The New Jersey State Office of Innovation

The New Jersey State Office of Innovation is looking for diverse and experienced team members to deploy world-class innovative and digital services that solve pressing public interest challenges for the people of New Jersey. Our work spans numerous issue and policy areas, and is focused on making an impact in the lives of the New Jerseyans that we serve. Our work has decreased the amount of time it takes to apply for Unemployment Insurance, made it easier to start, operate, and grow a business in the Garden State, and connected millions of New Jerseyans to government programs, services, and benefits.

Our team members wear many hats, contributing to both the execution of core projects and the evolution of the Office of Innovation (OOI). We use data and modern research, design, and development methods to inform our decision making, and we collaborate with stakeholders within and outside of government to understand and solve challenges. To learn more about the New Jersey State Office of Innovation, read our inaugural impact report here and visit our About Us page.

The finance director will be responsible for ensuring that the Office operates with financial sustainability and is able to achieve organizational efficiency and operational excellence. Working across teams, the Finance Director will be essential to enabling the Office of Innovation to deliver impact, at scale, to residents, businesses, and institutions across the Garden State.

We are seeking candidates with at least 7 years of experience working collaboratively to ensure sustainable, streamlined, and compliant financial operations. In this role, you will manage all financial operations of the Office of Innovation. You should be able to solve problems pragmatically, and have demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and administering strategies and controls for financial planning, operations, compliance, and risk management within the public-sector or within a government-funded organization.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, this role will work closely with initiative leads and other team members across the office. Responsibilities may include:

Financial Planning and Operations

Budget Development and Operations: Collaborate with the leadership team to develop office budgets and ensure that funds are being expended accordingly; perform analysis on business operations and expenditures to guide decision-making
Accounting Operations: Oversee and administer all accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable; ensure that prompt payment of external parties is executed in a compliant manner
Contracting: Manage the generation, execution and renewal of contracts with service providers, including vendors and independent contractors
Financial Reporting: Prepare and coordinate internal and external financial statements and reports, such as balance sheets and invoices
Team Member Reimbursements: Manage and administer processes to ensure the timely reimbursement of team members for expenditures related to travel and other approved expenditures
Processes and Procedures: Work with the leadership team to develop, manage, and administer processes and procedures to ensure financial controls and expenditure compliance; ensure that proper staff training mechanisms are in place so that members are prepared to follow relevant processes and procedures

Organizational Compliance

Grant Compliance: Maintain an understanding of and advise on the compliance of all organizational grant requirements.
Expenditure Compliance: Ensure all organizational expenditures are in-line with legal and contractual requirements
Processes and Procedures: Work with the leadership team to develop, refine, manage, and administer processes to ensure organizational policies and processes are followed

Risk Management

Manage and Mitigate Financial Risk: identify, assess, monitor, propose, and administer mitigation strategies associated with organizational financial risks

Organizational Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Management: Coordinate with office leadership to ensure that internal and external organizational stakeholders are appropriately informed and kept up-to-date on financial and compliance matters
Auditing: Coordinate relevant audit processes with external auditors

Do What’s Needed For The Team

Execute additional duties and responsibilities to advance the Office of Innovation’s mission and work

Experience, Skills, And Abilities

7+ years of professional finance and/or accounting experience with at least some of those years in the public-sector or within a government-funded organization
Demonstrated ability to be a self-starter, evidenced by a track record of independently developing, implementing, and executing on strategic plans
Demonstrated experience operating in environments with complex compliance requirements, and the ability to problem solve in a rapidly growing organization
Experience balancing the ability to think strategically at the organization-wide level, while also implementing key operational and executional tasks
Paramount attention to detail and ability to execute key tasks with zero room for error
Experience with spreadsheets (MS Excel/Google Sheet) required; experience with Concur a plus
Advanced professional degree or certification, such as an MBA or CPA, strongly preferred

We welcome applicants from a broad range of backgrounds. If you believe that you would excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. If you have any questions, please contact heather@innovation.nj.gov.

Compensation: $151,410 + full benefits.

The New Jersey Office of Innovation is proud to be an equal opportunity employer

We are deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness and seek to create a pluralistic community for all. We strongly encourage people of color, members of racial and ethnic minority groups, women, LGBTQI+ people, those with disabilities, and Veterans to apply. We are committed to building a team that is reflective of New Jersey’s incredible diversity.

We do not discriminate against any candidate because of color, race, age, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, membership in an employee organization, pregnancy, marital status, status as a parent, ancestry, national origin, disability (physical or mental), family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, retaliation, or other non-merit based factors.

Eligibility

You must be authorized to work in the United States. Candidates may be required to pass a background check and complete additional steps as part of the application and onboarding process. You will be considered an “at-will” employee, meaning both employer and employee have the right to terminate employment with or without cause or notice.

New Jersey State Office of Innovation

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Finance Director