Director of Finance and Business Planning

Director of Finance and Business Planning Straz Center for the Performing Arts is seeking a Director of Finance and Business Planning to provide financial leadership for the Patel Conservatory, overseeing day-to-day financial operations while serving as the primary resource for budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and financial planning related to the Conservatory's continued growth. Reporting to the Chief Arts Education Officer (CAEO), with a dual/indirect report to Straz Center's Finance Department, this position is responsible for the Conservatory's annual budget, financial reporting, forecasting, revenue analysis, financial controls, and financial administration. The Director also develops financial models that support leadership's planning for new programs, expanded enrollment, increased facility capacity, and other growth opportunities. The Director will work closely with Conservatory department chairs, program leaders, production staff, Admissions, Finance, HR, Development, and other operational departments to understand the financial drivers of the organization and translate that information into useful forecasts and decision-support tools. The ideal candidate will combine strong finance, accounting, and FP&A skills with meaningful experience in the performing arts, entertainment, arts education, theater, dance, music, or live-event industry. An understanding of how performances, productions, classes, workshops, camps, intensives, and other arts programs are created and delivered is important because it allows the Director to develop realistic financial assumptions and models. This position does not determine the artistic or programmatic direction of the Patel Conservatory. Rather, the Director serves as the financial planning partner to the CAEO and Conservatory leadership, providing the financial information, analysis, forecasts, and models necessary to evaluate and support strategic growth. Likewise, in partnership with Straz Center's Finance Department, the Director ensures that accounting, financial reporting, and internal control activities are performed in accordance with Center-wide financial policies, applicable accounting standards, and established closing and budget calendars that apply consistently across all departments. Essential Functions: Financial Accounting, Management, Reporting & Budgeting • Direct the day-to-day financial operations of the Patel Conservatory, ensuring accurate accounting, reconciliation, reporting, and analysis of financial activity. Serve as the primary business user for the school management and enrollment system (ASAP) and financial accounting system (Financial Edge NXT). • Oversee daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting activities, including general ledger reconciliations, financial transaction imports, and month-end and year-end close requirements. Coordinate regularly with Straz Center Finance to resolve discrepancies and address matters affecting Education financial operations. • Lead the development, management, and refinement of the Conservatory's annual operating budget, including departmental budgets for Dance, Music, Theater, and other programs and activities, in accordance with Straz Center budget assumptions, timelines, and approval processes. • Prepare and present monthly financial reports, budget-to-actual analyses, variance reports, and financial forecasts for the CAEO and Straz Center Finance leadership. Monitor financial performance, identify significant variances, trends, risks, and opportunities, and communicate findings and recommended actions. • Maintain accurate operating forecasts based on enrollment, tuition, ticket sales, payroll, teaching artist costs, production expenses, facility usage, and other key financial drivers, consistent with Straz Center's consolidated forecasting process. • Partner with department chairs and program leaders to establish budgets, evaluate financial performance, and support responsible management of approved departmental resources. • Oversee financial tracking and settlement for Conservatory productions, showcases, concerts, workshops, camps, intensives, and other activities. • Coordinate annual and external audit requests and responses through Straz Center Finance, maintain appropriate financial documentation, and ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit fund accounting principles, Straz Center financial policies, and applicable reporting requirements. Escalate policy exceptions and control concerns promptly. Financial Planning, Forecasting & Modeling • Serve as the Conservatory's primary resource for strategic financial planning and analysis related to organizational growth, program expansion, and long-term financial sustainability. • Develop and maintain multi-year financial forecasts and financial models incorporating enrollment, tuition, earned revenue, staffing, program expenses, facility costs, and other key operating assumptions. Document material assumptions and review models with Straz Center Finance leadership before using them to support leadership decisions. • Conduct break-even, sensitivity, and scenario analyses to evaluate proposed initiatives and model the financial impact of changes in enrollment, pricing, class size, program frequency, staffing, schedules, facility capacity, and production scale. • Develop financial projections for new and expanded classes, workshops, camps, intensives, productions, performances, master classes, and other educational programs, evaluating anticipated revenue, expenses, staffing, capacity, and financial sustainability. • Evaluate the financial and operational implications of Conservatory facility expansion and increased program capacity, including staffing, equipment, technology, maintenance, utilities, production infrastructure, and other ongoing costs. • Maintain historical financial benchmarks and planning assumptions to improve the accuracy of future forecasts, budgets, and strategic financial recommendations. • Provide financial analysis and recommendations to the CAEO regarding business trends, growth opportunities, resource allocation, and long-term financial performance. Program & Production Financial Planning • Partner with department chairs, program leaders, and production staff to develop, review, and manage budgets and financial models for productions, showcases, concerts, recitals, classes, workshops, camps, intensives, master classes, and other Conservatory activities. • Apply knowledge of performing arts operations to evaluate program requirements and develop appropriate financial assumptions for teaching artists, guest artists, directors, choreographers, designers, technical labor, rehearsal and performance schedules, licensing, scenery, costumes, props, equipment, rentals, marketing, and other program expenses. • Review proposed program budgets with department and program leaders, assess financial