Director of Administration and Finance - United Way Colombia

Selection process developed by matteria

Location and Work Mode

Bogotá, Colombia. Hybrid.

Who we are

United Way Colombia is a foundation focused on education and social impact and a member of the United Way Worldwide network. Its mission is to connect and mobilize people, companies, and organizations to drive lasting social change through educational solutions, corporate volunteering, project design and incubation, and organizational capacity building.

The organization connects the needs of local communities with the expertise and resources of businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other partners to ensure that social investment delivers tangible, lasting results. Its approach combines local knowledge, educational innovation, resource mobilization, and partnership building.

Our impact

Over the past three years, United Way Colombia has reported:

• More than 42,000 children, young people, teachers, families, and other participants reached.

• More than 3,600 volunteers mobilized to support communities.

• An indirect impact on more than 365,000 students through its educational solutions.

• 259 companies engaged in its mission to drive social change.

Purpose of the Position

Ensure the financial health and effective administration of United Way Colombia by safeguarding its resources and translating financial information and data into actionable insights that help anticipate risks, guide decisions, and sustain the organization’s impact.

The Director will work closely with the business intelligence (BI) and technology functions to improve processes and make more effective use of information. When required, they will also represent the foundation in global and regional United Way forums, assessing the financial and legal implications of relevant initiatives for its operations in Colombia.

Key Responsibilities

Overall Financial Management

• Lead budgeting, cash flow management, treasury operations, reserve management, financial forecasting, investments, and financial performance monitoring.

• Develop a thorough understanding of the organization’s revenue and expenses to anticipate cash flow pressures and support timely decisions.

Financial Planning and Analysis

• Develop financial scenarios, assess risks and opportunities, and translate financial information into clear recommendations for the Executive Director.

• Support annual planning and help prioritize resource allocation based on the organization’s needs and capacity.

Financial Sustainability, Costs, and Margins

• Monitor cost structures, margins, indirect cost recovery, administrative expenses, and overall financial sustainability.

• Assess the financial aspects of programs, projects, and proposals to ensure that feasibility, costs, and sustainability are considered from the outset.

Cash, Reserves, and Investments

• Maintain a clear view of the organization’s liquidity position and future cash requirements.

• Oversee reserves, assets, and investments with a focus on prudent management, safeguarding resources, and long-term sustainability.

Internal Controls, Compliance, and Audits

• Strengthen internal controls, policies, and procedures.

• Ensure compliance with tax, accounting, legal, and contractual requirements.

• Coordinate internal and external audits, support the audit process, and ensure that recommendations are addressed.

Procurement, Contracts, and Vendors

• Ensure clear, consistent procurement and contracting processes for vendors and independent contractors.

• Advise on spending decisions that require financial or administrative input, balancing cost, quality, risk, and compliance.

Information for Decision-Making

• Ensure accurate and timely financial close processes, reporting, and analysis. Work closely with the person responsible for BI to strengthen data visualization and performance monitoring, defining metrics that provide a clear view of the organization’s financial position and support timely decisions.

• Define information requirements, identify relevant metrics, and determine how insights should inform decisions. The Director is not expected to develop BI solutions directly.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with program teams and other functions across the organization.

• Advise on costs, margins, pricing, budgets, and resource allocation, positioning Finance as a trusted partner that supports sound decisions alongside its oversight responsibilities.

Team Leadership

• Lead the administration and finance team, clarify responsibilities, support team members, and ensure that the team operates independently and responds effectively to organizational needs.

• Build trust through expertise, active listening, respect, and sound judgment.

Transition and Continuity

• Maintain continuity throughout the leadership transition, preserving institutional knowledge, effective controls, and responsiveness.

• Quickly develop a thorough understanding of critical processes and institutional knowledge, establish credibility, and lead with confidence and autonomy.

Process Improvement and Efficiency

• Continuously review and improve administrative and financial processes, identifying opportunities to simplify workflows, automate routine tasks, reduce manual work, and strengthen controls.

• Work closely with the Technology and Platforms team to define functional requirements, prioritize improvements, and support implementation.

• Apply a practical understanding of technology, automation, and data to improve efficiency and decision-making. This role does not require specialist expertise in technology or digital transformation.

Collaboration with BI and Technology

• Work closely with colleagues responsible for BI, platforms, and technology. Define information needs, performance metrics, automation opportunities, and process improvements, collaborating with specialists to develop and implement appropriate solutions.

• Lead improvements based on the needs of the administration and finance function, using technology, data, and automation to reduce routine work, generate more actionable insights, and strengthen the organization’s ability to anticipate needs and risks.

Relationship with United Way Worldwide and Regional Projects

• Represent United Way Colombia in global and regional United Way forums when administrative, financial, or legal matters require the organization’s participation.

