Chief Financial Officer

childrensmuseumofmanhattan; New York (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vision, dental and medical benefits

403B retirement plan

Paid holidays & PTO

Free museum admission

Job summary

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) seeks a visionary Chief Financial Officer to guide the organization through a period of growth and transition to a new facility. You will partner with the CEO and Board to shape financial strategy, oversee capital projects, endowment management, and risk controls as CMOM scales its programs for NYC families.

The role requires deep nonprofit financial expertise, transparency, and the ability to lead a diverse finance team while maintaining strong external

Qualifications

• Experience as CFO or senior financial leader in a non-profit or similar organization.
• Expert in non-profit GAAP, endowment management and grant compliance.
• Able to partner with CEO and Board with clear financial storytelling.

Responsibilities

• Act as strategic partner to CEO and Executive Leadership Team for scaled multi-site operation and doubled budget.
• Develop and refine comprehensive financial models, operating budgets and forecasts.
• Oversee capital projects, debt management and endowment stewardship.
• Evolve finance team structure and professionalize internal controls and reporting.

Skills

CFO leadership

Non-profit governance

Financial modeling

Budgeting

Education

CPA

MBA

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 CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a steward of early childhood, helping all children grow and developintotheir best selves. Through our programs on-site at the museum and throughout NYC, where children liveand learn, CMOM nurtures the next generation of creative global citizens as they learn through explorationand play. CMOM encourages empathy across differences by elevating and providing insight into diverse perspectives and inviting visitors of all backgrounds to join our community and create and learn alongsideeach other. The museum’s programs reflect the rich cultural diversity, energy, and resilience of New York Cityand have a special focus on ensuring that its programs are available to those families who might not otherwisehave access.

Founded in 1973, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is a premier NYC institution for children andfamilies. Currently operating in the Upper West Side with 250,000+ annual visitors, CMOM is undergoing a major expansion. The institution is transitioning to a new home at 361 West 96th Street (scheduled for late2028/early 2029) and is doubling its operating budget, marking a period of unprecedented growth and strategic evolution.

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 medicalcoverage for employees, with premium plans available for dependents), 403B, life insurance, EAP, PaidHolidays, 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.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We encourage people from allbackgrounds, ages, abilities, and experiences to apply.