DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

City Parks Alliance•Philadelphia, PA

12d•$130,000 - $160,000

About The Position

Fairmount Park Conservancy brings parks to life We work with the City of Philadelphia and its communities to steward our parks and nurture our shared environment, cultural resources, and public health We lead capital projects and historic preservation efforts, foster neighborhood park stewardship, attract and leverage investments, and develop innovative programs throughout the 10,200 acres that include Fairmount Park, six other watershed parks, and more than 130 neighborhood parks and gardens around the city The Director of Finance is the senior finance leader responsible for delivering strong financial planning, forecasting, and analysis across the Conservancy's programs, operations, and multi-year capital projects This role serves as the primary architect of the Conservancy's financial planning systems, building models, tools, and reports that enable data-driven decision-making The position partners closely with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and leaders across capital projects, development, communications, and public programs to ensure accountability and support long-term financial sustainability Highly analytical, strategic, and collaborative, this role translates complex financial information into clear insights that guide organizational strategy

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, Public Administration, or related field
At least 8 to 10 years of overall professional experience; ideally 6+ years of broad financial and operations management experience
Progressive experience in financial planning, analysis, or budgeting in nonprofit, government, or mission-driven settings
Strong financial modeling, forecasting, and analytical skills
Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets and familiarity with accounting or budgeting systems
Experience with complex budgets involving grants, contracts, and restricted funds
Excellent communication skills with diverse audiences
High mindfulness and strong analytical and collaborative abilities
Systems/process improvement mindset
Mission-driven approach

Nice To Haves

Experience with capital project budgeting or multi-year project management
Background in nonprofit finance, philanthropy, and government contracts
Knowledge of project accounting and restricted funds
Experience with Sage Intacct accounting software
Master's degree (MBA, MPA, MPP) or CPA
Experience with government or public-private partnerships

Responsibilities

Lead annual budgeting for operations, capital projects, programs, and park properties
Develop rolling forecasts, multi-year projections, and scenario models for leadership and the board
Identify financial risks and opportunities; recommend strategies for sustainability
Maintain and enhance tools for budget tracking, variance analysis, and dashboards
Analyze revenue, expenses, cash flow, and departmental performance
Provide financial insight into program, operations, and capital project leaders
Evaluate contracts, grants, and donor-funded initiatives
Model staffing costs, growth scenarios, and new initiatives
Build and manage multi-year capital project budgets
Track spending, commitments, and funding sources; ensure compliance
Forecast project cash flow and funding needs
Strengthen project-level budgeting, reporting, and cost allocation systems
Model grant budgets and multi-year funding implications
Support grant reporting, reimbursement requests, and donor materials
Ensure accurate revenue recognition and restricted fund tracking
Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for leadership and the board
Prepare materials for Finance and Investment Committees
Communicate financial insights clearly to non-financial stakeholders
Coordinate and lead the annual audit process, consult with external auditors, and the finance committee of the board of directors
Enhance financial systems, tools, processes, and policies
Improve project accounting, cost allocation, and data integrity
Support long-term modernization of financial systems and analytics
Partner with program and capital leaders on budgeting and forecasting
Work with HR and operations on staffing and compensation modeling
Provide training on budgeting, financial tools, and financial literacy
Implement a contracts management system