Chief Financial Officer

Olney Theatre Center; Olney (MD); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Disability insurance

Life insurance

Paid time off

Complimentary theatre tickets

Job summary

Olney Theatre Center for the Arts seeks a Chief Financial Officer to provide financial vision and management as it enters its next era. The CFO ensures the Theatre has the tools, models and approach to maintain financial health and operating efficiency.

The ideal candidate will lead the $10+M annual budget, oversee audits and 990 filing, and supervise the Finance, HR/Finance, and IT teams. A strategic partner to the Directors, they ensure compliance and sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in nonprofit finance, preferably in a producing theatre or arts organization.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls.
• Ability to partner with executive leadership and the board on financial strategy.

Responsibilities

• Lead long‑term financial planning, forecasting and capital campaigns.
• Oversee annual budget process (over $10M) and cash flow management.
• Ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance (IRS, audits, 990).
• Supervise Finance Director, HR/Finance Manager and IT lead.
• Manage endowment, investments and banking relationships.
• Partner with Executive Director and Artistic Director on fiscal strategy.

Skills

Financial leadership

Nonprofit finance

Budgeting

Financial modeling

Excel

QuickBooks

Tessitura

Education

Arts administration / nonprofit finance / accounting degree

Tools

Excel

QuickBooks

Tessitura CRM

Job description

Supervises: General Manager, Director of Finance, Human Resources/Finance Manager, IT Consultants

Desired Start Date: June 15, 2026

POSITION SUMMARY

Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, an award‑winning, multi‑venue, nonprofit regional theatre in Olney, MD (metro Washington, DC) now in its 87th Season, seeks aChief Financial Officer (CFO) to provide essential financial vision and management as Olney Theatre enters its next era. The CFO ensures the Theatre has the proper tools, models and approach to ensure financial health and operating efficiency. The ideal candidate has the demonstrated ability to budgetarily manage the delicate balance between artistic mission and long‑term fiscal sustainability of a mid‑sized nonprofit producing regional theatre. The CFO is an integral member of Olney Theatre’s Senior Staff and is a strategic partner to the Artistic and Executive Directors, and provides important support to the Finance, Investment and Audit Committees of the Board of Directors.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Analysis

• Lead all long‑term financial planning, scenario modeling and forecasting, including capital campaigns for facility upgrades.
• Serve as a thought partner to the Executive and Artistic Directors, supporting appropriate organizational growth, capitalization and financial sustainability.
• Advise the Executive Director and Board on fiscal risks and opportunities.
• Represent the Finance and Administration department on Senior Staff.
• Model inclusivity, transparency, and shared accountability into organizational culture and decision‑making to support a thriving, creative, and mission‑driven team.
• Lead the annual $10+M budget process that includes productions and programs across four stages and five buildings, producing and presenting models; create scenarios for various season configurations (e.g., a high‑cost musical vs. a small‑cast play; number of actor contracts and weeks that can be afforded), as well as contingency plans and regular updated forecasts.
• Manage cash flow for annual operations and special projects.
• Provide day‑to‑day budget management for the entire organization, including responding to mid‑year requests from department heads, and weekly cash reports.
• Lead budget‑to‑actual oversight in partnership with department heads.
• Provide budget reporting as needed to senior leadership.
• Oversee Finance Director’s management of annual audit and 990 filing and ensure compliance with IRS and Accounting rules.
• Maintain and improve internal controls and systems to prevent fraud and ensure accurate financial reporting across departments (Box Office, Development, and Production).
• Oversee financial management of capital campaigns and related capital expenditures.
• Serve as primary contact for Financial Advisors and track all funds, including reserves and endowment.
• Oversee banking relationships, investment accounts and financial due diligence.
• Manage endowment disbursements and reporting, in partnership with Financial Advisors.
• Supervise and support the Director of Finance and their operational leadership of accounting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and compliance.
• Responsible for risk management, specifically overseeing insurance policies.
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board’s Finance, Investment and Audit Committees. Advise the Board on investment policies and endowment spending.
• Lead quarterly reporting to the Finance Committee.
• Prepare and present financial materials to the Board with clarity and insight.

Production & Labor Relations

• Provide financial analysis for collective bargaining agreements with unions (AEA, AFM, USA, SDC) and lead, or help lead, negotiations as appropriate, working alongside Artistic and Production to assess their needs.
• Supervise and support the General Manager and their operational leadership of facilities, company management, artist agreements, vendor contracts, and licensing and rights matters.

Human Resources

• Oversee HR and Finance Manager who handles hiring procedures, personnel files, personnel conflicts, and the employee handbook and policies.
• Provide essential leadership for the HR and Finance Manager to manage payroll systems and benefits coordination, and ensure compliance with employment law including IRS filings and Department of Labor rules and regulations.
• Ensure retirement fund documents and other personnel documentation are filed with the Department of Labor or other government agency as appropriate.

Information Technology

• Oversee IT consultants and lead strategy for making short‑term and long‑term IT improvements, including hardware and software.
• Work with Production to ensure technology capabilities are aligned with Production equipment needs.
• Manage all contracts related to IT (website, ticketing and scheduling software, etc).

Ideal Skills and Characteristics

• Significant experience (5+ years) in a financial leadership role, ideally within a producing or presenting theatre company, or similar nonprofit structure.
• Career track record that demonstrates increasing levels of responsibility and tenure, with ability to collaborate within the dual leadership model of Executive and Artistic Directors, other staff, and Board members.
• Entrepreneurial spirit and analytical mindset.
• Understanding of how artistic, production, and business operations intersect.
• Sensitivity to the nuances of the creative process.
• Models a culture of inclusivity, transparency, and shared accountability in decision‑making.
• Adept at problem solving with a collaborative approach.
• Self‑motivated with an ability to multi‑task while also being detail‑oriented.
• Has aptitude for using, or learning to use, emerging technologies.
• High integrity, emotional intelligence, and professional demeanor.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
• Passion for the performing arts and personal alignment with Olney Theatre’s mission and Core Values.
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit financial management and compliance requirements.
• High proficiency in Excel, QuickBooks, and financial modeling tools; familiarity with Tessitura or similar CRM is a plus.
• Education background in arts administration, nonprofit finance, or accounting is preferred.

Competitive salary starting at $100,000, with comprehensive health, dental, and vision; 403(b) retirement plan; disability and life insurance options; generous PTO; and complimentary tickets to OTC productions with access to tickets at other DMV theatres.