Posted: 16-Jul-25
Location: Newark, New Jersey
Type: Full Time
Salary: $150K - $175K
Reporting to: President & CEO
Direct Reports: Controller, Office Manager, Bookkeeper, IT (outsourced)
New Jersey Symphony
As an integral part of the musical landscape in the country’s most vibrant cultural corridor, the New Jersey Symphony (“Symphony” or “NJS”) has for over one hundred years continued to enrich lives through a passion for musical excellence and a commitment to New Jersey, its people, and its communities. The Symphony has been recognized by The Wall Street Journal as “a vital, artistically significant musical organization,” led by Music Director Xian Zhang – a “dynamic podium presence” – since 2016. The New York Times has praised Zhang for her “technical abilities, musicianship, and maturity.”
The New Jersey Symphony, with an annual operating budget of more than $16 million and a modest endowment, currently serves as the resident orchestra of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center with additional performance series in four other outstanding venues throughout New Jersey. With more than 140,000 New Jerseyans of all ages enjoying more than 160 concerts, education and community events each year, and with numerous partnerships with arts organizations, universities, and civic organizations, the Symphony has cultivated broad support, including approximately 3,000 donors and a rebuilding subscriber base of 3,300 post pandemic.
In addition to its lauded artistic programming, the New Jersey Symphony presents a suite of nationally recognized education and community engagement (ECE) programs that promote meaningful, lifelong engagement with live music, annually serving as many as 60,000 New Jerseyans in nearly all of its 21 counties. Core program offerings include Concerts for Young People; the New Jersey Symphony Youth Orchestras; Preschool Program; and the touring chamber music program, New Jersey Symphony Community Partners. Through its diverse array of programs, the Symphony expands access to quality music instruction as well as provides vital arts learning experiences that reinforce social and emotional learning outcomes, foster confidence, and bring joy.
At the forefront of addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the orchestral industry, the New Jersey Symphony launched in 2019 a multi-year professional learning module for staff, musicians, and trustees as well as the Colton Fellowship for early career musicians from communities historically marginalized in symphonic music; the Colton Fellowship expanded in 2023 to include a conducting fellow position. In 2021, the Symphony added a Resident Artistic
Catalyst (now titled Resident Artistic Partner) role to its artistic leadership team to compose, perform, and advise the Symphony to allow its programming to become more modern and inclusive of world-class artists from all walks of life. These initiatives grew out of the Symphony’s continuing commitment to transforming all aspects of the organization to reflect the diversity of the communities it serves – a commitment which has deep roots in the Symphony’s 103-year history.
In recent years, the New Jersey Symphony celebrated its centennial; raised $61 million from a $50 million capital campaign; earned Emmy awards for its virtual concerts featured on NJ PBS; completed its first-ever professional branding engagement with an outside branding agency; and moved to a new ticketing, CRM and eCommerce system, which has resulted in single ticket sales exceeding pre-pandemic levels. The artistic and organizational foundation remains strong,
with musicians under contract through August 2027 and Music Director under contract through the 2027-28 season.
With a new strategic plan in place, the Symphony now embarks on a bold vision for the future, the centerpiece of which will be a new Symphony Center that includes a 550-seat, versatile performance space in Jersey City. This transformational initiative and expansion into Jersey City will make the organization a community place-maker and will be the largest venue in Jersey City’s Powerhouse Arts District – a city that is on track to surpass Newark as the most
populated city in the state. The new 44,000-square-foot Symphony Center will also include space for administrative offices, establish a permanent rehearsal hall for the musicians, and expand performance, education programs and community engagement opportunities. The Symphony Center will diversify earned revenue through rentals and presenting activities, and increase contributed revenue associated with capital projects and expanded community programs. The City of Jersey City is partnering with New Jersey Symphony to activate and manage the venue, with final interior theater construction expected to be completed by Winter 2026 for a Spring 2026 expected public opening.
Scope & Responsibilities
Reporting to the President & CEO, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be an integral part of the NJS’ executive management team and is responsible for all aspects of financial and fiscal management of the Symphony. He or she will provide leadership and coordination in the administrative, business planning, accounting, and budgeting processes of the organization. He or she will develop tools and systems to provide critical financial and operational information to the President & CEO and make actionable recommendations on both strategy and operations. He or she will also oversee long-term budgetary planning and costs management in alignment with the NJS’ strategic plan. This position also provides support to the Finance Committee of the board, in addition to managing outside consultants and business relationships including auditors, banking, and the financial information system.
As the NJS embarks on a transformational initiative to relocate to Jersey City and activate the Symphony Center as its new home base, the CFO will be given the rare and exciting opportunity to successfully drive forward the endeavor. In partnership with Monet, DBI, NJPAC, and the rest of the NJS board and staff, the CFO will play a critical role in overseeing the project management and financial planning of this monumental operation. Other specific responsibilities of the CFO include:
- Executive Management
- Serve as a member of the executive leadership team;
- Participate in key decisions pertaining to strategic initiatives, operating models, and operational execution;
- Work with the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees, providing data, analysis, situational scenarios and structure to the discussions;
- Develop, manage, and evaluate Finance Department staff to cultivate an effective team dynamic;
- Support and partner with the President & CEO on major financial and budget related initiatives.
