Insight Housing Careers

 

 

 

For more than 55 years, Insight Housing (formerly Berkeley Food & Housing Project) has provided a comprehensive range of housing, food, and support services to help those in need move from homelessness into a safe and affordable home of their own. We serve in seven counties in the Bay Area - Alameda County, San Francisco County, Contra Costa County, Solano County, Sacramento County, San Joaquin County and Amador County. We are proud of our team members who are very dedicated to our mission of ensuring everyone in our community has a home through supportive and sustainable housing solutions.

 

Insight Housing recognizes that our participants need more than a meal and a warm bed; they need to be respected as individuals making a transition back to full and thriving life. Depending on their individual needs, Insight Housing services can include:

• Emergency and temporary housing, rapid rehousing, permanent supportive housing

• Fresh and nutritious meals, water, and snacks

• Wellness checks and links to medical providers

• Life skills and vocational counseling

• Family reunification support

 

 

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a strategic partner to the CEO and a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for stewarding our financial health, sustainability, and growth. The CFO will lead all aspects of finance and accounting for a $31M+ multi-site nonprofit organization, ensuring excellence in financial planning, budgeting, compliance, and reporting.

In addition to leading the Finance and Accounting functions, the CFO will directly oversee the Real Estate Development portfolio. This includes supervising the Director of Real Estate Development and managing all aspects of affordable and permanent supportive housing development, from feasibility and funding to construction and integration into agency operations.

The CFO will play a central role in aligning financial resources, capital investments, and strategic planning to ensure can scale its housing impact in Northern California. The ideal candidate is a values-driven executive with deep financial expertise, strong cross-functional leadership skills, and a commitment to advancing housing justice. They will bring a collaborative mindset, a track record of managing complex funding streams, and experience supporting both compliance and innovation in a high-impact, community-based setting.

 

 

 

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO, Board of Directors, and executive team on organizational growth, fiscal sustainability, and long-term planning

• Lead organization-wide financial strategy and risk assessment, aligning resources with mission priorities and programmatic goals

• Support equity-centered financial practices and transparency in budgeting, forecasting, and compensation

• Collaborate with executive and departmental leadership (Programs, Philanthropy, HR, IT) to ensure financial alignment across functions

• Build and mentor a high-performing Finance and Accounting team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement

 

 

• Lead the development and monitoring of long-term financial strategy, including balance sheet strength, capital planning, and cash flow forecasting

• Oversee all financial functions, including accounting, internal controls, payroll, AP/AR, audits, budgeting, forecasting, compliance, and investments

• Develop and manage organizational operating, capital, and infrastructure budgets in partnership with department leaders

• Supervise financial components of grants and contracts, including spend-down, funder compliance, cost allocations, and restricted fund tracking

• Lead the organization’s internal audit process, ensuring timely, accurate preparation of financial statements and reports

• Oversee preparation of monthly and quarterly internal financial reports; ensure timely distribution and facilitate departmental understanding and use

• Manage treasury, banking, and investment activities and maintain relationships with financial institutions and auditors

• Ensure compliance with GAAP, OMB Uniform Guidance, and local, state, and federal regulatory requirements

• Oversee tax filings and financial reporting for government contracts and philanthropic grants

• Periodically assess financial systems and processes for efficiency, scalability, and internal control improvements

 

 

• Supervise the Director of Real Estate Development and lead the strategy, planning, and execution of affordable and permanent supportive housing pipeline

• Oversee project feasibility analysis, site selection, predevelopment, and development financing

• Manage all financing activities, including acquisition of tax credits, bonds, soft funds, and equity; lead lender and investor negotiations

• Ensure projects are financially feasible, aligned with the organization’s mission, and integrated into long-term asset and operations plans

• Oversee development budgets, financial modeling, capital stack structuring, and reporting

• Ensure timely submission of applications for local, state, and federal funding sources

• Coordinate with Facilities and Operations to support smooth site integration and long-term stewardship

 

 

• Partner with the Development team on financial planning for philanthropic initiatives, grant applications, donor reporting, and stewardship of restricted funds

• Support Programs and Services teams in aligning program budgets with funder expectations and service delivery goals

• Collaborate across departments to ensure financial tools, data, and insights support organizational learning and decision-making

 

 

• Lead strategy for financial systems and software; ensure tools meet evolving organizational needs and support transparency and integration

• Oversee implementation and management of accounting systems

• Ensure alignment between finance systems and broader organizational data strategy, reporting, and compliance needs.

