Working for a non-profit organization is rewarding as it is challenging. Have you ever been at a cocktail party and told a group of people that you work in the non-profit sector, only to receive compassionate looks of pity? Many people assume that you’re consistently working long hours without much of a pay-off if you work in the not-for-profit world. While the hours can certainly be long sometimes, working in the industry is incredibly gratifying.
You’re helping to make an impact on some of society’s most worthy and critical causes, such as the arts, healthcare, or social justice. However, while your primary intention is to help others and promote ideas, you still require a financial bottom line to function as an operational organization. Like any other corporation, non-profits require a solid and suitable financial administration team with relevant experience and dedication.
Here are some tips to optimize this integral group of people to make your organization the best that it can be.
Never Underestimate Interpersonal Skills
Working in business administration requires a lot of desk work. You’re hiring positions such as payroll clerks, financial controllers, and accountants. But such employees will also interact with the other teams in the office and require excellent communication skills.
For example, any question staff members have about salary will go to your payroll clerks and accountants because such employees manage everyone’s paycheques. You’ll want to hire individuals who aren’t just good at crunching numbers but who can also converse with other employees with ease.
Look for a Non-Profit Background
Having experience working not-for-profits isn’t essential, but it does help. People that only have corporate experience can find adjusting to the non-profit sector challenging because of the unique culture and overall structure of daily office life. Your best bet is to work with a professional recruitment company that can find the most qualified financial and business candidates out there.
When you need help recruiting public accountants and other positions for your team, working with a recruiter will speed up the hiring process because of their exclusive access to talent pools in your area. They’ll know of candidates working in the financial industry with both profit and non-profit sector experience and be able to match the perfect employees for you and your organization based on their expertise and professionalism.
Organization is Key
Organizational skills are critical to a successful financial team. Organizational skills mean that your team will effectively produce regular good work without wasting any time by having to go back to redo anything. Such skills demonstrate that a person deeply cares about their work and avoids making repeated mistakes at all costs by carefully reviewing their work and asking for feedback from colleagues.
Having organizational skills also shows that a person can effectively communicate with others — ensuring that everyone in the office on the same page.
You’ll want to hire individuals who aren’t just good at crunching numbers but who can also converse with other employees with ease. You can also help them use a pay stub generator, for example, for more accurate and professional processing.
The financial team is what maintains prosperity and functionality in your organization, and is integral to creating a stable and healthy business. Utilize these tips to create a group of people that will take your company to a whole new level of success.
