Director of Financial Planning and Analysis
Founded in 1881, the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s (BSO) mission of bringing world-class orchestral and popular music performances to local, regional, and international audiences remains unchanged. Over the past few years, the BSO’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) has evolved from an organic approach of creating spaces for diverse artistic expression to a deliberate effort to address the structural and societal barriers to allowing for a convergence of artistic expression within broad historical, economic, social, and cultural contexts.
About the Role
The Director of Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A) will serve as a key financial leader, spearheading the development and execution of the BSO's financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, monthly management reporting, and analytical functions. This pivotal role requires a strategic thinker capable of translating complex financial data into actionable insights that align with the BSO's long-term goals. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional analytical acumen, robust financial modeling skills, advanced forecasting techniques, and deep expertise in budgetary processes to drive organizational decision-making.
Additionally, this leader will provide finance business partnership support to each department to drive strategic decision making, ensuring alignment between financial strategies and the BSO's artistic and operational objectives. By designing and implementing streamlined financial systems, tools, and reporting, the Director of FP&A will not only improve operational efficiency but also enhance the organization’s ability to respond proactively to dynamic economic conditions.
This role is instrumental in safeguarding the BSO's financial sustainability, cultivating a culture of accountability, and providing critical support to the leadership team in achieving the organization's mission of artistic excellence and community engagement. Through diligent financial stewardship and innovative thinking, the Director of FP&A will contribute significantly to the BSO’s vision of enriching lives through music.
Key Responsibilities Associated with the Role
Financial Planning and Budgeting
- Lead the development and management of the annual budget and financial forecasts, ensuring alignment with the BSO's strategic objectives and adapting to evolving organizational priorities.
- Collaborate with department heads to set financial targets and integrate financial plans with operational and strategic goals, providing guidance and ensuring consistency across all functions.
- Establish and manage a detailed budgeting calendar, ensuring timely submissions, reviews, and approvals of all departmental budgets.
- Develop comprehensive driver-based, three-statement models to project revenue, expenses, contribution margin, balance sheet, and cash flow scenarios within Adaptive, supporting informed decision-making and long-term sustainability.
- Lead the monthly reforecasting process with functional leaders to provide an updated outlook to management for the remainder of the year.
Financial Analysis and Reporting
Conduct comprehensive financial analyses to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement, offering actionable recommendations to optimize financial outcomes and work with functional leaders to provide commentary on performance metrics.Prepare and present detailed monthly financial reports and related key performance indicators (KPI) dashboards to senior management, the Board of Directors, and other stakeholders, translating complex data into clear insights and strategies.Track and analyze profitability by event and program to establish targets and identify cost savings opportunities.Develop ad hoc analyses and financial models to support specific organizational initiatives, such as new programming, fundraising campaigns, or capital projects.Implement robust validation and reconciliation processes to ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial data within Workday and Adaptive.Strategic Planning Support
Provide financial insights and recommendations to support strategic decision-making, aligning financial objectives with the BSO’s mission and vision.Collaborate with senior executives to develop and execute the BSO's strategic plan, ensuring financial strategies are integral to long-term growth initiatives and strategic goals are linked to measurable, attainable KPIs.Analyze economic, industry, and competitive trends to assess their impact on the BSO's financial strategy and guide scenario planning.Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership, contributing to discussions on resource allocation, risk management, and investment opportunities.Lead the development and management of the long-range strategic financial plan within Adaptive, as well as track and provide periodic updates on strategic initiative performance.Performance Monitoring
Monitor and analyze financial performance against budgets and forecasts, identifying key variances and recommending corrective actions where needed.Develop and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess financial health and operational efficiency, providing regular updates to stakeholders.Establish regular review processes to evaluate financial outcomes and ensure alignment with strategic objectives.Create dashboards and other visualization tools to communicate financial performance to non-financial stakeholders in an accessible and actionable way.Monitor financial and forecast accuracy trends to assess risks and opportunities to the strategic plan and annual budget.Process Improvement
Implement and maintain financial planning and analysis systems and tools, ensuring they meet the organization's evolving needs and enhance decision-making capabilities.Streamline and enhance FP&A processes to improve efficiency and accuracy, reducing reliance on manual workflows and fostering automation.Drive continuous improvement initiatives, integrating best practices and innovative approaches to strengthen financial management and reporting capabilities.Collaborate with IT and other departments to optimize enterprise systems for seamless data integration and ensure the Chart of Accounts is routinely updated to meet business requirements.Lead and mentor the FP&A manager, fostering high performance and professional excellence.Ensure the team has the necessary skills and resources to support the BSO's objectives by identifying training opportunities and facilitating continuous learning, particularly within Workday and Adaptive.Set clear performance goals and expectations for team members, conducting regular evaluations to support their growth and accountability.Build strong cross-functional relationships, ensuring the FP&A team acts as a valued business partner to other departments within the organization (e.g., Artistic, Marketing, Development, etc.).Required Education and Experience
Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or a related field. MBA or relevant advanced degree is highly preferred.A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in financial planning and analysis or related roles, with at least 5 years in a managerial capacity overseeing teams and financial operations.Extensive experience leading and managing budgeting, forecasting, and financial management reporting functions in complex organizational settings.Prior experience in nonprofit, arts, or cultural organizations is highly desirable but not required.Track record of aligning financial strategies with organizational missions and contributing to long-term financial sustainability and growth.Technical Skills
Strong understanding of financial regulations, compliance requirements, and reporting standards (e.g., GAAP, FASB).Expertise in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis, with a proven ability to create and manage complex financial models, including integrated 3-statement forecast models.Proficiency with customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and enterprise performance management (EPM) systems, such as Tessitura, Workday and Adaptive, or similar platforms, and advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills.Demonstrated ability to design and implement financial systems and tools to streamline workflows and improve quality of reporting and data accuracy.Skilled in creating and analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial dashboards to support strategic decision-making.Experience in leveraging data visualization and business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) to communicate insights effectively.Functional and Leadership Skills
Exceptional communication and presentation skills.Ability to convey complex financial concepts to both financial and non-financial stakeholders, including senior leadership and Board members.Strong strategic planning, analytical, and problem-solving abilities, with a proactive approach to identifying opportunities for financial and operational improvement.Demonstrated leadership and team management capabilities, including experience building, mentoring, and motivating high-performing teams.Excellent interpersonal skills to foster cross-departmental collaboration and build strong relationships with key stakeholders.Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, deliver under tight deadlines, and adapt to changing organizational needs.The BSO is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
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