Finance Officer / Finance Director, Vancouver, BC (Hybrid)
About the Community Legal Assistance Society
Founded in 1971, the Community Legal Assistance Society ("CLAS") is one of British Columbia’s most respected public interest law organizations, with over 50 years of work advancing dignity, equality, and justice for people facing systemic barriers. Operating from its office in downtown Vancouver on the unceded territories of the ʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations in what is now known as Vancouver, CLAS delivers legal services, public legal education, and law reform and advocacy through its’ programs serving thousands of people across British Columbia each year.
CLAS currently operates with an annual budget of approximately $7 million, primarily funded through Legal Aid BC, the Law Foundation of BC, the BC Ministry of the Attorney General, the Department of Justice Canada, United Way BC and the City of Vancouver. Over the past several years, the organization has grown significantly in both scale and program complexity, and has focused on building a meaningful unrestricted reserve fund from a low base — improving sustainability and financial resilience.
CLAS’s programs span a broad range of critical legal needs, including:
Mental Health Law Program — legal representation to over 2,000 low-income individuals annually, who are detained under the BC Mental Health Act or subject to the Mental Disorder Provisions of the Criminal Code of Canada.
BC Human Rights Clinic — representation, summary legal advice, inquiry line support, and province-wide education, serving nearly 1,200 low-income people experiencing discrimination through its Short Service Clinic alone.
Community Law Program — provides legal representation and public education across rental housing, income security, mental health, and human rights to over 1,000 clients yearly and undertakes systemic law reform such as recent landmark Charter litigation on behalf of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities.
Community Advocate Support Line — legal support and advice for Law Foundation-funded community law advocates across BC.
Community Legal Advocate Supervision Program – access to legal supervision for Law Foundation- funded community law advocates.
SHARP Workplaces Legal Advice Clinic — free and confidential advice related to workplace sexual harassment in BC.
CLAS is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of lawyers, community representatives, and a law student, and is led by an Executive Director. The organization has a strong, supportive board culture and is deeply mission-aligned and client-focused. CLAS is located at Suite 300 – 1140 West Pender Street, Vancouver, and is a registered BC society and a registered charity.
Learn more at clasbc.net, bchrc.net and judicialreviewbc.ca.
The Opportunity
CLAS is recruiting a skilled and mission-aligned finance professional to assume primary responsibility for the financial health and integrity of the organization. This recruitment follows the departure of a Finance Director who, over six successful years, built much of CLAS’s financial infrastructure — implementing effective finance information technology, establishing sophisticated reporting and budgeting templates, and assisting to substantially grow the organization’s unrestricted reserves.
Reporting directly to the Executive Director and serving as a key member of the senior administrative team, the Finance Officer or Finance Director (“Finance Lead”) will take primary ownership of CLAS’s financial planning, budgeting, financials for grant applications, funder reporting, audit, payroll oversight, and board financial reporting. As well as working closely with the ED, this position has strong working relationships with the administration team and program leadership.
The title and compensation will be calibrated to the experience and seniority of the successful candidate. CLAS is open to recruiting a Finance Officer with solid competencies and room to grow into a Finance Director over time, or a Finance Director ready to step in with immediately relevant and demonstrated experience. Either way, the organization requires a finance professional with enough experience and judgment to work independently alongside the Executive Director, present reliably and clearly to a Board Finance Committee and the full Board, and manage the financial complexity of a multi-program, multi-funder environment with limited financial support.
This is a full-time, hands-on, broad-scope finance role in a lean organization doing consequential work. It is well-suited to a finance professional who values autonomy, brings genuine care for the mission of access to justice, and is energized by the opportunity to be a trusted financial partner to organizational leadership.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Management
Provide financial reports, analysis, and recommendations to the Executive Director and Board.
Serve as the key contact for the Executive Director, Board, and staff on all financial matters.
Ensure compliance with regulatory laws for financial reporting.
Liaise with financial institutions and manage cash controls.
Maintain revenues, invoices, accounts receivable, and payables.
Ensure expenses align with project budgets and resolve financial discrepancies.
Maintain general and trust accounts, prepare monthly financial statements, and conduct periodic financial analysis.
Track budget projections and identify necessary financial adjustments.
Develop and maintain financial policies and procedures.
Budgeting and Reporting
Prepare, implement, and monitor multiple program and roll-up budgets.
Monitor cash flow and provide regular updates to stakeholders.
