Director of Finance and Administration

Company Overview

Country Living. At the heart Canadian Culture. The Blyth Festival is Hiring.

The Blyth Festival is currently seeking an inspiring candidate to come be a leader at our remarkable institution. This will be a permanent, year-round position. This person will work alongside the Artistic Director and the Board of Directors, to fulfill the Festival’s mission of “enriching the lives of our audience, by giving voice to the region and the country.” 

In its 52-year history, the Blyth Festival has premiered more than 160 new Canadian plays, entertaining and inspiring more than one million people from every province and territory in Canada, across the United States, and from every corner of the globe. Plays from the Blyth Festival have won Governor General’s Awards, been produced in 29 countries, and been translated into dozens of languages, including American Sign Language. Blyth Festival productions take place on two stages in the village of Blyth, Ontario: the Margaret Stephens Stage at Blyth Memorial Community Hall, a municipally owned 379-seat indoor theatre, and the Harvest Stage – a permanent, purpose-built outdoor theatre, seating 348 people, surrounded by trees and playing to audiences under the Huron County skies. Blyth Festival is the cornerstone of the Blyth Centre for the Arts, home to the Blyth Festival Art Gallery, and the Blyth Festival Orchestra. Blyth also has a decades long established program for local teenagers in Huron County: the Blyth Festival Young Company and hosts an annual Festival for student generated dramatic works. 

In 2026, the Blyth Festival will produce a repertory season of five Canadian plays, all world premieres, on the Margaret Stephens Stage, and one stand-alone brand-new production on the Harvest Stage.

Blyth Festival is committed to an ecology of inclusivity and the celebration of difference. We strive to be an accessible, supportive, and inspirational workplace. 

The Village Blyth, in the Township of North Huron, is surrounded by rolling farm fields in rural South Western Ontario, and boasts a population of 1005. Blyth is twenty minutes from lake Huron and the town of Goderich, roughly 50mins from Stratford, and an hour from London, ON. 

The successful candidate will be an adept communicator, have excellent interpersonal skills, stellar administrative skills, and strong financial acumen. This individual should also have some experience working in the not-for-profit sector, and a passion for the arts.

Job Description

Role & Responsibilities

Reporting to the Artistic Director and the Finance Committee, the Director of Finance & Administration will be responsible for: 

Financial:

•    Guiding financial decisions by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing internal controls, and operational policies and procedures; make recommendations for increased efficiency and effectiveness.

•     Coordinating and directing daily and periodic accounting operations and processes, assuring that financial records and systems are maintained in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

•    Oversee payroll processing and ensure accurate and timely payment of employee salaries and reconcile any remittances regarding benefits or union payments

•     Performing cash flow analysis and planning to ensure availability of funds as needed for the theatre.

•    Maximizing return and limiting risk on cash by managing bank balances, and overseeing investments, in conjunction with the Finance Committee.

•     Monitoring and confirming financial condition by conducting internal audits.

•     Ensures that box office records, ticket sales reports and databases are maintained and kept up-to­ date.

•     Preparing and monitoring annual operating and capital budgets and periodic re-forecasts.

•     Achieving budget objectives by scheduling expenditures, analyzing variances, and initiating corrective actions

•     Leading communication with external auditors to prepare annual audited financial statements and appropriate returns.

•     Participating in the strategic planning process as an integral member of the senior leadership team through development and use of predictive models and activity-based financial analyses.

•    Works with the Artistic Director informing decisions on matters including budgets, strategic planning, marketing, fundraising & special events, which form part of the season plan.

•     Works with the Artistic Director and other season staff to draft and complete grant applications, including drafting relevant budgets and financial sections, and updating CADAC

•     Liaising with the Audit and Finance Committee and participate in Committee and Board meetings.

•     Presents detailed monthly financial reports to the Finance Committee

•    Ensuring compliance with federal, and provincial requirements, through research and awareness of existing, new, or anticipated legislation, and liaise with legal counsel to advise management on needed actions or potential impacts. ),ie:   reports to CRA, HST reports, Employee Health Tax return, Receiver General reports, Annual and Quarterly returns including HST, Charity and AGCO. and any licensing reporting requirements

•    Completes interim and final government financial reports as required by public funders (Canada Council, OAC, municipal funders and training grants).

Human Resources:

•     Carries out policies of Board and administrative decisions of its Executive and committees including health and safety policies & procedures. 

•    Directing human resources functions, including recruitment, hiring, termination, and development and management of employment policies. 

•    Working closely with the Artistic Director and the Board to ensure consistent application of human resource policies and best practices

•    Oversees the health and safety policies and procedures of the Blyth Centre for the Arts including training, legal record keeping, facility inspection reports, and accident reports

•     Reports to Board on health and safety issues and legal requirements for company.

•     Plays an active leadership role in all long term and short term planning for the Blyth Centre for the Arts and strives to maintain the Employer's good name and strong reputation.

•     Represents the Blyth Centre for the Arts, when reasonably required, at meetings with public and private funders, performing arts companies, tourism and business groups and other organizat ions .

Other:

•    Attends performances and events as required, including media visits, openings, promotions , sponsorship events, volunteer recognition events and other activities as required.