Controller

The Organization

Since its founding in 1900 the MFAH () has vigorously pursued a mission to serve as a place for all people through excellence in the collection exhibition preservation conservation and interpretation of art. To that end the MFAH actively seeks to connect the institution with the community through outreach programs held across the region touching the lives of hundreds of thousands of people each year. Close to one million visitors engage annually with the Museums permanent collection of nearly 77000 objects as well as the artists and works featured in special exhibitions presentations and programs.

The MFAH is the largest cultural institution south of Chicago west of Washington DC and east of Los Angeles. The 14-acre campus features three buildings for the display of art: the Caroline Wiess Law Building (renamed in 1998) the Audrey Jones Beck Building (opened in 2000) and the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building (opened in 2020). In addition the Museum campus includes the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden the Glassell School of Art and the Brown Foundation Inc. Plaza. Nearby are two house museums: Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens and Rienzi. Within these buildings exhibition galleries and an educational resource center reside alongside the oldest repertory cinema in Houston and one of the largest art libraries in the Southwest the MFAH Hirsch Library which encompasses more than 90000 source materials on art and artists from ancient times to the present.

Over the years the MFAH has been privileged to acquire outstanding works of art representing a wide variety of geographic regions and historic periods. Particular strengths lie in: Pre-Columbian art; Renaissance and Baroque painting and sculpture; 19^th- and 20^th-century art; African-American art; photography; and Latin American art. Bayou Bend houses one of the finest assemblages of early American furniture silver ceramics and paintings outside of Winterthur; Rienzi serves as the Museums center for European decorative arts showcasing one of the most important collections of English porcelain outside of the United Kingdom.

The Museums encyclopedic collection and exciting exhibitions provide great opportunities for education and outreach and the Museums approximately 600 full-time staff and approximately 1100 volunteers work with community partners to design and implement initiatives aimed at achieving the benefits identified with an understanding of and participation in expressive arts. The MFAH Learning and Interpretation department delivers a wide range of innovative programs that encourage children students adults families teachers and scholars to engage with the Museum utilize its resources to enhance both social and academic education and bring the arts to special needs and underserved populations at local schools community centers and hospitals.

The MFAH one of the few Museums in the country with a studio school is well positioned to advance art practice. The Glassell School of Art is a popular community resource and the internationally regarded Core Residency Program.

The MFAHs annual operating budget is approximately $100 million and the institution has an endowment of approximately $1.9 billion. Sixty percent of the endowment supports operations and 40 percent supports accessions.

By providing a broad range of educational and artistic activities the Museum seeks to capture the vibrant patchwork of Houstons unique culture and to respond to the interests and needs of a diverse population. Thus the vision of inclusion and accessibility on which the MFAH was founded continues to motivate the MFAH Board and staff to constantly refine Museum programs and design innovative approaches that engage the entire community in the arts and in a

celebration of the diverse forms of creativity that intrigue inspire and excite us all.

The Role - Summary:

The Museum is seeking a senior internal finance leader responsible for organizing directing and managing all accounting activities of the organization. As the organizations Controller this includes oversight over the general ledger accounts payable payroll capital asset and construction accounting investment accounting financial and tax reporting regulatory and compliance areas. The Controller will ensure that the museum has in place the proper internal controls over all financial assets.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on accounting leader with strong technical expertise particularly within nonprofit organizations who enjoys building scalable processes and improving financial operations. This individual is highly organized proactive and solutions-oriented capable of identifying issues early and recommending improvements to financial processes and reporting. They embrace technology and modern tools to improve efficiency and reduce manual financial workflows.

This opportunity is best suited for a detail-oriented Controller who takes pride in running a disciplined accounting operation and enjoys improving systems processes and reporting structures within an evolving organization.

