Vice President of Finance - Jersey City, United States - Liberty Science Center

Description

The Search

Liberty Science Center (LSC), the most visited cultural institution in New Jersey, seeks a forward-thinking financial leader to serve as the new Vice President (VP) of Finance.

The Vice President of Finance will oversee, monitor, and manage LSC's financial health on a daily basis. This includes working collaboratively with stakeholders across the institution to ensure LSC's financial and operational strength, agility, and integrity. Furthermore, the VP of Finance will play a crucial role in the following opportunities:

• Advancing LSC's mission through strategic visioning and future planning, expert budgeting, financial analysis and reporting, revenue modeling, risk management, and proactive collaboration;
• Prioritizing fiscal resources to align with LSC's bold revenue aspirations;
• Serving as a critical thought partner with senior leaders to balance LSC's mission with financial sustainability, including strengthening and diversifying revenue streams
• Advancing LSC's technology and data roadmap;
• Leading high performing finance and technology teams that do quality work and value a culture of service; and
• Strengthening LSC's finance, data, and technology culture and its processes.

This role will report to the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer.

What You'll Bring

You are an expert fiscal counselor and people leader. You bring a sophisticated level of understanding and skill related to nonprofit finance and funding sources. Moreover, you have experience growing multiple revenue sources, such as box office revenue, event and rental revenue, grants, endowments, and/or other sources of earned revenue. With an entrepreneurial spirit and a bias for action, you thrive in a role that is both strategic and tactical. Adept at building trust and confidence, you demonstrate sound judgment in all you do and excel at fostering positive and productive working relationships with leadership, peers, and reports, which includes learning from your colleagues and engaging them in respectful debate or vigorous problem solving when needed.

What You'll Do

The Vice President of Finance will collaborate with team members on the following key responsibilities.

STRATEGY, VISION & LEADERSHIP

• Work closely with the EVP/CFO on overseeing LSC's financial landscape, including its approximately $30 million budget
• Direct all aspects of LSC's day-to-day financial operations and services, including creating and maintaining the annual institutional budget, timely and accurate financial forecasting and reporting, cash flow, and accounts payable/receivables, and general ledger maintenance
• Create and develop forecasts and long-term financial planning processes and analyses to predict future growth for LSC and engage with other senior leaders to define new business models, set priorities, and execute strategies that fulfill LSC's mission
• Supervise all aspects of Liberty Science Center's payroll and the administration of our benefits, such as health insurance and retirement plans, etc.; collaborate with our Chief People Officer on human resources issues related to payroll and compliance issues and on the modernization of our retirement plan.
• Develop sophisticated modeling and data-informed analysis to support new and diversified revenue streams and grow existing revenue initiatives
• Align resources to operational need while balancing institutional goals
• Oversee the successful implementation of LSC's technology and data roadmap and ensure the fiscal management of IT and AV operations, the development of the IT/AV capital budgets, and general risk mitigation and management
• Advise the EVP/CFO and other key members of senior management on financial planning and budgeting, cash flow, revenue generating priorities, procurement, vendor relationship management and contract review/negotiations
• Oversee the administration and compliance of LSC's endowment and retirement plans
• Represent the organization externally, as necessary, particularly with LSC's financial institutions, insurance brokers, auditors, etc.
• Maintain a system of accounting controls, policies, and procedures
• Assist the EVP/CFO on special projects, as needed

LEADERSHIP, CULTURE, & TEAM DEVELOPMENT

• Be intentional about putting management practices into place that promote community, camaraderie, and collaboration and a commitment to strong communication
• Oversee, direct, and organize the work of LSC's Finance and Technology departments, including our accounting, payroll/benefits admin, accounts payable, information technology, audio visual, and data/business enterprise applications functions
• In addition to finance responsibilities, provide operational leadership to the Technology Group at LSC which includes our IT team, AV team, and Applications & Data team.
• Engage in a collaborative process with key stakeholders and seek out and implement operational and systems efficiencies that allow for a more streamlined and modern operation
• Collaborate with and manage third party IT consultants on the development and implementation of LSC's technology roadmap and the delivery of best-in-class help desk services
• Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach: assign accountabilities; set objectives; establish priorities; and monitor and evaluate results.

Supervisory Responsibilities

You will oversee the Finance and Technology teams and inherit committed, passionate, and diverse staff and will be expected to support this staff. You are expected to draw on their institutional knowledge while also mentoring them in identifying new opportunities and ways of doing things. Lastly, you should excel at fostering a culture of mutual respect, integrity, service, belonging, and accountability. The VP of Finance will have approximately eight direct reports.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)

• Team player with a collaboration ethos and strong team leadership skills
• Excellent presentation skills, including strong verbal and written communication skills
• Thorough knowledge of nonprofit accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and revenue modeling
• Knowledge of regulatory compliance as it relates to finance, technology, and data
• Ability to provide sound and ethical financial counsel to executive leadership
• Understanding of contract management
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational skills, including strong time management skills, and attention to detail
• Proficient in database application systems
• Proficient with Google Workspace, Sage Intacct, ADP, Tessitura, and other related financial systems software

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required; MBA preferred
• Certified Public Accountant status highly desired
• 5+ years of experience leading financial teams
• 10+ years of experience in senior finance role, preferable in a high-growth organization with a variety of earned revenue streams
• Demonstrated and comprehensive knowledge of non-profit finance and accounting including business operations involving multiple revenue-generating business lines
• A track record of ensuring compliance with organizational policies and procedures, as well as local, state, and federal regulations

Classification & Schedule

This is a full-time, exempt position that is bonus and benefits eligible. A flexible work schedule or additional work hours may be necessary, to meet the requirements of this job position, which could encompass early morning, evening, or weekend work based on business needs.

LSC's Work Culture at a Glimpse

LSC prides itself on fostering a culture that enables all employees to experience a sense of pleasure, passion, and purpose while in the workplace. We believe in embracing and driving change, inspiring fun and learning, and creating a positive and family friendly team spirit. Our differences as individuals (race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education and lifestyle) are an asset and contribute to our ability to drive innovation.

WORK LOCATION

This role will be eligible to work a hybrid schedule after the initial 90-day onboarding and training period. Until further notice, the Vice President of Finance will be expected to work onsite three (3) days per week. Liberty Science Center is located in a beautiful state park in Jersey City, New Jersey, with easy access to free parking, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and the NJ Path train.

COMPENSATION

The salary range for the VP of Finance role is $170,000-$180,000 per year. The salary range and/or hourly rate listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future. When determining a base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., years of relevant experience, education, credentials, and internal equity). In addition to compensation for salary, you will receive compensation in the form of a generous benefits portfolio.

TO APPLY FOR THIS ROLE:

In a single attachment, include both a customized cover letter and resume responding to this specific role. You can submit this via LinkedIn or you can submit directly via Liberty Science Center's career page.

LSC is an EEO/AA employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability or other protected group status.