Director of Finance And Accounting

THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ACCOUNTING OPPORTUNITY AT THE APAWAMIS CLUB The Apawamis Club seeks a seasoned, communicative, forward-thinking Director of Finance & Accounting to serve as a pivotal leader and true partner to the General Manager/Chief Operating Officer during a period of meaningful transition. This is an exceptional opportunity for a finance professional energized by modernization, who embraces technology and thrives in a highly visible, relationship-driven, member-facing environment. The role calls for direct engagement with committees, department heads, members, and staff: listening carefully, explaining financial matters clearly, and resolving questions with professionalism and diplomacy to reinforce trust in the Club's financial stewardship. Apawamis is a member-focused club with a strong culture, deep institutional pride, and a conservative tradition that is ready for thoughtful modernization. The incoming Director of Finance & Accounting will succeed a long-tenured Controller retiring after 14 years of service, inheriting accurate financial information, clean audits, and trusted controls, along with a mandate to elevate them. The Club is excited to welcome a finance leader who will strengthen member confidence through insight-driven reporting that tells the story behind the numbers, supports confident decision-making, and enhances transparency and accountability. DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & ACCOUNTING JOB DESCRIPTION Reporting to the General Manager/Chief Operating Officer, the Director of Finance & Accounting is the Club's senior finance executive and a key strategic partner to the GM/COO, the Board, the Treasurer, and the Finance Committee. Beyond ensuring accuracy, compliance, and an on-time annual audit, this leader is charged with transforming how the Club generates, communicates, and uses financial information. The Director of Finance & Accounting will bring a collaborative, service-oriented leadership approach, partnering closely with department heads to deepen shared understanding of each business line and encourage the use of financial information as a practical management tool. This leader will foster clarity, alignment, and informed decision-making across the organization, ensuring finance is viewed as a resource and partner. This is a hands-on role within a small finance department. The Director of Finance & Accounting will lead and develop a three-person team, assess existing processes and structure against the Club's future needs, document standard operating procedures, and build scalable systems to support Apawamis' active year-round calendar and significant capital-investment activity, including the current lower campus project. Many current processes are manual, and the Club wants a leader who will raise the department's technology level. The Club uses Clubessential and is open to evaluating other platforms, offering a genuine opportunity to research, streamline, and implement technology and process efficiencies. The ideal candidate brings strong technical expertise, high emotional intelligence, empathy, a good sense of humor, and unquestioned integrity. This leader shares information freely, develops and fully utilizes the team rather than hoarding work, and leads without micromanaging. Calm under pressure, open-minded, and excited by innovation, this leader will be empowered to guide change while honoring the Club's culture. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Strategic & Financial Leadership Lead all accounting and finance operations, including general ledger, month-end close, and preparation of GAAP-compliant financial statements with full supporting schedules. Own operating and capital budget creation, tracking, and forecasting with the GM/COO, department heads, Treasurer, and Finance Committee. Monitor results versus plan, analyze variances, investigate anomalies, and recommend timely corrective actions. Provide disciplined cash-flow management and forecasting, including short- and long-term projections. Prepare weekly and monthly financial and flash reports that translate data into clear, actionable insights. Support long-range financial planning and scenario modeling to inform strategic decision-making. Provide hands‑on financial oversight of capital projects, including the lower campus project: modeling, sources‑and‑uses schedules, budget tracking, cash‑flow forecasting, and funding and liquidity guidance. Board, Governance & Committee Engagement Attend Board, Finance Committee, and other committee meetings as required, preparing concise, decision‑ready materials, including the annual financial report for the Club's Annual Meeting. Confidently communicate financial results, trends, risks, and recommendations to non‑financial stakeholders. Department Head Partnership & Education Meet with department heads on a regular cadence, with consistent follow‑up, to review results, budgets, and KPIs and provide proactive guidance rather than after‑the‑fact reaction. Explain budgets, billing, and variances in plain language, and guide department heads through budget planning, evaluation, and prioritizing capital needs. Serve as a liaison and educator between finance and operations, breaking down silos and keeping the finance office open, visible, and transparent. Operational Finance & Compliance Oversight / Technology & Systems Leadership Manage member billing, A/R, collections, and escalation of past‑due accounts in accordance with Club policy. Oversee A/P, vendor onboarding, credit applications, and payment processing to optimize cash utilization. Ensure timely, accurate monthly bank reconciliations, review, and sign‑off in accordance with governance policy. Maintain robust internal controls and an internal audit program to ensure compliance with Club policies and applicable laws. Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for all finance and accounting functions and keep complete, well‑organized records. Prepare and file all federal, state, and local tax filings with external auditors, including payroll‑related compliance. Coordinate the annual audit with external auditors to ensure efficient fieldwork, on‑time completion, and minimal management letter findings. Manage and enhance the Club's financial systems (currently Clubessential), championing automation and leading the evaluation of upgrades or replacements. Oversee the Club's IT function by coordinating with outsourced IT vendors. Manage banking relationships, borrowings, investments, and cash balances to safeguard Club assets. Oversee inventory accounting for food, beverage, supplies, equipment, and furnishings. Maintain fixed‑asset records, including depreciation schedules and capital asset replacement planning. Risk Management & Insurance / Human Resources & Payroll Partnership Administer property and casualty insurance programs and manage claims as necessary. Maintain insurance documentation and ensure certificate‑of‑insurance compliance for vendors and partners. Partner with Human Resources on compensation changes, benefits and 401(k) administration, payroll coordination, and related regulatory requirements. Staff Leadership & Development / Member & Stakeholder Service Assess, hire, train, schedule, and develop accounting team members, including A/R and Accounts Payable staff. Establish clear performance standards, conduct evaluations, and support professional development. Foster a culture of integrity, accountability, service excellence, and openness in which members and staff feel welcome in the finance office. Respond to member billing, accounting, and finance inquiries promptly and professionally. CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS Seasoned finance leader with 5 to 7+ years of progressive accounting and finance leadership experience, including 2+ years as a Controller or Director of Finance & Accounting; private club or luxury hospitality experience preferred. Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, operating and capital budgeting, forecasting, cash management, and internal controls, with a record of timely financial statements and on‑schedule audits. Experience with not‑for‑profit financial reporting for 501(c)(7) entities; 501(c)(3) familiarity a plus. Advanced proficiency in MS Excel and MS Office, with substantial experience using financial reporting software and ERP platforms (ClubEssential experience a plus). Experience implementing systems, automating manual work, and writing standard operating procedures. Success leading small finance teams without micromanaging, and partnering with operational leaders. Executive presence and strong presentation skills; comfortable presenting to the Finance Committee and Board and able to translate financial information into plain language for non‑financial audiences. Sound judgment and critical thinking, with the ability to synthesize input from across the Club into well‑informed forecasts and recommendations. Strategic, big‑picture thinker with strong long‑term and capital planning skills and meticulous record‑keeping. Service‑oriented leader with hospitality DNA, empathy, a positive attitude, and a collaborative approach. EDUCATIONAL AND CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field required. CPA preferred; M.B.A. or advanced degree preferred; CHAE designation a plus. #J-18808-Ljbffr