Finance Associate

Location: Remote - Based in the South

Grantmakers for Southern Progress: Who We Are

Grantmakers for Southern Progress (GSP) is a membership-based network of philanthropic leaders,

practitioners, and individuals dedicated to leveraging resources for structural change in the South. GSP is

designed to transform philanthropic giving and practice in the South, prioritizing equity-focused structural

change.

We envision a growing network of philanthropic organizations and actors who fund across various tools and

strategies. Our network explicitly intends to increase investments in organizations led by people of color

seeking to build political power, economic opportunity, and social inclusion. GSP works towards

philanthropy in accountable relationships with directly affected communities. Therefore, we encourage and

support our members to listen to and work with social justice movements and organizations working for

racial, economic, and gender justice.

Our Organizational Culture

GSP is committed to being an anti-racist organization that centers and responds to the voices and liberation

of Southern communities living in the margins. As we build a people-centric culture, we understand the

complexities of aligning our mission, vision, and values with the experiences and interests of our staff. We are

looking for people excited to engage in culture-building with us to ensure we are successful in working

towards equitable, structural change in the South. Our employees are team players who engage authentically

with others, are eager to learn, lead within their positions, and remain nimble to change.

In return, we commit the following to our people:

• We will evaluate and document our internal systems change process to ensure our structures meet

the needs of our employees, members, and Southern communities who benefit from our work.

• We are committed to listening to and learning from our staff, the voices directly impacted by GSP's

work and other organizations that have embarked on this journey to become anti-racist

organizations.

• We will strategically manage our staff's long-term career development to ensure their growth as a

leader with and beyond GSP.

• We have implemented equitable salary policies and practices.

• As a fiscally sponsored organization, we have partnered with an institution that offers competitive

benefits and abundant paid time off to encourage staff's health and wellbeing.

• We commit to transparent and open communication. We will share relevant information, feedback,

and expectations with our staff in a timely, honest, and respectful manner.

• We commit to building a remote work environment that encourages open dialogue across teams and

with team leads, engages in active listening, and addresses concerns or issues promptly.

Position Summary:

The Finance Associate role is critical to GSP’s daily operations and financial integrity. This position

is responsible for ensuring that all financial systems, processes, and reporting are accurate, timely,

and aligned with organizational priorities.

Working closely with the President & CEO, the Finance Associate maintains and strengthens GSP’s

financial infrastructure and serves as the primary liaison between GSP, its staff, Steering Committee,

and Fiscal Sponsor.

This role owns the development and quality of all financial reports, ensuring leadership has a clear

and accurate understanding of GSP’s financial position. Responsibilities include managing the

organizational budget, monitoring cash flow, overseeing grant administration, and ensuring proper

tracking and classification of all revenue and expenses.

Success in this role requires strong ownership, attention to detail, and proactive problem-solving to

support GSP’s financial clarity, accountability, and long-term sustainability.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Core Financial Management

o Collaborate with leadership to strengthen financial systems, improve processes, and

create tools that support organizational sustainability and growth.

o Prepare and maintain financial records, reports, and general ledger entries

o Assist with monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes

o Track income and expense across programs, membership, communications, and any

other funding sources.

• Budgeting and Reporting

o Support budget development and ongoing budget monitoring

o Update, monitor, and reconcile weekly financial reports for accuracy developed by

fiscal sponsor. This includes the Profit & Loss Statement and program-level tracking

reports.

o Ensure data accuracy and alignment across financial systems

• Accounts Payable & Receivable

o Process Invoices, reimbursements, honorariums, and vendor payments

o Track incoming payments (grants, membership dues, program revenue and/or

earned income)

o Maintain clear documentation and audit trails

• Compliance & Accuracy

o Ensure financial practices follow policies set by organization and fiscal sponsor.

o Maintain organized records for steering committee updates, grant reporting, and

internal review checks by fiscal sponsor.

o Double check data for accuracy and completeness before submission to leadership

team, fiscal sponsor, or external reviews.

• Financial Analysis Support

o Assist with analyzing financial trends and identifying discrepancies.

o Support leadership with insights for decision-making.

o Help track restricted vs. Unrestricted funds. (Program/Project Income vs. General

Operating Income)

o With support from the leadership team, develop forecasting and cash flow

projections to anticipate financial needs and inform planning.

• Coordination and Communication

o Serve as liaison between GSP and Fiscal Sponsor to ensure the overall efficiency and

effectiveness of GSP’s operating budget.

o Work closely with program and membership staff to tract expenses and budgets

o Respond to internal financial requests in a timely manner.

o Coordinate with external partners, funders, and/or fiscal sponsor to ensure the

organizations financial efficacy.

o In collaboration with the Senior Leadership & Fiscal Sponsor, ensure the financial

health of the organization and develop plans for long-term financial goals.

• Grant Management

o Ensure accounting compliance with the rules and regulations administered by GSP’s

grantors.

o Track and file grant budgets and expenditures, preparing detailed grant-specific

financial reports to ensure compliance with grantor restrictions.

o Organize and file grant documentation on the organization’s internal drive to ensure

staff accessibility.

o Perform functions of financial administration and reports, including assisting with

the preparation and timely submission of grant applications and reports,

development and adjustment of the associated budget, and coordination of budgeted

funds.

o Generate and track status of Membership invoice payments

o Required to maintain the confidentiality of proprietary information.

Core Competencies:

• Demonstrate commitment to the principles of equity and inclusive democracy.

• High Attention to detail with a strong commitment to accuracy and completeness.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines while maintaining

excellent attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong personal and professional judgment.

• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and follow-through

• Clear and proactive communicator, especially around financial information.

• Comfort working in. Collaborative, mission-driven, fast paced environment.

• Values alignment with organizational culture and responsible resource management.

• Ability and willingness to travel.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Non-Profit

Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).

• Must have proficiency in QuickBooks, Asana, Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat &

Zoom, and Bill Pay.

• Preferred experience in philanthropic environments or non-profit accounting.

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in finance with a strong focus on

organizational operations.

• Experience supporting grant reporting and working with a fiscally sponsored

organization.

• A thorough understanding of accounting practices and compliance.

Job Details

• Salary range: $70,000 - $75,000 depending on experience.

• A comprehensive benefits package includes paid time off, health and life insurance,

professional development, and a retirement plan.

• This position reports to the Operations Manager.

• GSP is a fiscally sponsored organization, and as such, all staff are legal employees of the

Highlander Research and Education Center.

This job posting will remain open until the position is filled. To apply for this role,

please submit your resume and cover letter via email to HR@g4sp.org. Please use your name

and Finance Associate as the subject line.

Please note that omission of any of the requested documents will lead to the disqualification of your

submission.

Highlander’s EEOC Statement:

Highlander is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual based on any

non-merit factor and is committed to an equitable workplace where everyone is treated as a respected and

valued member of the team. We actively seek to build and maintain a diverse staff with regard to race, culture,

ethnicity, class, religion, physical ability, age, gender, and sexual orientation. As an organization working in

solidarity with the racial justice movement, Highlander is committed to fostering the leadership and elevating

the voices of women, young people, people of color, Native people, immigrant and refugees, low-income

people, LGBQ+, and transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary people, people with disabilities,

young parents, people who were formerly imprisoned, people who have received and people living in the

many intersections of these experiences.