Vice President of Finance

Summary

The Vice President of Finance is a new position being added to the Spy Museum team. The position leads the Museum’s financial strategy, planning, reporting, controls, and finance operations. Reporting to the President & COO, this role provides strategic and hands-on leadership for a complex nonprofit with multiple revenue streams, significant transaction volume, and long-term financial planning needs.

The VP oversees the finance and accounting team, strengthens systems and processes, supports board-level decision-making, and uses technology, data, and automation to improve efficiency and insight.

Success Traits

• Strategic Financial Thinker- anticipates future financial opportunities and risks, translates complex data into actionable insights, and develops long-term strategies that support organizational sustainability and growth.
• Trusted Advisor - builds credibility with executives, board members, auditors, and external partners by providing sound judgment, clear recommendations, and transparent financial guidance that enables confident decision-making.
• Operational Excellence Driver - continuously improves processes, systems, and workflows by leveraging technology, automation, and data to increase efficiency, strengthen reporting, and enhance organizational performance.
• Accountable Steward- protects the organization's financial resources through strong controls, compliance, risk management, and disciplined oversight while maintaining the highest standards of integrity and accountability.

Responsibilities

Strategic Finance Leadership

• Lead financial strategy, forecasting, and long-range planning.
• Develop scenario models, decision-support tools, and clear recommendations for leadership.
• Advise on investments, growth opportunities, financial risks, and institutional sustainability.

Financial Planning, Analysis, and Reporting

• Own forecasting, analysis, dashboards, cash flow planning, and management reporting.
• Improve the clarity, timeliness, and usefulness of monthly financial reporting.
• Communicate trends, risks, and opportunities clearly to financial and non-financial audiences.

Capital Planning and Treasury

• Lead planning for capital needs, reserves, major projects, and long-term financial capacity.
• Oversee treasury planning, banking relationships, cash management, and investment support.
• Recommend capital priorities, reserve use, and funding strategies.

Accounting, Compliance, and Internal Controls

• Oversee accounting operations in partnership with the Controller.
• Ensure strong controls, policies, segregation of duties, fraud prevention, and compliance.
• Oversee audit, Form 990, GAAP compliance, and external advisor relationships.

Board and Committee Support

• Serve as primary staff partner to the Board Treasurer and Finance & Audit Committee.
• Prepare and present clear materials on results, forecasts, risks, and recommendations.
• Help the committee focus on strategy, planning, risk oversight, audit, and compliance.

Team Leadership and Process Improvement

• Lead, develop, and clarify roles across the finance and accounting team.
• Identify training needs, improve workflows, and reduce manual work.
• Promote accountability, responsiveness, continuous improvement, and smart use of technology, AI, and automation.

Educational and Other Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; CPA and/or MBA required.
• Significant progressive finance/accounting leadership experience, preferably in a complex nonprofit with multiple revenue streams.
• Strong expertise in budgeting, forecasting, analysis, cash management, audit, Form 990, GAAP, and nonprofit compliance.
• Experience working with boards, finance committees, auditors, and external advisors.
• Strong leadership, judgment, communication, change-management, systems, and data skills.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in a museum, cultural institution, visitor-serving nonprofit, or similarly complex mission-driven organization.
• Experience with earned revenue models, contributed revenue, retail, hospitality, ticketing environments, or public-facing transactional businesses.
• Familiarity with nonprofit capital planning and board-level financial governance.

Skills Preferred

• Strong people management and ability to develop and lead a team with varying skill levels.
• Effective communication skills with an ability to communicate complex financial information to all stakeholders.
• Financial systems expertise such as Sage Intacct.
• Expert at Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical and data management capabilities.

The International Spy Museum offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Annual performance-based bonus opportunity
• Employer-sponsored 401(k) with company match
• 457(b) deferred compensation plan
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Additional wellness and employee benefits
• Free parking or Metro reimbursement

How to Apply

For consideration, please submit resume along with a cover letter online.