VP of Finance & Administration at Destination Ann Arbor

Formed in 1993 originally as the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and rebranded in 2018 as Destination Ann Arbor, the organization promotes both overnight and day visitors to the region. Working effectively as the area’s Destination Marketing Organization (DMO), Destination Ann Arbor contracts with groups holding conferences or attending or organizing sporting events. Partnering with local businesses, hotels and communities, Destination Ann Arbor highlights all there is to do and experience in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities.

Destination Ann Arbor is a 501(c)6 nonprofit organization that contracts with Washtenaw County to provide services. They are the first destination in Michigan to achieve the “Destination Verified” status with Wheel the World, a global accessibility platform. Additionally, the team has won the “Best of Meetings” award for three consecutive years voted on by professional meeting planners and the editorial team at Meetings Today.

The Opportunity: Vice President, Finance & Administration

Reporting to the President & CEO, this key role will serve as a member of the Leadership Team, collaborating with colleagues to ensure successful attainment of short and long-term vision and strategic plans. Specific expectations include financial strategy and operations; accounting operations; facilities operations; and leading/developing team members consistent with service standards and financial goals/objectives.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Translate vision and values into daily practices and ensures adherence to mission, values and operational systems designed to support the strategic marketing plan
• Promote priorities and drive implementation of the strategic marketing plan
• Instill accountability at all levels of the organization (leadership and staff)
• Consistently convey key messages, thereby building a shared understanding across the organization
  
  

Finance & Accounting

• As a hands-on Finance Leader, manage daily accounting practices, including:
• Accounts Receivable
• Accounts Payable
• Month-end reporting and journal entries
• Credit card reconciliations
• Serve as a financial strategist, aligning financial and business strategies in the formulation of management policy and the strategic plan.
• Execute budgeting process to achieve financial targets; preparation of monthly metrics for review by the executive team.
• Provide reports and analyses to CEO and Board Finance & Audit Committees of progress against goals, subject to GAAP and IRS regulations.
• Accounting oversight: interface with external CPA on annual audits and best practices
• Oversee the preparation and filing of all external reports for the organization such as cost report, and tax reports. Ensure that record keeping meets the requirements of auditors and government agencies.
• Review and assess financial implications of all organizational contracts.
  
  

Payroll/Benefits

• Process bi-monthly payroll through external payroll vendor, Paychex.
• Oversee employee reward functions, including payroll, benefits, retirement savings plan, policies, and compliance.
• Ensure rewards systems drive recruitment and retention goals, including partnering with Human Resources on total compensation strategy analysis.
  
  

Vendor Relations

• Create meetings or issue-solving forums to review analytics and divine solutions to rapidly correct course, as needed.
• Evaluate and manage all vendor relationships for optimization and alignment.
  
  

The Qualified Candidate

Destination Ann Arbor seeks a collaboratively focused, proven executive. The successful candidate will enjoy working in a hands-on role, and have leadership experience with prior success in creating systems to drive results and operational efficiencies, and be goal oriented as well as a strategic thinker.

Requirements Include

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a relevant field of study.
• 5-7 years of progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Significant experience in leadership positions managing administrative operations and accounting.
• A high level of Emotional Intelligence or Social IQ with demonstrated track record of influencing, collaborating and affecting change through others.
• Proven ability to partner with CEO and executive leadership team to foster innovation and drive goal attainment in an atmosphere of mutual respect.
• Impeccable written and oral communication and relationship building skills; ability to effectively communicate vision, goals and values and impact performance.
  
  

Key Competencies for Success

• Ability to work in fast-paced environment, balancing competing priorities.
• Strong attention to detail, with a keen eye for excellence to ensure compliance to various regulations.
• Oriented to continuous improvement/quality control in driving excellence.
• Growth and change leader; earns trust, gets involved and “rolls up the sleeves” to get meaningful and sustainable results for all key constituents.
• Proactive, yet disciplined - identifies opportunities and takes initiative.
• Collaboration building; alliance building; non-bureaucratic.
• Earns credibility by listening, offering meaningful solutions, makes fact-based decisions, and focuses on delivering meaningful outcomes.
• Humble yet confident servant leader who seeks the betterment of the team; open to feedback, continuous learning and committed to ongoing self-improvement.
• Executes well; gets results.
• Self-motivated and self-directed; practicing initiative to determine assignments, priorities and problem-solving.
  
  

Desired/Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a relevant field of study.
• Experience in a DMO or nonprofit organization.
• Knowledge of Financial Edge NXT Software.
• A personal connection to, or passion for, the mission of elevating economic vitality through travel.
  
  

This position offers a competitive salary with an extensive benefits package including medical, dental & vision insurance beginning the 1st of the month following 30 days of employment; flexible spending accounts; company-paid Life, ADD, short-term and long-term disability insurance; Employee Assistance Program; 401(k) with an up to 5% match; 15 days of paid time off the first year with increased accruals with tenure; 12 paid holidays, including your birthday; company-paid parking; and, $50 technology stipend per pay period.