Download a PDF version of my complete resume here or read the briefer version below.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (New York, NY)
Finance Manager, 2023–present
- Operations
- Enhance data integrity in Salesforce by identifying errors, training staff on campaign management (including GAUs), and creating onboarding manual and SOP documents that promote standardized best practices
- Analyzed, designed, and presented Salesforce survey results in visually-appealing graphs to guide decision-making
- Collect W-9 forms to ensure accurate annual 1099-NEC form filing; pull reports and complete 1099-NEC forms; check 1096 for accuracy
- Prepare invoices for rental clients
- Provide light IT support to staff as needed
- Accounting & Bookkeeping
- Led cross-functional initiatives to improve operational workflows, including streamlining payroll journal entry input to reduce processing time by 67% while enhancing accuracy and revamping credit card report user review process
- Created policies and procedures for all A/P staff transactions and assist staff in following them correctly
- Prepare, review, and post general ledger journal entries, A/P cash disbursements, cash basis receipts, and cash basis disbursements; analyze and correct discrepancies to ensure accuracy and completeness of general ledger
- Flag unpaid A/P invoices and erroneous A/P payments to manager for rapid attention
- Design and implement a payment reconciliation system that expedites accounts receivable and minimizes errors across departments
- Implement enhancements to strengthen financial controls
- Conducted monthly reconciliations of 12 total bank, brokerage, and credit card accounts
- Maintain digital files of vendor invoices and paid receipts
The City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (New York, NY)
Administrator, 2019–2023
- Human Resources & Compliance
- Created new HR systems to ensure compliance with federal, state, and city labor laws, including those mandating annual paid safe and sick leave, rules about employing minors, and more
- Streamlined onboarding, payroll, and annual NYS workers’ comp and paid leave reporting processes for greater efficiency and accuracy
- Reviewed liability insurance documents for accuracy and cost savings
- Communications & Operations
- Developed and presented survey data reports, driving informed decision-making across organizational committees
- Made policy recommendations to the Board and Executive Committee
- Reviewed rental leases for accuracy
- Kept customer donation and membership records up-to-date in Salesforce
- Created streamlined communication tools, such as a replacing a static PDF calendar with a Google Calendar to keep school families proactively informed about schedule changes
- Accounting & Bookkeeping
- Issued and deposited checks
- Conducted monthly reconciliations of bank, brokerage, PayPal, and Stripe accounts
- Prepared financial statements for leadership, improving financial transparency for congregation
- Implemented new accounting procedures that reduced operating expenses and improved budget oversight
- Collaborated with leadership team to create annual financial projections
- Managed restricted funds, ensuring adherence to donor intent and IRS regulations
- Trained staff in QuickBooks
- Prepared and sent out A/R invoices; processed and paid A/P invoices; created and implemented member payment plans
- Prepared and sent out annual tax receipts to donors, after updating them to ensure compliance with IRS rules
- Regularly reported actuals vs. budget to committee chairs to better control spending
Freelance Educator, Writer, Editor, and Researcher, 2006–2023 (New York, NY)
- Editorial and communications
Copyedited everything from websites to source sheets to academic books; streamlined and clarified board communications; translated Hebrew conference abstracts into English; digitally edited photos for websites; edited audio recordings for podcasts; researched and shared best practices for non-profit newsletters - Social media
Managed and expanded use of social media, including live-Tweeting events
- Education
Conceived, developed, and taught Jewish education courses to adults throughout the US and in the UK; taught prayer book Hebrew to children online through the JCC in Manhattan’s Hebrew Homepage; tutored microeconomics at NYU; substitute-taught at Jewish day school; taught Hebrew privately to children
- Program development
Developed curriculum-based educational programs, including recruiting faculty and technological collaborators, creating prototypes of online components, and building full program budgets from scratch
- Policy and planning
Researched policy issues; facilitated efforts to strengthen mission and long-term planning
- Fundraising
Independent grant-writer; actively participated in major donor solicitations
