Background:
Tulsa Innovation Labs LLC (TIL) is a tech-led economic development organization headquartered in Tulsa, OK pioneered by the George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) and supported operationally by the Tulsa Community Foundation (TCF). The organization is responsible for catalyzing Tulsa’s leadership in advanced industries such as energy tech, advanced air mobility, virtual health, and cyber. We believe that by building a world-class tech hub in America’s heartland, we unlock opportunity for all.
The organization was founded in January 2020 and has already experienced significant momentum including its $38.2M Build Back Better Regional Challenge win and EDA Tech Hubs Designation alongside $51M in awarded implementation funding. Now, TIL is emerging from startup-phase and has established itself as a system hub and community leader, requiring additional emphasis on scaling-up operations and organizational capacity.
Position Summary:
The Finance Manager is responsible for overseeing the organization's financial modeling and strategy development, risk assessment, and reporting to support organizational growth and sustainability. This role will also be responsible for supporting the financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and analytical processes of the organization. This role reports to the Head of Operations and involves working closely with various entities to provide insightful financial analysis and strategic recommendations to senior leadership.
Responsibilities / Essential Job Function:
The Finance Manager will ensure timely and accurate financial reporting for TIL operations, federal grants and external funding sources, as well as all affiliated grant-funded component projects. The Finance Manager will perform professional finance and accounting work of a complex nature and requires a thorough understanding of accounting principles, financial modeling and compliance.
This role will support TIL’s operational financial management including annual budgeting and monthly forecasting, establishing internal controls processes and policies, and providing oversight and analysis for TIL grant expenditures. Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to:
- Lead developing financial models to support decision-making processes, including leading the yearly-planning process
- Work closely with senior management to align financial strategies with overall business objectives
- Ensure accuracy and completeness of financial information presented to management
- Manage the creation and management of project budgets, ensuring alignment with financial plans
- Prepare and present financial reports, forecasts, and analysis to senior management and stakeholders
- Enter, review, code and process all invoices, ensuring expenditures are properly coded and recorded
- Comprehend and share with TIL team all grant requirements related to expenditures to ensure all sub awardees remain compliant
- Manage stakeholders to provide expertise and partnership in the development of grant-funded projects or programs
- Develop and implement audit compliance documentation processes and support team adoption of policies
- Promote communication and facilitate information sharing and efficient workflow with internal and external teams
- Continuously evaluate and enhance grant tracking systems, databases, and reporting processes to improve efficiency and accuracy
- Other duties as reasonably requested
Education & Experience:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or related field (Master’s degree/MBA or CPA preferred)
- Demonstrated experience in complex financial analysis, budgeting, and forecasting
- Minimum of five years direct experience in accounting or finance role
- Grant administration experience a plus
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial software/tools
- Strong analytical and project management skills
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects and collaborate with team members
Competencies, Skills & Abilities:
To be successful in this role, you must have excellent communication, organizational and project management skills. You must also have the ability to actively listen, engage and connect with a diverse group of people, fostering meaningful relationships with our partners. Our team must be nimble and adaptable to the growing and changing needs of our organization and stakeholder groups, creating solutions and improving processes to achieve TIL goals.
- Integrity – honesty and directness in all things, especially with respect to the true status of initiatives and when in need of help and support from teammates and stakeholders.
- Intentionality – the desire to act now, and not later, on tasks and initiatives. Exhibit a hunger for success and results.
- Interest – an attitude of constant learning, curiosity, and humility with respect to what has yet to be understood.
- Interconnectedness – respect and appreciation for teammates and stakeholders: their backgrounds, skills, history, challenges, fears, and expectations that influence how approach shared tasks and relationships.
- Organized – Demonstrated ability to manage complex, sometimes conflicting, objectives and tasks.
- Decisive – Demonstrated ability to act even with incomplete information.
- Collaborative – Demonstrated ability to convene, facilitate, and develop shared understanding.
- Intelligent – Demonstrated ability to understand quickly and exhibit good judgement.
- Communicative – Demonstrated ability to listen to understand, and to share information with others simply and directly.
Required Knowledge/Skills:
- Strong execution skills, with attention to detail (reflected through partnerships created, grants executed, initiatives designed)
- Developing and managing complex financial modeling, accounting records, and audit compliance
- Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
- Competent and comfortable leading external partnership conversations (reflected through grant implementation and regular monitoring convos)
- Leadership with an instinct for taking the initiative
- Ability to work cross functionally to manage the identification and addressing of portfolio needs.
- Proven team player with an ability to work cross-functionally and across shifting priorities
- Proven ability to successfully manage the identification and addressing of company needs
- Proven ability to look at challenges strategically and formulate creative solutions
- Understanding of federal grant opportunities and funding sources
- Experience leading projects with external stakeholders at partner organizations
- Strong organizational, time management, project management and problem-solving skills, with ability to balance competing priorities and deliverables, required
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, Zoom, Asana, Adobe, Slack
- Proficiency in QuickBooks, NetSuite, or other bookkeeping applications or ERP systems
- Ability to balance having fun while getting top results at work
Physical Requirements:
- Communicate: Frequent phone, in-person, and messaging communication via various platforms. Must be able to exchange information effectively and accurately in all elements of verbal and written communication.
- Operate: Constant operation of computer, phones, and other office productivity tools.
- Willingness and ability to travel between program and related stakeholder locations, and service provider/vendor offices as required.
Hours & Location:
- Position is based in Tulsa within TIL headquarters located at 3 North Cheyenne Ave.
- Typical work hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 to 5:00, with flexibility required for various events, meetings, and relevant business needs.