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East Coast Zoological Foundation

Chief Financial Officer

East Coast Zoological Foundation, Orlando, Florida, us, 32885

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Chief Financial Officer

The East Coast Zoological Foundation Brevard Zoo + The New Bowen Aquarium and Conservation Center

Brevard County, FL

About East Coast Zoological Foundation

Established in 1986, the East Coast Zoological Society, d.b.a East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF), is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization located in Melbourne, Florida. It encompasses the Brevard Zoo, Restore Our Shores, and the forthcoming Bowen Aquarium and Conservation Center. Each working in collaboration to advance our mission of sharing the joy of nature and helping wildlife and people thrive.

Since its inception, the community has been an integral part of the Zoo, with the Brevard Zoo recognized as the largest community-build worldwide and supported by nearly 16,000 volunteers. Located 55 miles outside central Orlando, the Brevard Zoo has become the largest zoo in East Central Florida, caring for nearly 800 animals, 200 species, and welcoming more than 550,000 guests a year, with 44% of guests from outside the county.

Accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), Brevard Zoo has earned consistent recognition as one of the nation's top zoos, including repeated honors from

USA Today's 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards .

Position Summary

East Coast Zoological Foundation (ECZF) seeks a mission-driven, strategic, and innovative financial executive to serve as its next Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This is an incredible opportunity for a CFO to join ECZF at a once-in-a-generation inflection point as it embarks on a transformational expansion with the creation of the new Bowen Aquarium and Conservation Center.

You'll have the rare opportunity to shape the financial strategy and infrastructure of a beloved, award-winning institution as it evolves into a nationally recognized dual-campus organization.

The CFO will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer, with a dotted-line relationship to the Chair of the Finance Committee. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and a strategic advisor to the Board of Directors, the CFO will provide visionary financial leadership and guidance to advance ECZF's ambitious growth agenda. They will be responsible for leading and managing all aspects of financial planning and analysis, budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, investments, internal controls, and compliance. This transformative leader will also play a critical role in evaluating and aligning operational functions with financial goals, ensuring the long-term financial health and sustainability of ECZF across both its current Zoo operations and future Aquarium campus. The CFO will be a collaborative partner in shaping ECZF's strategic vision and will bring the financial acumen and entrepreneurial mindset necessary to support the organization's continued innovation and impact.

The ideal CFO is a strategic thinker and collaborative partner who brings deep financial expertise, sound judgment, and a passion for mission-driven work. They will possess a track record of success in nonprofit or complex multi-entity organizations, with experience in capital planning, investment strategy, risk management, and optimizing financial systems, controls, and reporting. A clear and effective communicator, the CFO will work closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and fellow executive leaders to ensure alignment of financial strategy with organizational priorities. This individual will be comfortable navigating ambiguity, driving data-informed decision-making, and leading with both accountability and empathy. As a vital member of the Executive Leadership Team, you'll bring a big-picture perspective to the CFO role—collaborating across departments, promoting transparency, and helping to shape and advance ECZF's long-term vision for conservation, education, and community impact.

In addition to strategic leadership, the CFO will assume direct oversight of the Finance Department, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of daily accounting operations, financial reporting, and compliance with GAAP and nonprofit financial standards. The CFO will be responsible for ensuring full compliance with all local, state, and federal financial regulations, including those related to tax, insurance, and charitable reporting. This individual will lead or support the development and management of financial contracts, requests for proposals (RFPs), and vendor qualification processes. As a senior leader, the CFO is expected to model integrity, transparency, and collaboration, actively contributing to a unified leadership approach. Decisions will be made with consideration for the organization as a whole, reinforcing the interconnectedness of all ECZF departments, programs, and strategic objectives.

Essential Job Functions

Primary direct responsibilities include:

Strategic Planning Develop, oversee, and prepare the ECZF annual operating and capital budgets process with assistance from the Executive Leadership Team and input from the Board of Directors.

Prepare and assist with updating the Aquarium's financial model for short and long-term planning purposes.

