Finance Manager

ORGANIZATION:

Accelerating Appalachia (ACAP), founded in 2013 by Kentuckian SaraDay Evans, builds networks of regenerative agriculture and supports resilient regenerative supply chains and local economies across an eight-state southeastern region. Working directly with producers — largely those the USDA identifies as historically underserved — across Central and Southern Appalachia, ACAP connects producers to technical assistance, financial resources, and market opportunities. In addition to supporting farmers, ACAP supports regional growth-stage regenerative companies in food, fiber, and forest products, accelerating a regional regenerative economy across the Southeast and Appalachia. In 2023, ACAP launched Building Appalachian Agricultural Resilience (BAAR), a program incentivizing regenerative agriculture practices across eight states, funded by the USDA with an $18 million Farmer Fund ($12 million in cash incentives, $6 million in training and marketing assistance).
POSITION:

The Finance Manager oversees ACAP's fiscal health: managing the books, ensuring compliance with federal and state grant requirements, forecasting revenue, advising on financial policy, and managing budgets across the business accelerator and Farmer Funding Program (including BAAR). It is a bonus, though not required, if the Finance Manager brings experience in social enterprise, business accelerators, and/or impact investing and blended capital models relevant to ACAP's farmer funding and capital strategy.
REPORTING STRUCTURE:

The Finance Manager reports directly to the CEO, preserving financial independence for audit readiness, grant compliance, and board reporting. The Finance Manager works in close, day-to-day coordination with the COO, Executive Assistant, and program team on budgets, disbursements, program financial matters, and operational needs. All financial reports and materials prepared by the Finance Manager are subject to CEO final review and, as appropriate, submission to the Board.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Financial Management:

- Oversee bookkeeping, payroll, invoicing, contract and producer payment disbursements, and reimbursement processing

- Maintain an up-to-date, detailed ledger and financial records in QuickBooks

- Oversee accounts receivable/payable and maintain audit compliance

- Direct organizational budgets and monitor daily cash flow

- Work closely with the COO to ensure project expenditures and recording comply with GAAP, with resulting reports prepared for CEO review

- Collaborate with the COO to formalize processes for accounts payable, expense reconciliation, bank reconciliations, and credit card statements

- Collaborate with the fundraising team to support long-term financial planning

- Work with the CDO to reconcile financial records against the program database

Federal & Grant Compliance:

- Support execution of all grants and private funding, ensuring compliance with granting agency requirements, including USDA and Appalachian Regional Commission funding

- Ensure compliance with OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), including allowability, allocability, and reasonableness of costs

- Coordinate with the COO on grant financial requirements, including managing the transition from the current contract accountant, with compliance reports prepared for CEO review

- Enforce internal controls and ensure financial operations adhere to local, state, and federal regulations

- Maintain documentation and internal controls to withstand federal monitoring and audits

Financial Reporting:

- Prepare accurate financial statements, business activity reports, and forecasts for executive team meetings

- Support semi-annual and quarterly financial reports on grant expenditures, cost-share amounts and sources, and supporting documentation, in coordination with the COO and subject to final review by the CEO

- Provide financial reports and documentation for the annual external audit

- Work with the CEO and COO to develop the ann