Chief Financial Officer
Position Summary
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provides strategic financial leadership for the Maryland Center for History and Culture (MCHC), safeguarding the institution’s financial health, long-term sustainability, and responsible stewardship of its resources. As a member of the senior leadership team, the CFO reports to the President & CEO and works closely with the Treasurer and Board of Trustees to ensure strong financial oversight, accountability, and informed decision-making. The CFO serves as a trusted strategic partner to senior leadership and department heads, aligning financial strategy, resource allocation, and operational planning with MCHC’s mission and institutional priorities.
The CFO oversees the organization’s financial operations and supervises a team of two staff members. The position collaborates closely across the organization, with a particularly strong partnership with External Affairs on fundraising, grants, contributed revenue, donor reporting, capital campaigns, and long-term financial planning.
The CFO also provides financial oversight of the institution’s endowment and investments, restricted funds, capital projects, and collections-related activities. This is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced financial professional who wants to be part of a mission driven organization and can balance strategic thinking with operational execution.
Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Operations
- Develop and implement financial strategies that support the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability.
- Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, and long-range financial planning, including scenario analysis and cash-flow management.
- Provide timely financial reporting, analysis, and recommendations to the President & CEO, senior leadership, and Board.
- Oversee accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, audits, tax filings, and regulatory compliance.
- Supervise, support, and develop a team of two finance staff members.
- Manage relationships with auditors, accountants, investment managers, banking partners, and other financial advisors.
- Ensure financial policies and practices reflect strong nonprofit governance and responsible stewardship.
Endowment & Investments
- Provide financial oversight of the organization’s endowment and investment assets, including performance, spending, distributions, and donor restrictions.
- Work with investment advisors and institutional leadership on long-term stewardship of the endowment.
- Support long-term planning that balances current institutional needs with financial sustainability.
External Affairs, Grants & Restricted Funds
- Partner closely with External Affairs on fundraising strategy, contributed revenue forecasting, major gifts, grants, memberships, and capital campaigns.
- Provide financial analysis and support for grant budgets, reports, and compliance requirements.
- Oversee the tracking and reporting of restricted and unrestricted contributions and grants, ensuring compliance with donor intent and accounting standards.
- Advise leadership on the financial implications of donor commitments, restricted gifts, pledges, and multi-year grants.
- Provide financial leadership for capital projects, including budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow planning, and monitoring of project costs and funding.
- Partner with leadership and project teams to evaluate the financial and long-term operating implications of major capital investments.
- Provide financial guidance related to collection holdings, including acquisitions, deaccessions, conservation, preservation, storage, and insurance.
- Ensure appropriate accounting and reporting for collections-related transactions and restricted funds.
Board & Organizational Partnership
- Serve as a strategic financial partner to leaders across the organization, helping departments develop budgets, evaluate initiatives, and make informed financial decisions.
- Prepare and present financial reports, budgets, forecasts, and analysis to the Board and relevant committees.
- Serve as a key staff partner to the Board’s Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees.
- Promote a culture of financial stewardship while supporting the institution’s programs, exhibitions, collections, library services, and organizational mission
- Partner closely with Human Resources to develop and oversee the organization’s compensation and benefits strategy, ensuring alignment with financial objectives, competitive practices, and overall workforce strategy; provide financial oversight and guidance on payroll and related employee costs.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field required; CPA, MBA, or advanced credential preferred.
- 6-8 years of progressively responsible financial management experience, including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and long-range planning.
- Experience managing and developing staff.
- Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting, including restricted funds, endowment accounting, contributed revenue, and grants.
- Experience with investments, capital projects, and/or capital campaigns highly desirable.
- Experience working with senior leadership, Board members, auditors, investment advisors, and external partners.
- Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable guidance for financial and non-financial audiences.
- Significant experience in a nonprofit, museum, library, cultural, educational, or similarly mission-driven organization strongly preferred.
- High degree of integrity, discretion, sound judgment, and attention to detail.
- Comprehensive financial software knowledge with MIP or other financial reporting platforms.
- Salesforce experience, a plus.
About the PositionThis is a full-time, exempt, salaried position with full benefits package, including medical, dental, 403(b) retirement plan, and a health savings account. Full-time employees of MCHC are part of a generous paid leave policy that offers up to 20 days of annual leave and 12 days of sick leave annually in addition to the recognition of 11 federal holidays. Free onsite parking is available for staff. The salary range is $125,000-135,000 annually. The target date for filling this position is March 2027.
Core work hours are 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Occasional evening and weekend support for events.
About MCHC
The Maryland Center for History and Culture collects, preserves, and interprets the history, art, and culture of Maryland. By exploring multiple perspectives and sharing national stories through the lens of Maryland, MCHC inspires critical thinking, creativity, and community. Learn more at mdhistory.org.
MCHC is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by law and strongly encourages all qualified professionals to apply.
