Chief Financial Officer / Vice President of Operations

Destinations International; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

VisitPITTSBURGH seeks a Chief Financial Officer / Vice President of Operations to lead the organization’s financial stewardship, HR, and operational functions in a hybrid environment. You will oversee budgeting, GAAP-compliant reporting, grants, and capital expenditure while managing vendor contracts and ensuring strong internal controls.

The role reports to the President & CEO, supports board committees, and guides financial strategy across the nonprofit.

Qualifications

• Degree in business, accounting, finance or related field; MBA preferred.
• Significant experience in nonprofit accounting, U.S. GAAP, and demonstrated knowledge of financial controls.
• At least 10 years of leadership experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of human resources, contract law and vendor negotiations.
• Knowledge of organizational management and ability to lead across multiple areas while serving as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and the Board.
• Excellent interpersonal, human relations, organizational skills, and the ability to effectively influence others.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Finance, Accounting, Human Resources and related administrative functions, including preparing the annual business plan for those functions.
• Lead the finance team to maintain strong financial controls, cash-flow management, investment oversight, GAAP-compliant reporting, and effective management of accounts payable/receivable, restricted revenues, and intercompany transactions.
• Manage the development of the annual operating budget and business-planning processes, including submission of the hotel-room-tax operating budget to the Allegheny County Controller.
• Oversee hotel-room-tax allocations, state and private grants, grant budgets, reporting requirements, capital expenditures, and reserve-account spending.
• Manage vendor selection, contracts, leases, purchasing, benefits, business insurance, and other organizational service agreements.
• Leads HR policy development, payroll processing, and employee benefits programs, aligning with organizational goals and regulations.
• Prepares annual business plans, oversees audits, and aligns financial goals with VisitPITTSBURGH’s mission.
• Supervises vendor contracts and resource management, including vendor selection, terms, contracts, and purchasing for all organization services including but not limited to benefits, services, and fixed asset purchases.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Financial acumen

Human resources

Education

MBA preferred

Degree in business/finance

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

The Organization

Established in 1935, VisitPITTSBURGH is the official destination marketing organization for Allegheny County dedicated to generating convention, trade show, sports events, and leisure travel business for Pittsburgh and the surrounding region.Overall perceptions of Pittsburgh by visitors and residents are positive, as it’s viewed as historical, authentic, and welcoming.VisitPITTSBURGH builds on that image by focusing on year-over-year tourism growth, which has been reflected in increasing day and overnight visitation, hotel performance, and a robust calendar of cultural, sports, and business events.In 2025, the region welcomed 21.5 million visitors, contributing $7.1 billion in economic impact to Allegheny County.

VisitPITTSBURGH maintains an organizational structure that allows for specialization in key growth areas.Pittsburgh has always punched above its weight as a sports city; given the huge role that sports plays in the region’s identity, the organization has a division dedicated to this segment, called SportsPITTSBURGH.This division showcases the city as the definitive destination for sports experiences and leverages strong partnerships and a targeted sales strategy to host and grow meaningful sporting events – the best example being host to the 2026 NFL Draft.

The organization’s Business Events and Destinations Experience Team, tasked with securing meetings and conventions, expanded its on-the-ground support last year with two new Welcome Centers to enhance the visitor experience for delegates, attendees and event planners.In 2025, this led to 239 events booked; 241,900 hotel room nights booked; and an estimated $175M in direct visitor spending in the local economy.

The Marketing & Communications team has overall responsibility for developing and implementing marketing and communications strategies aligned with the organization’s goals.The team has used integrated campaigns to help elevate Pittsburgh’s profile and increase travel across leisure, sports and business events.This led to a number of accolades, including Pittsburgh being named as one of Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel Destinations in 2025; and also set the stage for the ‘Forge ON’ leisure campaign that rolled out in 2026.

The Finance and Operations team is responsible for ensuring disciplined financial stewardship, clean audits, and strategic deployment of resources.VisitPITTSBURGH’s total 2025 funding amounted to just over $16 million, with the bulk of it coming from Allegheny County hotel-room tax revenue.Expenses totaled $15.2 million, with the largest allocations directed to Business Events, followed by Marketing, and Sports Initiatives.

