Senior Specialist, Finance

About the Foundation

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), located in Princeton, N.J., is a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime. To get there, we must work to dismantle structural racism and other barriers to health. Since 1972, we have focused on developing and promoting innovations in health and healthcare to improve the lives of millions. Through funding, convening, advocacy, and evidence-building, we work side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to achieve health equity faster and pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.  

We take seriously our responsibilities, and we pledge to work in ways that reflect our Guiding Principles. These are rooted in equity and influence everything we do at RWJF. Equity, diversity, inclusion (EDI), and collaboration enable our staff’s wide range of experiences, passions, and perspectives to strengthen our ability to address our nation’s most pressing health issues and support a culture of belonging. Part of this work includes actively shaping an inclusive organization where all staff members thrive as we build and use our capabilities, voice, and power to advance health equity. RWJF offers a collaborative, collegial, and creative work environment. With a career at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, you will make a difference.  

About this Opportunity

Reporting to the associate controller, the senior specialist, Finance, is responsible for supporting a full spectrum of budget and reporting needs, as well as financial analysis and metrics. This position requires familiarity with financial modeling and presentation, knowledge of accounting principles, accounting expertise, and finance technology acumen.  The senior specialist performs other duties and responsibilities, including project work for the chief financial officer, and controller, as assigned. 

As with staff at all levels of RWJF, the senior specialist is expected to demonstrate a passionate commitment to equity and the Foundation’s mission and Guiding Principles.

Essential Job Responsibilities

Budget & Reporting (35%)

• Critical member of the annual administrative, capital, and investment budget team, to analyze, manage, and update the multiple budgets and actual expenses for the Foundation’s departments. 
• Assist associate controller with budgeting scenarios using multiple budget variables and assumptions. 
• Prepare materials and budget schedules for review with the Budget team and Foundation management. 
• Budget analysis and presentation to senior management and preparation of budget materials for Trustee presentation. 
• Post and maintain budget information in accounting system. 
• Prepare, maintain, and present monthly administrative expenses, investment expenses, and capital costs to budget owners, president & CEO, and other senior management. 
• Prepare, maintain, and train on spend authorization and travel expense reporting, including completing the secondlevel expense report review and approval. 
• Accounting liaison for financial reporting needs, including development of specialized reporting. 

Financial Accounting, Cash Forecasting, and Reporting (30%)

• Prepare monthly and year-end journal entries, including allocation entries. 
• Review monthly transactions and prepare adjusting entries, as needed. 
• Prepare transaction level analysis and reporting, as needed.
• Maintain fixed asset listing. 
• Prepare and submit monthly, quarterly, or annual reports to state or local jurisdictions. 
• Assist associate controller in performing specialized analysis to model, forecast and track IRS payout requirements under varying investment return, program level, and inflation rate scenarios. 
• Provide information for liquidity decisionmaking.   
   

Technology (20%) 

• Provide input, test, and create or update documentation regarding upgrades and enhancements to software tools, finance budget and reporting applications, and processes. 
• Work with management, implementation teams and end users to ensure timely and efficient support and accurate reporting within the budget and reporting applications.  
• Providesfunctional support, training, and assistance to users of budget and reporting applications.  
• Is assigned as system administrative user for budget and reporting systems. 

Other (15%)

• Research and maintain historical information on IRS requirements and tax metrics. 
• Track monthly and annual investment performance, programming and payout levels, and other key metrics. 
• Donor-Advised Fund administration including processing internally approved staff recommendations for charitable contributions, from the donor-advised funds, managed by the Princeton Area Community Foundation (PACF). Collaborative work with Legal and Grants Management units.
• Review checks, identify proper coding, and make deposits. 

Minimum Requirements

• Commitment to racial and health equity and the Foundation’s vision, values, and Guiding Principles.
• Experience working in an inclusive environment working as part of a multidisciplinary team and working effectively with persons from diverse cultural, social, and ethnic backgrounds.
• Demonstrated financial and analytical skills, including knowledge and experience with general ledger activity and expense reporting.
• Excel fluency at an advanced level is expected. Ability to translate data into meaningful summaries, tables and graphs.
• Experience using Workday and Adaptive Planning preferred.
• Ability to work on-site in the Princeton, NJ office on a once-per-week basis.
• A combination of education and/or experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
• Minimum three years experience at a public accounting firm or five years of accounting experience
• Preferred: Candidates whose experience exceeds the minimum requirements will be considered with particular interest for the role: 
• Accounting degree with four years experience at a public accounting firm or six years of accounting experience and CPA certification.
• Accounting degree with five years experience at a public accounting firm or seven years of accounting experience and CPA certification.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions

The incumbent will perform job duties in a typical business office environment. Specific physical abilities required by this job include operating basic office equipment. Incumbent will be required to attend meetings, both in person and off-site via phone or videoconference. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. RWJF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Position's Assigned Office Location 

This position is assigned to our Princeton, N.J. office.

Hybrid: Flexible Purpose (HFP) Explained

As of January 1, 2023, the Foundation has implemented a model we call Hybrid: Flexible Purpose (HFP). RWJF’s new operating model is the infrastructure (e.g., policies, practices, protocols, procedures, systems) that forms the basis for how the day-to-day operations are managed, culture is built and nurtured, and mission is delivered. This model is designed to meet the needs of the organization while giving employees as much flexibility as possible. On-site participation is determined by job responsibilities, organizational and team-level requirements, and mandatory gatherings throughout the year. While there are no fixed days per week, all employees are expected to plan their time on-site and cover commuting expenses as needed to meet those expectations. Learn more about our operating model and in-office requirements.

Salary

The non-negotiable starting salary for this position is $90,600. Candidates who the Foundation determines have directly related experience exceeding the minimum requirements may be provided a higher starting salary of up to $99,660. All salary offers are non-negotiable.

Benefits

RWJF offers comprehensive health and retirement benefits to employees, generous paid time off, and more. Why work at RWJF? Learn more about the benefits of working at RWJF.

Transition Stipend

A transition stipend is provided to all new hires to aid in costs related to transitioning to a new job. 

How to Apply

• Applicants should submit a resume and required letter of interest by the stated deadline.
• Internal RWJF applicants should submit a resume and letter of interest through the Internal Jobs Hub app in Workday.

Application Deadline

Monday, November 24, 2025, by 10 a.m. ET.