Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

BACKGROUND: Created in 1925 by Senator Simon and Olga Guggenheim in memory of their son John Simon Guggenheim, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation offers Fellowships to exceptional artists, writers, scholars, and scientists in pursuit of scholarship in any field of knowledge and creation in any art form under the freest possible conditions.

Fellowships are awarded through an annual competition open to citizens and permanent residents of the United States and Canada. The great range of backgrounds, fields of study, and accomplishments of Guggenheim Fellows is a unique characteristic of the Fellowship program. Since its establishment, the Foundation has granted nearly $400 million in Fellowships to over 18,000 individuals, among whom are more than 125 Nobel laureates, members of all the national academies, winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Fields Medal, Turing Award, Bancroft Prize, National Book Award, and other internationally recognized honors.

The Foundation has a unique organizational culture and a warm, collegial, respectful environment. The staff and Board are individuals who are genuinely passionate about and committed to the Foundation’s mission.

More information can be found at gf.org, the Foundation’s website.

THE OPPORTUNITY: The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer (CFO) oversees all financial systems and functions throughout the Guggenheim Foundation and their processes, procedures, and infrastructure to support the Foundation’s program and operations and facilitate financial decision making and discipline. As a vital member of the Foundation’s senior leadership team and a strategic advisor to the President on finance, operations, and human resources, the CFO values the Foundation’s vision, mission, and strategic direction and ensures that the Foundation meets the highest standards of financial integrity and service to the Foundation’s Board and staff.

The CFO reports directly to the President and works closely with board-level committees, including Audit and Investment, and manages a staff of two full-time professionals.

FUNDING: The Foundation has a $17 million annual operating budget and a staff of fifteen full-time professionals. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees is the steward of the Foundation’s $350 million endowment.

IDEAL QUALIFICATIONS:

• Significant history of progressively responsible experience overseeing the fiscal operations of an academic, cultural, or other related not-for-profit institution. Candidates from industry may be considered with relevant mission connection.
• Ability to serve as a trusted advisor to the President and serve as a resource on financial and administrative matters.
• Capacity to manage or advise on operational and business-related matters such as human resources and real estate.
• Ability to oversee day-to-day operations and provide guidance and direction on policy and strategic matters.
• Analytical ability to gather and interpret financial information and make recommendations to senior leadership and the Board.
• Experience working with an advancement/development team.
• Familiarity with endowments and investment management (working with outside investment consultants).
• Tech savvy: knowledge of commonly used financial and accounting software applications, ideally with implementation experience.
• Well-developed communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Successful experience working with board members and staffing board committees.
• Impeccable integrity and professionalism.
• Sound judgment.
• A collaborative “roll up your sleeves” working style.
• An interest in the arts, humanities, sciences, social sciences, and/or scholarship.
• Commitment to fostering and building a diverse team.
• An undergraduate degree preferably with a professional finance qualification, CPA, MBA, or equivalent experience is required.

Please click here to apply online via the Howe-Lewis Talent Portal. You may also email your resume and letter of interest to GuggenheimFdn@howe-lewis.com

All expressions of interest will be held in confidence.