Chief Financial Officer

About Utahs Hogle Zoo (UHZ)

Mission: Create champions for wildlife by making connections between people and animals to inspire action.

Vision: A world where people and wildlife thrive together.

UHZ stretches over 42 acres of natural hillside terrain that was generously donated by the Hogle family in 1931. We are a founding member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and have been accredited since 1979.

UHZ is committed to making a positive difference for animals people and Utah. We believe in the wellbeing of wildlife and believe that their environment is the responsibility of all. We encourage bold thinking and courageous actions to protect wildlife and hope for a better tomorrow.

We value our guests and appreciate that every guests visit and their care for all animals is important to achieving the Zoos mission. We collaborate with diverse partners and engage our community in our mission and work. We believe everyone plays a role in protecting wildlife and wild places.

At UHZ we encourage and support Zoo team members and value effective communication courtesy professionalism and respect (CPR). At our core we value collaborative teamwork as ONE ZOO. This is done by lending a helping hand to one another in a dedicated team environment.

Summary of Role:

At Utahs Hogle Zoo the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is more than a financial steward they are a strategic partner in shaping the future of the Zoo and driving its mission forward. This is a unique moment for zoos as they work to evolve their business models expand mission impact and explore innovative ways to generate sustainable revenue. We are seeking a forward-thinking financial leader who is excited to blend financial excellence with creativity helping the Zoo thrive while advancing conservation education and community engagement.

Reporting to the President/CEO the CFO is the primary organizational liaison for the Board of Directors Finance Committee and is a member of the Executive Leadership Team. The CFO provides strategic business and financial guidance to support informed decision-making on issues affecting the organization as well as short- and long-term planning.

The CFO is responsible for directing the fiscal functions of the Zoo in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and overseeing day-to-day finance and accounting operations. As an officer of the Zoo the CFO sets operational standards ensures compliance implements budgetary controls and manages toward financial sustainability and growth.

Essential Duties:

Provides strategic business and financial guidance to the President/CEO and other stakeholders for successful implementation of the Zoos strategic plan.

Manages and oversees the organizations financial health through ongoing analysis and taking action to ensure solvency and sustainability.

Proactively shares ideas and contributes to the diversification and optimization of revenue streams to support the Zoos long-term viability sustainability and ability to achieve its mission.

Oversees finance and accounting operations and ensures that the CEO and management receives timely and regularly recurring reports analysis and guidance on financial operations.

Provides leadership mentoring and training to direct reports to ensure successful job performance and professional growth.

Oversees short- and long-term budget planning for operations infrastructure maintenance capital projects and master planning implementation to ensure the Zoo remains a premier destination. Evaluates and provides insights on the impact of long-range planning and the introduction of new programs or strategies.

Assesses organizational opportunities and vulnerabilities and makes sound business recommendations based on analysis forecasts and financial models to facilitate informed decision-making.

Proactively works to strengthen interdepartmental trust and relationships through open responsive and informative dialogue to build partnerships and achieve organizational goals and objectives.

Develops policies and procedures in collaboration with the Executive Team by way of systems that will improve overall operations and effectiveness.

Oversees banking investments and audit legal and regulatory affairs.

Serves as liaison to the Finance Committee; regulatory bodies that have authority over the functional areas of responsibility government funding partners; relevant vendors; and counterparts in other organizations.

Keeps relevant audiences apprised of the Zoos financial condition through timely and impactful verbal and written reports to help responsible parties make informed decisions.

Provides guidance from the financial perspective on any contracts into which the Zoo may enter.

Produces accurate compliant and timely financial statements each month and at year end.

Acts as primary contact for planning preparation fieldwork and completion of annual financial; federal state and local tax preparations; and regulatory grant audits.

Serves as a visible leader and represents the organization professionally internally and as needed externally.

Manages day-to-day treasury activities and banking relationships including lines of credit and debt service.

Ensures regulatory compliance within functional areas of responsibility.

All other duties as required of this position and assigned by the CEO.

Experience and Skills Requirements:

Proven ability to serve as a strategic CFO and business partner to the CEO while simultaneously ensuring accuracy timeliness and compliance in accounting.

Extensive working knowledge of GAAP.

Strong fiscal management and budgeting abilities.

Proven ability to develop reliable cash flow projections and reporting mechanisms which include minimum cash thresholds to meet the operating needs of the Zoo.

Proven ability to monitor and assess performance metrics for each operating division to ensure that they are aligned with the overall institutional goals and deliver on the plan.

Proven ability to initiate research to monitor and anticipate trends opportunities and obstacles to the business.

Ability to communicate orally with customers vendors management and other co-workers is crucial.

Must be a person with the capacity to anticipate challenges and develop creative and practical solutions sound judgment and technical skills analytical ability and ability to focus and prioritize multiple and sometimes competing projects. High moral ethical standards and ability to maintain confidentiality are required.

Must be able to think critically and demonstrate problem solving skills.

Must be organized efficient decisive intelligent and have effective communication skills.

Experience Preferred:

Must have a minimum of 10 years of progressive financial management experience including at least 5 years of related industry experience providing leadership to an accounting and finance department (Zoos nonprofits or similar organizations).

Small- to mid-sized business experience.

Capital budgeting.

Financial management of master plan implementations

Educational/Certification Requirements:

A bachelors degree or equivalent experience in accounting finance business administration economics or another suitable field of study is required.

Educational/Certification Preferred:

A masters degree in finance accounting or business administration is preferred.

CPA preferred.

Computer Program/Resource Requirements:

Must be proficient with MS 365 and be able to adapt well to various other computer programs.

Extensive working knowledge of accounting software.

Computer Program/Resource Preferred:

Blackbauds Financial Edge NXT

Sage Intacct

Workplace (Finance Portal)

Physical Requirements:

Must be able to lift up-to 25lbs.

Travel Requirements:

Some travel to conferences - less than 5%.

Language Requirements:

Fluent English proficiency both written and spoken.

Benefits:

Medical Dental Vision Life and other supplemental insurance.

The Zoo is a part of the Utah Retirement System (URS) and contributes on the employees behalf.

Employees may opt to make additional contributions to a 401K plan within URS.

Relocation allowance for qualifying employees.

Vacation days: Generous paid vacation days.

Sick days: New employees annually accrue 10 days of sick time.

Nine paid holidays in the year.

Employee Assistance Program for employees and their families paid for by the Zoo.

Employee long-term disability insurance paid for by the Zoo.

Various employee reimbursements and contributions including wellness activities and professional development.

Every employee receives a free Zoo Employee Membership that allows admission to the employee and up to 5 guests. It also provides free carousel and train rides as well as free admittance to ZooLights and BooLights.

Generous discounts on concessions and gift shops items.

Tickets at Work membership which provides discounts and offers on theme parks shows sporting events and travel.

Awesome coworkers who care about animals and each other!

Disclaimer:

UHZ is employment at will. This means the employee or employer may terminate the relationship at any time without reason or cause. UHZ is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race ethnicity color religion national origin sex pregnancy pregnancy-related conditions age disability sexual orientation gender identity gender expression genetic information or protected veterans status.

Utahs Hogle Zoo is a drug-free workplace. All employees are subject to random drug testing.

All Employees must provide a negative TB test prior to hire date and maintain TB testing through course of employment.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

Monday to Friday

Weekends as needed

Ability to Relocate:

Salt Lake City UT 84108: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

To Apply: email Erika Lake at