Chief Financial Officer

The National Western Center (NWC) is a reimagined 250-acre campus in Denver, Colorado with a vision to be the global destination for food and agricultural discovery. It is the new home of the National Western Stock Show and Colorado State University’s Spur campus. But the National Western Center isn’t just new buildings, it’s a destination unto itself. It’s a mission-oriented place that will be lively and active all year round — with new events and experiences around every corner.

The opportunity:

The National Western Center Authority (NWCA) is seeking a strategic finance director with strong analytical skills to drive its financial operations and accelerate performance. The finance director will harmonize financial operations, develop effective strategies, lead planning and forecasting to guide efforts towards financial stability, monitor and report on all financial activities, promote revenue growth, ensure compliance with accounting regulations, and maintain good relationships with its equity partners. The director serves as the day-to-day partner to the COO in managing the organization’s financial success to achieve its long-term growth plans.

The ideal candidate will bring a background in nonprofit and capital finance and accounting, business operations, and has a bachelor’s degree and at least five years of professional finance experience. You will excel in this role if you love to problem solve regularly and like to build processes from the ground up. If this sounds like you, come help us make the reimagined National Western Center a campus that leads, inspires, creates, educates, and entertains in the pursuit of global food solutions for all.

Financial operations

• Work collaboratively with the executive team and Board of Directors to ensure responsible fiscal activities within the context of the organization’s mission and goals

• Develop, enhance, implement, and enforce financial policies and procedures for the organization, ensuring fiscal responsibility, efficiency, and compliance
• Liaise with the outsourced accounting team, including controller, AP/AR functions and other strategic finance support
• Ensure that monthly and year-end financial reports are complete and accurate
• Manage the annual financial audit process, including vendor selection and oversight, document preparation, fieldwork support, document review, and distribution of audited financials
• Oversee bank, deposit and credit relationships and initiates appropriate strategies to enhance cash position
• Ensure accuracy of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports and identify financial trends in order to assist staff in performing their responsibilities
• Evaluate software and systems used to execute financial operations and strategy
• Maintain organized fiscal records for the organization
• Manages the cash-flow position of the company; responsibility includes authority to establish credit and collections and purchasing policies and to establish schedules for the payment of bills and financial obligation

Budgeting and fee structures leadership

• Serve as project manager for the organization’s staff and Board in the preparation and monitoring of the annual operating and capital budgets
• Work closely with the team to ensure efficiency in program financial management, budgeting and related financial activities, providing applicable training and education
• Prepare regular budget to actuals variance reports for department leads including events, facilities, community benefits, procurements and communications
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal financial reporting requirements including 1099s, W2s, and periodic updates for IRS and Secretary of state to maintain tax exemption status
• Help to establish fee schedules and rate cards such as for common area maintenance (CAM) and equipment fees and assess in accordance with the Framework Agreement, NWC’s governing document
• Track – and in some cases manage – invoicing for complex partner relationships such as the district energy agreement and annual Stock Show reimbursement agreement

Board reporting

• Alongside the CEO serve as the staff lead for the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors; facilitate monthly finance committee meetings identifying key topics for discussion
• Analyze and interpret financial data and present the information with reports and presentations to the board of directors and senior leadership
• Be the in-house expert as to the financial and accounting condition of the organization
• Ensure compliance with the waterfall fund structure established in the Framework Agreement
• Analyze monthly budget to actuals to pinpoint areas of achievement and concern

Financial planning and strategy

• Lead and contribute to growth planning, including development of financial projections
• Participate in discussions with the community, informing what’s possible to share operating revenues with the community; think creatively about what’s possible and offer win-win solutions
• Establish internal work processes for financial department (including accounting and billing) and monitor their progress
• Stay abreast of current market trends, federal and funding opportunities and patterns and recommend appropriate responses
• Develop and implement accounting policies and standard operating procedures
• Provide strategic input in the planning of future phases of growth and what it means to NWCA as the long term operator, maintainer and programmer of the campus and public assets
• Participate in negotiation of contracts that have a financial impact to the organization
• Analyze opportunities for new revenue streams
• Maintaining acceptable use of assets built with bond dollars

What you will bring along:

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Finance, Accounting, or related field, Master's degree and/or CPA a plus
• 5 years’ experience in a professional finance role
• Extremely knowledgeable in financial forecasting, accounting principles, and financial data analysis
• Ability to exercise sound judgment with demonstrated characteristics of integrity, credibility, accountability, and emotional intelligence in support of the mission
• Excellent computer skills, including use of Microsoft Excel
• Experience with QuickBooks Online a plus

This job may be a great fit for you if:

• You have a strong attention to detail but can pull yourself out of the weeds to guide and inform strategic decisions
• You have the ability to synthesize complex and diverse financial information and make it digestible for audiences with varying knowledge of finance
• You like to work independently and within team settings
• You are an expert problem solver and can skillfully gather and analyze information, identify solutions and create process to avoid future issues
• You demonstrate exceptional communication and interpersonal skills
• You are excited by the mission of the National Western Center; it is motivating to think about what’s next and what’s possible
• You have a track record of being dependable

Compensation range: $185,000 - $200,000

What we can offer you:

We offer family-friendly benefits and flexible work hours to all our employees.

• Medical, dental and vision coverage
• Paid time off
• Paid parental leave
• 401k plan with a 4.00% company match
• Support for community involvement

Salary : $185,000 - $200,000