Chief Financial Officer

The Opportunity

The recent strategic alignment of Brooklyn Bridge Park Corporation, known as Brooklyn Bridge Park (BBP) and the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy coincides with the park’s 15th anniversary and marks the beginning of a new growth phase ensuring that the park continues to thrive as a world-class public space connecting people, nature, and the waterfront through inclusive, innovative, and sustainable management and design.

The Chief Financial Officer joining the organization at this pivotal time in Brooklyn Bridge Park’s history will work alongside the BBP President as a trusted and strategic thought partner, setting the vision that will help support the organization’s current operational priorities and plans for continued growth and diversification. The Chief Financial Officer will be an integral member of the BBP senior leadership team and work with the Audit and Finance Committees of both the Corporation board and the Conservancy board and their external auditors to ensure that BBP and the Conservancy maintain sound financial and fiduciary practices that protect both organization’s assets and ensure the long-term positive financial health of Brooklyn Bridge Park. The Chief Financial Officer will oversee the organization’s revenues of approximately $30M and investments in capital projects, direct the financial affairs of the combined organizations and coordinate all strategic and tactical matters as they relate to finance, revenue and expense management, cost benefit analysis and financial forecasting. The Chief Financial Officer will provide leadership and direction to a small finance team and be a collaborative partner to senior leadership and a helpful advisor to managers and staff in all financial matters that impact operations across the park and in the philanthropic activities of the Conservancy, BBP’s strategic partner.

Key Responsibilities

STRATEGY & LEADERSHIP

• Serve as a key strategic advisor and thought partner to the President on the financial and operational performance of the organization and provide essential financial information and insights to enable the President and BBP’s Board to make informed financial decisions that best position BBP to maintain its leadership position among public parks and achieve its strategic goals and operational priorities.
• In collaboration with the President and the Audit and Finance Committees of the Board, oversee the fiduciary responsibilities of the organization. Periodically provide reports and data concerning financial trends and significant changes in operations impacting the financial strategy and finances of the organization, and support members of the Finance Committee in monitoring investment performance of the organization and the administration of these investments in accordance with BBP’s investment policy.
• Serve as an integral and collaborative member of the senior leadership team sharing input about financial and operational plans, future organizational priorities, and financial resources to support leadership team members in their respective areas of responsibility.

FINANCIAL PLANNING, ANALYSIS & REPORTING

• Oversee the financial performance of the organization and prepare all related financial statements and reports including, but not limited to the Balance Sheet, Statement of Activities, Cash Flow and Budget Variance Report for review and consideration by the President and as appropriate, the senior leadership team.
• Provide strategic financial modeling and direction to support BBP’s revenue generating activities from commercial real estate, development projects and other earned income sources.
• Ensure that the Finance Department maintains all financial records and systems in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and effectively monitor and implement systems to control and safeguard the funds and financial assets of the organization.
• Responsible for cash management and cash flow forecasting for the organization and interfacing with banks to monitor all cash balances.
• Oversee the administration and financial reporting related to the organization's Board Designated, Capital and Endowment Funds
• Analyze and distribute monthly financial statements to department heads; communicate trends and deviations and implement corrective action plans if necessary.

FINANCIAL, BUDGET & REVENUE MANAGEMENT

• Develop and oversee the organization’s budget, including management of capital construction funds provided by the City, and oversight of BBP’s annual capital and operating budgets including all relevant reporting to public entities and other external partners.
• Guide all budget and revenue forecasting, financial modeling and scenario planning to account for the fiscal performance of all contracted programs and the various services and operations of BBP and its affiliate, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Conservancy.
• Oversee all general accounting operations including, the General Ledger, Trial Balance, Payroll, Accounts Payable and Account Receivable functions
• Prepare and monitor the Balance Sheet and all revenue, and expense accounts
• Establish and oversee all finance/administrative and payroll policies, procedures and systems and makes recommendations for procedural controls, workflow and process improvements.

ORGANIZATIONAL & TEAM MANAGEMENT

• Provide leadership, coaching and continuous development of the Finance Department team comprised of three accounting professionals.
• Works closely with the Chief People Officer and other administrative staff to coordinate activities and functions related to payroll, benefits and other administrative infrastructure areas.
• Ensure clear, consistent and thoughtful communication with the President, Board, staff and other organization stakeholders to ensure an environment of transparency, accountability and quality.

Candidate Profile: Competencies & Attributes

• Strategic, Disciplined & Transformative Leader

The Chief Financial Officer will be an enthusiastic, passionate and disciplined leader with a hands-on, collaborative leadership style combined with a drive for ensuring accountability, quality and high performance. You should be a “big picture” thinker able to articulate a clear vision and financial strategy for the organization and at the same time, be the consummate financial manager, adept with building a unified team, quality financial plans, careful analyses and forecasts and effective systems and controls. A champion of managing change and transformation, the Chief Financial Officer should have the ability to both foresee when change is needed to move the finance function and organization forward and the resources that will be necessary to effectively implement change.

• Business Acumen

The Chief Financial Officer should have keen business acumen, exceptional analytical and decision-making skills, an in-depth understanding across all financial domains, and be deeply conversant and skilled in nonprofit finance, management and financial reporting of earned revenue from real estate and other income generating activities, and forecasting capital budget plans supporting large scale, complex real estate and construction development initiatives. You should be adept at financial modeling, evaluating complex business transactions and interpreting financial statements and proposals. The Chief Financial Officer should also be knowledgeable about best practice financial infrastructure, policies and technologies that advance the finance function.

• Compassionate and Inspiring Leader of People & Teams

The Chief Financial Officer should have a successful track record of inspiring and empowering cohesive financial teams and driving collaboration around a shared financial vision for an organization. You will be expected to lead with both confidence and empathy, be willing to seek diversity in people and perspective, and encourage a culture of openness and belonging. The incoming executive leader should also possess the right balance of emotional intelligence, humility, a sense of humor and be open to feedback, learning and self-development.

• Relationship Builder & Skilled Communicator

The Chief Financial Officer should be an excellent listener, skilled communicator and relationship builder able to consistently gain the trust and confidence of Board Members, staff at all levels of the organization who rely on the Finance Department for fiscal counsel and support, public agencies collaborating with BBP, and other external partners.

Candidate Profile: Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance or public administration required; an MBA or other relevant advanced degree is preferred.
• 15 plus years successful experience in roles of increasing financial leadership responsibility of which at least five (5) have been at the Chief Financial Officer/Head of Finance level with a complex nonprofit organization, public benefit corporation, government agency, local development enterprise or public park conservancy.
• Prior experience working with Board Audit and Finance Committees and external auditing firms.

Salary, Benefits & Location

The salary range is $230K-$250K subject to the candidate’s competencies, skills, and experience. Benefits include medical, dental and vision plans, both a 403(b) retirement plan and company funded defined contribution pension plan, flexible spending accounts for out-of-pocket health, dependent and commuter expenses, employee assistance/wellness program, life insurance and PTO. This will be an on-site role located at BBP’s Main Office in Brooklyn Bridge Park.

This search is being led by Ira Machowsky, CEO and Heather Bivens, Senior Search Associate at Aceum Advisors & Search.

Brooklyn Bridge Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer