Senior Director of Finance

Company Overview

About Us

The Arts Club Theatre Company is Canada’s largest year-round not-for-profit theatre company. Now celebrating our 60th season, the Arts Club offers the best in professional theatre and has staged over 630 productions. With three stages and an annual operating budget of $17 million, there is always programming underway. Arts Club is grateful to have our offices, rehearsal halls, workshops, and theatres on the unceded, ancestral and traditional shared lands of the xmθkwym (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Slílwta/Selilwitulh (Tsleil- Waututh) Nations.

We are British Columbia’s largest non-profit cultural employer – hiring more than 500 artists, staff, and crew to stage up to 20 shows annually. We educate and cultivate students and theatre lovers of all ages—over 2,500 people engage in our education and professional development programs annually. We support artists and other arts organizations through professional engagement activities, believing firmly that an investment in the industry benefits all. We are a major economic driver in the areas surrounding our venues—our theatres attract a quarter million theatre patrons to dine and shop in the South Granville, Olympic Village, and Granville Island neighbourhoods.

Our Mission

To inspire and nurture artists and audiences through cultural experiences that are engaging, though-provoking, and artistically innovative.

Our Vision

A community that, through storytelling, is inspired to reflect on who we are and who we can be.

Our Values

Determination: We have the drive to continue to move forward, with a respectful nod to our tenacious past and a fearless embrace of our future. It is through this forward momentum that we ensure we are the artistic leaders of our community.

Curiosity: We have a strong desire to know more; about ourselves, our art, and our patrons. This spirit is reflected in our willingness to make room for diversity of thought. This exploration of different viewpoints and ideas is reflected in our engagement with each other, with our art, our peers, and our community.

Creativity: We use our imaginations to explore our artistic practice and champion innovation in all the work that we do. We believe in the depth of our local talent and use our resources to showcase it.

Comradery: We interact with each other with good-fellowship and levity.  Our spirit of generosity and warmth is seen in our empathy towards each other, our artists, our patrons, and our community. This allows us to embrace differences and makes us stronger.

Safety: The health and well-being of each other and our community informs our work and creates a safe, inviting, and inclusive space for all who enter and interact with us. We commit to constantly review our practices to ensure they are anti-racist and non-discriminatory. We are fiercely dedicated to being an organization that continually respects, champions, and uplifts underrepresented voices in all jobs.

We also strive to provide a safe work environment, both physically and mentally, and we have made ongoing commitments to inclusion, anti-racism and anti-oppression. We want the stories we work together to tell to have nuanced and varied perspectives.

Job Description

Reporting to the Executive Director (ED), the Senior Director of Finance is a vital member of the senior leadership team and works closely with the Board Chair, the Chair of the Finance Committee, the Foundation President, and Treasurer, while also overseeing a group of four experienced staff members in the Finance Department.

The Senior Director of Finance is responsible for providing financial vision, strategy, and leadership to the organization and its staff, as well as a leadership role in ensuring the team achieves the operational, financial, and strategic goals and objectives established by the leadership team and the Board of Directors. The Senior Director of Finance will also be responsible for providing financial administration of the Arts Club Theatre Foundation. Founded in 2005 with an independent Board of Directors, the Foundation holds a permanent endowment of over to $10 million. The Society is the sole beneficiary of the annual disbursements from the Foundation.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a member of the senior leadership team, the Senior Director of Finance will lead and manage the finance, business planning, and risk management strategy for the organization. Specifically, the Senior Director of Finance will lead the Finance department and be responsible for financial oversight and cash flow management, financial reporting, and ensure that systems, controls, and processes are in place according to best practices in financial management.

Planning

• Plans and coordinates the annual budgeting process.
• Collaborates with the ED, Artistic Director (AD), the Board, and leadership team to capture strategy in operational budgets.
• Plans and manages the organization's long-term cash and financial needs in alignment with the strategic plan and operational priorities.
• Collaborates with the ED, AD, the Board and external agencies to secure financing and alternative funding to achieve capital and operating financial needs. 
• Prepares multi-year financial forecasts.
• Collaborates with the ED, AD, the Board, and the leadership team to develop business management goals, objectives and policies for organizational growth and prosperity. 

