Director of Finance

Austin

Job Description Job Description Salary: $130,000-$150,000

The Director of Finance (DOF) is a pivotal leadership role responsible for overseeing the museum's financial, legal, and compliance operations to ensure financial stability and integrity for The Contemporary Austin. The DOF is a key member of the leadership team reporting directly to the Executive Director and playing a vital role in guiding the museum's financial decisions. The DOF is responsible for the organization’s financial health, reporting, tax filing, auditing, and oversight of all matters to do with the business best practices, contracts and compliance matters. The DOF supervises two finance team members and serves as the liaison for the finance and endowment committees of the Board of Trustees. This role demands a blend of financial expertise, strategic thinking, and a deep commitment to the museum's mission, promoting transparency, ethical practices, and a culture of continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

Formulate and oversee the museum's financial management strategy, including budgeting, financial forecasting, cash flow management, and endowment fund oversight.

Design and implement financial policies and procedures that align with the museum's mission, ensuring operational efficiency and financial transparency.

Proactively seek and implement solutions to enhance the museum's financial performance and sustainability.

Lead the annual and multi-year budgeting process, fostering collaboration across departments to ensure transparent and effective financial planning.

Monitor cash flow closely to secure the necessary resources for achieving the museum's goals and objectives.

Supervise the accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) processes, ensuring that all financial transactions are executed and recorded correctly.

Compile and present comprehensive financial reports to the Board of Trustees and key stakeholders, highlighting financial status and progress.

Cultivate and maintain relationships with external financial partners, including auditors, banks, investment advisors, insurers, and vendors.

Supervise and mentor the finance team, promoting professional development, accountability, and high performance.

Act as the primary contact for the museum's finance and endowment committees, ensuring effective communication and alignment with financial strategies and maximizing the group’s engagement.

Collaborate with the development office on grant compliance, reporting, and income reconciliation, ensuring financial integrity in fundraising efforts.

Partner with department heads to develop and manage annual budgets, compensation plans, and benefits packages, ensuring they are competitive and in line with financial objectives.

Spearhead the coordination and execution of the annual external audit, ensuring adherence to accounting standards and regulatory compliance. This role involves preparing financial documentation, facilitating auditor interactions, and actioning audit findings to enhance financial practices and transparency.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA certification is highly preferred.

A minimum of 5 years in a senior financial management role, with a preference for experience in the non-profit or cultural sector.

Demonstrated leadership skills with a track record of effectively leading a finance team and fostering a collaborative team environment.

Experience in managing financial operations, including budget development, financial forecasting, and reporting.

Proficiency in financial software applications, such as QuickBooks and Excel, and familiarity with project management systems.

Skills and Approach:

Exceptional organizational, prioritization, and analytical skills.

Meticulous attention to detail.

Strong ethical standards and a commitment to confidentiality.

Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities, include willingness to give critical feedback and manage relationships with care and candor

A genuine passion for the mission of the museum and a dedication to promoting its values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Benefits:

The Contemporary Austin is committed to offering a holistic package that attracts and retains top talent.

Competitive salary and benefits package

401k match

Museum membership and one complimentary art class each semester

HSA and Health Insurance options

Life and Accidental Insurance coverage

Continuous learning and professional development opportunities

Hybrid work environment

Our Mission

We invite you to discover contemporary art in settings that provoke thought and joy. Our programs join art with place in a pursuit of a deeper experience, a bigger conversation, and a closer community.

Our Vision

We believe in the capacity of art to transform lives. We dream of a future where more eyes, ears, hearts and minds are opened by contemporary art in all of its forms.

Our Values

Extending the Welcome – We want every person to feel like they belong here. Our invitation is completely open and inclusive.

Always Caring - We know that details matter. We care deeply about the quality of our work and about the experiences of our guests, the artists we collaborate with, our staff, and all those we have yet to meet.

Socially Mindful - We believe that contemporary art is a way for people to connect their personal experiences with the broader social and cultural dialogues of our place and time.

Staying Curious - We observe closely, listen intently, and inquire sincerely because we have a boundless fascination with people, art and ideas.

Making Progress - We always want to be better—to inspire more deeply, to engage more openly, and to serve more joyfully. We are mindful of feedback and committed to ongoing reflection and iteration.

Being Here - A place can transform your experience of art, and art can transform your experience of a place. We activate our downtown exhibition space and our lakeside sculpture park in imaginative ways to serve Austin.

Trying New Things - We believe in the importance of experimentation, play, and the surprise that often results from trying something new. We know that progress comes through both bravery and vulnerability.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion   and access (DEIA)

The Contemporary Austin values a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace and we seek to model these values in our hiring and engagement practices for all our artistic and educational programs. We welcome applications by BIPOC candidates as well as individuals who bring new perspectives in a host of ways. It is the policy of The Contemporary Austin not to discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, disability, or veteran status and to take action to ensure that those seeking to do business with the Contemporary are treated fairly. The Contemporary Austin aims to create a safe, welcoming working environment and doesn’t tolerate discrimination of any kind.  The organization is currently pursuing a multi-year DEIA effort and seeks individuals who share our commitment to this work.