Director, Foundation and Sponsorships

Director, Foundation & Sponsorships October 2024

The American Accounting Association (AAA) seeks candidates for the position of director, Foundation & Sponsorships for the American Accounting Association Foundation and the American Accounting Association organization. As a member of the Association's leadership team, this Director will play a key role in the organization, integrating the current activities of the AAA FOUNDATION, the AAA organization, AAA special interest groups, the accounting profession, and the broader academic community. this position reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

About the American Accounting Association and the Foundation

The American Accounting Association, headquartered 60 miles south of Tampa in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, is the leading member-based community of accounting faculty and those interested in furthering the profession through educational and research initiatives. Founded in 1916, the Association has a rich history and global reputation built on leading-edge research and publications, a wide range of education initiatives, and strong networking communities. The diversity of the AAA's membership creates a fertile environment for collaboration and innovation. Collectively, the Association and its members shape the future of accounting through teaching, research, and a network that fosters thought leadership in accounting.

The American Accounting Association Foundation (AAAF) was established in 2023. It operates as a separate 501(c)(3) from the American Accounting Association (AAA), also a 501(c)(3). The AAAF falls under the direct supervision of the AAA Board and the AAA Board is responsible for voting on the AAAF Board Trustees. The AAAF currently operates with five pillars: (1) Supporting Teaching Excellence, (2) Supporting Research Relevance and Impact, (3) Supporting Advanced Degrees in Accounting, (4) Raising Awareness of the Accounting Profession, and (5) Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in the Accounting Profession.

This role will support functions both for the AAAF and the AAA and will report to the AAA Chief Executive Officer. The metrics for this position will be AAAF fundraising through grants and donations, implementation of AAAF programs, growing AAA sponsorships, through strong relationships with external constituents and AAA special interest section leadership.

The Foundation is in a key growth phase, and the Director will play a pivotal role in expanding its reach, setting long-term strategic goals, and driving new funding initiatives that align with its mission.

American Accounting Association - Highlights

Having celebrated its centennial in 2016, the AAA has begun its second century of operation, existing to foster thought leadership in accounting around the world. Working with members, professionals, regulators, students, and those interested in accounting, the AAA:

• Serves approximately 7,000 members in higher education and related fields (approximately 25 percent of AAA members live and work outside of the United States);
• Works with a broad range of constituents to continuously scan the environment and respond to opportunities to strengthen its members and the accounting profession, broadly defined; and
• Implements the mission of the AAA - to further the discipline and profession of accounting through education, research, and service.

In addition to supporting the accounting community at large, the AAA also supports 17 special interest sections (such as Auditing, Financial Accounting & Reporting, Government & Nonprofit, Public Interest, Teaching, Learning & Curriculum, etc.). Each of these sections achieves its mission and delivers significant member value through its semi-independent structure and officer teams, working closely with AAA professional staff. In addition, these groups participate in association-wide governance, ensuring that the association's initiatives reflect the breadth of accounting opportunities and viewpoints. With these groups, the AAA offers its members a variety of print, digital, and face-to-face forums, publications, and activities in which to share expertise, collaborate with colleagues, and advance the accounting profession.

Each special interest section hosts meetings and events throughout the year, and an annual conference for all members takes place each August. The AAA publishes three Association-wide journals: The Accounting Review (one of the premier accounting journals in the world), Accounting Horizons,andIssues in Accounting Education,and fourteen Section journals.

American Accounting Association Foundation - Highlights

The AAAF has an engaged Board of Trustees. While new, the AAAF secured a program titled the Two-Year Bridge Symposium. Through the generosity of Symposium sponsors, this one-day program supports community college students interested in pursuing a degree in accounting. The Symposium program supports sending these students, one time a year, to CPA firm offices to experience the professional environment and to learn more about accounting as a career choice. In addition, the AAAF is working with the Accounting Hall of Fame (AHOF) on its 75 ^thanniversary that will take place in 2025 at the AAA Annual Meeting. The AAAF and the AHOF committee are seeking to secure resources for the AHOF. Other programs are already scoped in keeping with the pillars of the AAAF.

For more information about the AAA, visit https://www.aaahq.org and https://foundationaaa.org.

