Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer Position Description

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine

The Position

The Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, located in New York City and the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, seeks a Chief Financial Officer as part of a restructuring of the Cathedral’s administrative team. 

The home of the Episcopal diocese of New York and the seat of its Bishop, the Cathedral is a multifaceted institution engaged simultaneously as a place of worship, a public education and tourism center, a world-renowned conservator of textiles, a clothing closet and soup kitchen for families in need, as a provider of programs meeting a variety of development and enrichment needs for the young people of Morningside Heights, and as a significant player in the culture of New York City.

The Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer is a key senior administrator within the Office of the Dean. Other direct reports to the Dean include the Vicar, the Canon for Community Engagement and the Executive Directors of Development, Cathedral Programming, and Operations. The successful candidate’s first priority will be to grasp the scope of activities that take place on the Cathedral campus and come to understand both the big picture and the complexities inherent in the operation of the Cathedral.

Taking charge of the budgeting process collegially is another priority. This emphasis pertains to both operating and capital budgets, and extends to assisting with budgeting for individual programming as well.

Core Responsibilities

• Oversee the Cathedral’s fiscal office (staff of four)
• Review and update, where necessary, internal control safeguards
• Provide oversight of the general ledger (operating and capital budgets)
• Cash flow management
• Monthly financials/P & L Reports
• Quarterly consolidated reports
• Analytics/forecasting
• Accounting and reporting on the investment of the endowment and other assets
• Maintain financial systems (Financial Edge; Raiser’s Edge)
• Serve as liaison for all banking and investment accounts
• Oversee the annual budget process (operating and capital budgets)
• Assist in the audit process and ensure timely completion
• Serve as primary staff to the Finance, Investment and Audit committees of the Board
• Serve as additional staff to the Executive, Programming, Development and Fabric (buildings and grounds) committees of the Board of Trustees
• Work with CFO of the Cathedral School on various items including cost sharing, investments and timing of the year end reporting

Desired Experience and Characteristics

• Service-minded individual who is drawn to, and embraces, the mission of the Cathedral
• Extraordinarily competent accountant, CPA preferred
• Non-profit experience a huge plus
• Collaborative, even-tempered team player
• Sees big picture, understands complex processes
• Also detail-oriented, analytical, hands-on
• Self-confident individual who can speak candidly to the Dean and to Board members
• Enthusiastic, curious and energetic
• Sets high standards and motivates staff
• Driven by equity, fairness, common good
• Sets an energetic work pace

Compensation 

• The range for this position is $190,000-$210,000

To Apply

• Please send a cover letter and resumé to jtiebout@stjohndivine.org

Equal employment opportunity and having a diverse staff are foundational principles at The Cathedral of Saint John the Divine. We are committed to ensuring equal employment opportunity without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, marital or civil partnership/union status, familial or caregiver status, alienage or citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, military or veteran status, genetic information, predisposition, or carrier status, unemployment status, domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking victim status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.