Chief Financial Officer

Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio
Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

The Chief Financial Officer provides leadership, oversight, strategic direction, and vision to ensure that San Antonio Zoo has the proper operational controls, compliant reporting procedures, to effectively grow the organization and ensure financial strength and operating effectiveness/efficiency. Works with zoo president, leadership, investment and finance committees, executive committee and monitors the financial, business, purchasing, cash control, IT activities and has payroll oversight. This position works to ensure that the zoo operates officially, efficiently, effectively and in accordance with local, state and federal laws and regulations. This position exists to ensure the financial health of the zoo in both the long and short term by overseeing financial and administrative operations and examining business practices while minimizing risk to the organization.

As Chief Financial Officer, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:

Financial Management:

Oversees the zoo’s operating and capital budgets to ensure the appropriate use of funding sources, including governmental funding, grants, earned income, donor restricted funding, and other funding sources
Maintains a comprehensive knowledge of the zoo’s activities to be effective in financial oversight of the organization
Develops financial pro formas for zoo programs and initiatives such as special exhibits, programs, promotions, and business partnerships
Serves as the staff liaison to Finance and Investment Committee for the purpose of overseeing the zoo’s financial health and financial risks. Recommends budget assumptions, reserve levels, and budget adjustments to the committee as necessary
Maintains the internal control environment, including financial controls and the tone regarding financial responsibility and appropriate use of resources
Assesses accounting/finance department to ensure an effective and functional structure including appropriate staffing levels and job roles, and effectiveness of all systems, databases and financial software
Identify, acquire and implement systems and software to provide critical financial and operational information. Evaluate department and make suggestions for automating processes and increasing working efficiency
Develops and maintains the financial pro forma behind the zoo’s strategic plan
Coordinates the annual budget, such that the operating budget remains healthy
Ensures fiduciary responsibility, sound financial management and accountability for contributions, income and other zoo assets
Reviews financial policies and laws and recommends changes to zoo policy and procedures when necessary; ensures the zoo adheres to all financial rules, regulations, and procedures
Works with the Senior Leadership Team on financial issues in their individual areas
Presents financial information to a variety of audiences, including the President/CEO, the Senior Leadership Team, zoo staff, Board of Directors, and external stakeholders
Oversees resource allocation and department budgets
Participates in annual outside audit

Legislative/Regulatory Compliance:

Provides leadership on regulatory and legal compliance issues including annual and capital budgets and policy impacting the zoo
Works with city officials/administration and other governmental agencies to maintain awareness of issues influencing decision making in the best interests of the zoo
Provides leadership in the annual budget and reporting processes; recommends changes as needed
Oversees preparation of materials for annual and capital budgets
Contract Administration:
Authorizes and legally executes contracts on the zoo’s behalf; reviews all contracts for adherence to legal requirements
Drafts contract language as needed in zoo business arrangements
Negotiates contracts as needed, particularly in private partnerships to ensure that the terms are designed to the benefit of the zoo

Payroll Oversight:

Provides executive oversight of the Zoo’s payroll function, ensuring payroll operations are accurate, timely, efficient, and compliant with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Oversees payroll processes and procedures, including regular payroll, supplemental payroll, timekeeping, deductions, garnishments, tax withholdings, and other payroll-related activities.
Partners with Finance, and department leadership to ensure accurate employee compensation, employment status, pay rates, and payroll-related changes are properly maintained and processed.
Ensures appropriate internal controls and segregation of duties are maintained within payroll processes to safeguard the organization’s financial resources and employee information.
Reviews payroll reports and reconciliations to identify discrepancies, trends, errors, or other issues requiring corrective action.
Provides oversight of payroll tax filings, payments, reporting, and compliance requirements, ensuring deadlines and regulatory obligations are met.
Oversees the administration and effectiveness of payroll systems, timekeeping systems, and related technology, identifying opportunities to improve accuracy, automation, efficiency, and reporting.
Establishes and monitors payroll-related policies, procedures, and controls in collaboration with appropriate departments.
Provides guidance and support to leadership regarding payroll costs, compensation-related financial impacts, payroll reporting, and workforce-related financial planning.
Ensures payroll expenses are accurately recorded, reconciled, and incorporated into the Zoo’s financial reporting and budgeting processes.
Coordinates with external payroll providers, auditors, tax agencies, and other third-party partners as necessary to resolve payroll matters and maintain compliance.
Protects the confidentiality and security of employee payroll and compensation information in accordance with organizational policies and applicable requirements.
Provides leadership in the resolution of complex or escalated payroll issues and ensures timely corrective action when discrepancies or compliance concerns are identified.

General:

Drives the organization to achieve and surpass financial and business goals and objectives in alignment with the zoo’s mission
Contributes to and provides direct oversight of the business plan
Assesses accounting processes for project completion, develops workflow(s), identifies efficiencies to ensure work can be achieved with appropriate resources
Contributes to saving animals in the wild through: reduction of waste, water and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions
Performs other duties as assigned

Your Skills and Expertise

To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field
Comprehensive knowledge of budgeting and financial processes
Understanding of sophisticated cost accounting systems and financial forecasting and budgeting
Ability to use and interpret financial data to managers, government representatives and the press
Understanding of legislative and administrative processes and able to advise managers, board members and staff on processes and strategies
Working knowledge of business accounting policies, procedures, practices and software programs
Ten (10) years’ experience in a non-profit environment, educational facility, or comparable industry
Minimum eight (8) years’ senior level management experience including the supervision of multiple functions/departments
Strong interpersonal, team-building, communication and delegation skills; effectively partners with other departments, all levels of staff, and both internal and external stakeholders
Strong organizational, administrative, analytical and time management skills; appropriately prioritizes work and responds to shifting priorities and last-minute requests
Exhibits strong leadership traits (visibility and accessibility, presence on site, personal integrity, models ethical behavior); ability to think and plan strategically and creatively
Experience managing complex organizations and processes; manages well at both administrative and strategic levels

Language/Math/Reasoning Ability:

Ability to read and interpret documents such as financial reports, procedure manuals, professional journals and SOPs. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to make effective speeches and presentations on complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, and percentages. Ability to apply mathematical concepts such as test reliability and validity, and analysis of variance.
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Computer Skills:

Proficient computer skills including electronic mail, record keeping, routine database activity, word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, etc.
Experience in Microsoft Office applications and accounting software

Competencies:

Job Knowledge/Technical Knowledge: Demonstrates a sound working knowledge of current role and the technical systems and applications used in performing this role, and understands the impact this role has on other business functions within the organization
Interpersonal Communication: Writes and speaks effectively based on the psychological, relational, situation, environmental and cultural dynamics within the situation
Manages Change: Demonstrates effectiveness and flexibility with changing environments, responsibilities, tasks, and people.
Problem Solving: Identifies and resolves issues timely by gathering and analyzing information skillfully.
Attention to Detail: Follows detailed procedures to ensure accuracy in the entry and reporting of data/information
Organization: Uses time efficiently by prioritizing and planning work activities. Methodical and efficient in structuring tasks to be accomplished.
Professional maturity: The ability to separate emotional feelings from the real issues at hand. The ability to legitimately and objectively challenge the substance of our beliefs and biases of our observations.
Initiative: Takes a responsible, proactive approach and willingness to get things done independently; readiness to take the lead on new projects, ideas, tasks or assignments.
Responsibility: The ability to meet commitments made to yourself and others, keeping the promises you make, and acknowledging and accepting the choices you have made, the actions you have taken, and the results they have led to.
Communication: The ability to write and speak effectively using appropriate convention based on the situation; actively listens to others, asks questions to verify understanding, and uses tact and consideration when delivering feedback to others.
Flexibility: Demonstrate responsiveness and adaptability following change initiatives, and demonstrates ongoing support for change efforts.
Intelligence: Understand and comprehend information, as well as find application and value from new knowledge.
Integrity and Respect: Demonstrates upmost level of integrity in all instances, and shows respect towards others and towards company principles.
Judgment: Demonstrates ability to make independent and sound decisions in all situations.
Guest Focus: The ability to demonstrate a series of activities designed to enhance the level of guest satisfaction
Teamwork: Shares key information with others involved in a project or effort, works in harmony to accomplish objectives, responds with enthusiasm to directives, and shows support for departmental and organizational decisions.
Energetic: Exhibits high levels of energy and enthusiasm
Quality: Sets high standards and measures of excellence to ensure quality assurance in every aspect of work performed.
Computer Savvy: The knowledge and ability to use computers and technology efficiently and effectively.
Collaboration and Partnership: Encourages and embraces dialogue from team members, while anticipating and resolving conflicting differences by exploring mutually agreeable solutions.
Accountability: Takes personal responsibility and ownership for adhering to all company policies and procedures while also completing work timely and in accordance with performance expectations.

San Antonio Zoo is an equal opportunity employer. San Antonio Zoo will not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

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