Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a key member of the executive leadership team, responsible for directing the fiscal functions of the organization in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, industry standards, and nonprofit best practices. The CFO stewards the organization’s financial health, supports its strategic goals, ensures compliance, and builds organizational resilience. This includes financial planning, forecasting, compliance, investment management, and integration of financial strategies across departments. The CFO provides transparent financial communications to the CEO, Board of Directors, and executive leadership team.

Institution Summary:

• At Loveland Living Planet Aquarium, we bring Earth’s ecosystems to life. Since opening our Draper facility in 2014, we have welcomed over 10 million visitors and provided educational experiences to more than 650,000 students.
• With a major expansion underway, we’re on track to become the largest aquarium in the Mountain West and one of the top five in the country. Be part of this exciting journey while working in a dynamic, mission-driven environment.

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Accounting (MAcc), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or equivalent business experience with financial executive leadership
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license
• 10+ years’ progressive financial experience, including at least 5 years in senior financial leadership role (e.g., CFO or VP Finance)
• While direct knowledge and experience in a Zoo, Aquarium, Museum, or environmentally focused mission area are not required, the ideal candidate will be passionate about animal well-being, education, conservation, and our environment and will understand the value proposition of our organization and our local communities
• A clear and effective communicator, the CFO will work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and executive leadership team to ensure alignment of financial strategy with organizational priorities.
• The ideal candidate will be comfortable working in an owner-led or founder-driven environment and posses a high level of articulate written and communication skills

Critical Skills/Competencies: 

• Financial Management
• Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen
• Ethical Conduct
• Leadership & Performance Management
• Communication Proficiency
• Problem Solving/Analysis
• Personal Effectiveness/Credibility
• Supervisory Experience: Accounting/Finance, HR, and IT Staff

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Plan, develop, organize, implement, direct and evaluate the organization's fiscal function and performance.
• Lead financial planning processes aligned to the Strategic Plan and annual goals; serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team.
• Evaluate and advise on the impact of long-range planning, new programs/strategies, and regulatory action.
• Develop credibility by providing timely and accurate analysis of budgets, financial reports, and trends.
• Oversee all budgeting, accounting, payroll, and financial reporting systems.
• Oversee and coordinate annual audits, Federal Form 990, Form 5500, and all related regulatory filings.
• Provide fiduciary leadership in the organization’s 401k plan, ensuring compliance with ERISA and conducting annual trustee meetings.
• Manage organizational endowments and reserves; ensure compliance with investment policies.
• Oversee insurance policies and renewals with outside brokers, ensuring effective risk management.
• Coordinate with HR to maintain competitive compensation policies, benefits, and compliance with legal standards.
• Lead and develop Finance, IT, and HR teams effectively while fostering a collaborative environment focused on achieving organizational objectives.
• Own and monitor finance-related KPIs including revenue diversification, cash flow, investment performance, capital project adherence, and insurance coverage.
• Oversee financial tracking of major initiatives and capital projects, ensuring alignment with forecasts and campaign targets.
• Provide comprehensive analysis of financial data, attendance trends, revenue streams, and department performance.
• Champion the use of BI and AI tools to develop dashboards, analytics, and scenario modeling.
• Advise on financial perspectives in contract negotiations, vendor agreements, and legal issues.
• Ensure compliance in corporate purchasing programs, donor acknowledgments, concessionaire revenue-sharing, and charitable donations.
• Present financial reporting to the Board during quarterly meetings; support all finance committee and ad hoc meetings.
• Develop and maintain corporate policies and procedures related to finance, compliance, and governance.
• Continuously evaluate department structure for efficiency, effectiveness, and staff development.
• Serve as a visible leader, representing the organization professionally in communication and public forums.   

Physical Demands of the Job:  

• Work outside of regular business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays will be required on occasion.
• You will be working in an office environment with periodic mobility, extended computer use, occasional exposure to animals, and to outdoor elements.
• While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
• It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time.
• The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate.
• The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.