Application Guide

How to Apply for Lead, Finance and Feasiblity

at Whatcom Community Foundation

🏢 About Whatcom Community Foundation

The Washington Center for Employee Ownership (WACEO) operates as part of the Whatcom Community Foundation, uniquely positioning itself as a statewide hub dedicated to promoting employee ownership as a succession planning tool. This organization stands out by focusing on keeping businesses operational while benefiting workforces and communities, blending financial expertise with social impact. Working here offers the opportunity to contribute to economic resilience and worker empowerment across Washington state.

About This Role

As Lead, Finance and Feasibility, you'll spearhead feasibility analyses for businesses exploring employee ownership models like ESOPs, EOTs, and worker cooperatives. This role involves developing financial models, conducting valuations, and consulting with business owners to assess their readiness for employee ownership transitions. Your work directly impacts whether local businesses can successfully transition to employee ownership, preserving jobs and community wealth.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve conducting a virtual consultation with a business owner to assess their goals and readiness for employee ownership, followed by developing financial models to analyze the viability of an ESOP transition. You'd likely collaborate with legal and financial partners on transaction structures, then prepare clear, accessible reports explaining complex financial concepts to stakeholders without financial backgrounds.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Whatcom Community Foundation Is Looking For

  • Has 5-7 years of hands-on experience in financial modeling, business valuation, and capital structure analysis, preferably with exposure to M&A or corporate transactions
  • Possesses exceptional communication skills to explain complex financial concepts to business owners without financial backgrounds
  • Holds or is pursuing a professional designation like CPA, CFA, or ASA, demonstrating commitment to financial expertise
  • Has familiarity with or strong interest in employee ownership structures (ESOPs, EOTs, worker cooperatives) and their unique financial considerations

📝 Tips for Applying to Whatcom Community Foundation

1

Highlight specific experience with business valuations and financial modeling for ownership transitions, not just general finance work

2

Demonstrate your ability to communicate complex financial information by using clear, non-technical language in your application materials

3

Mention any exposure to employee ownership models, even if indirect (e.g., through related work, coursework, or personal interest)

4

Emphasize experience working with small-to-medium businesses, as WACEO primarily serves this segment

5

Tailor your resume to show how your financial expertise can serve social impact goals, not just profit maximization

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Explain why you're specifically interested in employee ownership as a succession planning tool, not just finance roles generally", 'Provide a concrete example of when you successfully communicated complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders', 'Describe how your financial modeling or valuation experience could apply to ESOP/EOT feasibility analyses', "Express genuine interest in WACEO's mission of preserving businesses and benefiting communities through employee ownership"]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Study WACEO's specific approach to employee ownership and their published case studies or success stories
  • → Research the differences between ESOPs, EOTs, and worker cooperatives in terms of financial structure and feasibility requirements
  • → Look into Whatcom Community Foundation's broader mission and how WACEO fits within their community impact work
  • → Explore the employee ownership landscape in Washington state, including any relevant legislation or support programs
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk me through how you would conduct a feasibility analysis for a family-owned business considering an ESOP transition
2 How would you explain the financial implications of an EOT to business owners with limited financial literacy?
3 Describe your experience with cash flow analysis specifically for ownership transition scenarios
4 What do you see as the biggest financial challenges in converting a traditional business to a worker cooperative?
5 How would you approach building relationships with legal and financial partners who specialize in employee ownership transactions?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Focusing solely on technical financial expertise without demonstrating interest in the social impact aspect of the role
  • Using overly technical jargon in application materials without showing ability to simplify concepts for non-experts
  • Treating this as just another finance job rather than a specialized role requiring understanding of employee ownership structures

📅 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 Whatcom Community Foundation!

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