Key Core Competencies

• Strategic Financial Leadership Supporting Mission and Sustainability
• Financial Stewardship Transparency and Regulatory Compliance
• Team Leadership Mentorship and Professional Development
• Collaborative Partnership with Leadership and Program Teams
• Clear Financial Communication with Executive Leadership and Board

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Directly supervises the following areas:

• Payroll (processes payroll checks for all employees and payroll related tax filings)
• Accounts Payable (processes payments to vendors)
• Accounts Receivable and Cash Receipts (oversees deposits by students Museum Shop Admissions Membership Development and other departments)
• General Ledger (oversees the recording of all transactions into the general ledger)
• Grant Accounting (records grants in the general ledger and coordinates required reports for public and private grants)
• Financial Reporting and Analysis (prepares internal and external financial reports for the museum ensures that all cash and investment accounts are reconciled to the general ledger on a timely basis)

Directly or through subordinates:

• Directs the establishment and documentation of accounting policies and procedures as required. Exercises policy direction over the conduct of accounting operations throughout the museum.
• Ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Ensures timely closing of the general ledger on a monthly basis.
• Establishes an appropriate system of internal controls so that assets of the museum are safeguarded. Works with the CFO and other senior management on managing the museums risk exposure.
• Timely prepares and distributes accurate internal financial reports including monthly financial statements to appropriate museum departments and personnel.
• Prepares the external financial statements of the museum (including the footnotes and any supplemental schedules). Manages coordinates and oversees the various external audits of the museum including the financial and benefit audits. Ensures that museums management is aware of any issues that may result in disagreements with the independent accountant or that may result in a qualified audit opinion a reportable condition or any other matter of reporting consequence. Coordinates the museums response to the external auditors recommendations to management.
• Manages and coordinates the preparation of the museums Form 990 Form 990 T and related tax and information returns. Works in consultation with external tax consultants to ensure that management is aware of new and proposed changes in tax regulations that affect the museum. Ensures the timely posting of the Form 990 on the museums web site and provides copies to interested parties upon request.
• Responsible for all other tax reporting to the applicable government agencies.
• Responsible for state charitable solicitation registrations and annual reporting
• Manages the development and implementation and provides detailed support for evaluation and selection of computerized general ledger financial accounting and financial reporting systems.
• Manages accounting for capital construction projects preparing accurate progress reports budget variance reports and other reports as required on a timely basis.
• Ensures that the museum properly records restricted and unrestricted gifts provides periodic financial reports to donors and grantees as required by gift and grant agreements. Ensures that the terms of the gifts are being properly followed and reported.
• Responsible for the recording and reconciling of the investment activity of the museums endowment fund. Ensures that the valuation and reporting on the endowments alternative assets is appropriate.
• Manages the renewal of the museums general liability property and workers compensation insurance policies.
• Support the CFO on various special projects and by providing tactical and strategic advice.

Skills Knowledge and Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal planning consulting and conflict resolution skills
• Must possess maximum integrity and honesty and the highest ethical values. The ability to keep information confidential is imperative.
• Must possess leadership vision and energy with the presence to quickly build credibility among employees and management. Must have a hands-on management style and exhibit superior judgment negotiation and analytical skills.
• Strong strategic and conceptual thinking capabilities.
• Capacity to work independently with minimal supervision yet exercise outstanding judgment in determining when to approach staff with questions and information.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills. Must be capable of developing written presentations for a high-level audience of officers or trustees and be comfortable and successful at making verbal presentations to such groups.
• Must have a positive outlook and be collegial innovative flexible strategic-minded professional well-organized and able to engender the trust and respect of peers subordinates and superiors.
• Proven track record as an outstanding leader and motivator. Must enjoy significant operational interaction with individuals at all levels within the organization and treat them with respect.

Education and Experience:

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible accounting and financial management experience in a museum higher education or other large not-for-profit. Experience with endowments preferred.
• Bachelors degree in related field MBA or master degree in accountancy highly preferred. CPA certification required.
• Supervisory experience related to finance and accounting
• Experience with automated financial systems complex spreadsheets database query tools.

Differentiators: these will set you apart in the selection process

• Sharp Strategic Thinking & Problem Solving Candidates should describe themselves as sharp hardworking and capable of quickly noticing issues trends or opportunities.
• Able to work in varied directions (to Director CFO COO Museum Senior Leadership Team) and across the organization (interdepartmental vendors etc.); can see around the corners to add value to the business and be a strong strategic thinker.
• Technical Accounting & Financial Expertise Acts as the organizations go-to accounting expert with the ability to research complex financial topics conduct root cause analysis synthesize key information and critically evaluate findings to provide clear professional and logical insights to a non-accounting audience. Demonstrates proficiency in treasury management cash flow optimization and payroll oversight ensuring financial stability and operational efficiency. Experience with systems that manage inventory at a high level of detail is essential.
• The organization values leaders who take ownership of their roles and operate with a high degree of accountability and collegiality combined with an open curious and transparent communication style.

