Sarofim Foundation | Financial Strategy Officer

SAROFIM FOUNDATION

Financial Strategy Officer

Position Description

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION

As an expression of gratitude for the many opportunities he experienced during his lifetime, Fayez Sarofim created the Sarofim Foundation that will exist for perpetuity. The Foundation is rooted in Mr. Sarofim's legacy of generosity. When fully funded, the Foundation will be among the largest in Houston.

For more than five decades, Mr. Sarofim steadfastly supported education, healthcare, and arts organizations in Houston, across Texas, and beyond. The Board and Foundation team are continuing Mr. Sarofim's legacy through a strategic approach that honors his philanthropic priorities and addresses the ongoing needs and opportunities in the community. We are building a Houston-based institution intentionally focused on impact and looking to add to our dynamic team.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Sarofim Foundation (SF) seeks the newest member of the team, a Financial Strategy Officer (FSO). This new role sits at the intersection of finance, grantmaking, and grantee partnership and will have direct involvement in deploying over $150 million annually across approximately 175-225 grants. Reporting to the Managing Director of Finance (MDF) and located in Houston, Texas, the FSO will partner closely with the Grants Officer, Managing Director of Programs, and other members of the Foundation team to support disciplined, thoughtful grantmaking and strong stewardship of the Foundation's resources.

Consistent with Fayez Sarofim's legacy as a disciplined, long-term investor, the Foundation aspires to bring exceptional rigor, judgment, and curiosity to understanding the organizations in which it invests. The purpose of grantee-centered financial diligence is to identify the issues that matter most, understand each organization in its full programmatic and financial context, and help position grantees and the Foundation for long-term success. If we are successful, grantee leadership will feel that Sarofim Foundation balances financial insights and thoughtful support with accountability.

The ideal candidate will combine deep financial acumen with humility, empathy, optimism, and strong relationship-management skills. The FSO will be able to analyze complex financial information, distinguish material issues from noise, ask clear and constructive questions, and communicate findings to both financial and nonfinancial audiences. The successful candidate will have a start-up mentality, an eagerness to build and improve systems, and a genuine passion for the work of the Foundation's grantees.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The responsibilities of the Financial Strategy Officer will include the following:

Grantee Financial Due Diligence & Portfolio Partnership

- Lead financial diligence for an assigned portfolio : Review audited and interim financial statements, budgets, Form 990s, debt and liquidity information, and other relevant materials to assess financial health, business-model durability, and stewardship. Ask rigorous questions with respect and empathy, recognizing differences in organizational scale, sector, and capacity
- Integrate financial and programmatic context : Partner with the Grants Officer and program leadership throughout the diligence process and participate in grantee calls and site visits to develop a holistic view of the organization and proposed use of funds.
- Communicate decision-useful insights : Prepare clear, concise financial diligence reports and presentation materials that translate complex analysis into actionable information for Foundation leadership.
- Provide targeted financial thought partnership : From time to time, and in coordination with program staff, partner with grantee finance leaders on financial challenges.

Grants Management & Process Excellence

- Ensure application and reporting completeness : Review submitted applications and grant reports for required financial, governance, and other supporting materials; follow up with grantees to resolve missing, inconsistent, or unclear information.
- Coordinate the grant lifecycle : Partner with program, finance, and operations to track diligence requirements, grant conditions, reporting obligations, and closeout items and help ensure grants move through the process accurately and on time.
- Maintain high-quality records : Ensure complete, accurate, and timely documentation in Salesforce and related systems to support institutional knowledge, compliance, and team-wide visibility.

Strategic Financial Analysis & Sector Intelligence

- Conduct ad hoc financial analysis : Analyze specific grant opportunities or other investment areas of interest to support Foundation strategy and decision making.
- Build and maintain comparables : Develop reliable datasets and benchmarks across nonprofit sectors and local markets.
- Research business models and market context : Evaluate external factors that may affect grantee sustainability, including reimbursement, public funding, labor, facilities, demand, and other relevant market dynamics.

Diligence Tools, Data & Innovation

- Own and improve diligence tools : Maintain the Foundation's financial diligence frameworks, scorecards, templates, data definitions, and knowledge resources to promote consistency and quality.
- Advance the responsible use of AI : Serve as a finance subject-matter partner in developing and improving AI-enabled diligence and reporting tools.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE DESIRED

The ideal candidate will have at least seven years of progressive professional experience in financial planning and analysis, nonprofit finance, consulting, or a related field, with demonstrated ability to analyze organizations and communicate with senior stakeholders. Experience in philanthropy or the nonprofit sector is strongly preferred but not required for candidates with relevant financial expertise and a genuine commitment to the sector.

Specifically, the successful candidate will exhibit the following:

- Mission alignment : Genuine commitment to Sarofim Foundation's operating principles and passion for the work of the grantees it serves.
- Deep nonprofit financial literacy : Ability to interpret nonprofit audits, Form 990s, restricted and unrestricted resources, revenue recognition, endowments, government funding, capital projects, and related financial considerations; direct experience strongly preferred.
- Analytical judgment and materiality : Ability to synthesize complex information, distinguish signal from noise, identify root causes, and focus attention on the questions most relevant to stewardship and long-term success.
- Grantee-centered orientation : A respectful, curious, and empathetic approach that combines rigor with a sincere desire to help organizations succeed and avoids a compliance-only or gotcha mindset.
- Excellent communication : Ability to express ideas and financial concepts clearly and concisely in diligence conversations, memos, and presentations.
- Stakeholder management : Listening orientation, and confidence engaging constructively with stakeholders at all levels, internally and externally.
- Emotional intelligence : High-level interpersonal skills with humility, optimism, and a sense of humor. A willingness to operate with an understanding that no task is too big or too small in service of the Foundation’s mission.
- Research and data capabilities : Strong quantitative research skills and ability to build reliable benchmarks, datasets, and analyses from varied sources.
- Technology fluency : Advanced Excel skills and comfort learning and improving analytical, database, grants-management, and AI-enabled tools; Salesforce experience preferred
- Professional integrity : Impeccable ethics, judgment, discretion, and care with confidential information.
- Growth mindset : Commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
- Customer orientation and empathy : Team player who strives to understand and deliver excellent customer service to internal and external customers.
- Adaptability : Willingness to take on varied tasks in service of the Foundation’s mission.
- Professional work environment : Comfort working in a formal, full-time, in-person office environment.
- Education : Bachelor's degree required; an MBA, MPA, master's degree in a related field, CPA, CFA, or other relevant credential is a plus.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Sarofim Foundation offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience. Benefits include a comprehensive insurance plan (health, dental, vision, life, accidental death & dismemberment, long-term disability, and voluntary coverage options), professional development opportunities, an annual retirement benefit, and paid time off. This opportunity is a full-time, in-person position located in Houston, Texas.

Please visit our website at www.sarofimfoundation.org to learn more about the Foundation.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should apply here. Letters of interest including a cover letter and resume will be received until December 6, 2026. Applications will be reviewed as they are received so early applicants will get a priority review. We will contact those candidates who most closely match the requirements. We thank you in advance for your interest.