Employment Opportunity: Director of Operations and Finance

December 21, 2023

Capitalize Albany Corporation is seeking a highly-motivated and organized individual to join the team as the Director of Operations and Finance. The Corporation is charged with local economic development in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and has broad and lasting positive impact on NY’s Capital City and Region. This key role contributes to Capitalize Albany’s overall mission by leading and supporting seamless fiscal, operational and human resource management systems, procedures, and processes for Capitalize Albany Corporation and two related agencies, ensuring that the organizations operate efficiently, comply with regulations, and nurture a high-performing and talented team. The ideal candidate will be an experienced professional with specific expertise in fiscal management and fund accounting, human resource law and best practice, nonprofit management and governance, property management and IT/operations management. The successful candidate must be detail-oriented, results-driven, and able to both take direction and demonstrate critical thinking necessary to act independently. This position is supervised by and reports to the President.

About the Capitalize Albany Team

The small, dedicated and talented team at Capitalize Albany and its engaged and influential Board of Directors strive to inspire investment in the City of Albany. The Corporation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and local public authority with the mission of facilitating strategic economic development and stimulating transformative investment throughout the City of Albany, making New York’s Capital a vibrant place to thrive. A catalyst for economic growth, the Corporation serves as the City’s official economic development arm, developing strategies and matching projects with the right partners, tools & resources to equitably stimulate transformational local real estate development & business investment. Capitalize Albany also manages the City’s industrial development agency – a critical tool for local development. As a staff, the Capitalize Albany team values drive, teamwork, flexibility and follow-through and looks forward to welcoming new perspectives and areas of expertise.

Our Community

The City of Albany, Capital of New York, has a population of 97,000. With a rich history and located at the crossroads of two of the Northeast’s busiest interstate highways along the historic Hudson River, Albany’s distinctive commercial districts and neighborhoods make Albany an urban center of diverse residential, commercial and institutional activity. In addition to being the seat of local, county and state government, Albany is the commercial and cultural heart of a million-person region with major growth in the healthcare, creative economy and technology sectors. The City is home to three hospitals, ten colleges and universities, and hundreds of thriving businesses across all sectors.

Albany is a small city with the potential for big impact. Its affordability, quality of life, and sense of community are matched by its access to major public and private-sector organizations, diversity of cultural, natural and recreational destinations in the Capital Region, and easy proximity to major population centers like Montreal, Boston and New York. This combination offers unparalleled opportunities for residents and businesses alike.

Responsibilities
Operations and Compliance

  • Maintain and create policies and procedures to streamline and optimize operational processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to ensure seamless operations around project and program management, procurement and grant management and property management.
  • Implement best practices in project management, procurement, and risk management to maintain compliance.
  • Coordinate annual compliance reporting activities for three organizations (Capitalize Albany, the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and the City of Albany Capital Resources Corporation.)
  • Maintain oversight of monthly operations and compliance activities as required by each organization’s by-laws and policy manuals including preparation of materials for Board and Committee meetings.
  • Adhere to and assist in maintaining compliance with applicable rules and regulations set in the bylaws and by oversight authorities, including filing and maintaining economic development documents.
  • Facilitate effective property management of all Corporation-controlled properties both independently and through direction and oversight of the Corporation’s Property Manager and/or other third-party vendors, ensuring property management needs, e.g., regular inspections and proactive building and site maintenance/improvements, tenant relations and lease negotiations, are met in a timely and efficient manner and communicated to executive staff.

Financial Management

  • Develop and manage the annual budget of each organization, ensuring financial sustainability through prudent financial management and the identification of potential new revenue streams, and mission alignment.
  • Provide strategic financial planning, analysis, and forecasting to support informed decision-making.
  • Maintain transparent financial reporting and ensure compliance with grant funding requirements.
  • Oversee financial reporting and audit processes, maintaining accuracy transparency and accountability.
  • Assist in the management of the Corporation’s loan portfolio.
  • Oversee third-party accounting personnel to prepare and review annual, quarterly and periodic financial statements and required nonprofit filings; ensure appropriate internal controls; perform payroll processing; and prepare and review accounts payable and receivable to ensure timely and accurate bookkeeping and appropriate operating cash flow.

Administration

  • Oversee administrative duties of three organizations (Capitalize Albany, the City of Albany Industrial Development Agency and the City of Albany Capital Resources Corporation) including attending and assisting with the preparation of minutes, presentations and materials for monthly board and committee meetings.
  • Coordinate HR functions with a third-party vendor, including benefits administration, onboarding, ongoing trainings and performance management.
  • Ensure adherence to employment laws and promote diversity and inclusion within the organization.
  • Oversee the production, filing and distribution of administrative and programmatic materials for the organizations, including the preparation of official correspondence and regular updates to the organizations’ websites regarding projects, meetings and other information.
  • Oversee office management to facilitate the Corporation’s regular maintenance of office facilities, equipment and technology, managing the repair of such and evaluating new equipment and techniques.

Other

  • Effectively manage and motivate a high-performing team including both internal and third-party personnel in the execution of the foregoing responsibilities under a matrix management structure.
  • Work and interact professionally and diplomatically with government officials, business leaders, community and neighborhood organizations and the public, prioritizing customer service.
  • Prioritize conflicting needs; handles matters expeditiously and proactively; and follows-through on projects to successful completion, often with deadline pressures.
  • Other duties as needed.

Qualifications and Skills

The successful candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Accounting or a related field; MBA or CPA preferred. A minimum of seven (7) years progressively responsible experience in financial management and operations, preferably in a nonprofit or public sector setting, is required. The successful candidate must be well-organized, results-driven and consistently detail-oriented. Exceptional financial acumen, analytical abilities and familiarity with adhering to detailed compliance requirements is essential, as are excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills. The successful candidate must be able to work as part of a team, take and execute on directions, and display critical thinking and initiative while working independently. Microsoft Office and Quickbooks proficiency and advanced word processing skills are required and experience with WordPress and Adobe products is a plus. Capitalize Albany Corporation is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. The ideal candidate will add a new perspective and skillset to complement the team’s existing strengths. Knowledge of urban development, economic development or community revitalization is a plus. An understanding of, affinity for and residency in Albany, NY upon hiring is desirable.

Compensation and Benefits

Capitalize Albany recognizes that its greatest strength is its people and is grateful to consistently attract and retain passionate, highly-qualified and highly-motivated individuals to carry out its impactful mission. As such, the Corporation offers a competitive benefits package. Salaries are commensurate with experience and performance, and are proactively and routinely assessed through formal performance reviews and third-party analysis to ensure market competitiveness. The salary range for this position is anticipated to fall between $95,000 and $110,000. Benefits include excellent health/vision/dental insurance and a robust 401-k retirement plan. The Corporation offers flexibility in the work environment, including a generous leave plan and hybrid on-site/remote operations.

To Apply

Please visit www.CapitalizeAlbany.com and email both a cover letter and resume to [email protected]  with “Director of Operations and Finance Position” in the subject line. The position will remain open until filled, and interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis.