Senior Director, Finance

Steve Ojode MBA, CPA

Flossmoor, IL

773-***-**** • *****.*****@*****.***

Summary

Accomplished finance professional with extensive not-for-profit experience, known for delivering strategic financial solutions, driving growth, and enhancing compliance. Proven leader in transforming financial processes and fostering strong stakeholder relationships. Seeking a new opportunity to leverage expertise and success to further organizational excellence and impact.

Experience

YMCA of the USA (Y-USA)

Senior Director, Finance • Chicago, IL November 2018 – Present

Provided leadership and guidance to the finance team, overseeing all accounting activities, including financial closes and general ledger reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and endowment management.

Coached, mentored, and managed the team by setting and measuring annual goals, providing regular feedback, and completing regular performance evaluations.

Spearheaded Y-USA’s transition from a manual, paper-driven Accounts Payable process to an efficient digital system, conceptualizing, designing, and implementing AP workflows using SAP Concur.

Directed the shift to an all-electronic disbursement process via ACH/EFT, significantly enhancing speed and efficiency, earning commendation from both internal stakeholders and outside vendors.

Improved Y-USA’s employee expense reimbursement process by utilizing SAP Concur features and promoting best practices. Updated Travel and Expense policies to ensure compliance with internal, state, and federal regulations.

Successfully introduced a Lockbox system, enabling seamless cash operations for the organization in a work-from-anywhere environment.

Cultivated a strong working relationship with Y-USA’s bankers to meet all banking requirements and ensure continuous compliance with debt covenants. Managed cash flow, investments and financial risk to maximize returns and minimize losses.

Monitored use of line of credit and credit cards to ensure the organization had the resources necessary to meet day-to-day operating needs.

Orchestrated the transition of Investment Managers for the $120M endowment fund, ensuring seamless monthly and quarterly reporting.

Served as the primary contact for annual external audits and quarterly internal audits, ensuring thorough and timely communication and documentation.

Maintained and monitored Y-USA’s Internal Audit Tracker, ensuring compliance with financial policies, adoption of best practices, mitigation of risk and engaging in continuous improvement.

Identified and implemented process improvements to increase efficiency and effectiveness of finance operations.

YMCA of the USA (Y-USA)

Director, Financial Reporting • Chicago, IL August 2015 – October 2018

Managed the month-end close process, ensuring the completion and distribution of accurate financial reports, monthly operating statements, and comprehensive financial analyses that were clear and objective.

Conducted financial reporting, planning, and analysis, including interim monthly/quarterly operating statements, investment performance results, capital expenditure tracking, and cash flow analysis.

Led monthly P&L reviews with the VP/CFO to understand factors driving monthly results, including prevailing trends, and timing.

Prepared executive summaries of operating results, incorporating supporting schedules and narrative descriptions of financial activities and positions.

Presented these summaries to the Finance & Audit Committee, Investment Committee, and Board of Directors.

Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.

Led the annual financial statement audit with Grant Thornton, including reviewing footnotes and client schedules for the audit.

Administered the organization’s financial reporting system and internal controls.

Supervised general accounting staff, coaching, and motivating the team to produce high quality financial reports.

Leveraged cross-training for flexibility to meet tight deadlines.

Successfully facilitated a three-day month end close process by fostering teamwork and communication across departments. This ensured timely and successful completion of audits, filings, and issuance of financial statements.

YMCA of the USA (Y-USA)

Assistant Controller • Chicago, IL April 2002 – July 2015

Oversaw the annual financial reporting process for over 900 national YMCAs, managing the auditing, and recording activities relating to Annual Financial Reports received from YMCA member associations.

Managed billing, receipt, collection, and recording activities for member associations’ dues and other accounts receivable activities, including Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) processing.

Monitored outstanding member dues and established repayment plans for national YMCAs.

Directed the Accounts Payable disbursement function, including supervision of the employee expense reimbursements process and vendor management.

Ensured compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) by overseeing monthly balance sheet reconciliations and bank account reconciliations.

Led financial system selection, implementation, and upgrades, merging accounting and operations data to reduce reporting time and increase efficiency.

Assisted the Controller in establishing, monitoring, and enforcing internal controls to protect the organization’s fixed assets.

Supervised the payroll function, liaising with Human Resources, and ensured compliance with legal and IRS guidelines through accurate payroll reporting and filings.

Education

North Park University

Master of Business Administration (MBA), Finance and International Business Management

University of Eastern Africa

Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting and Management

Certifications

The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation: Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Technical Skills

Blackbaud Financial Edge

Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge

PowerPlan-Advanced Budget Management

ADP Workforce Now

SAP Concur Travel & Expense

SAP Concur AP Invoice

Bank of America CashPro & Works

Cvent & PayPal

Microsoft Office Suite

Salesforce

Community Involvement & Volunteering

Homewood Flossmoor Park District, Board Treasurer

References are available upon request.

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