About the MFAH

The MFAH is an organization comprised of 600 employees and 1000 docents and volunteers. The museum is more than 100 years old and ranks nationally among the top 10 art museums in exhibition space memberships endowments and attendance with 1M visitors annually. Our multifaceted institution includes multiple gallery buildings a sculpture garden two art schools three eateries and two house museums for decorative arts. The encyclopedic collection numbers more than 70000 works of art in a wide range of media.

As an employer MFAH offers a supportive collegial and inclusive work environment and a competitive benefits package.

Position Available:

Title: Controller

Classification: Exempt - Salaried

Schedule: 35-hour work week 9 am to 5 pm

Pay Rate: Please see Compensation below

Work Location: Museum of Fine Arts Houston

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

Work will primarily be performed in an office environment. Work will involve extended sitting and extensive computer use. With or without reasonable accommodation the individual selected must have the capacity to perform effectively all essential addition to the other demands mentioned the demands of the job may or will include:

• Must undergo and meet company standards for background credit1 and reference checks.
• Required ability to handle multiple tasks concurrently.
• Extensive computer usage.
• Seeing hearing speaking and writing clearly in order to communicate with staff guests and others.
• Frequent sitting which may be required for extended periods of time.
• Good vision or corrected by use of glasses and/or contacts for reading and viewing abilities.

Equal Opportunities for All

The Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) is committed to attracting and retaining talented individuals who can contribute meaningfully to our mission and organizational excellence. We welcome all applicants whose skills experience and perspectives prepare them to succeed in this role and support the Museums work in serving a broad public.

MFAH is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made based on qualifications merit and business needs and without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable federal state or local law. We are committed to fair and consistent employment practices and to maintaining a professional respectful workplace for all employees.

We recognize that no candidate meets every qualification listed in a job description. If your background and experience align with many of the responsibilities and requirements of this position we encourage you to apply.

MFAH is committed to ensuring equal access to employment opportunities. Qualified individuals with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations to participate in the application process interview process perform essential job functions and access the benefits and all other privileges of employment. Requests for reasonable accommodation may be directed to the Human Resources Department at

Benefits:

The Museum of Fine Arts Houston offers an excellent benefits package that includes:

• Medical Insurance: Employee and dependent coverage through a choice of managed health care programs
• Dental Insurance: Employee and dependent coverage through two plan choices
• Vision Insurance: Employee and dependent coveragethrough a vision program
• Group health dental and vision insurance coverage available and effective the first of the month following employment with the MFAH for this role.
• Life Insurance & AD&D: Employee coverage at no cost to the employee
• Long Term Disability: Employee coverage at no cost to the employee

The MFAH providesa generous schedule for time off under the following benefit categories:

• Paid Time Off - Used for absences from work such as vacation illness of short duration and personal reasons. Hours are accrued biweekly based on employment status length of service and hours worked
• Reserve Time Off - Used for extended illnesses. Employees accrue up to 6 days per year up to a maximum of 120 days
• Holidays - Full-time employees receive eleven paid holidays per year
• Volunteer Time Off - The MFAH supports activities that enhance and serve the communities in which we live and work. Employees receive up to 40 hours of paid time off annually to give back and volunteer.

Other Benefits

• Staff may contribute to the MFAH Retirement Savings Plan. Eligible staff contributing to the plan may receive up to a 5% matching contribution from the MFAH after one year of service. (We also recognize prior nonprofit service which will provide for an accelerated employer match!)
• Roth IRA also available!
• MFAH Membership Staff receive a free Family-level membership
• Discounts Staff receive discounts on purchases at the Museum shop and all on campus eateries and courses for you or your family at the Glassell School of Art.
• Metro commuter subsidy available upon request

Compensation:

Salary will be commensurate with the applicants experience and the needs and requirements expressed in the job description. The MFAH has set the pay range for this job and level as a general guideline and not a guarantee of the compensation amount or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job education experience knowledge skills and abilities the needs and requirements expressed in the job description as well as internal equity and alignment with market data and any related regulations or other laws.

Application Procedure

Qualified applicants should apply online which will be the most effective way to ensure consideration. Application materials should include:

1. Cover letter
2. Resume

If you prefer a list of references will be accepted but not required at this early stage in the process. Applications or letters of interest sent via mail fax or direct email to a staff member will not ensure consideration.

1 Financial credit reporting for this role is intended solely to assess financial responsibility integrity and stability as they relate to the positions financial duties.