The Position

After 27 successful years with the organization, the Executive Vice President of Operations will be retiring early next year.VisitPITTSBURGH is therefore seeking a Chief Financial Officer / Vice President of Operations as a successor.This is a hybrid executive leadership role reporting to the President & CEO with responsibility for the organization’s financial, human resources, and operational functions.

The Chief Financial Officer / Vice President of Operations will lead VisitPITTSBURGH’s financial stewardship, ensuring strong controls, cash-flow management, investment oversight and GAAP-compliant reporting. The role oversees budgeting and business planning, hotel-room-tax allocations, grants, capital expenditure, reserves, payroll, restricted revenues and vendor-related agreements. It also supports the Board’s Audit, Finance and Investment Committees, acts as Assistant Treasurer, and manages relationships with external auditors, legal advisers and other consultants.

Operationally, the position provides leadership across Finance and Human Resources, shaping HR policies, benefits and compliance.The role also advises on governance, risk and organizational effectiveness, assumes operational responsibility in the CEO’s absence, and represents VisitPITTSBURGH with community and industry stakeholders.

The position will oversee the following direct reports:

• Director of Accounting
• Human Resources Manager
• Business Operations Administrator

Essential Functions

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Finance, Accounting, Human Resources and related administrative functions, including preparing the annual business plan for those functions
• Lead the finance team to maintain strong financial controls, cash-flow management, investment oversight, GAAP-compliant reporting, and effective management of accounts payable/receivable, restricted revenues, and intercompany transactions
• Manage the development of the annual operating budget and business-planning processes, including submission of the hotel-room-tax operating budget to the Allegheny County Controller
• Oversee hotel-room-tax allocations, state and private grants, grant budgets, reporting requirements, capital expenditures, and reserve-account spending
• Manage vendor selection, contracts, leases, purchasing, benefits, business insurance, and other organizational service agreements
• Leads HR policy development, payroll processing, and employee benefits programs, aligning with organizational goals and regulations
• Prepares annual business plans, oversees audits, and aligns financial goals with VisitPITTSBURGH’s mission
• Supervises vendor contracts and resource management, including vendor selection, terms, contracts, and purchasing for all organization services including but not limited to benefits, services, and fixed asset purchases
• Reviews contracts, leases, and agreements for adherence to policies and financial interests, ensuring effective grant applications and management
• Administer the capital budget for fixed assets and oversee authorized spending from board-managed reserve accounts
• Serves as trustee, administering financial reporting of savings and retirement plans per ERISA standards
• Provides input on strategic plan development, ensuring congruity with budget and funding sources
• Advises President & CEO on finance, HR, legal, and governance issues
• Represent VisitPITTSBURGH in relevant industry associations and community organizations
• Attends board and committee meetings, acting as staff advisor to Audit, Finance, Investment, Personnel/Compensation, and Governance Committees
• Holds Assistant Treasurer role, supporting the Treasurer, Executive Committee, and Board of Directors
• Assumes operational responsibility in the absence of the President & CEO and performs other tasks as assigned by the President & CEO

Experience and Qualifications

• Degree in business, accounting, finance or related field.MBA preferred.
• Significant experience in nonprofit accounting, U.S. GAAP, and demonstrated knowledge of financial controls
• At least 10 years of leadership experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of human resources, contract law and vendor negotiations
• Knowledge of organizational management and ability to lead across multiple areas while serving as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and the Board
• Experience in destination marketing or an adjacent mission-driven, hospitality, tourism, or economic-development environment is valued but not required
• Excellent interpersonal, human relations, organizational skills, and the ability to effectively influence others
• An in-depth knowledge of sound management techniques and supervisory relations, and the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously is required
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, Excel)
• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid environment, including a minimum of three days in the office each week and additional on-site flexibility as organizational needs require
• Ability to work occasional evenings, weekends and holidays and to travel domestically or internationally as needed
• Valid U.S. driver’s license and ability to travel by air within the United States and internationally

Compensation and Benefits

VisitPITTSBURGH offers a competitive compensation package that includes comprehensive health and retirement benefits, paid time off, and professional-development support.