Chief Financial Officer

Children's Museum of Manhattan

$200K — $250K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Substantial experience as a CFO or senior financial leader in a complex non-profit or cultural organization.
  • Expert in non-profit GAAP, endowment management, capital projects, and grant compliance.
  • Demonstrated maturity in managing accountability to CEO and Board while maintaining visible communication on complex risks.
  • Experience leading organizations through scaling and capital transitions.
  • CPA, MBA, or equivalent advanced financial education required.
  • Decisive, innovative mindset with skills in analytical storytelling.
  • High standards of professional ethics, integrity, and sound judgment.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as key strategic partner to the CEO and executive team, co-authoring business models for multi-site operations.
  • Act as an entrepreneurial strategist, aligning creative ambitions with financial resources.
  • Provide transparent financial modeling and risk analysis to the Board Chair and Finance Committee.
  • Champion internal controls and professionalize financial reporting frameworks.
  • Own the design and refinement of comprehensive financial models and budgets in partnership with department heads.
  • Ensure rigorous financial oversight of a $300M capital campaign and manage related funding strategies.
  • Instill budget discipline across departments and lead core accounting operations.

Benefits

  • Free medical coverage for employees, with premium plans for dependents available.
  • Comprehensive vision, dental, and medical benefits.
  • 403B retirement plan.
  • Life insurance and employee assistance program (EAP).
  • Paid holidays, personal time off, vacation leave, and sick leave.
  • Voluntary benefits including FSA, critical illness, and pet insurance.
  • Free admission to other cultural institutions in New York City.
Full Job Description
POSITION: Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
REPORTS TO: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
LOCATION: 212 West 83rd Street, New York, NY 10024 (Transitioning to 361 Central Park West)
WEBSITE: www.CMOM.org

ABOUT THE POSITION
CMOM seeks an entrepreneurial, visionary Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to drive financial strategy during this transformative, high-growth phase. Reporting directly to the CEO, the CFO will serve as a core strategic partner to executive leadership while providing essential stewardship, transparent reporting, and strategic support to the Board of Directors. This executive will manage a $300M capital project, oversee operational scaling from $8M to $18M, and ensure long-term financial sustainability. This leader will continue to
modernize financial systems while cultivating a growth-oriented, collaborative culture.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Financial Partnership & Governance
  • Serve as key strategic partner to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, actively co-authoring the business models required to support a scaled multi-site operation and doubled budget.
  • Act as an entrepreneurial strategist, seeking innovative financial solutions to align creative ambitions with institutional resources.
  • Act as a direct liaison and thought partner to the Board Chair and Finance & Audit Committee Chair, providing complete and transparent visibility into financial modeling, cash flow and cash balance forecasting, debt compliance, and risk analysis. Work collaboratively with the Finance and Audit Board Committee, driving the meeting agendas and ensuring reporting, governance compliance, and immediate escalation of any potentially material financial or risk exposures to the Board Chair.
  • Champion organizational systems maturity, professionalizing internal controls and reporting frameworks.
  • Take ownership of the design, and continuous refinement of comprehensive financial models, operating budgets and annual forecast models, cash flow and cash balance models, and long-term forecasts for the scaled-up operation in the new building. Partner in an iterative, collaborative fashion with all department heads and executive leadership to build out, optimize, and align coordinated departmental budgets with strategic institutional targets.
Capital Project, Debt & Endowment Stewardship
  • Provide rigorous financial oversight for the $300M capital campaign in close partnership with the Board Chair, Building Committee and Finance and Audit Committee, navigating complex funding, institutional grants, pledge agreements and sophisticated debt and cash management strategy, including active management of and compliance reporting for credit facilities and liquidity bridges tied to pledge realizations.
  • Oversee and optimize the endowment portfolio in collaboration with the Finance and Audit Committee to ensure long-term growth.
  • Direct cash flow management, ensuring financial stability during the transition to the new facility.
Fiscal Discipline & Departmental Alignment
  • Instill cross-functional budget discipline, collaborating with program, advancement, and operations teams to monitor and evaluate financial practices.
  • Lead core accounting operations, including audits, forecasting, and compliance.
  • Evolve the finance team structure, promoting a collaborative and responsive culture.

Administrative Leadership & Equity-Driven HR
  • Champion equitable People Operations, focusing on competitive, transparent compensation and benefits for a growing staff.
  • Manage risk and physical assets through contract reviews and insurance management.

QUALIFICATIONS
  • Experience: Substantial experience as a CFO or senior financial leader in a complex non-profit, cultural, or similar organization.
  • Financial Mastery: Expert in non-profit GAAP, endowment management, capital projects, and grant compliance.
  • Governance Support: Demonstrated maturity in managing accountability to CEO while maintaining transparent, direct communication channels with Board and Audit Committee leadership on complex risk, strategic and capital matters.
  • Growth Capabilities: Experience leading through major organizational scaling or capital transitions.
  • Education: CPA, MBA, or equivalent advanced financial education.
  • Mindset & Skills: Decisive, innovative, and skilled in analytical storytelling.
  • Judgement, Integrity & Ethics: Highest standards of professional ethics, personal integrity, and sound judgment

COMPENSATION

$200,000-$250,000 annually

BENEFITS
Our company offers a comprehensive benefits package including vision, dental and medical (free medical coverage for employees, with premium plans available for dependents), 403B, life insurance, EAP, Paid Holidays, Personal Time Off, Vacation leave, and Sick leave. We also offer a range of voluntary benefits, such as FSA, critical illness, accident insurance, legal services, and pet insurance. As a CMOM employee, you are eligible for free admission to other New York City cultural institutions.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Children's Museum of Manhattan

  • Chief Operating Officer
    $200K — $250K *
    New York, NY 10025 (New York County)
    Education, Government & Non-Profit
    In-Person
  • Chief Financial Officer
    $200K — $250K *
    New York, NY 10025 (New York County)
    Education, Government & Non-Profit
    In-Person
  • Director of Membership
    $100K — $125K *
    New York, NY 10025 (New York County)
    Education, Government & Non-Profit
    In-Person

More Education, Government & Non-Profit Jobs

Find similar Chief Financial Officer jobs: