Chief Financial Officer [Full-Time]

Job Description

Job Description

Chief Financial Officer

Collaborate with a passionate Zoo Crew in San Antonio
Choosing where to grow your career has a major impact on your professional and personal life, so it’s equally important you know that the place you choose to work at will support and guide you. With a diversity of passionate people, San Antonio Zoo is a place where you can collaborate with others securing a future for wildlife.

The Impact You’ll Make in this Role

The Chief Financial Officer provides leadership, oversight, strategic direction, and vision to ensure that San Antonio Zoo has the proper operational controls, compliant reporting procedures, to effectively grow the organization and ensure financial strength and operating effectiveness/efficiency. Works with zoo president, leadership, investment and finance committees, executive committee and monitors the financial, business, purchasing, cash control, IT activities and has payroll oversight. This position works to ensure that the zoo operates officially, efficiently, effectively and in accordance with local, state and federal laws and regulations. This position exists to ensure the financial health of the zoo in both the long and short term by overseeing financial and administrative operations and examining business practices while minimizing risk to the organization.

 

As Chief Financial Officer, you will have the opportunity to tap into your curiosity and collaborate with some of the most innovative and diverse people in San Antonio. Here, you will make an impact by:

Financial Management:

• Oversees the zoo’s operating and capital budgets to ensure the appropriate use of funding sources, including governmental funding, grants, earned income, donor restricted funding, and other funding sources
• Maintains a comprehensive knowledge of the zoo’s activities to be effective in financial oversight of the organization
• Develops financial pro formas for zoo programs and initiatives such as special exhibits, programs, promotions, and business partnerships
• Serves as the staff liaison to Finance and Investment Committee for the purpose of overseeing the zoo’s financial health and financial risks. Recommends budget assumptions, reserve levels, and budget adjustments to the committee as necessary
• Maintains the internal control environment, including financial controls and the tone regarding financial responsibility and appropriate use of resources
• Assesses accounting/finance department to ensure an effective and functional structure including appropriate staffing levels and job roles, and effectiveness of all systems, databases and financial software
• Identify, acquire and implement systems and software to provide critical financial and operational information. Evaluate department and make suggestions for automating processes and increasing working efficiency
• Develops and maintains the financial pro forma behind the zoo’s strategic plan
• Coordinates the annual budget, such that the operating budget remains healthy
• Ensures fiduciary responsibility, sound financial management and accountability for contributions, income and other zoo assets 
• Reviews financial policies and laws and recommends changes to zoo policy and procedures when necessary; ensures the zoo adheres to all financial rules, regulations, and procedures
• Works with the Senior Leadership Team on financial issues in their individual areas 
• Presents financial information to a variety of audiences, including the President/CEO, the Senior Leadership Team, zoo staff, Board of Directors, and external stakeholders
• Oversees resource allocation and department budgets
• Participates in annual outside audit

 

Legislative/Regulatory Compliance:

• Provides leadership on regulatory and legal compliance issues including annual and capital budgets and policy impacting the zoo
• Works with city officials/administration and other governmental agencies to maintain awareness of issues influencing decision making in the best interests of the zoo
• Provides leadership in the annual budget and reporting processes; recommends changes as needed
• Oversees preparation of materials for annual and capital budgets
• Contract Administration:
• Authorizes and legally executes contracts on the zoo’s behalf; reviews all contracts for adherence to legal requirements
• Drafts contract language as needed in zoo business arrangements
• Negotiates contracts as needed, particularly in private partnerships to ensure that the terms are designed to the benefit of the zoo

 

Payroll Oversight:

• Provides executive oversight of the Zoo’s payroll function, ensuring payroll operations are accurate, timely, efficient, and compliant with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. 
• Oversees payroll processes and procedures, including regular payroll, supplemental payroll, timekeeping, deductions, garnishments, tax withholdings, and other payroll-related activities. 
• Partners with Finance, and department leadership to ensure accurate employee compensation, employment status, pay rates, and payroll-related changes are properly maintained and processed. 
• Ensures appropriate internal controls and segregation of duties are maintained within payroll processes to safeguard the organization’s financial resources and employee information. 
• Reviews payroll reports and reconciliations to identify discrepancies, trends, errors, or other issues requiring corrective action. 
• Provides oversight of payroll tax filings, payments, reporting, and compliance requirements, ensuring deadlines and regulatory obligations are met. 
• Oversees the administration and effectiveness of payroll systems, timekeeping systems, and related technology, identifying opportunities to improve accuracy, automation, efficiency, and reporting. 
• Establishes and monitors payroll-related policies, procedures, and controls in collaboration with appropriate departments. 
• Provides guidance and support to leadership regarding payroll costs, compensation-related financial impacts, payroll reporting, and workforce-related financial planning. 
• Ensures payroll expenses are accurately recorded, reconciled, and incorporated into the Zoo’s financial reporting and budgeting processes. 
• Coordinates with external payroll providers, auditors, tax agencies, and other third-party partners as necessary to resolve payroll matters and maintain compliance. 
• Protects the confidentiality and security of employee payroll and compensation information in accordance with organizational policies and applicable requirements. 
• Provides leadership in the resolution of complex or escalated payroll issues and ensures timely corrective action when discrepancies or compliance concerns are identified.

 

General:

• Drives the organization to achieve and surpass financial and business goals and objectives in alignment with the zoo’s mission
• Contributes to and provides direct oversight of the business plan
• Assesses accounting processes for project completion, develops workflow(s), identifies efficiencies to ensure work can be achieved with appropriate resources
• Contributes to saving animals in the wild through: reduction of waste, water and energy use and inspiring guests and staff to take wildlife protecting actions
• Performs other duties as assigned

Your Skills and Expertise 

To set you up for success in this role from day one, the San Antonio Zoo recommends the following skills/qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field
• Comprehensive knowledge of budgeting and financial processes
• Understanding of sophisticated cost accounting systems and financial forecasting and budgeting
• Ability to use and interpret financial data to managers, government representatives and the press
• Understanding of legislative and administrative processes and able to advise managers, board members and staff on processes and strategies
• Working knowledge of business accounting policies, procedures, practices and software programs
• Ten (10) years’ experience in a non-profit environment, educational facility, or comparable industry
• Minimum eight (8) years’ senior level management experience including the supervision of multiple functions/departments
• Strong interpersonal, team-building, communication and delegation skills; effectively partners with other departments, all levels of staff, and both internal and external stakeholders
• Strong organizational, administrative, analytical and time management skills; appropriately prioritizes work and responds to shifting priorities and last-minute requests
• Exhibits strong leadership traits (visibility and accessibility, presence on site, personal integrity, models ethical behavior); ability to think and plan strategically and creatively
• Experience managing complex organizations and processes; manages well at both administrative and strategic levels

Language/Math/Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as financial reports, procedure manuals, professional journals and SOPs. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to make effective speeches and presentations on complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, and percentages. Ability to apply mathematical concepts such as test reliability and validity, and analysis of variance. 
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

 

Computer Skills:

• Proficient computer skills including electronic mail, record keeping, routine database activity, word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, etc.
• Experience in Microsoft Office applications and accounting software

 

Competencies:

• Job Knowledge/Technical Knowledge: Demons