La Jolla Playhouse (the Playhouse) is seeking its next Chief Financial Officer, the senior leader charged with the management, oversight, and strategy of one of the nation's premiere regional theatres. The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for overseeing and managing the organization's financial planning and accounting, as well as providing the required data and analytical information for the overall successful financial management of the organization. The Chief Financial Officer ensures the Finance Department functions as a high-performing team, focused on supporting business needs across the entire organization. This position works closely with and reports to the Managing Director, providing data and analysis to assist in making responsible financial decisions for the organization.
BACKGROUND
La Jolla Playhouse is internationally-renowned for creating some of the most exciting and adventurous work in American theatre. Founded in 1947, the Playhouse is now a not-for-profit, professional theatre in residence on the University of California, San Diego campus. Its mission is to
advance theatre as an art form and as a vital social, moral and political platform by providing unfettered creative opportunities for the leading artists of today and tomorrow. The Playhouse's brilliant and innovative productions of classics, immersive projects, new plays and musicals have merited over 300 major honors and 42 Tony Awards, including the 1993 Tony Award for America's Outstanding Regional Theatre. These include
The OutsidersCome From AwayThe Who's Tommy, Billy Crystal's
700 Sundays, the Pulitzer Prize-winning
I Am My Own WifeMemphis and international sensation
Jersey Boys
The Playhouse has an annual budget of $27 million, with a very strong balance sheet including investable assets of over $80 million.
Position And Responsibilities
The Chief Financial Officer will serve as the top staff leader in regards to financial management and planning for La Jolla Playhouse. Key responsibilities for the role include:
- Overseeing and directing treasury, budgeting, accounting and long-range forecasting activities for the organization.
- Ensuring that financial statements are prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
- Interacting with independent outside auditing firm to conduct an annual, independent audit and file tax returns.
- Appraising the organization's financial position and working with the Board's Finance, Investment and Audit Committees to provide reports on the organization's financial stability, liquidity, and growth.
- Working closely with each of the Playhouse's 8 department heads to provide financial and other analytical support to optimize business performance.
- Developing and implementing best practices and tools to ensure a well-controlled yet flexible organization that has strong fiscal management, project coordination, cross-team communications, and workflows.
- Creating reports and other tools to enhance operations.
- Simplifying and effectively communicating complex finance and accounting concepts to staff at all levels across the organization.
- Leading the annual budgeting process, collaborating with department heads to ensure accurate and realistic financial plans, and preparing budget presentation that is reviewed at Finance Committee and Board meetings.
- Acting as custodian of endowment funds, marketable securities, investments and all assets of the organization.
- Monitoring and managing the organization's cash flow requirements, ensuring the availability of funds by coordinating with investment advisors and banking personnel with centralized cash transfer.
- Coordinating all tax reporting requirements.
- Working with General Management and Human Resources personnel in workers' compensation coverage and risk management.
- Managing Finance Department personnel and taking responsibility for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of all departmental employees.
Skills And Abilities
La Jolla Playhouse also is interested in the following skills and abilities in qualified candidates:
- Strong presentation skills and the appropriate interpersonal skills required to develop great working relationships with a diverse group of board members, financial institutions, donors, vendors, community and other non-profit and governmental agencies.
- Ability to think analytically and to synthesize complex or diverse information.
- Ability to analyze and streamline workflows and other business processes, at both the department and organizational levels.
- Ability to identify and resolve problems in a timely manner.
- Strong relationship builder.
- Experience coaching and building teams, and enhancing morale.
- Highly collaborative, and able to promote communication between team members.
- Thrives in a fluid work environment.
- Enjoys coaching, mentoring and building teams.
- Ability to work in a highly creative, fast-paced environment.
Qualifications
Employees at the Chief Financial Officer level are expected to have a combination of education and experience equivalent to the following:
- BS/BA in Finance, Accounting or a related field (Master's degree or equivalent preferred)
- A track record of experience with increasing responsibility in a managerial role in finance and accounting settings.
- Knowledge of GAAP standards and fund accounting required for non-profit organizations
- Demonstrated experience leading teams and/or work groups
- Deep understanding of accounting in a non-profit institution, preferably within a cultural organization.
- Experience with Financial Edge accounting software a plus
- Certified Public Accountant certificate preferred.
Compensation And Start Date
The annual salary range for the Chief Financial Officer role at La Jolla Playhouse begins at $165,000 and includes a full benefit package commensurate with other organizations of its size. The company intends to make a hiring decision in the first quarter of 2025, with the selected candidate transitioning into the position shortly after that time.
La Jolla Playhouse is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.
La Jolla Playhouse has engaged Management Consultants for the Arts to facilitate this important search. Interested and qualified candidates are encouraged to submit in complete confidence a cover letter, resumé, and four professional references. The cover letter of no more than 1½ pages should address how the opportunities and challenges shared in this profile intersect with the candidate's professional background and what about this opportunity is of greatest interest to them personally. Application materials should have the applicant's name included as part of each file name and must be submitted electronically by clicking the APPLY NOW button below.
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