Careers

ABOUT BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Breast cancer is a complex disease with no simple solution. Every diagnosis is unique and puts lives at risk. We must stop breast cancer in its tracks, and research is the answer. Founded in 1993 by Evelyn H. Lauder and Dr. Larry Norton, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation is the largest private funder of breast cancer research in the world. We invest in a wide range of research—including prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and metastasis—because each area of investigation informs another, propelling us toward the solutions we urgently need.  We convene and connect the best minds in science—giving them the opportunity to pursue their most innovative ideas. Our combination of investment and cross-disciplinary collaboration accelerates the entire field and builds momentum for new discoveries. BCRF-funded investigators have been behind every major breakthrough in breast cancer research, and the field is moving faster than ever. We are fueling the world’s most promising research and we can’t stop now.   
  
ABOUT THE ROLE  

Reporting to the President and CEO, the Chief Finance and Administrative Officer (CFAO) oversees the financial and operational functions and processes that advance BCRF’s work in furtherance of its mission. These include the finance, investments management, grants management,  compliance/risk management, data governance & management, information technology & security, analytics, technology product, and facilities operations of BCRF. The CFAO will serve as a senior leader in support of grantmaking, and overall organizational strategy development, monitoring and reporting impact. As a member of the seven member Senior Leadership Team (SLT), the CFAO creates and maintains financial and operational processes to ensure the successful implementation and evaluation of strategic plans and serves as an overall key strategic partner and advisor to the President and CEO and Board. This role will include a focus on change management and championing the use of technology, systems enhancements and data analytics to support planned growth.  

In management of administration, the CFAO provides the leadership, management, and vision necessary to ensure that the organization has the proper operating systems, administrative and reporting systems and processes and technology to support a new five-year strategic plan for growth. With strong internal controls, scenario planning, and financial planning and accounting, they also maintain financial monitoring, integrity and stability, ensuring that BCRF maintains the highest rating by charity watchdog agencies and a sustainable financial growth path.   

The CFAO will play a key role in developing and launching a venture philanthropy program, investing in private company’s mission-driven products and therapies.   

The CFAO also holds key board relationships and serves as the senior staff lead of two important board committees: Finance and Investment, and Audit.   

The CFAO supervises teams responsible for finance, operations, IT, facilities and office administration.   

This position is based in New York, New York.  BCRF’s general expectation for this role will require the CFAO to work onsite four days a week.  

  
Primary Responsibilities  

Passion for the Mission  

A mission-driven leader, the CFAO views this role as an opportunity to advance BCRF’s mission of preventing and curing breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising research.   

Executive Leadership  

• A seasoned leader, the CFAO brings experience managing diverse teams across finance, risk management, IT, facilities and administration functions to deliver operational excellence and advance organizational goals.  

• Recruit, supervise and mentor a team utilizing an empathetic and supportive leadership style to ensure continuous learning, innovation, retention, accountability and an overall high-performance and collaborative team.   

• Serve as an overall key strategic partner and advisor to the President and CEO, the Board, the SLT, and four affiliate organizations.  

• Lead the evaluation of internal systems and business processes to ensure continuous innovation, efficiency and responsiveness of BCRF’s growing organizational needs. Build a roadmap for continuous investments in these systems.  

• Contribute to the organization’s efforts to promote an organizational culture of high performance and accountability, through collaboration, effective communication, transparency, and continuous growth opportunities.  

• Partner with and support BCRF’s Finance and Investment and Audit Committees to fulfill their goals and fiduciary responsibilities including effective investment of BCRF’s assets.  

Strategic Planning  

• Oversee the evaluation and reporting at all levels for organization-wide metrics and progress to goal. Lead efforts to evaluate and refine strategic priorities. To that end, the CFAO will support teams in tracking outcomes, and integrating data to enhance decision making and overall impact, and lead ongoing planning meetings.  

• Identify opportunities to enhance BCRF’s overall impact and assume a critical role in shaping the organization’s strategic direction.   

• Shape the new strategic direction for all finance and administrative functions including by evaluating, developing and executing technology and systems that drive efficiencies and leverage best practices to improve operations.   

Financial Strategy and Oversight  

• Oversee the organization’s financial infrastructure and nearly $100 million budget. Direct the organization’s financial strategy and controls, budgeting for scientific grantmaking and operations, cash management, grants management and accounting; Identify and resolve any obstacles that could inhibit growth and scaling.   

• Partner with the President and CEO and SLT to assess organizational performance against both the budget and BCRF’s current 5-year strategic plan; provide financial strategic recommendations on both financial strategy and operations based on financial analysis and projections, cost identification and allocation, and revenue/expense analysis.   

• Oversee long-term budgetary planning and costs management in alignment with BCRF’s strategic plan, sound fiscal management, maintaining at all times BCRF’s top charity ratings; identify opportunities for revenue generation and expense minimization to promote financial and operational growth to further scientific grantmaking, guided by BCRF’s Scientific Advisory Board and approved by the Board of Directors.   