Human Resources

• Develops and defines financial team structures, roles, and goals to achieve organizational directives. 
• Coaches and mentors the finance team, conducting annual performance management meetings, professional goal setting and course correction as needed. 
• Leads weekly department meetings ensuring finance staff are aware of the broader organizational issues and opportunities.
• Encourages department’s participation in company-wide town halls and social events and contributes to overall positive company culture.

Financial Systems and Controls

• Develops and implements processes and procedures to ensure the organization has the necessary financial systems and controls. 
• Develops and oversees the Internal Review function to ensure compliance with finance and operations controls and policies.
• Ensures effective follow-up processes are in place.
• Recommends and develops policies as needed to ensure the organization adheres to accounting standards and best practices. 
• Helps identify, assess, and mitigate organizational finance risks. 
• In collaboration with the ED and AD, reviews and monitors economic operating models. 
• Ensures the Foundation complies with all internal policies and relevant regulations and ensures filings are completed in a timely manner.

Financial Management and Reporting

• Reports cash flow and budget performance for leadership team. 
• Responsible for regular reporting, including projections, cash flow and budget performance to both the Society’s Finance Committee and Board, and the Foundation Board. 
• Provides financial information to departments as needed for grants, programs, or other operational needs. 
• Works with departments to build annual budgets and reports back to departments with monthly statements.
• Prepares financial statements for the annual report.
• Oversees all external financial reports to the government and other agencies.
• Plans, coordinates and reviews the annual audit process and presents recommendations to the ED.
• Creates regular financial forecasts to assist with budget spending decisions and to identify possible areas of concern. 
• Oversees the payroll function, ensuring efficient systems, processes and controls are in place. 
• Oversees mandated compliance in areas such as tax filings, government remittances, CEWS, EHT, WCB remittances, CRA charitable reporting, gaming applications and reporting, union bonds and reporting. 

Banking and Investments

• Manages all accounts and loan agreements.
• Oversees and reports on investments for all societies.
• Manages Payment Card contracts, relationships with vendors, and adherence to key vendor policies.

Insurance and Risk Management

• In collaboration with leadership team assists with risk management policies and procedures and communicates with our Insurance Broker.
• Reviews and coordinates insurance renewals and claims. 
• Secures insurance certificates as needed. 
• Manages and develops organizational risk management plans to ensure a safe and positive experience for all.
• Performs and monitors risk management assessments and responds to incidents.
• Maintains responsibility for the Arts Club Group and the Foundation’s Insurance and Risk Management program.
• Oversees the annual insurance renewal process and ensure appropriate coverage is always maintained.
• Reviews financial terms of contracts from preferred vendors and contractors. 
• Manages ongoing banking relationships for maximum efficiency. 

Arts Club Foundation

• Prepares the quarterly Arts Club Foundation board package, including investment and financial reports. 
• Liaises with our investment manager on the investment portfolio and related policies. 
• Prepares distribution of investment funds. 

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Sound understanding of financial management principles.
• Well organized and self-managed with solid multi-tasking abilities. 
• High level of attention to detail and accuracy but also having the ability to step back and understand and assess the overall results and objective.
• Strong oral and written communication skills. 
• Ability to work effectively with colleagues across the organization and volunteer Board members as well as function independently.
• Ability to work collaboratively with outside parties, including auditors, contractors, government officials and other agencies. 
• Excellent technology and integration skills, including knowledge of accounting software (SAGE 50), payroll software (ADP), and CRM software (Tessitura). 
• Ability to adapt to changing environments and priorities.
• Passionate about the Society, its mission and purpose.

QUALIFICATIONS 

The Senior Director of Finance must be an individual with both the leadership skills to manage a team and the technical skills to manage financial resources with an eye for strategic business planning priorities in a not-for-profit context.

Education and Work Experience

• Undergraduate degree or higher. 
• Canadian CPA designation or working towards full designation is required.
• 8+ years of experience in a senior financial role, preferably in a medium-sized organization.  
• 8+ years managing a team.
• Experience in a charitable or not-for-profit organization is required.