Director - Strategic Financing Services - Applications and Strategic Planning

Description

Cherry Bekaert’s Strategic Financing Services Advisory Team (SFS) is looking for a New Markets Tax Credits Applications and Strategic Planning Director (Director). We offer an opportunity to work with a team of experts with a deep track record in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocation applications, CDFI Fund Applications, other Government and Philanthropic funding applications, strategic planning services for community development entities and projects, NMTC placement and deployment assistance, and NMTC compliance and asset management services.

The Director will oversee the Application and Strategic Planning activities for Community Development Entities (CDEs), Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), Community Lenders and Nonprofits (collectively Community Development Organizations). The Director will work with the Community Development Organizations to help them build internal and external capacity, clarify their Mission, Vision and Values (MVV), formalize their strategic plans and execute their strategic plans so that they holistically work towards upholding and achieving their MVV as they expand and add new services. The Director will lead a team of Application Writers and Community Development Specialists, manage the process of writing NMTC Applications, manage the grant writing and applications process for clients seeking funding from other funding programs, and expand the portfolio of clients. The Director will work collaboratively internally and externally to achieve measurable results for the team, the clients and the communities our clients serve.

The successful candidate will have a strong attention to detail and deadlines and a mission to help make a difference in Low-Income Communities.

About SFS: SFS has been involved in the NMTC industry since its inception and to date has secured over $1.7 billion in NMTC funding. SFS is proud to have structured and facilitated NMTC investments that have created 28,077 direct jobs, served 957,153 clients through community facilities, and helped create over 10.6 million square feet of new and improved commercial and industrial real estate. SFS’s current portfolio consists of investments in areas with poverty rates as high as 66%, median family income as low as 14.24%, and unemployment rates as high as 31.2%.

About The Innovate Fund (TIF): TIF serves the state of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Since inception, it has directly deployed $396 million of NMTC investments in 36 transactions that have leveraged an additional $1.3 Billion of indirect capital, and created 8,194 direct jobs, while expanding the service area’s health and wellness services to 707,714 Low Income Persons. TIF is governed by a seven-member governing board, including representation from Cherry Bekaert and the Greenville Local Development Corporation, with input from an advisory board of 9 LIC experts.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

Application Writing

• Managing of Application and Grant writing team

• Cultivate a healthy team culture

• Coordinate and assist with balancing NMTC application writing team’s individual and team workflow

• Optimize NMTC Allocation Application process for clients and team members

• Drafting, reviewing and preparing NMTC Allocation Applications and supporting documents for strategic and technical opportunities

• Writing and reviewing compelling business strategies, community outcomes and other narratives to maximize scoring and increase likelihood of successful outcomes

• Collaborating with clients to identify and source appropriate NMTC pipeline opportunities to suit unique CDE needs (considering geography, project type, community impacts, etc.)

• Synthesizing and incorporating industry terms, trends and data to support business strategies, community outcomes and compelling applications that translate to smooth financial closings

• Identifying and managing other grant and application writing opportunities to ensure quality and timely submissions as well as strategic alignment

• Collaborating with deal team participants (investors, borrowers, supporters and stakeholders) to secure commitments, evidence of support and/or letters of interest as required for submission of various funding applications and/or financial closings

• Designing and reviewing project proposals and summaries for investment opportunities in a clear, compelling, and concise manner

Community Development Consulting

• Establishing relationships with CDFIs, CDEs, and various community development stakeholders

• Collaborating with the team to identify opportunities with existing or aspiring CDFIs to allow them to execute their vision

• Assisting clients with formalizing their organizational framework through an Organization Assessment including: review of the organization’s service area, products/services, track record, pipeline, community impact data, management capacity and finances

• Assisting with underwriting and structuring NMTC transactions

• Supporting and preparing for submission of relevant Certifications

• Preparing sub-CDE Certifications in connection with NMTC allocation agreements.