Prepare and submit timely financial reports to funders and external bodies.
Provide additional financial information as needed internally and externally.
Work with the Executive Director and senior leadership on comprehensive grant proposal budgets on tight timeframes.
Undertake tracking and reports related for donations and donation management.
Audit and Compliance
Oversee annual and other external audits.
Undertake annual compliance and reporting as per the BC Society Act and other legislation related to CLAS, including financial reporting for the Office of the Registrar of Lobbyists.
Maintain donation platform and receipts.
Work with the administration team to manage payroll, payroll reconciliations, and employee benefits administration.
Essential Qualities and Experience
The ideal candidate will be a credible and capable finance professional who brings a genuine commitment to CLAS’s mission of advancing dignity, equality, and justice through public interest law and education. They will be equally comfortable building a multi-year budget for a funding proposal, explaining financial results plainly to a board of directors, and working through program budgets with supervisors.
They will be self-directed, organized, and reliable — someone the Executive Director and Board can trust completely to stay on top of a demanding reporting calendar without requiring close oversight. They will bring patience and a collaborative spirit to their work with program supervisors, who are deeply skilled lawyers and advocates committed to developing their financial fluency.
CLAS will prioritize candidates who bring:
A CPA designation (strongly preferred), or equivalent demonstrated experience at a senior level.
Five or more years of progressive non-profit experience in a senior finance role, with direct experience managing budgets in a multi-funder, grant-funded environment.
Demonstrated expertise in non-profit accounting standards in Canada, including fund accounting, funder reporting, and audit preparation.
Experience preparing multi-year funding budgets for grant proposals, ideally within compressed timelines.
Strong proficiency in accounting software (Sage 50 / Simply Accounting experience is an asset), Microsoft Excel, and financial reporting tools.
Experience working directly with a Board of Directors or Board Finance Committee, and comfort presenting financial information clearly and accessibly both internally and externally.
Familiarity with payroll administration, including employee benefits, pension contributions, and ESA compliance.
Experience with or knowledge of Law Society of BC trust accounting requirements is a meaningful asset, though not essential given the low transaction volume.
Comfortable working in a dynamic environment, combining a pro-active approach with the ability to react appropriately and effectively.
Excellent demonstrable written and communication skills and experience.
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively in a small, close-knit team environment, including a trauma-informed approach to organizational culture.
Experience with technology and asset management systems, including asset registries, financial/HR software, and coordinating non-legal IT operations and upgrades, is an asset.
Compensation and Benefits
The Finance Officer / Finance Director is a critical leadership role for CLAS, and the organization is committed to offering a competitive and meaningful total compensation package. The salary range for this position is $90,000-$120,000, calibrated to the title and experience level of the successful candidate.
CLAS offers an exceptional benefits package that reflects the organization’s genuine commitment to employee wellbeing:
Defined Benefit Pension Plan enrolment (employer contribution of approximately 9.3% of salary).
Comprehensive extended health and dental benefits, life insurance.
20 days of paid vacation to start, increasing annually after 3 years of service to a maximum of 35 days.
15 paid sick days per year.
3 paid personal days and 3 paid religious (non-Christian) observance days.
Extended paid holiday closure: in addition to statutory holidays, CLAS closes for Easter Monday, Boxing Day, and approximately 1.5–2 weeks over the winter holiday period.
A hybrid work model (2 days or 14 hours per week in the Vancouver office, with some flexibility in scheduling).
15 weeks of maternity leave top-up, and 10 weeks of parental leave top-up.
On-site gym, limited on-site parking, office events.
Search Process
The search process may include longlist, shortlist, and committee and staff interview stages. Finalists will be asked to provide comprehensive references and to complete a background check. We expect to begin our first review of applications by May 1, 2026.
CLAS is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in its hiring practices and organizational culture. The organization recognizes and values the lived experience and transferable expertise that candidates from a wide range of backgrounds — including internationally trained professionals — bring to its work. In the spirit of inclusion, candidates who require accommodations are encouraged to contact us directly with related questions, which can be addressed in confidence.
CLAS strives to create a diverse and inclusive workplace. A workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve strengthens our ability to achieve our mission. We aim to achieve a representative team that includes Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, people from ethnic or cultural minorities and members of communities that face discrimination and disadvantage.
How to Apply
To apply, please forward your resume and cover letter to:
You are also welcome to contact Alana Briggs or Dave Namkung with any related questions.
