Summary: The Senior Advisor serves as ASTHO’s subject matter expert in budgeting, financial planning, forecasting, project financial management, and resource allocation. The position provides strategic and technical guidance to program and operational teams, strengthens financial planning practices, and promotes consistent, accurate, and data-informed decision-making across the organization.
The Senior
Advisor leads the development and continuous improvement of budgeting methodologies, systems, tools, and standards; supports the implementation and optimization of the organization’s ERP system; and ensures that proposal budgets and funded activities align with organizational priorities, funder requirements, and applicable policies.
Location: Remote
Anticipated salary: $124,300 up to $153,100
Principal Functions
Strengthens budgeting, forecasting, and project financial-management practices across U.S. government, foundation, philanthropic, private-sector, and other funding sources
Provides strategic and technical guidance to program and operational teams on budget development, financial planning, forecasting, cost management, and resource allocation
Develops and oversees methodologies for personnel budgeting, labor distribution, and effort planning to ensure staffing costs are appropriately allocated across grants, contracts, and organizational initiatives
Leads the modernization and continuous improvement of budgeting and forecasting processes by developing standardized methodologies, templates, workflows, controls, and guidance
Reduces reliance on manual processes by identifying opportunities for automation, system integration, and improved use of financial and operational data
Supports the development and implementation of the organization’s ERP system, including business requirements, automated workflows, reporting needs, dashboards, and data visualization, ensuring financial data supports timely decision-making
Develops and monitors key performance indicators for the budgeting and forecasting function, using data to improve accuracy, cycle times, forecast reliability, and customer service
Reviews proposal budgets, budget narratives, funding assumptions, indirect cost applications, fringe rates, and other financial components of funding submissions
Supports the development and review of budgets for requests for proposals, grant applications, contracts, and other funding opportunities
Assesses project financial performance and provide recommendations to improve budget accuracy, cost management, and bottom-line results
Identifies financial risks, funding gaps, overages, and underutilized resources, and provide scenario-based recommendations to program and organizational leadership
Develops and standardizes budgeting templates, financial planning tools, guidance documents, and operating procedures
Strengthens coordination among Program Operations, Grants, Finance, and programmatic teams throughout the proposal development and project implementation lifecycle
Provides guidance to program teams to ensure that project activities and expenditures are consistent with approved budgets, funder expectations, and organizational policies
Partners with cross-functional teams to improve the quality, consistency, and accessibility of financial and operational data
Develops reports and analyses that support leadership decision-making, resource allocation, and long-term financial planning
Drive process improvements that enhance operational efficiency, financial accountability, and compliance with funder and audit requirements
Supports other strategic initiatives that contribute to the organization’s long-term financial and operational health.
Qualifications
Master’s degree in finance, business administration, public administration, nonprofit management, accounting, or related field preferred
Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in budgeting, financial management, grants management, business planning, or nonprofit operations
Extensive experience developing, reviewing, and managing complex projects and organizational budgets
Demonstrated experience with foundation, philanthropic, private sector, or other non-federal funding sources
Strong understanding of indirect cost rates, fringe benefit rates, cost allocation, budget forecasting, and project financial performance
Experience reviewing proposal budgets, budget narratives, grant agreements, contracts, and funder requirements
Experience developing and delivering financial management or budgeting training to non-financial staff
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into clear and actionable recommendations
Experience supporting ERP implementation, system design, business requirements, financial reporting, or process improvement initiatives
Proficiency with financial systems, budgeting tools, reporting platforms, spreadsheets, dashboards, and data visualization tools
Ability to manage multiple complex priorities and work effectively across departments and organizational levels
Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Strong collaboration, facilitation, and relationship management skills
Knowledge of nonprofit financial management, funder compliance, and grants administration principles preferred
Knowledge of federal grants administration, including familiarity with OMB Uniform Guidance, preferred
Ability and willingness to travel
Benefits
Vacation leave, Sick leave, Personal days
12 Holidays (with some floating options for personalization)
Medical, Dental, and Vision
Retirement Plans – 403B and Roth 403B, eligible employees can receive a company contribution up to 11.75%
Electronic communication stipend
Life and AD&D Insurance
Short and Long-term disability insurance
Additional Benefits include: Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Pet Insurance, Legal Resources, Health & Wellness reimbursement, Flexible Spending accounts, Tuition Reimbursement, and Professional Development Assistance
About Us: ASTHO is the national nonprofit organization representing the public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. territories and Freely Associated States, and the District of Columbia, as well as the more than 100,000 public health professionals these agencies employ. ASTHO members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy and to ensuring excellence in public health practice. ASTHO is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, and was incorporated on March 23, 1942, with the goal of helping health officials navigate a rapidly changing public health landscape and remains a strong voice in governmental public health.
This position is contingent upon the availability of grant, contract, or organizational funding. Funding levels and organizational needs may impact the duration or continuation of employment.