Director of Finance and Accounting

Reports to: Executive Director
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Compensation: $120,000-$135,000

POSITION SUMMARY
The Contemporary Arts Center (CAC) seeks a strategic and analytically grounded financial leader
to serve as Chief Financial Officer. This is a senior leadership role at a pivotal moment for one of
the country’s most distinctive contemporary art institutions, housed in a landmark Zaha Hadiddesigned
building and operating in Cincinnati’s vibrant cultural ecosystem.

The Director of Finance and Accounting will serve as a key thought partner to the Interim
Executive Director and the Board, providing financial leadership, institutional decision support,
and strategic planning capacity. This role is suited to a finance professional who understands the
dynamics of nonprofit arts organizations: the relationship between contributed revenue,
endowment management, restricted funds, and operational sustainability. The CAC is in an early
period of financial stabilization, and the Director of Finance and Accounting will be a central
figure in building the financial foundation for long-term health.

CAC HISTORY
Contemporary Arts Center is one of the oldest and most respected contemporary art institutions
in the United States, founded in Cincinnati in 1939. The CAC does not maintain a permanent
collection; instead, it presents a dynamic program of exhibitions, performances, and public
engagement that responds to artists working at the leading edge of contemporary practice. The
CAC is housed in a landmark building designed by Zaha Hadid, which opened in 2003 and
remains one of her most celebrated works. The CAC is committed to access, inclusion, and the
belief that contemporary art belongs to everyone.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Financial Strategy & Decision Support
• Serve as the CAC’s senior financial executive, providing strategic guidance to the
Executive Director and senior leadership team.
• Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insights for leadership and board
decision-making, including variance analysis, trend identification, and risk assessment.
• Develop and maintain multi-year financial models and scenario plans to support long-term
sustainability.
• Lead development of the annual operating budget in partnership with the Executive
Director and program staff, including monitoring and reporting against budget
throughout the year.
• Oversee cash flow planning and management, with particular attention to liquidity, payroll
obligations, endowment draw timing, and line of credit utilization.

Board & Committee Partnership
• Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Finance Committee, preparing agendas, financial
reports, analysis, and planning in partnership with committee leadership.
• Present financial results, projections, and recommendations to the full Board at regular
intervals.
• Develop and maintain financial dashboards and key performance indicators that give the
Board clear visibility into organizational health.
• Lead the Board’s engagement with the CAC’s line of credit, including supporting the
development and monitoring of a board-level draw and repayment framework.
• Manage the endowment relationship, including oversight of investment performance and
ensuring compliance with spend policies and donor restrictions.
Outsourced Finance Oversight & Controls
• Serve as the primary institutional liaison to YPTC and RedBrick Business Services,
managing scope, performance, and accountability. Evaluate and manage the relationships
with both to minimize scope creep.
• Ensure that outsourced functions meet the CAC’s standards for accuracy, timeliness, and
compliance, and identify and address gaps as they arise.
• Maintain and strengthen the CAC’s internal financial controls, including oversight of the
Accounting Policies and Procedures Manual and ensuring that policies are complete,
current, and followed.
• Oversee staff procurement and expense procedures, credit card systems, and related
internal controls.

Audit, Compliance & Reporting
• Manage the external audit process and serve as the primary liaison to the CAC’s auditor.
• Oversee preparation of the IRS Form 990 and 990-T, working with the auditor and in
coordination with Board approval processes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards, grant reporting requirements,
and funder-specific restrictions.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation for restricted funds, endowment assets,
and donor-designated gifts.

Development & Grant Finance
• Partner with the development team to provide financial modeling, budgets, and
compliance documentation for grant proposals and post-award reporting.
• Oversee gift accounting to ensure accurate tracking of restricted and unrestricted
contributions, pledges, and planned gifts.
• Support the CAC’s capital project financing, including coordination with program officers
on grant-restricted expenditures and ensuring alignment between funder requirements
and project scope.

Vendor & Risk Management
• Oversee key financial vendor relationships, including insurance programs and any
technology or administrative infrastructure with financial implications.
• Manage the annual insurance renewal process in coordination with CAC’s broker,
including assessment of coverage adequacy across property, liability, crime, and other
lines.
• Identify and surface financial and operational risks to leadership and the Board in a timely
and transparent manner.

QUALIFICATIONS
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in finance, accounting, or financial planning and
analysis, with meaningful exposure to nonprofit organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to translate financial complexity into clear communication for senior
leadership, board members, and non-finance staff.
• Experience with nonprofit audit processes, grant compliance, restricted fund
management, and endowment oversight.
• Experience working in or alongside outsourced or shared-services finance environments;
ability to manage external providers with rigor and effectiveness.
• Comfort with multi-year financial modeling, scenario planning, and board-level financial
reporting.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, or a related field; CPA or advanced
degree preferred.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a collaborative, solutions-oriented
approach.
• Commitment to the mission of the Contemporary Arts Center and to the role of
contemporary art in civic life.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
The Director of Finance & Accounting reports to the Executive Director and serves as a senior
member of the CAC’s leadership team. Salary is commensurate with experience in the range of
$120,000-$135,000. The CAC offers a competitive benefits package including health, dental,
vision, EAP, paid time off, and retirement contribution. CAC Museum membership, gift shop, café,
and discounted parking included.

TO APPLY: Please send resume and cover letter by July 31st 2026.
Include “Application: Director of Finance & Accounting” in the subject line
Please make sure all attached material is in PDF format.
Email to Director of Administration & Operations at: shutslar@cincycac.org.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications without a cover letter will not be
considered.

RECRUITMENT & HIRING:
The CAC is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) where all applicants will be considered for
employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity,
national origin, Veteran, or disability status.