 

Think you are the next MANNA FoodBank Chief Financial Officer? 

To apply, click on the link to the Chief Financial Officer position. You will see instructions for uploading your compelling cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and professional references.  Please provide all requested information to be considered. In case of any technical problems, contact hannah@armstrongmcguire.com. No phone calls, please, and no applications will be accepted by email or directly from third-party posting sites. 

Review of candidates will begin in October and continue until the position is filled. 

Salary is commensurate with the requirements of the position and starts at $115K. Benefits include medical, dental, life, short term disability insurance; 401K retirement plan; accrued vacation; and paid holidays. 

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination: MANNA FoodBank is committed to equal opportunity for all employees and applicants. MANNA FoodBank does not discriminate with regards to hiring, assignment, promotion, or other conditions of staff employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal law.