Director of Finance

Make a Real Impact Every Day!

At Lauren’s Institute for Education (L.I.F.E.), we believe in empowering individuals with developmental disabilities through education, support, and compassion.

Why You’ll Love Working at L.I.F.E.:

Salary: $80,000 - $100,000 annually

Monday through Friday

Great Benefits:

• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Spring, Fall and Winter Paid breaks
• 12 Paid Holidays
• PTO that grows with you: 2 weeks (3 after 2 years)
• Wellness Program: earn rewards + insurance discounts
• 401K + Roth plans with company match
• Partial Paid FMLA
• This equates to an added 20 - 25% in potential benefits for total compensation.

Awesome Perks:

• 5 free L.I.F.E. shirts to start, with seasonal restocks
• Monthly cupcakes, football treats, and staff celebrations
• Employee of the Month gift + parking spot
• Birthday gifts + recognition for service milestones
• Department budgets for staff-requested items
• Discounted degree options + in-house trainings
• Eligible for federal student loan forgiveness (L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)(3))
• 10-acre facility with a thoughtfully designed and beautiful outdoor environment

Key Responsibilities:

• Representsthe organization's philosophy, values, and missionstatement.
• Collaborates with the L.I.F.E. Leadership Team to ensure Organizational needs are met.
• Acts as departmental liaison to be able to effectively communicate their individual teams’ needs whilerepresentingTop Management’s direction.
• Prepares for and attends meetings.
• Representsthe organization at industry-related events, fundraisers, and community outreach opportunities.
• Assistswith the organization of community events/open houses/special programming.
• Maintains availability for the needs of the organization as needed.
• Adheres to and helpsmaintainthe code of ethics and employee handbook.
• Ensures positive team morale.
• Ensures employeesmeetdepartmental expectations and organizational policies and procedures.
• Meets with staff/parents/consumers to resolve grievances and other matters as needed.
• Ensures open and effective communication with consumers and their families.
• Ensuresappropriate responsetime to allcommunications.
• Conducts business analysis of current operations/new ventures.
• Conducts visits to associated community partners as needed.
• Seeks out and attends professional development at least annually.
• Ensures organizational financial well-being and budget compliance.
• Maintains contact with funding sources as needed.
• Policy/procedure development.
• Oversees and ensures compliance with Safety Protocols.
• Researchanddevelopnew programming to stay current on how to best serve the consumer’s needs.
• Assistswith the development and implementation of marketing strategies.
• Researchandimplementeffective strategies and technologies.
• Oversee daily financial operations, including accounting, billing, payroll coordination, and financial record management.
• Supervise finance team members and ensure completion of assigned duties in alignment with organizational standards.
• Maintain accurate financial records and ensure proper documentation and audit trails across all transactions.
• Oversee billing processes for client services, including submissions to applicable funding sources (e.g., state and payer systems).
• Ensure timely and accurate revenue cycle management and reconciliation.
• Prepare, review, and present financial statements, reports, and analyses to leadership, board members, and other stakeholders.
• Provide regular insights into financial performance, trends, and risks to support operational and strategic decision-making.
• Support the development, monitoring, and management of organizational budgets.
• Ensure alignment between financial planning and operational goals.
• Establish and maintain internal controls, financial policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory, audit, and organizational requirements.
• Oversee preparation for external audits and support internal audit processes as needed.
• Ensure proper handling of restricted funds, donations, and grant-related financial tracking.
• Evaluate, implement, and enhance financial systems, controls, and workflows to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Recommend changes to financial strategies, policies, and procedures to strengthen organizational performance.
• Maintain relationships with financial institutions, auditors, vendors, and other external partners.
• Collaborate with internal departments to support financial needs and ensure alignment with organizational priorities.
• Generate and provide financial and operational reports as requested by executive leadership.
• Support leadership with financial presentations and ad hoc analysis.
• Assist with vendor and subcontractor financial oversight and documentation.
• Support communication across departments and with external stakeholders as needed.
• Perform other duties consistent with the role and organizational needs.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Prior experience or bachelor’s degree in related field required.
• Strong Computer Skills & Literacy
• Accounting Skills
• Budgeting Skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office
• Oral and Written Communication Skills
• Customer Service Skills
• Diplomacy
• Math Aptitude
• Organization
• Professionalism
• Time Management and Ability to Multi-task

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, or human services financial management
• Familiarity with Arizona funding sources, including DDD, AHCCCS, grants, and other state or insurance-based reimbursement models
• Experience with financial audits, including preparation for and coordination of external and internal audits
• Knowledge of compliance requirements related to regulated funding sources and financial reporting
• Experience with accounting and financial management systems (e.g., general ledger, payroll, billing platforms)
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Excel, including financial modeling, reporting, and data analysis
• Demonstrated experience developing or improving financial processes, controls, and reporting structures
• Experience managing or supervising finance or accounting staff
• Strong ability to support leadership with financial strategy, forecasting, and decision-making

Physical Demands:

This position requires a combination of routine administrative activity and occasional physical tasks. Employees must be able to:

• Sit, communicate, and remain attentive to surroundings for extended periods
• Occasionally stand, walk, bend, kneel, or reach as part of daily responsibilities
• Lift and move up to 50 pounds when assisting consumers with mobility, transfers, equipment, or program materials
• Push or move items up to 50 pounds, such as wheelchairs, furniture, or supplies
• Maintain adequate vision (close, distance, and peripheral) to complete job-related tasks safely and effectively