Chief Financial Officer

Description

About Hands On

The Hands On Children’s Museum is located on the picturesque East Bay waterfront in downtown Olympia. We are a nationally known family learning destination and the most visited children’s museum in the Pacific Northwest hosting about 300,000 visitors each year. Our mission is to stimulate curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking skills through rich, interactive learning experiences. We believe that all children deserve respect and the opportunity to learn, regardless of their ability to pay, which is why the Museum works hard to serve more than one-third of its annual visitation through the Inspired Learning for All initiative which offers free and reduced fee admission to families who need it. The Museum is recognized as a national Museum for All and won a Noyce Foundation Bright Lights Award for bringing art and science education to underserved populations.

Voted a “Best Place for Kids” for more than a decade, the Museum offers a state‑of‑the‑art LEED Gold facility with 150 indoor exhibits, a half‑acre Outdoor Discovery Center, Art Studio, a MakeSpace for tinkering and inventing, café and gift shop, and award‑winning education programs including camps, workshops, preschool, parenting classes, field trips, community outreach and family support programs.

About the Position

Are you a strategic leader who thrives in mission‑driven environments? We are seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to oversee finance, human resources, information technology, and organizational risk management.

What You’ll Do

As CFO, you will work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership team to guide financial strategy, nurture workplace culture, ensure our technology supports our growth, and guide our long‑term sustainability. This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while shaping the future of a growing nonprofit that’s making a real difference.

In this role, you will develop and manage the Museum’s annual operating budget and collaborate closely with the Finance Manager and supervise daily, monthly, and annual accounting activities. You will monitor fiscal performance and report progress to department managers, the Board Finance Committee, and the Board of Directors throughout the year.

You will lead HR and IT operations with vision and integrity, manage consultants, manage business property and liability insurance, business licenses, and government filings.

Your financial expertise will extend to all museum departments -- effectively supporting café and retail operations, visitor services, education programs, facilities, communications, and development.

Although much of this role focuses on financials, our greatest asset is our people — the team that brings the museum’s mission to life every day. In this role, you’ll partner with the senior leadership team to stay connected with staff and help build a workplace culture where everyone feels supported, listened to, and encouraged to grow.

What We’re Looking For

• A seasoned financial leader with nonprofit expertise
• A collaborative manager who values people and systems
• Someone who thrives in mission‑driven environments
• Skilled in HR, IT, and insurance oversight
• Passionate about purpose and performance

Visit here for a detailed description of responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field (Master’s, CPA or equivalent certification strongly preferred)
• Minimum 7–10 years of senior financial leadership experience with strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting and GAAP.
• Proven experience managing HR, IT, insurance, and regulatory compliance.
• Excellent analytical, strategic thinking, and communication skills with the ability to effectively present information and respond to questions in a professional manner.
• Thrive in a collaborative work environment and interface well with leadership, staff, and external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks under tight deadlines.
• Able to define problems, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and create solutions.
• Consistently demonstrate ethics, trust, and integrity.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the organization.
• Ability to work occasional evening or weekend hours for Museum events.

Workplace Values

Achieving our mission requires great people who actively demonstrate our core values.

To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $110,000 – $140,000 and is based on the individual’s skills, qualifications, and experience. We offer a suite of benefits including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, Employee Assistance Plan, 401(k) retirement plan, paid time off, holidays, Museum membership, free family passes, discounts in the Playday Café and Museum giftshop, preschool and camp discounts for employees, and most importantly, daily access to play in all HOCM exhibits! See the benefit details for this position.

Work Location

In Person

For more information, please visit our website at

The Hands On Children’s Museum exhibits, education programs, and employment are available to all without discrimination.