Director of Finance

Houston Chronicle; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision coverage

Competitive retirement plan with a 401

Generous Paid Time Off

Paid parental leave

Monthly child & dependent care reimbur

Mental wellness benefits

Inclusive health services

Fertility coverage & menopause support

Pet wellness reimbursement

Job summary

The Houston Chronicle is seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of Finance to lead financial operations for a premier Hearst Newspapers local business. You will oversee close processes, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and advertising accounting while partnering with department heads and senior leadership to translate numbers into actionable strategy.

You will build and develop the finance team, drive process improvements and automation, ensure internal controls and SOX compliance, and deliver

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; MBA preferred.
• 8–10+ years of progressive finance or accounting experience.
• Experience as a Director of Finance or comparable leadership role.
• Strong technical accounting foundation with close, reporting, budgeting, and audit support.
• Advertising accounting and media revenue operations experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the monthly close process, including accruals and variance analysis.
• Lead weekly P&L reporting, monthly financial reporting, forecasting and business reviews.
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of financial reporting with clear communications on revenue, expenses, margins.
• Manage and develop the finance/accounting team, including advertising accounting support.
• Oversee advertising accounting activities: revenue recognition, margins, commissions.
• Lead advertising analytics and KPI reporting with insights for executives.
• Develop and monitor financial KPIs to drive performance and cost savings.
• Partner with department heads to project, budget and monitor expenses.
• Serve as liaison with centralized accounting for balance sheet reconciliations.
• Support internal and external audits and maintain internal controls/SOX.
• Provide technical accounting guidance and system improvements, automate processes with AI.
• Prepare ad hoc analyses and executive-ready reporting.

Skills

Strategic finance

Technical accounting

Forecasting & budgeting

Advertising accounting

ERP systems

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

MBA preferred

Tools

Oracle ERP

Oracle Cloud

Hyperion Planning

Business Intelligence tools

Advanced Excel

AI products

Job description

Role Overview

The Houston Chronicle is seeking a strategic, hands‑on Director of Finance to help lead financial operations for one of Hearst Newspapers' most important local media businesses. This role is ideal for a finance leader who combines strong technical accounting judgment with business curiosity, operational discipline, and the ability to translate financial results into clear recommendations and strategy. Reporting to the VP of Finance, the Director of Finance will oversee key close processes, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, advertising accounting and analysis, and cost control activities while partnering closely with department leaders, centralized accounting teams, and senior leadership. The position requires a leader who can manage the details, improve processes, develop people, and support decision making across a fast‑moving and transforming digital and print media operation.

What You'll Do

• Own the monthly close process, including accruals, variance analysis, review of financial results, and timely completion of close deliverables.
• Lead weekly P&L reporting, monthly financial reporting, forecasting, and business review support for the VP of Finance, Houston Chronicle leadership, and Hearst Newspapers finance teams.
• Ensure the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial reporting, with clear communication of revenue, expense, margin, headcount, and payroll trends.
• Manage and develop the finance/accounting team, including advertising‑focused accounting support and related operating analysis.
• Oversee advertising accounting activities, including revenue recognition, digital advertising margins, commission processing, goaling, and coordination with advertising operations.
• Lead advertising analytics and KPI reporting, including trends and insights to support the VP of Finance, VP of Advertising and Publisher.
• Develop and monitor financial KPIs that help leaders understand performance, optimize product P&Ls and advertising margins, improve budget adherence, and identify cost savings opportunities.
• Partner with department heads to project, budget, and monitor expenses, improve business processes, and strengthen accountability for financial outcomes.
• Serve as a liaison with centralized accounting teams for accounting functions such as balance sheet reconciliations.
• Support internal and external audits in partnership with centralized accounting, including maintenance of internal controls and SOX compliance requirements.
• Provide technical accounting guidance and support system improvements, reporting enhancements, process automation, and AI‑enabled efficiency opportunities.
• Optimize AI opportunities to automate daily and monthly reporting and improve process workflows.
• Prepare ad hoc analysis, special projects, and executive‑ready reporting for senior leadership, the VP of Finance, and the Publisher.

Key Relationships

• Vice President of Finance
• President and Publisher, Houston Chronicle
• Senior Vice President of Advertising
• Executive Editor and senior leadership across functions
• Hearst Newspapers finance and centralized accounting teams
• Department heads and operating leaders across the organization

What You'll Bring

• 8-10+ years of progressive finance or accounting experience, preferably in a complex operating environment.
• Undergraduate degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required; MBA preferred.
• Prior experience as a Director of Finance, Finance Manager, Assistant Controller, or comparable financial leadership role required.
• Strong technical accounting foundation with experience in monthly close, financial reporting, accruals, variance analysis, budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, and audit support.
• Experience with advertising accounting and revenue recognition, digital margins, commission processing, or media revenue operations preferred.
• Experience in media, publishing, digital media, marketing services, or a related industry preferred.
• Proficiency with ERP, planning, and reporting systems; Oracle ERP, Oracle Cloud, Hyperion Planning, business intelligence tools, advanced Excel experience, and AI products preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop finance or accounting team members, including team members who support multiple business partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to explain financial results and business implications to non‑finance leaders.
• Highly organized, detail‑oriented, and able to prioritize multiple deadlines in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong process improvement mindset, including interest in automation, AI‑enabled tools, and scalable ways to improve accuracy and efficiency.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and a service‑oriented approach to working with internal and external partners.

Additional Information

• Sponsorship: This position does not provide immigration sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the U.S. without immigration sponsorship.
• Accommodations: We are committed to an accessible application process. If you need an accommodation to apply, please contact [e-mail] . This email address is for accommodation requests only.

Benefits

We support our employees through personal and professional development and promote physical, financial and emotional wellbeing for employees and their families. Our benefits include:

• Physical Wellbeing: Medical, dental and vision coverage to help keep you and your family healthy.
• Invest for the Future: Competitive retirement plan with a matching program in most markets.
• Generous Paid Time Off: Ample time off, including holidays and vacation.
• Paid Parental Leave: Paid leave to support growing families and new parents.
• Monthly Child & Dependent Care Reimbursement: Financial support for the care of your loved ones.
• Emotional Wellbeing: Mental wellness benefits to support your emotional wellbeing.
• LGBTQ+ & Inclusive Health Services: Inclusive healthcare designed for individual needs.
• Fertility Coverage & Menopause Support: Support throughout different stages of your health and family journey.
• Pet Wellness Reimbursement & Rover Credits: Support to help keep your pets happy and healthy.
• And more: Learn more about additional benefits and details here .