assumptions, identify areas requiring additional analysis, and provide financial information to support responsible management of approved budgets. • Conduct post-program financial reviews comparing actual results with approved budgets and forecasts. Evaluate variances, identify opportunities for improved cost management and revenue performance, and incorporate findings into future program budgets and forecasts. • Route proposed budget amendments, reallocations, and overages through the Straz Center budget approval process. Enrollment, Tuition & Earned Revenue • Partner with Admissions and Conservatory leadership to oversee the financial administration and reconciliation of tuition, registration, and other enrollment-related transactions, ensuring accurate alignment between student information systems and the general ledger. • Monitor enrollment trends, registration activity, program capacity, seasonal revenue cycles, and earned revenue from tuition, tickets, camps, workshops, intensives, private lessons, and other Conservatory activities. Provide regular reporting on financial performance and revenue expectations. • Develop enrollment, tuition, and revenue models to evaluate the financial implications of changes in class size, course offerings, pricing, schedules, scholarships, and capacity, and provide analysis to support program and operational decisions. • Establish and maintain payment, refund, and related financial risk-management policies in collaboration with Admissions and Straz Center Finance. Scholarships, Grants & Restricted Funds • Coordinate the financial tracking and administration of Conservatory grants, sponsorships, scholarships, and restricted funds, ensuring accurate accounting, appropriate documentation, and compliance with applicable funding requirements. • Serve as the lead financial administrator for institutional scholarships, monitoring awards and related financial commitments and verifying that applied awards align with designated restricted donor funds. • Partner with Development and Conservatory leadership to evaluate the financial implications of proposed restricted funding, grant-funded initiatives, and associated program commitments. • Provide financial analysis to assess the sustainability of programs supported by grants, sponsorships, scholarships, or other temporary or restricted funding sources. Financial Administration & Internal Controls • Develop, implement, and maintain Conservatory financial policies, procedures, workflows, and internal controls consistent with Straz Center's control framework, including appropriate segregation of duties. • Oversee financial reconciliations and control reviews, including monthly Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss account reconciliations and reconciliation of enrollment system activity to the general ledger. Ensure reconciliations are documented and submitted to Straz Center Finance for review and approval in accordance with month-end close requirements. • Review payroll allocations to ensure accurate distribution of expenses across programs and departments. Review budget availability and financial terms for teaching artists, guest instructors, designers, directors, choreographers, consultants, vendors, and other independent contractors before contract execution, consistent with Straz Center purchasing and contract-approval policies. • Support purchasing, vendor management, contract administration, expense management, and related financial controls in coordination with appropriate departments. • Partner with Straz Center Finance, Human Resources, IT, and other departments to maintain effective financial systems, strengthen cross-departmental processes, and improve financial reporting and administrative efficiency. • Lead the migration and implementation of new school management and enrollment systems in coordination with Straz Center Finance and IT, ensuring appropriate chart-of-accounts mapping, general ledger posting, financial data integration, and reconciliation requirements. • Identify and implement improvements to financial, enrollment, ticketing, and reporting systems to strengthen data accuracy, financial oversight, internal controls, and operational effectiveness. Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities): • Strong financial planning, forecasting, budgeting, and financial analysis skills. • Demonstrated experience developing financial models, forecasts, and scenario analyses that support organizational or programmatic decisions. • Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit fund accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting. • Experience with month-end close, reconciliations, and audit support, and knowledge of internal controls, including segregation of duties. • Knowledge of HR headcount and compensation reporting and analysis. • Meaningful professional experience in the performing arts, entertainment, arts education, theater, dance, music, or live-event industry. • Understanding of the operational and financial components involved in producing live performances, classes, workshops, camps, intensives, and other arts programming. • Ability to understand how enrollment, staffing, programming, facilities, production requirements, and pricing affect financial performance. • Advanced Excel skills, including complex formulas, pivot tables, financial modeling, forecasting, and data analysis. • Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills. • Ability to communicate financial information effectively to both finance professionals and creative/artistic colleagues. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. • Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a dynamic performing arts environment. • High level of professional judgment, discretion, accountability, and financial integrity. • Ability to uphold financial policies and controls while maintaining collaborative relationships with creative and artistic leaders. • Experience with Financial Edge NXT, Tessitura, ASAP, or comparable nonprofit financial, ticketing, enrollment, or CRM systems preferred. Education and Work Experience: • Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Arts Administration, or a related field required. • Minimum seven years of progressive experience in finance, FP&A, accounting, financial analysis, or related fields. • Minimum three to five years of experience in or closely supporting a performing arts, entertainment, cultural, arts education, theater, dance, music, or live-event organization strongly preferred. • Demonstrated experience with financial modeling, forecasting, budgeting, and business analysis. • Experience supporting organizational growth, new program development, facility expansion, or other significant business initiatives preferred. • Nonprofit financial experience required. • An advanced degree or certification in Finance, Business, Arts Administration, or a related field are considered a plus. Work Environment: