Director of Finance

WHAT WE DO

As one of Southern California’s leading performing arts presenters, La Jolla Music Society (LJMS) contributes to San Diego’s cultural vitality through a rich variety of year-round programming, including classical, jazz, global roots, contemporary music, and dance, at its state-of-the-art venue, The Conrad. In addition to robust educational programs and community outreach, LJMS produces SummerFest, a four-week music festival featuring over 80 world-class artists and ensembles performing eclectic concerts and programs.

Last year, La Jolla Music Society proudly hosted more than 30,000 guests during our winter and summer seasons. In addition to our live performances, our education events have reached another 6,000 patrons since their launch in 2018. Our incredible new venue, The Conrad, plays an important role in the community, which in 2023 enabled us to host 59 winter season concerts, 21 SummerFest concerts, and 130 rental events, ranging from coaching workshops to masterclasses. Our amazingly diverse programming features jazz, dance, and global roots music, highlighted by performances from internationally acclaimed artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Renée Fleming, Yunchan Lim, and the Kronos Quartet. Additionally, LJMS hosts an array of educational and special events each year, enriching the community and underscoring The Conrad's versatility and broad appeal.

LEADERSHIP & CULTURE

LJMS is led by President & CEO, Todd Schultz. Todd strongly believes in the value of the arts in society and the role nonprofit organizations have in serving the community and artists alike. His career journey reflects just that. Prior to joining LJMS in 2021, Todd led marketing departments for the Atlanta Opera, San Diego Opera, and LA Opera at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, where he served under General Director and tenor Plácido Domingo. Todd has also overseen fundraising programs for The Old Globe in San Diego and McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert, California, and the San Diego Symphony. Reporting to the President & CEO, the Director of Finance will join a dynamic and supportive team of 48 staff and 150 volunteers, working collaboratively to support each other and the vibrant community LJMS serves.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• Salary – $125,000 - $140,000
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k)
• PTO: 10 paid days off, 5 paid sick days, 6 paid holidays, plus your birthday
• Comped tickets to select events

LOCATION

This is a hybrid role with an office at The Conrad Prebys Performing Arts Center, 7600 Fay Avenue, La Jolla, CA 92037. Employees may work remotely one day per week.

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the President & CEO, the Director of Finance is responsible for the overall financial management of LJMS, including managing a $9M annual operating budget, ensuring the accurate and timely reporting of financial statements, and overseeing critical functions such as the general ledger, payroll, 401k, accounts receivable, accounts payable, budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, tax management, and human resources. They will supervise and mentor two direct reports: the Finance and Administration Manager and the Finance and Administration Assistant, working as a team to refine month-end closing processes, and regularly present financial reports to the board and various committees. The Director will prepare financial reports for grants, act as the liaison with external CPAs, and oversee the annual audit and Form 990 preparation, ultimately driving financial success and contributing to LJMS’ long-term vision.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work hand-in-hand with the finance team on the preparation of financial statements, business activity reports, financial position forecasts, annual budgets, or reports required by regulatory and taxing agencies.
• Develop and utilize forward-looking, predictive models and activity-based financial analysis to provide insight into LJMS’ operations and business plans.
• Analyze the financial details of past, present, and expected operations to identify development opportunities and areas for improvement.
• Monitor financial activities and details, such as cash flow, investments, and reserve levels, to ensure that all legal and regulatory requirements are met.
• Receive, record, and authorize requests for disbursements following company policies and procedures.
• Coordinate reconciliations of company accounts, sub-ledgers, and financial transactions to ensure compliance with state and federal requirements and statutes.
• Analyze the effect of federal, state, and local statutory and regulatory changes, including changes in accounting guidance to ensure correct application to LJMS’ policies and processes.
• Review, analyze, and reconcile general ledger accounts, and investment transactions in conjunction with preparing monthly reports for management.
• Oversee investment accounts recordkeeping including allocation of earnings among funds.
• Demonstrate good judgment and leadership to LJMS in the community.
• Provide direction and support to all teams at LJMS regarding accounting and budgeting policies and procedures and efficient control and utilization of financial resources.
• Develop and maintain relationships with banking, investment, insurance, and non-organizational accounting personnel to facilitate financial activities.
• Develop and administer internal control policies, guidelines, and procedures for budget administration, year-end forecasting, modeling, cash and credit management, and accounting.
• Maintain current knowledge of organizational policies and procedures, federal and state policies, and accounting standards.
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll tax, sales and use tax, property tax, annual census, and 401k reporting.
• General oversight of the human resource functions, including the Finance and Human Resources Assistant and the outsourced service provider that provides general support for the organization.

BACKGROUND PROFILE

• Strategic and hands-on approach to finance, accounting, and operations; adept at analysis, business planning, forecasting, and investments.
• Strong understanding of fund accounting with grants, restricted funds, and endowment investments.
• Demonstrated experience with audit, legal compliance, and budget development.
• Successful management experience in overall business operations, including direct fiscal/operations, employee supervision, and employee and vendor relations.
• Strong organization and prioritization skills with the ability to manage several projects simultaneously, with exceptional attention to detail. This is a hands-on role and will require the Director to roll up their sleeves.
• Highly self-actualized with strong initiative-taking; motivated, with a positive personality and excellent follow-through.
• Effective communication skills, written and oral; comfortable communicating key data, including presentations to senior management, the board, and outside stakeholders/partners.
• Ability to synthesize and translate complex financial data and concepts.