How to apply for Finance & Operations Manager

About National Center for Healthcare Leadership

The National Center for Healthcare Leadership (NCHL) is a fully remote national membership association that develops and connects healthcare leaders through executive education, research, and international collaboration. Its core programs—LENS, USCIPP, and NCAF—support over 100 partner organizations and a network of member health systems. Working here means joining a small, high-performing team where your work directly shapes the financial backbone of a mission-driven organization.

About the role

This is a newly created Finance & Operations Manager role, marking NCHL's transition from an outsourced accounting arrangement to an in-house finance function. You will build financial processes largely from the ground up, receive 4–6 weeks of structured training from the outgoing accounting firm, and retain an outsourced controller as a technical resource. Your work will be critical to sustaining NCHL's growth and ensuring its programs remain financially healthy.

A typical day

A typical day might involve reviewing financial transactions, preparing reports for the Senior Director, and coordinating with the outsourced controller on technical accounting questions. You might also work on budgeting for upcoming programs, processing invoices, and improving operational workflows. Since NCHL is fully remote, you'll collaborate via video calls and email, balancing independent work with team check-ins.

Who National Center for Healthcare Leadership is looking for

• Has 3–5 years of hands-on finance and operations experience, ideally in a nonprofit, membership association, or healthcare-adjacent organization.
• Is comfortable building financial systems and processes from scratch, not just maintaining existing ones.
• Can work independently in a fully remote setting and is proactive about communication and deadlines.
• Possesses strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities, such as budgeting, reporting, and operational tasks, for a small team.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience you have with nonprofit accounting standards (e.g., fund accounting, grant tracking) or membership dues processing, as NCHL is a membership association.
• Emphasize your ability to work autonomously and take initiative, since this role involves building processes without a large support team.
• Mention your familiarity with accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Bill.com) and any experience transitioning from outsourced to in-house finance functions.
• In your cover letter or resume, explicitly note your time zone and willingness to work Eastern or Central hours, as the role has a preference for those zones.
• Demonstrate interest in NCHL's mission by referencing its programs (LENS, USCIPP, NCAF) and explaining how your finance skills can support leadership development in healthcare.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your experience in building or improving financial operations, especially in a small or growing organization.', 'Your ability to collaborate with external partners, such as an outsourced controller or accounting firm, during a transition.', 'Your understanding of the unique financial needs of a membership association or nonprofit, including budgeting for programs and managing restricted funds.', "Your enthusiasm for NCHL's mission and how you see the Finance & Operations Manager role contributing to its national and international impact."]

Research before applying

• Explore NCHL's website to understand its mission, history, and the scope of its programs like LENS, USCIPP, and NCAF.
• Research common financial challenges and best practices for membership associations and nonprofit organizations.
• Look into the healthcare leadership landscape to understand NCHL's role and the types of organizations it partners with.
• Find out about the current outsourced accounting arrangement and what a typical transition to in-house finance involves, so you can speak to it in interviews.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you approach building NCHL's in-house finance function from the ground up, and what first steps would you take?
• Can you describe your experience with nonprofit accounting, particularly managing restricted funds or membership dues?
• How do you ensure accuracy and compliance in a fully remote work environment with minimal supervision?
• What software and tools have you used for financial management, and how would you integrate them into NCHL's existing systems?
• How would you handle the transition from an outsourced accounting firm while maintaining continuity and accuracy?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without demonstrating any familiarity with nonprofit or membership association finance, as this is a key aspect of the role.
• Failing to address the remote nature of the role and how you stay organized and communicative without in-person oversight.
• Submitting a generic cover letter that doesn't mention NCHL's specific programs or the unique opportunity to build the finance function from scratch.