Title: Director of Finance
Report to: Executive Director
Status: Full Time Exempt
El Museo del Barrio, founded by a coalition of Puerto Rican educators, artists, and activists, is the nation’s leading Latino and Latin American cultural institution. The Museum welcomes visitors of all backgrounds to discover the artistic landscape of these communities through its extensive Permanent Collection, varied exhibitions and publications, bilingual public programs, educational activities, festivals, and special events.
SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF ROLE
The Director of Finance is responsible for safeguarding El Museo del Barrio’s financial health and long-term sustainability through proactive financial management, disciplined budgeting, effective cash flow oversight, and accurate financial reporting. Working closely with the Executive Director and Board of Trustees, the Director provides the financial leadership, analysis, and recommendations necessary to maintain a strong and stable financial position and support informed decision-making.
The Director leads the Museum’s annual budgeting and financial planning processes, monitors financial performance against the Board-approved budget, and works with department heads to ensure that spending remains within approved limits. The Director proactively identifies financial risks, cash flow pressures, and emerging variances, and recommends timely corrective actions to leadership.
The Director is accountable for the accuracy, reliability, and timeliness of all financial information; the integrity of the Museum’s accounting operations and internal controls; and compliance with applicable accounting standards, nonprofit regulations, grant requirements, and other financial obligations. The Director fosters a culture of financial accountability, transparency, and compliance across the organization.
As a key member of the senior administrative team, the Director maintains regular communication with leadership and provides clear, actionable financial reporting and analysis to the Executive Director, Finance Committee, and Board of Trustees.
Organizational Structure and Supervision
The Director of Finance reports to the Executive Director and serves as a member of the Museum’s senior administrative team. The Director works closely with the Executive Director, Board Finance Committee, and department heads to support financial planning, budget accountability, and the Museum’s overall financial stability.
The Director regularly presents financial results, cash flow forecasts, budget performance, and emerging financial risks and recommendations at Finance Committee and Board of Trustees meetings.
The Director oversees the Museum’s accounting and finance functions, including internal finance staff and external accounting support, and serves as the primary liaison with auditors, banks, investment advisors, payroll providers, financial consultants, and other financial service providers.
RESPONSIBILITIES Accounting & Compliance
- Administer, manage, and evaluate the Museum’s accounting and financial activities, systems, policies, procedures, and internal controls; ensure financial records are maintained in compliance with organizational policy and GAAP.
- Ensure compliance with GAAP, federal and New York State nonprofit financial and reporting requirements, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and Cultural Institutions Group obligations, and all applicable government and private grant agreements, including restricted-fund accounting, financial reporting, and audit requirements.
- Manage and oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger, payroll accounting, journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and bank and investment account reconciliations.
- Prepare and post journal entries as needed, including recurring entries, accruals, reclasses, payroll-related entries, depreciation, prepaid expenses, revenue recognition, and other month-end adjustments.
- Review accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll accounting activity to ensure accuracy, proper coding, required approvals, complete supporting documentation, and appropriate allocation of costs across departments, programs, grants, and restricted funding sources.
- In coordination with the accountants/bookkeeper, manage the monthly and year-end close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, supporting schedules, accruals, prepaid expenses, fixed asset activity, revenue recognition, receivables, payables, net asset activity, and other required analyses to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
- Oversee accounting for temporarily and permanently restricted funds, including grant revenue, donor-restricted contributions, releases from restriction, and related expenditures.
- Maintain and strengthen appropriate internal controls, including segregation of duties, approval workflows, cash disbursement controls, fraud prevention, and financial policies and procedures.
- Oversee the annual auditing process by coordinating with El Museo's external auditors (and any necessary consultants) and prepare all required supporting documentation.
- Oversee the Museum’s corporate card program, including monthly reconciliations, card requests, limits, approvals, and fraud monitoring.
- Work closely with the Development team to ensure proper recognition, tracking, and booking of contributions and grants.
- Manage grant budgeting, compliance, and reporting requirements, including NYSCA, Department of Cultural Affairs, and other funder deliverables.
- Oversee the preparation and submission of the Museum’s Form 990, applicable state and local filings, sales and use tax filings, payroll-related filings, and other required statutory and regulatory reports, in coordination with outside advisors as appropriate.
- Monitor cash, investments, and liquidity and work with the Executive Director and Finance Committee on treasury and investment matters as appropriate.
- Recommend improvements to financial management practices, systems, policies, and internal controls.
- Serve as El Museo's primary staff contact for the Board's Finance Committee. Responsibilities include proactive preparation and presentation of financial statements, budget materials, forecasts, and other financial analyses – via both documents and verbal presentation.
- Train Museum staff on accounting and financial processes, promoting a culture of financial accountability and sound financial management.
Qualifications - Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field required; CPA preferred.
- 7+ years of progressively responsible accounting and finance experience, including at least 3 years at a management or supervisory level. Nonprofit, museum, or cultural-sector experience preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of nonprofit accounting, including restricted funds, grant accounting, and public funder reporting requirements.
- Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, financial reporting, audit, and internal controls.
- Proficiency with accounting software and financial systems; strong Excel skills and comfort with Microsoft and Google platforms.
- Demonstrated ability to translate complex financial concepts for donors, trustees, senior leadership, department heads, and staff.
- Demonstrated interest in and familiarity with museums, arts, or cultural organizations; familiarity with Latino/Latin American art and culture is a plus.
- Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage shifting priorities in a lean nonprofit environment.
- Sound judgment regarding financial risk, internal controls, compliance, and policy design.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with professionalism and diplomacy in representing the Museum internally and externally.
Salary Range: $115,000–$140,000, commensurate with experience
Benefits
Benefits include Medical (up to 100% employer-paid plans available), Dental, and Vision insurance. Employees may obtain additional coverage for themselves and/or their families at a low cost. Benefits coverage begins on the first day of the month following submission of a completed benefits application, provided the application is submitted at least two (2) weeks prior to the start of that month.
El Museo offers the Cultural Institutions Retirement System (CIRS) 401(k) Savings Plan and CIRS Group Life & Welfare Benefits Plan. A TransitChek/MetroCard commuter plan is currently offered to eligible full-time employees. El Museo currently extends a 10% discount to employees on all museum shop merchandise.
Paid time off includes thirteen (13) holidays, ten (10) vacation days, two (2) personal days, and ten (10) sick days.
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El Museo values diversity in backgrounds and in experiences. El Museo’s commitment to a diverse workforce has been a key to our success. In accordance with that commitment, El Museo provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, predisposing genetic information, gender identity and/or expression, military, or veteran status in accordance with applicable federal, state and/or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
