Finance / Fiscal Sponsorship Officer

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is a nonprofit arts service provider, whose mission is to empower artists in all disciplines, as well as cultural workers, to achieve success on their own terms by providing critical support, resources, and opportunities. Through its grants, fiscal sponsorship, information services, and programs, NYFA works with artists and arts organizations throughout New York State and other parts of the country to develop, assist, and highlight artists to the public.

NYFA’s Fiscal Sponsorship program is a fundraising tool that helps individual artists and emerging arts organizations raise funds using NYFA’s 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status by offering access to large-scale fundraising opportunities from foundations, government, and corporate funders, as well as offering individual donors the benefit of a tax deduction. More info here: https://www.nyfa.org/fiscal-sponsorship/.

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) is an Equal Opportunity Employer with a commitment to supporting a more equitable arts sector. Our values of equity, diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission to serve all artists. Individuals of diverse backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply. NYFA’s offices are accessible.

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

The Finance/Fiscal Sponsorship Officer is an active, hands-on position within NYFA’s Finance and Fiscal Sponsorship departments. The position is responsible for maintaining accounting, financial reporting, and administrative management for NYFA’s fiscal sponsorship program. The Finance/Fiscal Sponsorship Officer reports to the Director of Finance and Administration and plays a key role in providing finance support and service to NYFA’s fiscally sponsored artists and emerging organizations. The position will also work very closely with the Fiscal Sponsorship Director and other members of the Finance and Fiscal Sponsorship team on program administration and daily customer service support.

The Finance/Fiscal Sponsorship Officer role currently requires that the position performs its related task in the office 2 days a week, preferably Tuesdays and Thursdays. Remote work can be conducted from home on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

NYFA is currently practicing a remote work environment where employees can work from home if they choose to, subject to their immediate supervisor’s approval. Employees may also choose to work in person at our office (located at 29 W. 38th Street, 9th floor NY. NY 10018). NYFA’s CEO and Board hold the right to revise the remote work model at any time.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Responsible for overseeing the preparation of all documents necessary for the processing of cash disbursements and cash receipts in connection to fiscally sponsored artists. This responsibility includes a high volume of accounts payable and cash receipts processing, with review of proper use of account codes.
• Prepare journal entries (quarterly maintenance fees, recording payroll, corrections and adjustments, etc.)
• Manage the year-end processing and disbursement of 1099s
• Assist with collecting paperwork for external audits. This may include providing reports and requested documentation to the external auditors for fiscally sponsored emerging organizations.
• Set-up, process, and record payroll for fiscally sponsored emerging organizations when requested.
• Assist with various monthly, quarterly, and year end activities
• Maintain filing system for cash disbursements and cash receipts
• Customer service (using Freshdesk platform):
  1. Answer constituent questions related to fundraising, fiscal sponsorship, and utilizing NYFA’s web-portal.
  2. Correspondence with artists, including: award notification letters, Fiscal Sponsorship Newsletter, and event invitations.
  3. Offer guidance to prospective applicants.
  4. Create and develop automations to improve customer service workflows.
  • Prepare acknowledgement letters for tax purposes.
• Participate in Fiscal Sponsorship application reviews, applicant notifications, prepare contracts, complete project registration. 
• Working with Financial Edge/NXT, NYFA.org, and collaborating with colleagues on tech related processes required to carrying finance related tasks.
• Provide oversight of the Finance Associate. This may also include assistance, support and training, when required.
• Training and supervision of interns, when required
  • Support event and program marketing.
• Perform special projects as necessary
• Other duties as assigned

These duties represent the full scope of the job that the candidate will grow into. We encourage applicants to apply, even if they don’t think they meet all the requirements. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of Blackbaud’s Financial Edge NXT.
• Degree in Accounting with either an Arts background or interest in the arts/film/creativity is desirable or an equivalent of 3 years relevant experience working within a not for profit organization’s finance department.
• Customer service experience with sound verbal and written communication skills.
• Working with a variety of technology platforms, such as Google Business, Asana, NeonCRM, Freshdesk, Learnworlds, Submittable, and custom online portal.
• Position requires a highly organized individual with the ability to multi task
• Experience, expertise, and/or interest in nonprofit organizations and mission-driven business.