• Support regional and global projects by assessing their financial, tax, contractual, and legal implications for operations in Colombia.

• Collaborate with internal and regional teams to ensure that initiatives involving United Way Colombia are financially viable, sustainable, and compliant with local regulations.

Requirements and competences to work with us

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting, Industrial Engineering, or a related field.

• A postgraduate qualification in Finance, Financial Management, Management Control, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field is preferred.

• Additional training in risk management, internal controls, process improvement, organizational transformation, or digital transformation is an asset.

Experience

• Ideally, at least 10 years of professional experience with increasing responsibility in administration and finance.

• At least five years of experience leading teams and finance functions, with direct responsibility for budgeting, cash flow, financial planning, audits, and compliance.

• Experience as a Finance Director, Director of Administration and Finance, Finance Manager, Head of Finance, CFO, or in an equivalent role within a mid-sized organization.

• Experience managing financial resources independently and working closely with an Executive Director, General Manager, or Board of Directors.

• Hands-on experience in budgeting, treasury operations, financial close processes, audits, procurement, contracts, and vendor management.

• Experience in nonprofit organizations, foundations, education, international development, professional services, or other organizations that combine a clear mission, financial discipline, and complex stakeholder relationships is preferred.

• Experience guiding teams through leadership transitions or reorganizations, strengthening internal controls, or establishing more structured financial practices is an asset.

• Experience collaborating with BI, analytics, technology, or platforms teams to improve processes and support decisions is also an asset.

Knowledge and Skills

• Financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting.

• Cash flow, treasury, and reserve management.

• Financial analysis and scenario planning.

• Profit and loss analysis, cost structures, and margins.

• Internal controls and risk management.

• Internal and external audits.

• Legal, contractual, and financial compliance.

• Procurement, contracting, and vendor management.

• Development of financial policies and controls.

• Preparation and presentation of financial information for senior leadership.

• Process improvement, standardization, and automation.

• Understanding of how financial systems and technology tools support organizational performance.

• Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial management tools.

• Experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), and BI tools.

• Ability to use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve administrative and financial processes.

• Management of public funds.

Languages

• Spanish: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• English: Advanced proficiency (CEFR C1).

Software

• Advanced proficiency in Excel.

• Experience with financial and accounting ERP systems.

• Familiarity with CRM systems is preferred.

• Experience with reporting and BI tools such as Power BI, Looker, or similar platforms.

• Proficiency with collaboration and work management tools.

Competencies

• Sound financial judgment.

• Ability to work independently.

• Reliability and a thorough, disciplined approach.

• Effective prioritization.

Our team profile

Organizational Values

• Innovation.

• Empathy.

• Adaptability.

• Trust.

• Leadership.

Key interests for working with us

We are looking for someone motivated to bring their financial and administrative expertise to a mission-driven organization that values effective processes, financial sustainability, and sound management.

You do not need to have spent your entire career in the nonprofit sector, but you should appreciate the role that financial sustainability plays in expanding an organization’s impact.

This role will particularly appeal to someone motivated by:

• Education and reducing inequality and gaps in opportunity.

• Social development and social investment.

• Building organizational capacity.

• The efficient and responsible use of resources.

• Building sustainable organizations.

• Collaboration among businesses, civil society, and communities.

• Continuous improvement and stronger management practices in mission-driven organizations.

• Using technology and AI in everyday work.

• Developing team capabilities.

Reasons to join our team

• The opportunity to take on a highly trusted role with direct impact on the organization’s sustainability.

• Direct exposure to and collaboration with the Executive Director, with participation in relevant data-driven decisions.

• A role with real opportunity to build and shape the function; the expectation is not simply to manage what already exists, but to strengthen it.

• The opportunity to work in an organization where financial decisions are directly connected to social impact.

• A team and organizational structure that continue to evolve, with the possibility of progressively expanding the scope of the role into operations, organizational improvement, and digital transformation.

• Interaction with different areas, partners, and stakeholders across the impact ecosystem.

• Connection to United Way, a global network with international presence and expertise.

• The opportunity to combine technical depth, people leadership, and organizational development.

Relevant details before applying for this vacancy

The primary focus of this role is finance and administration. We are looking for a leader who can also contribute to broader organizational priorities, working closely with BI and technology colleagues to strengthen the use of data, improve processes, and introduce tools that make operations more efficient and help anticipate needs and risks.

You should be comfortable working with multiple stakeholders, balancing competing priorities, and managing resources with care, accountability, and sound judgment.

This role requires you to be based in Bogotá and work on a hybrid schedule in line with United Way Colombia’s current policy. It also requires willingness to travel to the communities and regions where the organization works. Gaining firsthand insight into its programs and impact will help you make financial decisions grounded in the organization’s mission and operating context.