Chief Financial Officer

• Location 1700 Hermann Drive,Houston, TX, 77004,United States
• Base Pay $120,000.00 - $170,000.00 / Year
• Employee Type FT Salary Exempt
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree

About Hermann Park Conservancy

Given tothe City of Houston by George Hermann in 1914, Hermann Park is one of the city’s most important civic spaces. Hermann Park Conservancy, a nonprofit partner to the City of Houston, was formed in 1992 to restore, steward, and advance the Park as a shared public space for all Houstonians.

Today, the Conservancy manages a complex and growing operation that includes earned revenue programs, major capital projects, and long-term stewardship of the Park’s landscapes and infrastructure. We have completednearly $200 millionin improvements to date and are advancing a long-range plan that will guide more than $300 million in future investment.

Our work sits at the intersection of philanthropy, public partnership, and park operations. The Conservancy is entering a period of significant growth, including an active capital campaign, expanded operations, and deeper collaboration with public-sector partners.

Position Summary

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the leadership team and a strategic partner to the President & CEO. This role goes well beyond financial oversight. The CFO will help guide organizational strategy, support major capital initiatives, and ensure the Conservancy is positioned for long-term financial sustainability and growth.The CFO oversees all aspects offinancial managementwhile also playinga central rolein decision-making—helping leadership and the Board understand tradeoffs, evaluate opportunities, andplan for the future.

The Conservancyoperateswith a diverse revenue model that includes contributed revenue, public funding, and earned income from programs, events, and venues.The CFO has primary responsibility for financial strategy and oversight, financial planning, policies, and systems, in alignment with the President & CEO.

The CFO will also provide oversight of key administrative functions, includingfinancialcompliance, risk management, andfinancial technologyinfrastructure, ensuring the organizationoperateswith discipline and clarity as it grows.

The organization currentlyoperateswith an annual budget of approximately $9Mand is undertaking a capital campaign of approximately $300M. The finance function is expected to scale alongside the organization’s continued growth and increasing complexity.

Success in this role will include strengthening long-term financial sustainability, improving financial systems and transparency, supporting the successful execution of the capital campaign, and building strong confidence with staff and the Board.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and a contributingand supportivemember of the leadership team
• Lead long-range financial planning aligned with the Conservancy’sstrategic plan,master plan,and capital campaign
• Develop financial models and scenarios to support major capital projects and organizational growth
• Provide clear, actionable financial insight to inform decision-making across the organization
• Partner with leadership to evaluate new initiatives, earned revenue opportunities, and operational investments
• Contribute to organization-wide planning and prioritization, helping align resources with strategic goals and strengthening cross-functional decision-making
• Oversee all financial,treasury,and accountingoperations, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and financial reporting
• Lead the annual budgeting process in close partnership with the President & CEO, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities
• Monitor financial performance against budget and providetimely, thoughtful analysis of variances and trends
• Produce clear, decision-oriented financial reports for leadership and the Board of Directors
• Ensure strong internal controls and sound financial practices across the organization
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit financial reporting requirements, including Form 990, fund accounting standards, and grant and donor restrictions
• Ensuretheproperaccountingand recordingof thebooks and records
• Providecompliancereportsto the banks asrequired
• Provide leadership and oversight to the Accounting Manager, whois responsible forday-to-day accounting operations including bookkeeping, invoicing,project accounting, grant tracking,and required reporting to the City
• Ensure accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of financial data whilemaintainingappropriate separationbetween transactional and strategic functions
• Establish clear roles, workflows, and accountability across the finance function as the organization grows
• Mentor and develop finance staff while contributing to a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement
• Lead the continued development and optimization of financial systems, including Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT and related tools
• Ensure financial data is structured to provide clear visibility into operations, capital projects, and restricted vs. unrestricted funds
• Partner across the organization to improve reporting clarity, including the use of project codes and other tools to better track performance by program, venue, and initiative
• Identifyopportunities to streamline processes, reduce manual work, and improve accuracy through thoughtful use of technology
• Build systems that support a growing and increasingly complex organization

Investments, Audit, and Board Engagement

• Oversee endowment and investment tracking; serve as liaison to investment advisors
• Lead the annual audit process and serve asleadcontact for external auditors
• Partner with the Finance Committee, Investment Committee,and Board to present financial results,investment results,forecasts, and key strategic considerations
• Translate complex financial information into clear, accessible insights for non-financial stakeholders

Capital & Business Operations

• Support financial planning and cash flow strategy for the Conservancy’s capital campaign and major projects
• Ensure strong alignment between capital investments and long-term operating sustainability
• Partner with the COO and leadership team to ensure financial systems and processes support a growing organization
• Oversee financial aspects of contracts, vendor relationships, and business operations as needed
• Partner closely with the Development team to support fundraising strategy, including capital campaigns, donor reporting, and financial positioning for major gifts and institutional funding

Risk, Compliance & Administration

• Oversee organizational compliance with federal, state, and local requirements, including nonprofit filings and reporting obligations
• In coordination with the COO, ensureappropriate insurancecoverage across the organization, including regular review of policies and coordination with brokers and advisors
• Partner with COO inorganizational risk management practices,identifyingand addressing areas of exposure
• Partner with legal counsel, auditors,banksand external advisors to ensure the Conservancyoperateswith strong governance and sound practices

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degreerequired; CPA, MBA, or equivalent experience strongly preferred
• 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, with several years in a senior leadership role
• Experience overseeing financialandaccountingoperations in a complex organization with multiple revenue streams
• Experience overseeingtreasury and banking relationships
• Demonstrated ability tooperateas a strategic partner, not just a functional leader
• Strong financial modeling, forecasting, and analytical skills
• Ability to communicate financialand accountingconcepts clearly to non-financial audiences
• Experience withnonprofits,public-private partnerships, andcapital campaignsstrongly preferred
• High levelof integrity, sound judgment, and collaborative leadership style

The ideal candidate is both strategic and practical--someone who can move easily between big-picture thinking and day-to-day realities without losing sight of either.

Equally important, this person will contribute positively to the culture of the organization. The Conservancy values a workplace that is collaborative, supportive, and grounded in mutual respect.

We are looking for a leader who is:

• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Positive and solutions-focused
• Compassionate and respectful in working with others
• Modest, approachable, and confident in theirexpertise
• Steady, thoughtful, and capable of navigating complexity with good judgment

This is a highly visible leadership role, and the CFO is expected to model these qualities within the finance function and across the organization.

Compensation and Benefits

This is a full-time, salary-exempt position with a targeted salary range of $120,000–$170,000 annually, based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and alignment with the responsibilities of the role. Hermann Park Conservancy provides a competitive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 401(k) retirement plan, and generous paid time off.

Hermann Park Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering adiverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences.