Operations and Finance Director

StartOut is the leading national non-profit focused on supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. StartOut’s mission is to accelerate the growth of the LGBTQ+ community to drive its economic empowerment, building a world where every LGBTQ+ entrepreneur has equal access to lead, succeed, and shape the workforce of the future.

Founded in 2009, StartOut is a global community of over 25K members and is the largest organization supporting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs. We serve all growth entrepreneurs of the LGBTQ+ community regardless of ethnicity, identity, or gender. Our membership is diverse in gender, race, identity, geographic location, and industries. To level the playing field and have measurable impact, we offer a highly subsidized suite of very successful programs to founders, including our investor portal, the StartOut Growth Lab (our 6-month accelerator), a mentorship program with over 1,000 matches to date, expert office hours, virtual and in-person events nationwide, and community building. 

StartOut is committed to promoting diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging both within our own organization and within the LGBTQ+ and entrepreneurial communities. This includes inclusive hiring practices, an organizational commitment to equitable and inclusive conduct (outlined in our Code of Conduct,) and initiatives and programs to increase equitable outcomes, especially for female-identified, BIPOC and Trans/GNC community members. 

Additionally, StartOut is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants of any race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, neurotype, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, and marital status. In order to promote and support diversity at every level, this policy also applies to internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, outside vendors, members and customers, service clients, use of contractors and consultants, and dealings with the general public. 

As the Director of Operations at StartOut, you will oversee the organization’s internal systems across finance, HR, and operations. You’ll manage nonprofit financial processes and compliance, lead day-to-day people operations, and supervise internal tools and support staff. This role ensures that our values are reflected in how we work together and how the organization runs behind the scenes.

Job Responsibilities

Financial Management

• Manage day-to-day financial operations, including payroll processing, reimbursements, payment requests, and check deposits
• Oversee the monthly bookkeeping process, ensuring accurate categorization, timely reconciliation, and proper documentation
• Coordinate and monitor the annual budgeting process in collaboration with the CEO, including drafting, tracking, and revising internal budgets
• Prepare and deliver monthly financial reports to the Board of Directors in partnership with the CEO
• Support staff members on finance-related requests, including preparing financial information for grant applications and helping team members understand their budgets and spending
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the annual audit: prepare documentation, coordinate timelines, and liaise with the auditor throughout the process
• Run biweekly payroll and process off-cycle payments and bonuses through Justworks
• Track and report on grant-specific budgets and restricted funding allocations
• Oversee internal financial processes and systems, identifying areas for improvement and implementing operational changes as needed

People & Culture

• Lead people operations for employees and contractors, including hiring, onboarding, and offboarding
• Oversee the organization’s use of its PEO (Justworks), including benefits administration, open enrollment, job and compensation changes, and maintenance of accurate employment records
• Maintain and evolve internal HR policies, compensation frameworks, job levels, and team-wide documentation
• Coordinate performance and feedback cycles, including job level assessments and job description updates
• Navigate employee relations and StartOut community accountability issues, including responding to internal staff concerns and coordinating follow-up on Code of Conduct reports
• Design and lead regular team culture surveys, synthesize findings, and partner with leadership to develop and implement action plans in response
• Respond to staff requests related to benefits, policies, and professional development
• Plan and coordinate team appreciation efforts and quarterly social gatherings that foster connection, celebration, and a sense of belonging
• Serve as a thought partner to the CEO and a resource for people managers, providing guidance on organizational structure, team culture, and people-centered decisions
• Collaborate with the internal DEIB committee and integrate equity principles into operations and people practices, ensuring that systems, policies, and culture-building efforts reflect StartOut’s values

Operations & Systems

• Supervise the Senior Systems Manager, who leads the organization’s Salesforce infrastructure, data systems, and program portals
• Maintain and improve the internal tools that support day-to-day collaboration and administration, including Slack, Google Workspace, and Asana
• Provide oversight and backup for the general organization email, ensuring timely responses and continuity when staff are out
• Provide oversight and occasional coverage for the organization’s general inbox, ensuring timely responses and continuity during staff absences
• Manage nonprofit compliance workflows, including state and federal filings, registered agent requirements, and organizational records
• Act as a central operational hub across the organization, helping teams stay aligned and supporting smooth internal coordination

Experience and Qualifications

• Have 5+ years of experience managing HR, finance, or operations in a nonprofit
• Bring strong financial expertise - you understand nonprofit budgets, financial reports, audits, and GAAP, and can confidently manage day-to-day finance operations
• Are comfortable working across multiple domains (people operations, internal systems, financial workflows) and connecting the dots between them
• Have a systems mindset and love improving processes so things run more smoothly for everyone
• Are confident learning and navigating software tools for finance, HR, and internal collaboration, and can help others do the same
• Communicate clearly and thoughtfully, especially when navigating complex or sensitive topics
• Are committed to equity and inclusion, and reflect those values in how you work with people and build systems
• Passionate and/or experienced in supporting underrepresented communities, especially the LGBTQ+ community and underrepresented entrepreneurs
• Bring a proactive, collaborative, and positive attitude to working with a small, diverse, and remote team

This is a fully remote position but may require limited travel approximately 2 - 3x per year. Applicants must be based in the contiguous US and StartOut is unable to provide visa sponsorship at this time.

Status: Exempt

Reports to: CEO

Supervises: Senior Systems Manager

Compensation

• $90,000 starting salary
• $7,000 annual bonus depending on team and individual KPI performance
• Unlimited time off 
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Work from home equipment & professional development stipends