AAA LEADERSHIP

Yvonne Hinson, PhD, CPA, CGMA, Chief Executive Officer

AAA Chief Executive Officer, Yvonne Hinson, joined the American Accounting Association in September 2020. Prior to joining the AAA, Yvonne served as the Academic in Residence and Director, Senior Director and ultimately Vice President at the Association of International Certified Professional Accountants. In that role she supported and led student and academic initiatives for CPA and CGMA in the United States and faculty initiatives for CGMA globally. Yvonne began her accounting career with Arthur Andersen in Charlotte North Carolina and joined Wake Forest University after completing her Ph.D. in Accounting at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville. During her time on faculty at Wake Forest, Yvonne served as a tenure-track and tenured faculty member, Director of Graduate Studies, Director of Accountancy and Dean - Charlotte Programs. She earned her B.S. in Accounting and MBA from UNC-Charlotte.

THE POSITION

The Director, Foundation & Sponsorships is a pivotal position in the AAAF and the AAA's current operations and future success. In partnership with the Chief Executive Officer, the Director will work with the AAAF Board of Trustees, AAA Board, AAA partners, AAA professional staff, its members and leaders from the accounting community to develop the strategy for the American Accounting Association Foundation. The Director will identify initial programs, in alignment with the AAAF pillars, that will engage the community and demonstrate the Foundation's role within the Association, the academy, and the accounting profession. The Director will also identify sources of funding (grants, donations) for the programs to ensure success. In addition, the Director is responsible for maintaining and growing AAA sponsorships for both the AAA and the AAA's 17 special interest sections. AAA sponsorship goals will be set annually.

The Director will have overall responsibility overseeing and managing relationships with external constituents as well as the responsibility to identify and cultivate new and innovative partnerships in alignment with the overall AAAF and AAA strategic priorities. The Director will also work closely with the leadership team, key member leaders, sponsors, other Foundations and other external strategic professional partners.

The Director will work with AAA operational staff to successfully deliver the AAAF programs, with measurable results, and will act as the major intermediary between the AAAF identified constituents and the AAA. The Director will also oversee the communication efforts to disseminate the AAAF work to its constituents.

The Director is currently supported by the rest of the AAA professional staff.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The following are the major responsibilities of the Director, Foundation & Sponsorships:

1. Work with the CEO and Foundation Chair to plan Foundation fundraising efforts, strategic initiatives and programs, and Board of Trustee meetings.

2. Develop/oversee and submit grants to fund strategic initiatives and programs.

3. Run Foundation fundraising campaigns.

4. Run Foundation programs, with support from the AAA professional team.

5. Manage AAA partner relationships and seek new partnerships and sponsorships.

6. Work with AAA Section leadership to support sponsorship goals for Sections.

7. Meet AAA sponsorship goals and Foundation fundraising and grant goals.

8. Manage the Foundation budget and filings.

9. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will have at least eight (8) years of experience, ideally in fundraising, actual or supervision of grant writing, and nonprofit marketing. The candidate will have a demonstrated history of experience working in or with nonprofit organizations or academic institutions and boards, particularly in a leadership capacity.

The new Director, Foundation & Sponsorships will be:

• A highly skilled listener, communicator and consensus builder;
• A highly effective fundraiser;
• Analytical in approach to financial and other management issues that are significant to the AAAF and the AAA; and
• A problem-solver who, in partnership with AAA colleagues, can manage existing relationships, identify grant opportunities, create innovative design solutions, manage resources, and support change initiatives;
• A highly effective relationship manager with the Chief Executive Officer, AAAF and AAA Board members, senior leadership, staff, Association members, and other key Association constituents/stakeholders.

Required experience, knowledge, and skills include:

• Experience with entrepreneurial or early-stage initiatives with a demonstrated ability to lead the efforts to success; 
• Experience with fundraising activities; 
• Experience with grant writing or overseeing grants; 
• Excellent project management, interpersonal and leadership skills;
• Understanding of and interaction with the accounting profession, broadly defined, is helpful; 
• Strategic thinker; 
• Self-motivator; 
• Sense of humor; 
• Undergraduate degree required, with at least eight years of professional experience. 

Applicants should submit a resume and a letter discussing their interest in the position as well as their accomplishments considering the listed responsibilities and qualifications by October 31, 2024. Confidential review and screening of materials will continue until the position is filled. Applications not containing a cover letter will not be reviewed.

Final candidates will be required to successfully complete a background check.

Contact

Please submit applications, expressions of interest, and nominations to Human Resources at HR@aaahq.org.

The American Accounting Association is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Drug-Free Workplace.