• Working with organizations to meet certification requirements and establish policies and procedures that will ensure continued compliance

• Helping identify an organization’s short and long-term goals and objectives in order to develop a sustainable financial plan

• Helping secure private investment commitments and a strategy for long-term financial viability

• Actively managing a pipeline of community development finance investing, lending, and growth initiatives

• Collaborating with GPS and GovCon teams to identify and develop grant writing opportunities that align with compliance needs and enhance cross-industry initiatives

• Working collaboratively with Bank Finance and other industries within Cherry Bekaert to create comprehensive offerings that holistically serve our clients' needs

• Coordinating with The Innovate Fund (TIF) Chief Operating Officer and Cherry Bekaert staff on strategic planning initiatives

• Other job-related functions as assigned

• Travel: 20%

What you bring to the role:

• Bachelor’s in Finance, Accounting, Economics or related field

• CPA license, MBA, JD, LLM, Master’s Degree (other field related certifications may be considered)

• Minimum of 10 years of demonstrated progressive experience in community development finance, tax credit finance, CDE/CDFI Lending, structured finance or related field

• Knowledge of tax credit financing required, with specific experience with NMTC strongly preferred

• Experience in working with borrowers, lenders, investors and Community Development Organizations

• Strong research and analytical skills; ability to solve complex issues.

• Expert knowledge of tax credit finance reporting required, with specific experience with CDFI Fund’s AMIS reporting strongly preferred

• Ability to effectively manage up, down and out, providing exceptional client service by leveraging communication skills to develop and maintain outstanding relationships.

• Strong leadership, recruiting, training, and mentoring skills, coupled with excellent verbal, written (including technical writing), and presentation skills

• Entrepreneurial and highly motivated to make internal and external connections

• Proficiency in Excel

• Strong sense of urgency and shared sense of mission

What we offer you:

• Our shared values that foster inclusion and belonging including uncompromising integrity, collaboration, trust, and mutual respect.

• A well-run firm that offers stability and opportunity to develop as a leader.

• The opportunity to innovate and do work that motivates and engages you.

• A collaborative environment focused on enabling you to further your career growth and continuous professional development.

• Competitive compensation and a total rewards package that focuses on all aspects of your wellbeing.

• Flexibility to do impactful work and the time to enjoy your life outside of work.

• Opportunities to connect and learn from professionals from different backgrounds and with different cultures.

• Supportive partnership group with a “one firm” mentality and a commitment to colleagues’ success

• Big firm resources and bench strength; small firm flexibility and openness to new ideas

• Collaboration across service lines and offices; a firm culture that embraces one another and the community; and an excellent opportunity to help bring along talented staff

• Defined metrics and targets that eliminate ambiguity

• Shared values, including uncompromising integrity, a passion for excellence, and mutual respect

Cherry Bekaert cares about our people. We offer competitive compensation packages based on performance that recognize the value our people bring to our clients and our Firm. The salary range for this position is included below. Individual salaries within this range are determined by a variety of factors including but not limited to the role, function and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education, knowledge, skills, and geographic location. In addition, we offer a comprehensive, high-quality benefits program which includes annual bonus, medical, dental, and vision care; disability and life insurance; generous Paid Time Off; retirement plans; Paid Care Leave; and other programs that are dedicated to enhancing your personal and work life and providing you and your family with a measure of financial protection.

Pay Range:

$146,395-$328,800

About Cherry Bekaert

Cherry Bekaert, ranked among the largest assurance, tax and advisory firms in the U.S., serves clients across industries in all 50 U.S. states and internationally. For more details, visit https://www.cbh.com/disclosure/

Cherry Bekaert provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. https://careers.cbh.com/legal-disclosures/ contains further information regarding the firm's compliance with federal, state and local recruitment and hiring laws.

This role is expected to accept applications for at least five calendar days and may continue to be posted until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

Candidates must demonstrate eligibility to work in the United States. Cherry Bekaert will not provide work sponsorship for this position.

Cherry Bekaert LLP and Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC are members of Allinial Global, an accountancy and business advisory global association. Visit us at  https://careers.cbh.com/ and follow us on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

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