Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), located in Burlington VT, is recruiting for a Senior Finance and Accounting Analyst. Formed in 1974, VHFA’s mission is to finance and promote affordable, safe, and decent housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. As one of Vermont’s leading non-profits in the affordable housing sector, the Agency needs a bright, innovative individual to work closely with colleagues at the Agency and external partners with the many initiatives and programs the Agency has been tasked to administer.
Working closely with each member of the Finance and Accounting Department and our external partners, this position will be involved in activities that include data analytics, bond and debt issuance and associated compliance and reporting, and a wide range of Agency accounting and budget functions. Ideally, this position will evolve and over time gain a comprehensive overview of the expertise and functionality the department is required to field. This position comes with growth potential within the Agency and is tailored for an individual who has an interest in pursuing a career as a senior public finance professional.
Three years’ experience in affordable housing, real estate and/or other public sector accounting, finance and analytics, and a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a quantitative field, is preferred. A keen interest in the complex mechanisms for providing affordable housing, a general working knowledge of accounting and finance concepts and software systems, and a commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, is required. A proficiency for databases and the ability to query databases for reporting and analysis, is desirable. Strong math and problem-solving abilities, as well as proficiency in Microsoft Excel, is essential.
Consistently named one of the “Best Places to Work in Vermont”, the Agency offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package. The salary range for this position is $60,000-$75,000. For a detailed job description and benefits overview, please see the Careers section of VHFA.org. To apply, send cover letter (required; otherwise your application will not be considered), resume, and references to the Human Resources Department at HR@vhfa.org. Please consider including in your cover letter a description of how your unique background and experiences would contribute to the diversity and cultural vitality of VHFA. Position will be open until filled.
VHFA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workplace. We highly encourage women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ candidates, and people from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds to apply.
In 2020, VHFA formed our JEDI (Justice Equity Diversity Inclusion) Committee, available to all staff and comprised of at least one member from each Agency department.
VHFA set three new commitments in 2020 to further justice, equity, diversity and inclusion in housing, hiring and leadership:
- Work to increase the number of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color on VHFA's staff, in Agency leadership positions and Board of Commissioners.
- Disaggregate VHFA’s programmatic data to make clear who VHFA’s lending and assistance programs serve and which neighborhoods may be over/under-represented. This information will be public and we will target future resources in response accordingly.
- Reduce the barriers and increase opportunities to homeownership for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and low-English Proficiency communities.
In January 2021, VHFA created a new position and hired their Housing Policy & Engagement Specialist whose job duties include working with the JEDI Committee to ensure VHFA’s equity, diversity and inclusionary goals are achieved.
Each year since 2016, the Agency has conducted an analysis of the gender wage gap and made a concerted effort to close that gap. In FY2016, the Agency’s wage gap was 16%; Change The Story Vermont’s 2016 Status Report found the same gap in median annual income for women working full-time in Vermont. By FY2022, the Agency had closed the wage gap to 2%.
DEI trainings and discussions
- Every regular Board of Commissioners meeting has a standing JEDI agenda discussion
- All staff participated in the February 2021 NCSHA Racial Equity in Housing symposium & discussion
- Individual staff participate in numerous national, state and regional trainings and workshops focused on improving organizational and housing outcomes related to JEDI.
- Staff and board will participate in an intensive 5-part training module Whiteness at Work beginning in fall 2021 through spring 2022, building from previous unconscious bias and DEI training previously offered by CQ Strategies.
- VHFA HR Director and Housing Policy & Engagement Specialist participated in numerous DEI trainings and workshops offered during 2020 and 2021.