• Provides support to four affiliated organizations whose employees and budgets are managed by BCRF; two of which have separate audit processes.  

• Oversees all financial reporting to the Board of Directors, and the Finance and Audit Committees, President and CEO, SLT,  and Affiliates regarding financial results, budget, investment performance, audit and longer-term financial strategy. Develop and maintain systems  and tools to provide relevant financial and operational information to inform data-driven decision making  at all levels.   

• Ensure a system of oversight and administration of all funding sources including donations from corporations, foundations, individuals and estates, through timely, accurate and detailed record keeping and reporting. Oversee the preparation and approval of all financial reporting materials for donors.  

• Implement investment decisions made by the Investment Committee in its stewardship of the organization’s more than $100 million in net assets.  

• Lead the annual audit process, liaise with external auditors, and communicate regularly with Audit Committee; assess and implement any necessary systems and reporting changes; oversee annual 990 filing and all other financial and operational regulatory requirements.  

• Oversee timely and accurate payroll processing.  Collaborate with Human Resources on annual employee compensation and benefits review.   

• Continuously develop and improve financial systems, internal controls and reporting.   

Risk Management and Administrative Services  

• Collaborate with the members of the SLT to develop and implement short- and long-term plans for the development of robust operating systems, processes and policies with maximum effectiveness and efficiencies.   

• Ensure compliance with relevant internal policies and procedures as well as international, federal, state and local regulations application to all organizational activities.   

• Oversee contract management, work closely with external legal counsel to ensure carefully crafted agreements.   

• Mitigate operational risks including maintaining internal controls, insurance coverage, and managing key vendor relationships.  

• Maintain a safe and productive office environment (facilities management.)  

Information Technology (IT)  

• Identify opportunities and champion the development of new strategies for effective digital transformation.   

• Support and manage IT professionals (currently outsourced) to ensure access to and effective use of Information Technology hardware, software and systems to support fundraising, communications, research and grantmaking, and financial accounting and reporting including: document management, CRM, peer-to-peer fundraising, galas, and digital fundraising.   

• Develop and maintain systems to ensure data security and compliance.  

ABOUT YOU   

You have:  

• A passion for the mission and work of BCRF  

• An ability to be hands on while also providing vision and strategy   

• Strong proficiency in financial reporting, maintaining effective internal controls and working constructively with external auditors 

• High ethics, integrity and values  

• A high degree of ease deploying technology, data and systems to stay ahead of trends, anticipate challenges and ensure maximum effectiveness   

You are:  

• A people person with leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills   

• A collaborative and team-oriented leader who leads by example  

• Hands-on tactical while also strategic and analytic. Nimble and responsive to emerging opportunities  

• Goal and results driven, acting with accountability to create and motivate others to deliver on goals  

In addition, you have the following qualifications and experience:  

• A minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in finance and administration; five or more years in a CFO or similar role strongly preferred.   

• CPA strongly preferred  

• Experience working in the non-profit sector with demonstrated exemplary strategic and financial acumen  

• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills as well as knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and applying these in the non-profit sector  

• Experience leading change humanely, a strong belief in donor centricity, and a growth mindset.   

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite including Excel and donor/CRM/accounting databases  

• Demonstrated cultural competence; can effectively build, manage and lead diverse teams.  

• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills, able to successfully manage and prioritize multiple time-sensitive projects.   

• Demonstrated ability to build and implement systems that enable reporting and seamless integration of systems for required reporting and data-driven decision making.   

• Leadership in executing strategy for dynamic and changing organizations and building sustainable growth.  

• Proven understanding of how to collaborate with teams to manage financial systems that streamline processes to support the efforts of the entire workforce and attain goals  

    
Compensation and Benefits:  
This is a full-time exempt role.  The salary range for this role is $300,000-$325,000.    

Our compensation package includes an exceptional benefits package focusing on employee physical, mental and financial wellness.  More specifically we offer  

• Medical, dental and vision coverage from the first day of employment; with the election of certain medical plans, BCRF helps significantly defray the cost of out-of-pocket expenses with contributions to a health reimbursement account or heath savings account.   

• The opportunity to enroll in pre-tax Commuter Transit, Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account and Dependent Care Account from the first day of employment.   

• 401K, with up to a 5% match each pay period; employee contributions and any match are immediately fully vested  

• Paid parental leave offering 18 weeks 100% paid leave for a birthing parent and 12 weeks 100% paid leave for non-birthing parent  

• Paid Time Off including  

• 20 days of annual vacation time 

• 7 days of annual paid sick time  

• Paid holidays along with BCRF-wide half days and summer Fridays  

To Apply:  
Please submit a CV and cover letter expressing your intention to apply for the role. After uploading your CV, please select the "upload attachment" option on the next screen to provide your cover letter.  
  
Only candidates short-listed for an initial interview will be contacted. Please, no phone calls.   
  
Our Commitments  
  
BCRF upholds an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law. This policy applies to all applicants, employees, consultants, third-party workers.