Vice President, Finance

All potential applicants are encouraged to scroll through and read the complete job description before applying.

Mount Auburn Cemetery comprises 175 acres and is situated in Watertown and Cambridge near Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1831, and now visited by over 200,000 people each year, Mount Auburn is a National Historic Landmark, recognized as the first rural cemetery and the inspiration for the American Parks Movement during the 19th century.

As an active cemetery, Mount Auburn inspires all who visit, comforts the bereaved, and commemorates the dead in a landscape of exceptional beauty.

As an accredited arboretum, Mount Auburn features 5,000 trees and more than 20,000 plants overall.

Summary

The Vice President, Finance (VPF) is a key strategic role with hands-on responsibility for the development of Mount Auburn’s financial management strategy, contributing to the development of the organization’s strategic goals and providing insight into opportunities for long-term financial growth.

The individual contributor has a span of control encompassing business & financial planning, annual budgeting, forecasting, accounting, financial analysis, management and performance reporting.

The annual budget includes a $16M operating budget and $3-4M capital budget with assets of $230M. This role is part of a small, but growing entrepreneurial executive team located in Cambridge, MA and will report to the President / CEO.

This role will primarily be on site, however can be partially hybrid.

Job Responsibilities and Requirements

Strategy, Vision, and Leadership

• Advise the President / CEO and Board of Directors on financial planning and tracking, budgeting, cash flow, revenue strategies, investment priorities, and policy matters.
• Serve as the staff liaison to the Board of Trustees and Finance, Investment & Audit Committees.
• Contribute to the development of Mount Auburn’s strategic goals and objectives.

Financial Planning & Forecasting

• Provide accurate financial forecasting, including analysis and insights into the key drivers, assumptions, and changes.
• Build and maintain forecast reporting formats and processes that are easy to read for a wide variety of users including staff, Trustees and the public.
• Contribute to the development of revenue generation and growth planning involving multiple revenue channels.
• Participate or lead the development of building business cases for new initiatives, capital investments, and partnerships.

Annual Operating Planning

• Lead the annual operating and capital plan and budgeting process that includes both the Executive and Management teams, ensuring alignment with strategic focus and priorities.
• Provide recommendations regarding opportunities, risk management, and resource allocation.

Accounting, Administration & Controls

• Maintain an appropriate system of policies, internal controls, accounting standards, and procedures under the General Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
• Improve administrative and operational accounting services such as accounts payable, accounts receivable, treasury management, retirement plan, grants payment processing, accounts payable, and purchasing.
• Oversee management of administrative areas responsible for creating systems and processes that are effective and efficient.
• Manage accounting / reporting to ensure compliance with GASB audit standards and statutory requirements.
• Provide operational support for affiliate organization, Friends of Mount Auburn Cemetery, and coordinate financial reporting.
• Manage relationships with third-party finance vendors, auditors, tax vendors, etc.

Financial Analysis & Business Performance Reporting

• Report on business performance, including financial results and key metrics, providing analysis and insights.
• Help design and maintain reporting on business & financial results, including dashboards.
• Promote consistent business modeling, milestones, and dashboards by affiliate organizations.
• Advise the organization on tools and solutions to increase efficiency in forecasting, analysis, and reporting.
• Other special projects and tasks as assigned.

Key Qualifications, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Accounting, or Finance; MBA is desired. CPA or CMA is a plus.
• Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in Finance and Accounting, with significant FP&A exposure.
• Experience with nonprofit finance and accounting regulations.
• External audit and in-house financial management experience, with endowment experience a strong plus.
• Fluency with best in class, transparent accounting practices.
• Mastery of business modeling, management reporting and analytic tools to assist with revenue generation.
• Collaborative leadership style with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to emerge as a leading voice within the organization that uses collaboration and influence to move strategic and vision priorities forward while serving as an example of professional communication.
• Experience transforming financial operations including designing and implementing automated processes and systems.
• Ability to represent the organization in a professional manner to the community, vendors, and internal personnel.

Mount Auburn Cemetery is an equal-opportunity employer. It does not discriminate in employment opportunities on the basis of race, color, ancestry, religion, gender, national origin, age, pregnancy, citizenship status, physical or mental ability, military status, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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