Director of Finance

Make a Real Impact Every Day!

At Lauren’s Institute for Education (L.I.F.E.), we believe in empowering individuals with developmental disabilities through education, support, and compassion.

Why You’ll Love Working at L.I.F.E.: 

Salary: $80,000 - $100,000 annually

Monday through Friday

Great Benefits: 

• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance 
• Spring, Fall and Winter Paid breaks
• 12 Paid Holidays
• PTO that grows with you: 2 weeks (3 after 2 years) 
• Wellness Program: earn rewards + insurance discounts 
• 401K + Roth plans with company match 
• Partial Paid FMLA
• This equates to an added 20 - 25% in potential benefits for total compensation.

Awesome Perks: 

• 5 free L.I.F.E. shirts to start, with seasonal restocks 
• Monthly cupcakes, football treats, and staff celebrations 
• Employee of the Month gift + parking spot 
• Birthday gifts + recognition for service milestones 
• Department budgets for staff-requested items 
• Discounted degree options + in-house trainings 
• Eligible for federal student loan forgiveness (L.I.F.E. is a 501(c)(3)) 
• 10-acre facility with a thoughtfully designed and beautiful outdoor environment

Key Responsibilities: 

• Represents the organization's philosophy, values, and mission statement.  
• Collaborates with the L.I.F.E. Leadership Team to ensure Organizational needs are met.   
• Acts as departmental liaison to be able to effectively communicate their individual teams’ needs while representing Top Management’s direction.  
• Prepares for and attends meetings.  
• Represents the organization at industry-related events, fundraisers, and community outreach opportunities.  
• Assists with the organization of community events/open houses/special programming.  
• Maintains availability for the needs of the organization as needed.  
• Adheres to and helps maintain the code of ethics and employee handbook.  
• Ensures positive team morale.   
• Ensures employees meet departmental expectations and organizational policies and procedures.   
• Meets with staff/parents/consumers to resolve grievances and other matters as needed.  
• Ensures open and effective communication with consumers and their families.  
• Ensures appropriate response time to all communications.    
• Conducts business analysis of current operations/new ventures.  
• Conducts visits to associated community partners as needed.  
• Seeks out and attends professional development at least annually.  
• Ensures organizational financial well-being and budget compliance.  
• Maintains contact with funding sources as needed.  
• Policy/procedure development.  
• Oversees and ensures compliance with Safety Protocols.  
• Research and develop new programming to stay current on how to best serve the consumer’s needs.  
• Assists with the development and implementation of marketing strategies.  
• Research and implement effective strategies and technologies.  
• Oversee daily financial operations, including accounting, billing, payroll coordination, and financial record management. 
• Supervise finance team members and ensure completion of assigned duties in alignment with organizational standards. 
• Maintain accurate financial records and ensure proper documentation and audit trails across all transactions. 
• Oversee billing processes for client services, including submissions to applicable funding sources (e.g., state and payer systems). 
• Ensure timely and accurate revenue cycle management and reconciliation. 
• Prepare, review, and present financial statements, reports, and analyses to leadership, board members, and other stakeholders. 
• Provide regular insights into financial performance, trends, and risks to support operational and strategic decision-making. 
• Support the development, monitoring, and management of organizational budgets. 
• Ensure alignment between financial planning and operational goals. 
• Establish and maintain internal controls, financial policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with regulatory, audit, and organizational requirements. 
• Oversee preparation for external audits and support internal audit processes as needed. 
• Ensure proper handling of restricted funds, donations, and grant-related financial tracking. 
• Evaluate, implement, and enhance financial systems, controls, and workflows to improve efficiency and accuracy. 
• Recommend changes to financial strategies, policies, and procedures to strengthen organizational performance. 
• Maintain relationships with financial institutions, auditors, vendors, and other external partners. 
• Collaborate with internal departments to support financial needs and ensure alignment with organizational priorities. 
• Generate and provide financial and operational reports as requested by executive leadership. 
• Support leadership with financial presentations and ad hoc analysis. 
• Assist with vendor and subcontractor financial oversight and documentation. 
• Support communication across departments and with external stakeholders as needed. 
• Perform other duties consistent with the role and organizational needs. 

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Prior experience or bachelor’s degree in related field required. 
• Strong Computer Skills & Literacy 
• Accounting Skills 
• Budgeting Skills 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office 
• Oral and Written Communication Skills 
• Customer Service Skills  
• Diplomacy 
• Math Aptitude 
• Organization 
• Professionalism 
• Time Management and Ability to Multi-task 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience) 
• Experience in nonprofit, healthcare, or human services financial management 
• Familiarity with Arizona funding sources, including DDD, AHCCCS, grants, and other state or insurance-based reimbursement models 
• Experience with financial audits, including preparation for and coordination of external and internal audits 
• Knowledge of compliance requirements related to regulated funding sources and financial reporting 
• Experience with accounting and financial management systems (e.g., general ledger, payroll, billing platforms) 
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Excel, including financial modeling, reporting, and data analysis 
• Demonstrated experience developing or improving financial processes, controls, and reporting structures 
• Experience managing or supervising finance or accounting staff 
• Strong ability to support leadership with financial strategy, forecasting, and decision-making 

Physical Demands: 

This position requires a combination of routine administrative activity and occasional physical tasks. Employees must be able to: 

• Sit, communicate, and remain attentive to surroundings for extended periods 
• Occasionally stand, walk, bend, kneel, or reach as part of daily responsibilities 
• Lift and move up to 50 pounds when assisting consumers with mobility, transfers, equipment, or program materials 
• Push or move items up to 50 pounds, such as wheelchairs, furniture, or supplies 
• Maintain adequate vision (close, distance, and peripheral) to complete job-related tasks safely and effectively