 

 

• Drive own vehicle to the field and to other program sites, as required; documenting and reporting mileage according to agency procedures, so that services can be provided in a timely manner; comply with agency driving policy at all times.

• Participate in promoting a safe, healthy, and clean working environment consistent with agency’s health and safety practices.

• Attend and participate in all meetings and trainings as assigned.

• Complete and submit own timesheets and approve staff timesheet in a timely and accurate manner.

• Work within the framework of Insight Housing’s Code of Conduct.

• Perform other tasks and projects as assigned.

 

 

• Proven Expertise in Nonprofit Housing & Complex Funding: Brings a strong track record in nonprofit finance, fund accounting, and government grants/contracts, with deep knowledge of GAAP, OMB Uniform Guidance, cost allocations, and audit practices. Experienced in navigating complex, multi-layered funding environments with accuracy and confidence

• Transformational Leader & Systems Builder: Demonstrated ability to elevate and strengthen finance functions by enhancing systems, improving processes, and increasing operational efficiency. Skilled at implementing automation, modernizing workflows, and accelerating financial close and reporting timelines

• Real Estate Development Finance Specialist: Well-versed in LIHTC, tax-exempt bonds, layered subsidies, and co-development structures, with a proven ability to manage the financial components of affordable housing development. Positioned to help Insight Housing advance its long-term vision of becoming a standalone developer

• Strategic Financial Stewardship, Risk Management & Reporting Leadership: Brings a history of owning financial strategy, ensuring organizational compliance, managing risk, and delivering clear, timely financial reporting to executives and boards. Able to provide insight-driven recommendations that support growth and mission impact

• Team Builder, People Developer & Culture Strengthener: Experienced in managing through change, developing staff, and building capacity. Creates clarity, strengthens roles and processes, and fosters a collaborative, accountable, high-performance finance team

• Hands-On, Mission-Aligned Operator with Strong Cultural Fit: Brings an entrepreneurial mindset, a solutions-oriented approach, and a willingness to be present and engaged. Demonstrates integrity, professionalism, and a deep commitment to equity and Insight’s mission, leading with both expertise and heart

• Strategic, Detail-Oriented Leader: Brings strong strategic insight with a customer-centered mindset, grounded in user experience and empathy, and upholds a high standard for accuracy, rigor, and attention to detail

 

 

• Technical Accounting & Compliance: GAAP, OMB Uniform Guidance, nonprofit audits, cost allocations. Strong understanding of restricted funding and compliance requirements

• Systems & Technology Experience: Includes accounting systems (QuickBooks, Intacct, etc.) and advanced Excel skills plus comfort with automation

• External Relationship Management: Experience partnering with auditors, funders, government agencies, and boards. Able to clearly communicate financial information to diverse audiences

• Team Leadership & Capacity Building Experience: Comfortable managing teams of 5+ and budgets of $25M+. Skilled in staff development, coaching, and performance management

• Ethics, Equity & Professionalism: Commitment to housing justice and equitable resource stewardship. High integrity, discretion, and alignment with organizational mission

• Administrative Requirements: Valid driver’s license, ability to travel locally, and insurance requirements. Must pass criminal and credit background checks

• Physical Requirements: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is

• Regularly required to use hands and fingers to handle, feel, or operate objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms.

• Frequently required to stand, walk, sit, climb stairs, talk, hear, and see clearly.

• May be occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.

• May be required to lift or move up to 10 lbs.

 

 

We are extremely proud of our diverse team and welcome all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law

 

 

 

 

· 100% Employee-Paid Health Insurance Options

· Comprehensive dental and vision benefit

· 50% employer paid premiums for dependents healthcare, vision, and dental

· Flexible spending account

· Retirement Plan with discretionary employer match

· Basic Life & AD&D (Accidental Death & Dismemberment) Insurance

· Voluntary life, accident, long-term disability, critical illness care, and hospital indemnity benefits

· Voluntary pet insurance

· Mental health resources – Enhanced employee assistance program, CALM app, and various other tools

· Commuter benefits

· 19 paid holidays (including birthday/floating holiday) plus vacation and sick days.

· Paid Parental Leave

· Milestone anniversary program including 10-year anniversary sabbatical

· Professional development reimbursement plan