Chief Financial Officer

As the Chief Financial Officer at Aspire, you'll be responsible for strategic leadership, financial stewardship, compliance and risk management, insightful communication, and digital transformation. You’ll collaborate with the CEO and Vision Team to shape the financial future of the organization while ensuring that our mission to empower individuals with disabilities is supported through effective financial practices.

To qualify for the Chief Financial Officer position at Aspire, candidates must have a Bachelor's degree, with a preference for a Master's in Finance or Business. You should have at least 8 years in senior financial leadership roles, ideally within nonprofit or corporate settings, and a minimum of 5 years managing and developing teams. A clean driving record is also required.

Aspire fosters a collaborative, values-based culture where the Chief Financial Officer will have the opportunity to lead boldly and innovate freely. We emphasize inclusivity, professional development, and the importance of building strong relationships within the team, ensuring a supportive environment for all employees.

The Chief Financial Officer at Aspire can expect a salary range of $175,000–$200,000, along with up to a 15% annual performance bonus. In addition, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, generous paid time off, a 403(B) retirement plan with matching, and various insurance options, all designed to support your well-being.

The CFO role at Aspire requires a hybrid work schedule, with an in-office presence required 3 days per week. This allows for flexibility while ensuring collaboration and engagement with the rest of the team within our central office located in Hillside, Illinois.

When answering this question, detail your previous roles in financial leadership, particularly within nonprofit organizations. Focus on how you've successfully applied corporate best practices to nonprofit structures, your understanding of unique challenges faced in this sector, and any significant achievements related to financial sustainability and growth.

Discuss your strategic planning process for budgeting, highlighting how you align financial goals with organizational missions. Consider mentioning any tools or software you use, your methods for forecasting, and how you monitor and adjust the budget throughout the year to meet changing needs.

Explain your approach to ensuring compliance with accounting standards and managing financial risks. You can give examples of past scenarios where your proactive measures helped minimize potential risks and maintained regulatory compliance.

Highlight your skills in translating complex financial data into understandable terms for various audiences. Share examples of how you’ve successfully presented financial information to boards, funders, or other leadership teams, and emphasize the importance of clarity and insightfulness in communication.

Discuss your belief in fostering a collaborative culture and how you prioritize team development. Use examples of how you've previously mentored finance professionals, encouraging creativity and innovation while empowering them to take ownership of their roles.

Share your experience with optimizing financial systems, processes, and technologies. Discuss specific strategies you've successfully implemented in the past, such as leveraging data analytics or automating processes to enhance efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting.

Articulate how you believe financial leadership can align with and support a nonprofit mission. Discuss how strategic financial planning can enhance the empowerments of individuals with disabilities and how you will ensure that financial decisions reflect Aspire’s core values and goals.

Provide a specific example of a challenging financial decision, detailing the context, your thought process, and the outcome. Highlight how your decision-making skills, judgement, and values enabled you to navigate this challenge successfully.

Discuss the increasing importance of technology in financial operations. Highlight tools you have used, how they have enhanced data analysis, reporting, and decision-making, and how you plan to champion these technologies in the CFO role at Aspire.

Describe your organizational skills and methods for prioritizing tasks, especially in a fast-paced environment. Give practical examples of tools you use for project management and planning, showing how you ensure that critical projects align with organizational goals.