Chief Financial Officer (Full Time)

Job Details

Description

Summary:

The Chief Financial Officer develops, recommends, and maintains fiscal policies, internal controls, and procedures governing banking, receipts, disbursements, and accounting. They manage the annual operating and capital budgeting process, develop multi-year financial models to support strategic planning and oversee all financial operations, reporting, and compliance with GAAP for nonprofit organizations. The CFO serves as financial liaison to the City of Memphis and local, state, and federal agencies and supervises information and communication systems supporting financial operations.

Essential Job Functions

• Develop, recommend, and maintain fiscal policies, internal controls, and procedures governing banking, receipts, disbursements, and accounting.
• Oversee all financial operations, reporting, and compliance with GAAP for nonprofit organizations.
• Prepare accurate, timely internal and external financial statements, budgets, forecasts, and cash flow analyses.
• Oversee external relationships with auditors, banks, investment advisers, and legal counsel.
• Manage the annual operating and capital budgeting process; develop multi-year financial models to support strategic planning.
• Advise the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board on financial performance, risks, and long-term planning.
• Manage property, liability, and employee insurance programs, including risk assessments and cost-control strategies.
• Serve as primary liaison to the Finance Committee and provide financial reports at Board and committee meetings.
• Provide fiduciary oversight of the Zoo’s 401(k) plan and other employee benefit programs.
• Ensure proper allocation and tracking of restricted and unrestricted funds.
• Support grant management through financial review, reporting, and compliance monitoring.
• Review and negotiate contracts, ensuring risk management and regulatory compliance.
• Supervise information and communication systems supporting financial operations.
• Serve as financial liaison to the City of Memphis and local, state, and federal agencies.
• Benchmark organizational performance against peer institutions.
• Participate in senior management coverage for weekends, holidays, and special events.
  
  

Minimum Education And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• Progressive financial leadership experience, with recent 3-5 years' experience as CFO or other related position.
  
  

Preferred Education And Experience

• CPA or CMA license preferred.
• Advanced degree preferred.
  
  

Required Skills

• Expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls.
• Strong strategic thinking, data analysis, and financial modeling capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to relay complex financial information effectively to varied audiences while proficient in Microsoft Office and current Accounting Software technologies.
• Exhibits behaviors consistent with our culture while understanding the most effective and efficient way to accomplish tasks within the parameters of organizational hierarchy, processes, systems, and polices.
• Ability to understand business operations and functions; ability to recognize how internal and external factors interact to influence organizational performance; excellent knowledge of financial management with the ability to coach and achieve strategic objectives.
• Proven ability to manage multimillion-dollar budgets, grants, and complex funding structures.
• Leadership, mentorship & talent development.
  
  

Personal Characteristics

• Demonstrates strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal acumen, fostering trust, rapport, and influence across all levels of the organization.
• Exhibits adaptability and flexibility, embracing feedback and change with a growth mindset; effectively pivots in dynamic environments without losing momentum.
• Resilient, ethical, and mission-driven—able to lead with credibility in high-pressure environments.
• Brings a motivated, hands-on approach to leadership, willing to roll up sleeves and dive into the details when needed.
• Analytical and decisive, with a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibility: This position has approximately 3 direct reports.

Reporting Structure: Reports to Chief Executive Officer.

Position Type/Expected Hours Of Work

Full-time salary positions are defined as positions scheduled to work approximately 40 hours a week. Scheduling is at the discretion of the CEO to fit the needs of the position.

This position is considered exempt under the federal and state wage and hour laws.

Scheduling Availability Requirements

Position is typical office hours, Monday – Friday. Occasional evening and weekend hours as required. This position will participate in senior management coverage for weekends, holidays, and special events as needed.

Work Environment: While performing the duties of the job, the employee will primarily work indoors within a typical office environment. This role is primarily a sedentary position but will occasionally require the need to travel across Zoo grounds with or without the use of a golf cart.

Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

This position requires frequent sitting and may occasionally move or lift objects up to 20 pounds.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Other Duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Other Requirements

• 21 years or older.
• Clear background check.
• Clear drug screening.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Clear MVR screening.
• Proof of current automobile insurance.
  
  

Benefits & Perks

The Memphis Zoo has a comprehensive benefits and employee perks package. Please see our Memphis Zoo Careers page for details.

EEOC And Inclusion Statement

The Memphis Zoo believes that human diversity is as important as the biodiversity we seek to conserve. World-class zoos are comprised of world-class team members representing a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We value a diverse workplace and strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, and veterans to apply.

The Memphis Zoo is an equal-opportunity employer. Applicants will not be discriminated against because of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, citizenship status, disability, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, medical condition, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws. If you need to request any accommodations for the interview or hiring process, please let the Human Resources team (HR) know. HR can be contacted at [email protected].

The Memphis Zoo participates in E-Verify and is an EEO/ADA/Veteran employer.

All offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of pre-employment screening. Memphis Zoo is a drug-free workplace.

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

To apply: Submit applications directly to https://www.memphiszoo.org/careers. Applications should include the following:

• Cover letter (2 pages max)
• Resume
• Professional Certifications
• Names and contacts of five professional references who can provide letters of recommendation and/or verbal reference calls at the time of application submission.
  
  

All files should be combined into one single PDF with the file name “CFO__FIRST NAME_LAST NAME” and uploaded under “Documents”.

Incomplete applications will not be considered.