Finance and Administrative Director

Visit Lake County | Gurnee, IL

Visit Lake County seeks an experienced and strategic Finance & Administrative Director to provide fiscal leadership for the organization. The Finance & Administrative Director will oversee financial, accounting, grant and reporting functions, ensuring state and county compliance and supporting organizational decision-making through accurate analysis and reporting duties.

The Finance & Administrative Director will work closely with executive leadership & staff, external partners and government entities to safeguard public funds, strengthen financial operations and clearly communicate tourism’s financial and economic impact in Lake County.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, strategic thinker who values public accountability, understands the importance of tourism’s economic impact and enjoys collaborating with hospitality community partners and local government leaders to support Visit Lake County’s mission.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Management

• Serve as the organization’s senior financial leader, overseeing finance, accounting, budgeting and business operations. Reports to the president.
• Maintain and manage the chart of accounts, cash flow forecasting and expense controls.
• Coordinate and manage banking relationships, investments and operational funding.
• Perform accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, including community investment, partnership and sponsorship invoicing and tracking.
• Manage payroll processing, ensure compliance with payroll, tax,and regulatory requirements.
• Administer employee benefits programs.

Budgeting, Reporting & Audits

• Coordinate the annual budget process and support leadership with financial planning.
• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements and reports.
• Oversee the annual audit process and serve as the primary liaison with auditors.
• Ensure accurate, timely county and state financial reporting.

Grant & Compliance Management

• Manage State of Illinois grant funding, including submission, administration, modifications, compliance and reporting.
• Ensure adherence to all grant, government and not-for-profit accounting standards.
• Maintain documentation and internal controls to support accountability for public funding.

Analytics, Reporting & Impact Measurement

• Prepare community, vendor and stakeholder reports.
• Analyze hotel and short-term rental trends, visitor data and revenue impacts.
• Measure and report on the financial and economic impact of sales and marketing programs.
• Assist leadership in preparing and presenting organizational results, financial status and local tourism impact reports to boards, partners and government entities.

Organizational & Community Engagement

• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to executive leadership and internal teams.
• Implement efficient technologies to streamline & automate processes and office functions.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of Lake County, Illinois communities, geography, local issues, government and culture.
• Enhance partnerships with community stakeholders, sponsors and government agencies through transparent financial practices.

Qualifications & Experience

• 5-8 years of professional experience in accounting, preferably within a non-profit, government, business, or public-sector environment. Hospitality, marketing or tourism industry background and a bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing grants, particularly State of Illinois funding.
• Strong knowledge of not-for-profit accounting standards, financial controls and GATA compliance requirements.
• Experience with audits, budgeting, payroll, benefits administration and financial analytics.
• Strong analytical, organizational and communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly in public settings.

Salary & Benefits

• A full-time position range of $80,000-$90,000, based on experience level.
• Employer-supported health insurance package available.
• Employer-matched IRA.
• Collaborative office environment, with vacation, PTO, holiday and seasonal benefits.
• Professional development opportunities.

Submit Resume & Cover Letter to [email protected]

The Organization

Visit Lake County (Lake County Convention & Tourism Bureau) is a 501 (c) (6) nonprofit that drives economic impact by building consumer awareness, implementing marketing strategies, setting sales objectives and creating a cohesive image for Lake County, Illinois. Branding the county and all partner communities together, the VLC team serves both residents and visitors by highlighting the area’s unique assets, events and accommodations to attract business and leisure travelers.

Note: Visit Lake County is impacted by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by vendors such as Indeed, ZipRecruiter and LinkedIn, as these vendors receive resumes in their portals. All employment interviewing and hiring decisions are made by our employees.

Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person