Director of Financial Operations
Description
Who We Are:
The Orthodox Union (OU) is the largest Orthodox Jewish organization in the United States. Founded in 1898, the OU supports a network of synagogues, youth programs, Jewish and Religious Zionist advocacy programs, programs for the disabled, localized religious study programs, and international units. The OU maintains a kosher certification service, whose circled U symbol, Ⓤ, is found on the labels of over 100,000,000 kosher commercial and consumer food products.
Position Summary:
The Orthodox Union’s Accounting department’s mission is to deliver timely, accurate, and transparent financial information that empowers leadership to make informed decisions. The department serves as a trusted steward of the organization’s resources, providing timely financial insights that support informed decision-making, operational efficiency, and the responsible use of funds in pursuit of the organization’s mission.
The Director of Financial Operations provides strategic leadership and oversight for the organization’s day-to-day financial transactions and operational accounting functions. This role ensures the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of financial processes, with a particular focus on accounts receivable, accounts payable, billing, collections, and payroll. The Director will lead a team of finance professionals, streamline processes for efficiency and compliance, and partner with senior accounting leadership to support the organization’s financial goals.
Typical Duties and Responsibilities:
Leadership & Management
- Lead and develop the Financial Operations team, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
- Establish and maintain effective internal controls and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance with the organization’s policies, GAAP, and regulatory requirements.
- Collaborate with senior leadership throughout the organization, auditors, and other departments to support organizational priorities.
Accounts Receivable & Billing
- Oversee the billing operations to ensure invoices are accurate, timely, and compliant with customer terms.
- Manage the accounts receivable process, including customer account reconciliations and timely posting of receipts.
- Develop and monitor metrics to improve billing and collection efficiency.
Collections
- Direct collection efforts to minimize aging receivables and maintain healthy cash flow.
- Establish escalation protocols for delinquent accounts and coordinate with OU Kosher to resolve payment disputes.
- Work closely with OU Kosher to ensure collection procedures are implemented and operating effectively.
Accounts Payable
- Oversee all disbursements, ensuring accuracy, proper approvals, and adherence to company policies.
- Monitor the disbursements process to ensure timely payments while maintaining positive vendor relationships.
- Ensure compliance with IRS, tax reporting, and 1099 requirements.
Credit Card Administration
- Oversee the Organization’s credit card administration, including issuance, payment processing, and transaction monitoring to ensure compliance with internal policies and promote responsible use of organizational resources.
Payroll
- Supervise payroll processing to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant pay for all employees.
- Coordinate with HR to maintain accurate employee data and benefit deductions.
- Oversee quarterly and annual payroll tax filings and reporting.
Process Improvement & Systems Oversight
- Evaluate and implement financial systems and automation tools to enhance efficiency.
- Identify process gaps and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
- Develop and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) for financial operations.
In addition to the primary responsibilities mentioned above, the candidate will work with accounting leadership in other ad-hoc related projects and analyses as they arise and assist departmental management in the on-going execution of a function charged with providing reasonable assurances.
Qualification Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field required, CPA, MBA, or equivalent preferred.
- Minimum 8–10 years of progressively responsible accounting or financial operations experience, including 5 years in a leadership role.
- Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial compliance standards.
- Demonstrated experience managing AR, AP, billing, collections, and payroll functions.
- Proficiency with accounting and ERP systems, ideally NetSuite.
- Computer-savvy with proficiency using MS Office suite products and comfort in learning various in-house programs.
Competencies:
- Strategic and operational mindset
- Attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy
- Strong leadership and team development skills
- Effective communication and collaboration across departments
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is between $175,000 and $200,000, commensurate with experience.
Health, Dental & Vision Insurance:
The OU offers health insurance through an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA). Instead of a single group plan, employees have the freedom to choose their own health insurance plan that fits their personal and family needs. The OU contributes a generous monthly amount directly toward your premium, making coverage more flexible, affordable, and tailored to you.
Employees enrolled in our health plan also receive an annual BeniComp stipend, a supplemental benefit that reimburses eligible medical, pharmaceutical, dental, and vision expenses.
In addition, the OU offers employees group dental and vision insurance through MetLife.
Additional Benefits and Perks:
- 10 paid sick days
- 10-15 paid vacation days
- Paid Jewish and Federal holidays
- Short Fridays to accommodate for Sabbath observance
- Free life and disability insurance
- Discounted continuing education opportunities
- 403(b) retirement plan with a 5% employer match after 3 years (requires a minimum 2% employee contribution)