Leadership role

Director of Finance

Directs an organization's accounting and financial operations, including budgeting, reporting and grant financial management.

Reporting and scope

Typically reports to the CFO / Head of Finance or, in organizations without a CFO, to the Executive Director / CEO. Authority covers the finance and accounting function.

Core responsibilities

  • Prepares the annual budget and monthly financial reports
  • Manages the audit and supports preparation of the Form 990
  • Tracks restricted funds and grant spending, including federal award requirements
  • Oversees payroll, payables, receivables and cash flow
  • Maintains internal controls and financial policies
  • Presents financial results to the finance committee when there is no CFO

How it differs

CFO / Head of Finance is the board-facing owner of financial strategy. Controller / Comptroller runs the accounting close and controls. Director of Finance sits between the two and is often the top finance job in mid-sized organizations. VP of Finance is the tier above.

By organization size

In smaller organizations the Director of Finance is the senior finance employee and does CFO work without the title. In large organizations it leads a unit such as budgeting or grants finance under a CFO.

Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Director of Finance; Finance Director; Finance Dir.; Dir. of Finance; Senior Director of Finance; Director of Finance and Operations

Related roles

Roles this description compares with Director of Finance, or that compare themselves with it.

CFO / Head of Finance
The organization's senior finance executive, accountable for financial strategy, reporting, controls and the stewardship of restricted funds.
Controller / Comptroller
The chief accounting officer, responsible for the books, financial statements and internal controls.
VP of Finance
A senior finance executive who runs accounting, budgeting and reporting, often one level below the CFO.
Business Manager
Manages the business affairs of an organization or local union, such as its finances, contracts and administration.
Division Director
Directs a division of an organization, in whatever function that division serves.

See what this role pays

Median reported total compensation, nationally: $131,000. Based on 14,508 IRS Form 990 filings, fiscal years 2021–2025.

This median spans organizations of every budget size and sector, so it will not match a benchmark for one organization.

State pay pages for this role: California, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington.

Benchmark pay for this role

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