Chief Financial and Administrative Officer
DESCRIPTION
Cincinnati Opera seeks a strategic, analytically strong, and collaborative leader to serve as Chief Financial and Administrative Officer (CFAO). This role is a key thought partner to the General Director & CEO and a member of the senior leadership team, providing insight, analysis, and leadership to support the organization's financial health and long-term sustainability.
Working closely with senior leadership and the Board, the CFAO guides financial strategy in an environment where core finance, accounting, HR, payroll, and IT functions are delivered through a shared-services partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO) and trusted third-party providers. The role is focused on planning, forecasting, risk management, and decision support, rather than day-to-day transaction processing or operational execution.
Key Responsibilities
Serve as Cincinnati Opera's senior financial executive, responsible for financial strategy, fiscal stewardship, and the integrity of financial reporting and internal controls, reporting directly to the CEO and functioning as the primary financial liaison to the Board of Trustees and its committees.
Serve as staff liaison to the Finance & Audit Committee and the Investment Committee; partner with trustee-chairs to develop agendas, provide analysis and recommendations, and present financial data and reports as needed.
Lead development of the annual operating budget, along with forecasting, scenario planning, and multi-year financial modeling to support the organization's mission and strategic priorities.
Develop and maintain financial dashboards, scorecards, and key performance indicators.
Oversee treasury management, including cash flow planning and relationships with banks, custodians, and investment managers.
Oversee risk management activities, including insurance coverage and contractual review; provide contract oversight, including artist agreements and lease arrangements.
Serve on a small leadership team managing union relationships and negotiations.
Manage the external audit process and act as primary liaison to the shared-services provider; ensure coordination across finance, audit, and HR functions consistently meets Cincinnati Opera's needs.
In collaboration with Development, oversee gift accounting to ensure accurate records and donor intent documentation for pledges, planned gifts, and restricted and endowment funds.
Collaborate with the Development team to supply financial modeling, budgets, reporting, and compliance documentation for grant proposals and post-award reporting.
Coordinate with outsourced IT and other professional service providers to ensure alignment and accountability.
Qualifications
5+ years of experience in financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis, including multi-year modeling and scenario planning.
Experience partnering with senior leaders and boards on long-term financial planning and organizational sustainability in a nonprofit, arts, or mission-driven organization.
Ability to translate complex financial data into clear insights that support decision-making at the senior leadership and board level, including monitoring performance against budget and identifying trends, risks, and opportunities.
Experience with accounting, audit, or financial reporting, and the ability to work effectively across strategic and operational finance functions.
Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business, or a related field; CPA, advanced degree, or relevant certifications preferred.
Strong communication skills and a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach, with the ability to build effective working relationships across departments and with external partners.
Comfort working in a shared-service or outsourced finance environment and coordinating with external professional service providers.
Commitment to the mission of Cincinnati Opera.
About Cincinnati Opera
Founded in 1920, Cincinnati Opera is one of the oldest and most highly regarded opera companies in the United States. Known for its longstanding partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, a roster of world-class singers, and its spectacular performance venue, Cincinnati Music Hall, Cincinnati Opera has received numerous accolades and awards, including a recent nomination for the prestigious International Opera Award. Cincinnati Opera offers a primary season of performances from June through August (paid attendance 17,000–20,000), plus a host of events throughout the year, including educational programming, small-scale public performances, recitals, and fundraisers.
Note from the General Director & CEO:
Greetings from Cincinnati Opera. I thought it might be helpful to share a bit more context about this opportunity. The Chief Financial & Administrative Officer role comes at an important and forward-looking moment for Cincinnati Opera. Over the past several years, we have focused on strengthening the organization’s financial position in partnership with our Board, while continuing to invest in artistic excellence, innovation, and community impact. We have recently transitioned core finance and HR functions to a shared-services model, creating new opportunities to reimagine how strategic financial leadership can support the company’s future.
With these changes in place, we are seeking a thoughtful, collaborative financial leader who will partner closely with me, our senior leadership team, and our Board to guide long-range financial planning, support sound decision-making, and help align ambition with sustainability. This role spans strategy and operations and involves working with an expert team of committed professionals, an engaged and highly qualified Board, longstanding partnerships, and a financial structure that has tested the field for centuries, all in pursuit of an art form that delivers like no other.
The CFAO will join an engaged and supportive leadership team—some of the best people I know—and work closely with a committed Board that, like all of us at Cincinnati Opera, cares deeply about the future of the art form and the company. I know I speak for the entire organization when I say we are excited to find the right person for this role and to welcome them into our community. I look forward to being in conversation.
Christopher Milligan
The Harry Fath General Director & CEO
Desired Start Date: May 1, 2026
BENEFITS
Pay Range: $110,000 - $125,000 Annual
Competitive benefits package
HOW TO APPLY
Submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references to Stephanie Kolodziejski at Strategic HR. Initial application review will begin March 23, 2026.
Application Deadline: March 23, 2026
Application Email/Link: SDKolodziejski@StrategicHRinc.com