Career Center

Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Inc.
Location: Belmont, NC
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Website: sistersofmercy.org

Primary Contact:
Jill DiGiovanni, Managing Associate, ZRG Partners
Email: jdigiovanni@zrgpartners.com
Phone: +1.757.734.1108

Organization Overview

• Faith-based, Catholic nonprofit organization dedicated to mercy, social justice, and service.

• Over 1,700 sisters in the Americas; part of a global network of 5,000+ in 30 countries.

• Staff of 700+ manage operations including convents, care centers, ministries, and a national property portfolio.

• Core values: Spirituality, Community, Service, Social Justice (Critical concerns: Earth, Immigration, Nonviolence, Racism, Women).

Position Overview

• Lead Institute-wide financial planning and management.

• Ensure long-term sustainability to support members’ living, healthcare, spiritual needs, and ministries.

• Work closely with COO, Institute Leadership Team, Investment Services, and financial committees.

• Promote mission-aligned financial strategies, shared best practices, and effective stewardship.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Assess financial health and recommend strategies aligned with SMA mission.

• Guide long-term and capital budgeting, actuarial forecasts, and investments.

• Collaborate across departments and Mercy-related corporations.

Member Support

• Manage sisters’ banking and financial needs with clarity and sensitivity.

• Oversee wills, estate settlements, and probate matters for deceased sisters.

Financial Oversight

• Administer budgets, accounting, auditing, cash management, banking, and risk management.

• Provide regular financial reports and identify operational improvements.

• Ensure insurance coverage and compliance with regulatory standards.

Operations, Legal & Risk

• Supervise IT, procurement, legal matters, and contracts.

• Lead modernization and process improvement efforts.

• Ensure cybersecurity, emergency planning, and business continuity.

Department Management

• Lead Stewardship Department; manage and mentor staff.

• Oversee policy implementation, dashboards, succession planning, and professional development.

• Partner with leadership on cross-departmental initiatives.

Board & Committee Engagement

• Serve on Mercy Investment Services Board and Audit Committee.

• Provide mission-aligned financial insights for strategic decisions.

Qualifications

Values: Must share SMA’s core values (respect, stewardship, integrity, hospitality, compassion).
Education: Bachelor’s in Accounting, Finance, or related; MBA or CPA preferred.
Experience:

• 10–15 years in finance leadership in complex nonprofits or healthcare organizations.

• Supervisory experience in multi-state/distributed environments.

• Knowledge of financial systems, SRI investing, risk management, insurance, government programs, contracting, and vendor management.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strategic thinker, strong project management, analytical and financial expertise.

• Excellent oral, written, and presentation communication.

• Ethical, culturally sensitive, collaborative, discreet, and team-oriented.

• Commitment to building collaborative relationships and consensus-driven leadership.

Other:

• Willingness to travel up to 30%.

• Familiarity with Catholic and Mercy culture preferred.

Location: Belmont, NC

• Small city near Charlotte with strong Catholic heritage.

• Campus includes convents, ministries, administrative offices, and educational facilities.

• Offers a high quality of life, outdoor activities, historic downtown, and affordable cost of living.

Recruitment Process (via ZRG Partners)

1. Initial interviews with ZRG.

2. Presentation to SMA for selection of candidates.

3. Candidate online assessment.

4. Finalist interviews with broader leadership.

5. Formal referencing.

6. Offer extended.

Key Leadership Contacts – Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

• Susan Sanders, RSM – President of the Institute Leadership Team

• Eileen Skinner – Chief Operating Officer

• Anne Searl – Senior Director of Human Resources

CFO Position Requirements

Values / Cultural Fit

• Must share SMA’s core values: respect, stewardship, integrity, hospitality, compassion.

• Commitment to learning about, supporting, and respecting vowed Sisters of Mercy.

• Sensitivity to cultural differences and diverse Mercy ministries.

• High degree of personal integrity, ethical standards, and discretion.

Education

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

• Preferred: Master’s degree in Finance, Accounting, MBA, or CPA license.

• Familiarity with Catholic and Mercy culture is a plus.

Experience

• 10–15 years of progressively responsible experience overseeing finance in large, complex organizations (nonprofit and/or healthcare preferred).

• Experience managing finance during periods of change or transition.

• Supervisory and leadership experience in multi-state or distributed environments.

• Familiarity with financial systems, information technology, and process modernization.

• Knowledge of investment programs and socially responsible investing (SRI).

• Experience assessing risk and managing insurance coverage.

• Expertise with government entitlement programs (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid), health care, and long-term care.

• Experience with contracting and managing external vendors or consultants.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and conceptual leadership.

• Strong project management skills (planning and implementation).

• Technical and financial expertise: cost accounting, non-profit accounting, benchmarking, and financial analysis.

• Open and transparent communication: oral, written, and presentation skills.

• Ability to analyze complex financial decisions and explain implications clearly.

• Collaboration, mentoring, and team-building skills.

• Ability to operate in a consensus-driven, collaborative environment while exercising independent judgment.

Competencies / Key Traits

• Ability to function as a thought partner to COO and Institute Leadership Team.

• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.

• Commitment to building collaborative relationships.

• Ability to set, manage, and hold team goals accountable.

• Appreciation for effective processes and operational excellence.

Other Requirements

• Willingness and ability to travel regularly (up to 30%).

• Commitment to safe, clean, and professional work environment.

• Alignment with Sisters of Mercy mission and vision.

About Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

ZRG has been retained to recruit the next Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas (SMA), an international Catholic faith-based organization committed to spirituality, community, service, social justice, and the critical concerns of Earth, immigration, nonviolence, racism, and women.

Connections working at Sisters of Mercy of the Americas