Vice President of Finance + Administration

National Children's Museum; Washington; On-site; USD 130,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

National Children’s Museum is seeking a senior financial leader to guide strategy, forecasting, and long-range planning in support of growth and mission delivery.

You will develop models, manage budgeting, and provide dashboards for leadership and the Board. This role partners with the CEO and committees to ensure GAAP compliance and sound financial governance.

Qualifications

• 8-10+ years working in management, finance, or operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, advanced degree and/or CPA preferred.
• Demonstrated skills in leadership, management, financial planning and budgeting, and/or human relations.
• Experience writing, issuing, and managing RFPs and contracts.
• Knowledge or experience working with emerging technology and interactive software systems.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Expert organizational and project management skills with a proven ability to organize and prioritize work, projects, and meet deadlines.
• Experience managing multiple, complex projects through periods of growth and change.
• Experience growing and managing a team to individual and collective success; Financial acumen with executive level knowledge of legal requirements and contractual concepts required.
• Must be strategic, organized, and detail-oriented.
• Self-starter able to take charge of tasks and make decisions swiftly.
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship;
• Be a positive, collaborative member of National Children’s Museum Team’s creative culture; and
• Passion for the mission and values of National Children’s Museum.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Museum’s financial strategy, forecasting, and planning to support institutional growth.
• Develop financial models and reporting systems to evaluate risks and opportunities.
• Oversee FP&A, cash flow planning, management reporting, dashboards, and performance analysis.
• Serve as primary staff partner to Board Treasurer and Finance Committee; present forecasts and recommendations.
• Manage banking relationships and treasury services to support liquidity and risk management.

Skills

Leadership

Financial planning

Budgeting

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Project management

Team management

Contracts knowledge

Self-starter

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPA preferred

Advanced degree

Tools

Salesforce

QuickBooks

Job description

National Children’s Museum is a world-class museum that aims to spark the imagination and encourage children to dream. National Children’s Museum celebrates the joy of childhood through science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) exhibits and programs.

what you’ll do

• Lead the Museum’s financial strategy, forecasting, short-range and long-range planning, and scenario analysis to support institutional growth and advancement of the Museum's strategic plan.
• Develop financial models and reporting systems to make recommendations that help leadership evaluate financial risks and opportunities.
• Oversee financial planning and analysis, including forecasting, cash flow planning, management reporting, dashboards, and performance analysis.
• Serve as the primary staff partner to the Board Treasurer and Finance Committee, preparing and presenting clear information on financial results, forecasts, and recommendations at quarterly committee meetings and preparing the Finance Chair for Board of Trustees meetings.
• Manage the Museum’s banking relationships, including cash management, treasury services, credit facilities, merchant services, and other financial products, ensuring banking arrangements support liquidity, efficiency, risk management, and institutional needs.

Accounting and Grant Administration

• Oversee the Controller, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting and strong coordination between the finance department, programmatic and advancement team, and the CEO and the Board of Trustees.
• Oversee the annual audit, Form 990 preparation, GAAP compliance, and relationships with auditors, tax advisors, and other external financial partners.
• Oversee financial compliance for grants and restricted funds in partnership with the Advancement department, ensuring appropriate budgeting, tracking, reporting, and adherence to funder requirements.
• Contribute directly to the accounting department's work as needed, including month-end close, financial reporting, audit preparation, and other core accounting activities.

Systems

• Oversee monthly financial reporting, communicating financial data and opportunities to both financial and non-financial audiences;
• Lead the Museum’s strategy for core institutional systems, working across departments to improve technology, data, and systems to support an effective visitor experience, fundraising, operations, and organizational decision-making.
• Knowledge of Salesforce and QuickBooks is a plus, and experience transitioning CRM / ERP systems

Human Resources

• Support the Director of Human Resources in leading the Museum’s human resources function, including talent management, employee relations, performance management, compensation and benefits, policy development, compliance, and organizational development.

Administration

• Manage the Museum’s legal review process and external legal counsel, while building cross-departmental understanding of contract requirements, responsibilities, and approval processes.
• Partner with the President + CEO and other organizational leaders to plan for the Museum’s long-term facilities needs, evaluating financial, operational, and programmatic implications and supporting a sustainable long-term operating model.
• Establish and continuously improve institutional reporting and key performance indicators, ensuring leadership has timely, reliable information to evaluate organizational performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Oversee the Museum’s insurance program, including property, general liability, directors and officers (D&O), workers’ compensation, cyber, and other appropriate coverage, working with brokers to assess risk, maintain adequate coverage, manage renewals, and support claims as needed.

what we believe are important experiences + traits for this role

• 8-10+ years working in management, finance, or operations;
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field, advanced degree and/or CPA preferred;
• Demonstrated skills in leadership, management, financial planning and budgeting, and/or human relations;
• Experience writing, issuing, and managing RFPs and contracts;
• Knowledge or experience working with emerging technology and interactive software systems;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills;
• Expert organizational and project management skills with a proven ability to organize and prioritize work, projects, and meet deadlines;
• Experience managing multiple, complex projects through periods of growth and change;
• Experience growing and managing a team to individual and collective success; Financial acumen with executive level knowledge of legal requirements and contractual concepts required;
• Must be strategic, organized, and detail-oriented;
• Self-starter able to take charge of tasks and make decisions swiftly;
• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship;
• Be a positive, collaborative member of National Children’s Museum Team’s creative culture; and
• Passion for the mission and values of National Children’s Museum.

hours and location

Full-time position located at the National Children’s Museum at 1300 Pennsylvania Ave NW. Must be available to work onsite from 9am to 5pm at least four days per week, and remotely one day per week. Occasional travel required.

Pay Rate

$130,000 - $150,000per year, commensurate with experience and skill set.

What we value

Our mission is to inspire children to care about and change the world. The Museum is an innovative institution that sparks curiosity and wonder and a space where all children feel valued. In order to do this well, we need a team that reflects the dynamic and diverse communities that we serve and brings a variety of perspectives, abilities, and skills. We embrace that this work is critical to our mission and never finished. The more inclusive we are, the stronger our Museum.