Director, Finance - Global Programs

About Sesame Workshop:

Sesame Workshop is the global impact nonprofit behind Sesame Street and so much more. For over 50 years, we have worked at the intersection of education, media, and research, creating joyful experiences that enrich minds and expand hearts, all in service of empowering each generation to build a better world. Our beloved characters, iconic shows, outreach in communities, and more bring playful early learning to families in more than 150 countries and advance our mission to help children everywhere grow smarter, stronger, and kinder.

Learn more at www.sesame.org and follow Sesame Workshop on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and X. 

Position Overview:

Our Director of Finance is a member of the Global Programs team within the Finance Department and reports to the Vice President of Finance, Global Programs, Global Productions, and JGCC (Joan Ganz Cooney Center).

The Director will support the financial management and reporting around a portfolio of country offices and/or humanitarian projects. To be successful in this role, the ideal candidate must come with solid budgeting, financial planning, reporting and compliance experience to assist with the management of large components of the Global Programs portfolio. The Director, Finance, must be comfortable with delegating tasks while remaining the main Finance point of contact for all projects and programs in their portfolio. Additional requirements include advanced experience in working for an NGO/non-profit, creating, revising, and monitoring donor-funded program budgets, supporting proposal development, and preparing financial reports (e.g., budget vs actual) and analysis.

The Director must be comfortable interacting with various levels of management and handling highly confidential information.

This position is based in New York, NY (Manhattan) following a hybrid work model with a minimum of 3-designated in-office days (Tues-Thurs).

Primary Responsibilities:

• Manage all areas of the accounting and finance functions for assigned portfolio, including general ledger and funder program budgeting, accounting, and reporting.
• Plan and execute the coordination and preparation of the assigned portfolio’s annual budget, monthly close, quarterly forecasts, and oversight of all program budgets.
• Address questions from donors about budgets, financial plans, expense timelines and projections, and underlying budget assumptions.
• Review plans to spend for budget applicability and reasonableness. Ensure all program expenditures follow Sesame Workshop’s internal policies and procedures as well as donor requirements.
• Review and approve all documentation and support for program spending to ensure reasonableness, allowability and allocability.
• Review third-party/sub-recipient budgets, contracts, cash flow statements against funder agreements and internal financial projections.
• Consolidate sub-recipient budgets and financial reports to create cohesive budgets and financial reports, according to donor guidelines and format.
• Review grant/sponsorship/other revenue deal memos and grant/sponsorship/other revenue contracts for financial implications.
• Continuously, monitor budget versus actual and notify Program Leads, Finance management, and other key team members of budget variances and/or the need for revised budgets. Keep VP, Global Programs informed on program changes that will impact Sesame’s Fiscal Year Budget/Estimate(s).
• Complete Quarterly Close and Estimates; ensure that all actual projected revenue and expenses are accurately recorded, accrued, and reported in Sesame Workshop’s financial systems.
• Maintain and update individual project/funder cost reports for monthly actual costs and monthly projection; and conduct monthly reviews with project managers.
• Prepare, review, and approve proposal budgets for the assigned portfolio.
• Support annual audit, including annual uniform guidance audit, as it relates to international projects and subsidiaries.
• Lead consolidation of branch offices and subsidiaries within assigned portfolio and ensure conformance with US GAAP reporting and disclosure requirements. Act as main “point of contact” for foreign office finance leads and remain abreast of local tax risks, VAT invoicing, transfer pricing and annual local audits.

Minimum Qualifications Required:

• Must be legally eligible for employment in the United States
• Bachelor’s degree
• 8+ years experience in financial planning, fiscal management, accounting and non-profit accounting or funding experience
• Thorough understanding of GAAP
• Experience in budgeting and reporting in foreign currency and currency conversion
• International business experience including experience interacting with international branch offices or subsidiaries
• Thorough understanding of General Ledger systems
• Experience with US government grants and contracts and the related compliance requirements
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint
• MBA, CPA or related certification, preferred
• Knowledge of NetSuite and/or TM1 a plus
• Knowledge of international accounting standards and taxation is a plus
• Experience working on USAID funded or other funder projects, preferred

Equal Opportunity Employment (EOE) Statement

Sesame Workshop is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy-related condition, familial status, domestic violence victim status, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

PSEA Statement

Sesame Workshop is an equal-opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on the business needs, job requirements & suitability of the candidate. Sesame Workshop strictly follows the Child Safeguarding Policy, and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Policy. These have been developed to ensure the maximum protection of program participants from exploitation and to clarify the responsibilities of Sesame Workshop staff, consultants, visitors to the program and partner organization, and the standards of behavior expected from them.

Pay Transparency Policy Statement

As a federal contractor, Sesame Workshop follows Pay Transparency and non-discrimination provisions as guided by the U.S. Department of Labor.