How to apply for Head of Finance & Operations

High Impact Athletes

About High Impact Athletes

High Impact Athletes is a unique nonprofit that leverages the influence of professional athletes to direct millions in charitable donations to evidence-based causes. Working here offers the chance to make a tangible global impact while operating at the intersection of sports, philanthropy, and technology in a fast-paced, remote-first environment.

About the role

As the Head of Finance & Operations, you will build and lead the financial backbone of a rapidly scaling nonprofit, overseeing multi-entity compliance, cash flow, and vendor negotiations across four countries and five currencies. This role is pivotal in ensuring that every dollar donated is maximized for impact, making it ideal for a hands-on finance leader who thrives on operational challenges and strategic growth.

A typical day

Your day might start by reviewing cash flow positions across five currencies and checking FX rates to optimize transfers. You'll then negotiate with payment processors or vendors, perhaps via video call, to reduce fees, and spend the afternoon designing a new compliance workflow in Notion or meeting with the team to forecast donations. Evenings could involve analyzing financial data with AI tools to spot cost-saving opportunities or preparing reports for the board.

Who High Impact Athletes is looking for

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Tips for this application

Highlight specific examples of how you've used AI tools or automation to streamline finance operations, as the role emphasizes fluency with AI.
Quantify your impact in previous roles, especially in cost savings through vendor negotiations or efficiency gains in financial reporting.
Showcase any experience with multi-entity, multi-currency consolidation, even if it's from a commercial context, to demonstrate transferable skills.
Tailor your resume to mention familiarity with the specific platforms listed (Notion, Xero, Airwallex, Deel) and any certifications or courses you've completed.
In your cover letter, explicitly address your comfort with remote work and autonomy, as the role is remote and requires independent negotiation skills.

What to cover in your cover letter

• Emphasize your passion for the nonprofit's mission and how your finance expertise can directly amplify their impact. • Detail your experience with compliance and financial reporting across multiple jurisdictions, especially if you've worked with US 990s or similar. • Provide a concise example of how you've optimized payment processing costs or managed FX risk to save money or improve efficiency. • Mention your proficiency with AI tools and your ability to implement new systems and workflows to support rapid scaling.

Draft a cover letter

Research before applying

Familiarize yourself with the charity evaluation standards used by High Impact Athletes (e.g., GiveWell, charity evaluators) to understand their evidence-based focus.
Study the organization's mission, recent campaigns, and the athletes they partner with to grasp their scale and impact.
Review the specific compliance requirements for nonprofits in each jurisdiction (US, NZ, UK, Australia) to show your proactive research.
Look into the payment platforms mentioned (Raisely, Airwallex) to understand their fee structures and features, and be ready to discuss optimization ideas.

High Impact Athletes website

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

Describe a time you consolidated financials for multiple entities in different countries. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
How would you approach negotiating lower fees with payment processors like Stripe or PayPal? What strategies have worked for you before?
Given the nonprofit's global nature, how would you ensure compliance with charity regulations in the US, NZ, UK, and Australia?
What is your experience with using AI tools to automate financial reporting or forecasting? Can you give a specific example?
How would you design a cash flow forecast that accounts for FX volatility across five currencies? What factors would you consider?

Practise interview questions

Common mistakes to avoid

Don't underestimate the hands-on nature of the role; even if you're a senior leader, be prepared to dive into the details and show you're willing to do the work.
Avoid generic responses that don't address the specific multi-entity, multi-currency complexity; they want evidence you've handled such challenges before.
Don't overlook the importance of AI fluency; if you lack experience, show a willingness to learn and provide examples of how you've quickly adopted new technologies.

Deadline

No deadline is listed. Roles without a deadline usually close once the employer has enough candidates, so apply soon if you are interested.