Job Details

Scion Executive Search has been retained to conduct the search for an experienced and mission-driven Chief Financial Officer on behalf of the Community Action Partnership of Orange County. This is a full-time, onsite executive leadership opportunity based in Garden Grove, California.

ABOUT COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF ORANGE COUNTY

Born out of the War on Poverty more than 50 years ago, Community Action Partnership of Orange County (CAP OC) is a trusted leader in addressing the root causes and immediate impacts of poverty across the region. The organization provides critical services, including food assistance, housing support, and financial empowerment programs to individuals and families facing economic hardship.

CAP OC operates with a deep commitment to its mission: to end poverty by stabilizing, sustaining, and empowering people with the resources they need when they need them. Through strong partnerships, innovative programming, and a values-driven culture grounded in Excellence, Proactiveness, Innovation, and Collaboration (EPIC), CAP OC continues to expand its impact and strengthen communities across Orange County.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as a key member of the executive leadership team and the principal steward of CAP OC's financial health, sustainability, and strategic fiscal direction. Reporting to the President & CEO, the CFO partners closely with senior leadership and the Board of Directors to ensure strong financial management, regulatory compliance, and transparency across a complex, grant‑funded nonprofit environment.

The CFO will step into a finance function that has undergone recent transition and restructuring, including the implementation of updated reporting processes and systems. CAP OC maintains a clean audit record with no material findings; the incoming CFO will have the opportunity to build on that foundation and address timing variances related to restricted revenue and program expenditures. This role presents an opportunity to assess, strengthen, and optimize financial systems, reporting, and infrastructure moving forward.

This role requires a strategic and hands‑on financial leader who can translate data into actionable insights, strengthen systems and infrastructure, and support organizational growth while maintaining fiscal discipline and accountability. CAP OC operates with a lean, mission‑driven finance team supporting an organization with an annual operating budget of approximately $40M, and this leader will be both a strategic voice at the executive level and actively engaged in the day‑to‑day work of the department.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Lead all financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and long‑term fiscal strategy.
• Provide timely, accurate financial analysis and reporting to support executive decision‑making.
• Ensure strong financial controls, audit readiness, and compliance with nonprofit accounting standards.
• Oversee cash flow management, financial forecasting, and resource allocation aligned with organizational priorities.
• Partner closely with the Chief Development Officer to align financial planning, cash flow forecasting, and fundraising projections in support of organizational sustainability.
• Direct all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, audits, and financial reporting.
• Maintain hands‑on involvement in day‑to‑day accounting operations, including tax filings, record management, purchasing oversight, property control, and cash flow.
• Serve as the financial lead for contracts and grant management, ensuring compliance with funding requirements.
• Analyze and advise on contract terms, funding structures, and financial risks.
• Maintain strong relationships with funding agencies, auditors, and regulatory bodies.

Systems, Operations & Infrastructure

• Oversee financial systems and data integrity, ensuring accurate and timely reporting across all platforms.
• Partner with IT leadership to evaluate and enhance financial systems, infrastructure, and reporting capabilities.
• Support operational leaders with financial insights related to programs, facilities, and capital investments.
• Ensure administrative and financial processes are efficient, scalable, and aligned with best practices.

Board Engagement & Organizational Leadership

• Present financial reports and insights to the Board of Directors and relevant committees.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and executive team on financial matters.
• Lead financial discussions in executive settings, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Contribute to organizational strategy through financial planning and performance analysis.
• Lead, develop, and mentor the finance team, including direct oversight of senior accounting leadership.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement aligned with CAP OC's EPIC values.
• Ensure staff are trained, supported, and aligned with organizational goals and compliance requirements.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required; advanced degree or CPA preferred.
• Minimum of 5+ years of senior‑level financial leadership experience, ideally within a large complex nonprofit or grant‑funded environment with an annual operating budget of $20M or more.
• Demonstrated expertise in budgeting, financial reporting, audits, compliance, and financial systems management.
• Experience working with complex federal, state, and grant‑funded environments, including strong knowledge of federal compliance requirements (e.g., CSBG or similar funding streams).
• Strong experience partnering with executive leadership and Boards of Directors.
• Proficiency in financial systems (Blackbaud Financial Edge or comparable platforms strongly preferred).
• Exceptional analytical, communication, and problem‑solving skills.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

In addition to a base salary of $200,000 - $220,000 (DOE), CAP OC offers a competitive executive compensation package commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits program supporting employee health, financial security, and overall well‑being.

Scion Executive Search is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent.

For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction‑based employment ordinances, Scion Executive Search proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non‑biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.