How to apply for Finance and Operations Manager

About Groundwork USA

Groundwork USA is a national network of local organizations that transform contaminated land into parks, trails, and community gardens while building community power and economic opportunity. Working here means supporting grassroots affiliates across the country, combining environmental justice with practical capacity-building. The remote role offers the chance to make a national impact while working closely with local finance and HR staff.

About the role

As Finance and Operations Manager, you will be the go-to expert for Groundwork Affiliates on bookkeeping, grant and subaward management, financial reporting, and HR operations. You'll work alongside the Director of Network Organizational Health to ensure financial integrity and operational efficiency across the network. This role is critical for sustaining the network's growth and enabling affiliates to focus on their community missions.

A typical day

You might start your day with a check-in with the Director of Network Organizational Health, then spend time reviewing affiliate financial reports and answering questions from affiliate finance staff. Later, you could lead a training session on subaward compliance or troubleshoot an HR issue with an affiliate. The role is varied, blending technical finance work with capacity-building and relationship management.

Who Groundwork USA is looking for

• Has 5+ years of nonprofit finance and operations experience, including bookkeeping, grant management, and HR support.
• Is proficient with accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks) and comfortable supporting multiple entities remotely.
• Understands subaward compliance and can provide training and technical assistance to affiliate staff.
• Is a collaborative communicator who can work with diverse stakeholders and adapt to the needs of grassroots organizations.

Tips for this application

• Highlight your experience with subaward management and compliance, as this is a key responsibility mentioned in the job description.
• Emphasize any remote work experience and your ability to support multiple affiliates or entities simultaneously.
• Show your commitment to environmental justice or community development—Groundwork USA values people-centered, place-based work.
• Use specific examples of how you've strengthened financial operations or built capacity in previous roles.
• Mention familiarity with HR practices, as the role serves as a point of contact for affiliate HR staff.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your hands-on experience with nonprofit accounting, grant management, and subaward compliance.', 'Your ability to provide remote support and training to affiliate finance and HR staff.', "Your alignment with Groundwork USA's mission of transforming communities and building local power.", 'Your track record of improving operational efficiency and financial integrity in a network or multi-entity setting.']

Research before applying

• Learn about Groundwork USA's network of affiliates and their specific community projects.
• Understand the funding sources and grant structures that support Groundwork USA and its affiliates.
• Explore the Director of Network Organizational Health role to understand how you'd collaborate.
• Review Groundwork USA's recent annual reports or impact stories to align your application with their values.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would support affiliates with varying levels of financial sophistication and capacity.
• Your approach to ensuring compliance with grant and subaward requirements across a national network.
• A time you identified and resolved a financial or operational issue in a nonprofit setting.
• How you stay updated on nonprofit accounting standards and HR best practices.
• Your experience working remotely and collaborating with colleagues across different time zones.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Focusing only on for-profit finance experience without connecting it to nonprofit or grant accounting.
• Ignoring the network support aspect—this role is about enabling affiliates, not just managing central finances.
• Neglecting to mention remote collaboration skills, which are essential for this distributed team.