- Financial Planning & Analysis
- Develop and utilize forward-looking, predictive models and activity-based financial analyses to provide insight into the organization’s operations and business plans;
- With the President & CEO and Finance Committee, develop and present annual budgets for Board approval;
- Prepare reports which summarize and forecast activity and financial position in areas of income, expenses, and earnings based on past, present, and expected operations; maintain complete analysis of financial results; develop recommendations (strategic and tactical);
- Assist in development of organizational business plans.
- Finance
- Oversee cash flow planning and ensure availability of funds as needed;
- Oversee cash and asset management;
- Oversee financing strategies and activities, as well as relations with banks and other financial institutions;
- Oversee AR management and provide support to collections activities;
- Ensure that optimal financial control and reporting systems are in place by establishing, or recommending to management, financial strategies, objectives, and policies for NJS;
- Direct timely preparation of budgets, review budget proposals, and prepare necessary supporting documentation and justification;
- Ensure maintenance of appropriate internal controls and financial procedures.
- Accounting
- Oversee the accounting department to ensure proper maintenance of all accounting systems and function;
- Ensure timeliness, accuracy, and usefulness of financial and management reporting for federal and state funders, and Board of Trustees; oversee the preparation and communication of monthly and annual financial statements;
- Review all month-end closing activities including general ledger maintenance, balance sheet reconciliations, and corporate/overhead cost allocation;
- Enhance and implement financial and accounting systems, processes, tools, and control systems;
- Manage all financial aspects of local, State, and Federal grants including required reporting;
- Serve as final point of decision-making for Accounts Receivable/Accounts Payable issues;
- Serve as a key point of contact for external auditors; manage preparation and support of all external audits;
- Remain up to date on nonprofit audit best practices and state and federal law regarding nonprofit operations.
- Insurance/Real Estate /Legal Affairs
- Manage the company’s insurance program;
- Manage the company’s real estate affairs consisting of leases and sub-leases;
- Participate in collective bargaining negotiations along with COO and President & CEO;
- Negotiate new leases or lease renewals; coordinate with legal counsel;
- Ensure legal and regulatory compliance regarding all financial functions.
Key Selection Criteria
The next CFO of the New Jersey Symphony will be a strategic and forward-thinking leader with the requisite depth and breadth of experience and track record of success in finance and administration to immediately understand and seamlessly assume responsibility for the varied and complex functions of this position. The CFO will be proactive and data-informed, contributing to big-picture strategy while ensuring excellence in execution. This person must possess strong analytical and management skills, especially in the areas of financial planning, modeling, and forecasting. This person must be passionate about classical music and intrinsically motivated by the mission of NJS. Ideally, this person will have an acute understanding of the unique and intricate business model and collective bargaining dynamics of the American symphony organization to expertly interpret financial data and make sound decisions. Ideally, this person will have direct experience with capital construction projects and in leading change management of nonprofit organizations of similar size and complexity. The next CFO will be capable of navigating ambiguity, balancing risk, and helping to shape organizational priorities during a period of continued growth and opportunity. The ideal candidate will demonstrate their qualifications for this position through the following:
- A minimum of 10 or more years of related experience, with a career track that demonstrates increasing levels of tenure and responsibility;
- Successful experience in a senior financial management role, with demonstrated ability to collaborate with a CEO, other executive staff, and Board members;
- Ability to serve as an active partner in new business development, projecting financial models and other information required for appropriate organization decisions;
- Successful experience designing and controlling sustainable financial models;
- Significant experience in or knowledge of nonprofit accounting, grant accounting, compliance, and reporting;
- Ability to gather and synthesize financial data and recommend strategic business decisions;
- Excellent analytical and abstract reasoning skills, plus excellent organization skills;
- Experience working with current information technology to manage finance and accounting systems;
- Excellent written and oral communication skills;
- Leadership, team management, and interpersonal skills;
- Flexible and a self-starter; able to multi-task while also being detail-oriented;
- Proficient with the Microsoft Office suite of products along with billing systems, preferably Sage; familiarity with Tessitura is desirable;
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, or Accounting required (MA/MBA preferred);
- A CPA is highly desirable.
Personal / Professional Attributes
- Forward thinking and proactive approach to problem-solving
- Clear, persuasive communication – written and verbal
- Even-keeled temperament; firm and steady in analysis and consultation
- Entrepreneurial with a constant eye on new business opportunities and maximizing income potential
- Flexible and collaborative; comfortable navigating nuance and gray area
- Self-motivated with an ability to multi-task while also being detail-oriented
- High integrity, emotional intelligence, and professional demeanor
- Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace