Application Guide

How to Apply for Finance Manager

at Institute for AI Policy and Strategy

🏢 About Institute for AI Policy and Strategy

The Institute for AI Policy and Strategy is a unique nonprofit focused on reducing risks from frontier AI systems through policy research. Working here offers the opportunity to contribute directly to shaping responsible AI governance at a critical time in technological development. The organization's growth phase and international scope (US and UK entities) provide a dynamic environment for financial professionals interested in mission-driven work.

About This Role

This Finance Manager role involves building financial systems from the ground up as IAPS transitions to an independent organization with dual US/UK operations. You'll be responsible for establishing accounting infrastructure, ensuring compliance across jurisdictions, and providing financial insights to support strategic decisions about AI policy research funding. This position is impactful because solid financial management enables the institute's research to influence global AI safety policies.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve reviewing and reconciling transactions across US and UK entities, developing financial reports for leadership that connect spending to research outcomes, and refining accounting processes to support the organization's growth. You'd likely collaborate with research teams to understand grant requirements while ensuring compliance across jurisdictions, and work on setting up scalable systems as IAPS expands its operations.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Institute for AI Policy and Strategy Is Looking For

  • Has experience establishing financial systems for growing nonprofits, particularly during organizational transitions or international expansions
  • Possesses specific knowledge of nonprofit accounting standards (FASB/GAAP) and experience with grant compliance and reporting
  • Has managed multi-jurisdictional financial operations, ideally with exposure to both US and UK regulatory environments
  • Can demonstrate experience setting up accounting infrastructure from scratch or significantly scaling existing systems

📝 Tips for Applying to Institute for AI Policy and Strategy

1

Highlight specific experience with nonprofit financial systems setup, not just management of existing systems

2

Mention any familiarity with AI/tech policy organizations or mission-driven nonprofits in your application materials

3

Quantify your experience with multi-jurisdictional operations - specify if you've worked with US/UK entities specifically

4

Demonstrate understanding of how financial management supports research organizations by connecting your experience to research grant management

5

Tailor your resume to show progression in financial system development, not just day-to-day operations management

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your experience establishing financial systems during organizational growth phases or transitions', 'Specific knowledge of nonprofit accounting standards and multi-jurisdictional compliance requirements', 'How your financial management experience can support AI policy research and organizational mission', 'Examples of setting up accounting infrastructure or processes from scratch']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Review IAPS's published research and policy recommendations to understand their AI safety focus areas
  • → Study the organization's growth trajectory and public announcements about becoming an independent entity
  • → Research nonprofit financial management challenges specific to policy research organizations
  • → Understand the regulatory differences between US and UK nonprofit financial operations
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would establish financial systems for a growing nonprofit with US and UK entities
2 Describe your experience with nonprofit grant compliance and reporting requirements
3 How would you ensure financial operations support IAPS's research mission and policy recommendations?
4 What challenges have you faced managing multi-jurisdictional financial operations, and how did you address them?
5 How do you approach financial reporting for leadership in mission-driven organizations versus for-profit companies?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Applying with only for-profit financial management experience without connecting it to nonprofit contexts
  • Failing to demonstrate specific knowledge of nonprofit accounting standards and compliance requirements
  • Presenting as purely an operations manager rather than someone who can build systems from the ground up

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to Institute for AI Policy and Strategy!

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