Head of Accounting

Position: Head of Accounting

FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Finance and Accounting

Our Mission: Since the 1893 World Columbian Exposition, our organization has aimed to connect people to the natural environment and human history.

Join our team and enjoy a benefits package that truly supports your well-being and lifestyle:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Including medical, dental, vision plans, and even pet insurance.

• Financial Security: Life and disability benefits plus a 403(b) savings plan to help you plan for the future.

• Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off, paid sick leave, and paid holidays to ensure you have time to recharge and spend with loved ones.

• Exclusive Perks: Enjoy great employee discounts and complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions.

We're dedicated to enhancing your life both at work and beyond!

The Head of Accounting will serve as a senior financial leader responsible for overseeing all accounting operations, including systems and software, and compliance activities. This role requires deep expertise in non-profit accounting standards, regulatory compliance, and financial management, with the ability to lead a team while supporting the organization's mission-driven and financial objectives. The role also requires significant experience in project management for software implementations as it relates to the evaluation and modernization of accounting systems.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Oversee preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and non-profit accounting standards

• Ensure compliance with federal and state regulatory requirements including Form 990 preparation and filing, unrelated business income, and single audit requirements

• Manage relationships with external auditors and coordinate annual independent audits

• Maintain compliance with grant reporting requirements and donor restrictions

• Oversee endowment and investment accounting, including fair value measurements and realized/unrealized gains/losses

• Manage restricted fund accounting and ensure proper classification and reporting of temporarily and permanently restricted net assets

Accounting Operations Management

• Lead and manage the accounting team, including hiring, training, and performance management

• Oversee the overall accounting operations of the team

• Implement and maintain internal controls and accounting policies and procedures

• Manage month-end and year-end closing processes to ensure accuracy and timeliness

Debt Oversight, Treasury, and Cash Management

• Oversee debt compliance monitoring and reporting to ensure adherence to all applicable debt covenants and regulatory requirements

• Manage relationships with credit reporting agencies

• Collaborate with legal counsel and external advisors on debt matters as needed

• Oversee daily cash management operations including cash flow forecasting and liquidity management

• Manage banking relationships and optimize cash positioning across multiple accounts and investment vehicles

• Coordinate with the portfolio and investment managers and provide back-office support for investment portfolio activities

• Manage endowment spending policies and ensure compliance with applicable state regulations (UPMIFA)

• Monitor and analyze program costs and revenue streams, including restricted and unrestricted funding sources

• Develop and maintain financial forecasting models incorporating endowment distributions and investment income

• Analyze donor restriction compliance and fund balance management

Systems and Process Improvement

• Lead strategic evaluation and modernization of accounting systems

• Spearhead implementation of cloud-based, integrated accounting software solutions designed for non-profit organizations

• Drive digital transformation initiatives to automate manual processes and improve efficiency

• Design and implement streamlined workflows that eliminate redundancies and reduce processing time

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure process effectiveness

• Develop and maintain comprehensive accounting procedures manual and process documentation

• Work with IT to ensure robust data integrity, security protocols, and disaster recovery procedures for all financial systems

Qualifications:

Education & Certification

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required

• CPA certification required

• Master's degree in Accounting or MBA preferred

Experience

• Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 5 years in a supervisory role

• Minimum 5 years of experience in non-profit accounting and compliance

• Minimum 3 years of experience with endowment accounting, restricted fund management, and investment portfolio support

• Experience with debt compliance management and credit agency relationship management preferred

• Proven track record of successfully leading accounting system implementations and process improvement initiatives

• Experience with organizations of similar size and complexity ($75M+ annual revenue)

• Demonstrated experience with treasury operations and cash management in complex funding environments

• Demonstrated experience managing technology-driven transformation projects

• Proven experience managing external audits and regulatory compliance

Leadership & Communication

• Strong leadership and team management skills with experience managing direct reports

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Ability to present complex financial information to diverse audiences

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities

• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills

Supervision Received:

This position reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer

Supervision Exercised:

Manages a team of 9 accounting professionals. The role works closely with the senior leadership across the organization.

Hybrid Eligibility: Eligible

Location:

1400 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Chicago, IL 60605

Union Representation: Not Applicable.

Pay Range: $175,000-$205,000

PLEASE READ: *When you apply for multiple positions, please make sure to delete your previous resume and cover letter and upload the latest version of your resume and cover letter that is relevant to the job you are applying for, every time you apply. This will help our hiring managers access the correct documents. Please note that removing the resume and cover letter will not delete any previously submitted resumes and cover letters.

The Field Museum is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination, embracing diversity, and fostering mutual respect. We value the unique perspectives each team member brings, which empowers our ability to innovate and overcome challenges.

At the Field Museum, we are dedicated to making our career website and recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you encounter any difficulty when using or accessing our online application, or if you need a reasonable accommodation for completing your application, participating in interviews, or any other part of the selection process, please reach out to us at [email protected] .