- Clients have included:
Salanter Akiba Riverdale (SAR) Academy (Bronx, NY)
Judaic Studies Teacher (1st and 5th grade)
- Developed innovative curricula for 1st graders struggling to learn to read and understand Hebrew, including games, worksheets, art projects, and other tactile activities
- Conceived of and built a website to share games I created so students could play them outside of school for additional practice
- Created data-visualization spreadsheet using conditional formatting to track 1st graders’ Hebrew reading progress
Skirball Center for Adult Jewish Learning (New York, NY)
Assistant Director, 2005–2008
- Oversaw end-to-end production of course catalogs, from concept development to final publication, within budget and on time
- Led recruitment and retention for IYUN, a three-year certificate program for adult Jewish learners
- Collected and reported on student feedback via focus groups and written surveys, then analyzed them to produce comprehensive evaluation reports
- Organized and staffed community-building programs for students
The Covenant Foundation (New York, NY)
Program Officer, 2003–2005
- Rewrote grant and award guidelines for greater clarity
- Prepared written materials and presentations for Board of Directors; staffed biannual board meetings
- Managed budget and planning for multi-day seminars for early-career Jewish educator Fellows
- Created and maintained office calendar and grant filing system
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES
Long Covid Support (Online)
Volunteer Support Group Administrator; Founding Member, 2020–present
- Internal Engagement
Moderate 66,000+ member Long Covid Support Group; set up parallel administrator Facebook group to discuss issues and better execute group strategy; produce weekly Zoom meetings for US-focused advocacy and support work (including setting up breakout rooms and trouble-shooting problems); respond to individual group members’ concerns; create a listserv for US group members to highlight and promote US-focused advocacy; provide US-based resources and suggestions for the Long Covid Support website - External Engagement
Develop and maintain partnerships with existing non-profits, peer support groups, and advocacy-focused organizations in the US; facilitate connections between researchers and other groups/non-profits and Long Covid Support; participate in US-focused advocacy work by speaking to members of Congress and the FDA; create and publicize event listings for external groups in Long Covid Support; speak with journalists (video, print, radio) about Long Covid
Washington Heights Congregation (New York, NY)
Board Member, 2012–2018
- Communications
Managed online communications, including: Facebook presence, creating and maintaining website for fundraising dinner, creating and maintaining website for used book sale, producing digital and print advertisements and fliers for events, writing weekly e-mails, editing photos - Education
Taught nine-session weekly Talmud class to adult women; taught session on Shavuot; advised teachers on suitable lecture topics and edited their course descriptions - Programming and Planning
Conceived of and executed a used book sale involving five congregations, raising $2500 for a local social service agency; planned and executed innovative educational programming that brought under-served populations to the synagogue for Jewish text study - Finance
Helped to hire finance manager; researched and implemented investment policy statement for endowment management following a major organizational transition
EDUCATION
New York University (New York, NY), Wexner Graduate Fellow/Davidson Scholar
MPA, Non-Profit Management
MA, Hebrew and Judaic Studies
Coursework included: accounting, financial management, human resources management, program evaluation, and project management
Additional coursework at HUC-JIR in adult pedagogy, Talmud, and Psalms
Harvard College (Cambridge, MA)
BA, cum laude, History and Women’s Studies
SKILLS
General office software skills: Salesforce, Google Suite, Microsoft 365, Slack
Accounting software: QuickBooks Online, FundEZ
Communications tools: WordPress, HTML, Constant Contact, MailChimp, iMovie, Canva, Photoshop, Audacity
Project management tools: Asana, Trello, Monday, Google Suite
Graphic design and media: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, etc.), Audacity (audio editing), iMovie (video editing), HTML, some CSS, WordPress and other online CMSs, social media and team collaboration platforms
Languages: English (native), Hebrew (proficient)
GRANTS, AWARDS, and FELLOWSHIPS
Wexner Graduate Fellowship/Davidson Scholar
American Jewish World Service Lisa Goldberg Memorial Writers’ Fellowship
Yeshivat Hadar Summer Fellowship
William Scott Ferguson Prize, best sophomore History tutorial essay (Harvard College)
Bronfman Youth Fellowship in Israel