Senior Compliance Officer

Position Background:

The Chesapeake Bay Trust, a non-profit grantmaking organization, seeks a Senior Compliance Officer to provide support to the Program and Finance teams on grants, contracts, and partnerships received from our funders as well as grants and contracts distributed from the Trust to our awardees.  The Compliance Officer will develop practices for and provide ongoing oversight to grant management operations (both incoming and outgoing), ensuring the appropriate use and accurate reporting of all financial transactions on grants and contracts.  This role reports to the Administration and Compliance Manager within the Finance and Administration team. 

This person will be a key member of a high-energy, collaborative team of 30 professionals who work diligently to advance the Trust’s mission and daily consider the Trust’s core values of grantee focus, accountability and transparency, inclusiveness, collaboration, and innovation.   This is a full-time, salaried position (40 hours per week), newly created to support the organization’s growth.  Since this is a new position, the right candidate will have the opportunity to showcase his/her/their skills by designing the most efficient and effective processes to meet the requirements.  These new processes will transform the way the Trust manages its incoming and outgoing awards and will enable the program team to focus more on programmatic efforts rather than compliance monitoring.

Established in 1985, the Chesapeake Bay Trust uses grantmaking as a method to promote community-based participation in the restoration and protection of the natural resources of Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay region.  In the past fifteen years, the Trust has doubled its grant-making five times through new revenue from a wide range of partners, with current annual grant-making of approximately $25 million.  The Trust currently allocates these grant funds through 350-400 awards per year to entities who apply through open, competitive calls for proposals as well as programs such as the Chesapeake Conservation Corps.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Implement processes to ensure compliance with federal and other partner requirements including:
  • conducting periodic gap analyses between 2 CFR 200 requirements and our existing policies and procedures and identify any updates that are required
  • reviewing any new general guidance issued by funders such as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Recipient/Applicant Information Notices (RAIN) from whom we receive funds
  • reviewing specific terms and conditions of our funding partner agreements prior to execution
  • proposing any changes identified as a result of these reviews as necessary to comply with partner agreements and/or regulations

• Create and maintain database of key compliance terms and perform periodic checks to ensure compliance by program and finance teams
• Serve as subject matter owner of 2 CFR 200 and other related regulations to facilitate resolution to any questions that may arise
• Recommend changes to internal policies as regulations change
• Review all report submissions including federal financial reports (FFRs), federal MBE/WBE/DBE reports, etc. to ensure compliance with federal requirements
• Monitor a sampling of compliance tasks handled by the program team, such as federal single audit review and report delinquency of our awardees
• Serve as administrator for Trust activity on Grants.gov and SAM.gov web platforms

Qualifications and Skills:

• Associate’s or Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration, or related field or at least five years of direct experience in financial management
• Knowledge of not-for-profit and/or government accounting practices and regulations, software, and fiscal reports
• Knowledge of 2 CFR 200 and other OMB regulations and awareness of Federal Acquisition Regulations (preferred)

• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite of programs (especially Excel)
• Work independently and set priorities; act effectively and efficiently under pressure
• Solve problems and exhibit strong organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

Salary: The range for this position is $70,000-$80,000, commensurate with experience, with an excellent benefits package including a professional development budget and great work/life balance. A successful candidate with experience in some of the responsibilities listed above will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of this range.  A successful candidate will be considered at a higher starting salary level if he/she/they has experience in most or all of the responsibilities listed above.

Application Instructions and Deadline: The position will remain open until filled. Please submit a resume and cover letter to apply. Your cover letter is the most important piece of your application. In your cover letter, please address your ability to accomplish the duties of the position as listed above. Please do not simply list your previous experience. Your cover letter should describe what makes you a match for this position, and why this position is a match for you.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, or disability in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.   We encourage applications from people of color.  Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. The Trust does not participate in programs that require sponsorship for work visas.