Develop and monitor capital expenditures.

Provide recommendations to strategically enhance financial performance and business opportunities in all aspects of the ECZF.

Analyze, evaluate, and advise on the impact of revenue trends, long-range planning, forecasting, and the introduction of new programs, ROI, strategies, and regulatory action, along with revenue optimization.

Strategic thinker with proven ability to align financial strategies with organizational mission.

Mentor and develop finance department staff.

Serves as Advisor to the Board of Directors' Finance/Audit Committee.

Executive Leadership Relations Serve as a key business partner to the CEO and COO.

Support the Executive Leadership team by providing the team with the information they need to effectively manage their budgets.

Establish and maintain strong relationships with the Executive Leadership Team to identify their needs and seek a full range of business solutions.

Maintain positive relationships with bankers, auditors, vendors, and city/county representatives, and work with financial institutions to secure and maintain lines of credit or other resources as needed.

Financial Operations Direct and oversee all aspects of the Finance + Accounting functions of the organization.

Manage and oversee new loans and financing for the Bowen Aquarium.

Manage the external audit process and produce the audited financial statements as well as implement auditor recommendations.

Complete all requests for reimbursement and/or appropriation of sales tax funds. Submit the appropriate application and data to the Tax Authority administrator.

Prepare a variety of financial reports, including monthly financial statements, capital project reports, operational reports, and others as needed. Examine and analyze all financial documents for potential errors and trends in revenues and expenses.

Develop metrics for measuring financial performance across all ECZF operations.

Ensure timely reporting of financial information to the CEO, Board of Directors, Finance Committee, and other representatives as appropriate.

Provide all necessary information for the receipt of and reporting for grants.

Oversee applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations for financial and tax reporting.

Manage payroll and assist with the implementation of wage and hour regulations.

Oversee the accounting of restricted donations and appropriations from private and public sources.

Maintain proper cash management procedures and optimize cash flow.

Lead the further development and oversight of the organization-wide budgeting process.

Monitor budget variances and implement corrective actions as necessary.

Qualifications

Position Requirements Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, or related field; master's degree in a similar field preferred.

Minimum fifteen (15) years progressive financial experience, including at least 5–7 years in a senior financial leadership role (e.g., CFO or VP of Finance).

Experience as a senior-level administrator in a matrixed environment.

Current Certified Public Accountant certification, CMA, and/or MBA, preferred.

Experience in a not-for-profit organization and in-depth knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and internal controls, preferred.

Skills + Competencies

Strategic Financial Leadership Proven ability to develop and execute long-term financial strategy aligned with organizational mission and goals.

Demonstrates motivational and problem-solving acumen with a high degree of integrity and ethics.

Expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, and ROI analysis to inform strategic decision-making.

Experience with capital project financing, including planning and management of large-scale, multi-year initiatives.

Accounting + Compliance Expertise Experience managing audits, tax filings, financial statements, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Proficiency in managing restricted donations and public funding appropriations.

Understanding of the elements of a strong internal control environment.

Operational and Analytical Acumen Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex financial data.

Ability to establish and track KPIs and other metrics to monitor organizational performance.

Skilled in cash flow management, budgeting, variance analysis, and financial risk mitigation.

Leadership + Team Management Demonstrated success in leading and mentoring finance teams.

Experience collaborating cross-functionally with senior leadership and program teams.

Skilled at building a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Communication + Board Engagement Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to distill financial information for non-financial audiences.

Comfortable presenting to and advising Board members and Finance/Audit Committees.

Ability to foster trust and influence among diverse internal and external stakeholders.

Technological Proficiency Proficiency with financial management software and payroll systems. Sage Intacct, Raiser's Edge (donor database), and Paycor, preferred.

Advanced Excel and Microsoft Office Suite skills.

Mission Alignment + Sector Knowledge Passion for conservation, education, and environmental impact.

Understanding of nonprofit financial dynamics, particularly in capital campaigns and mission-driven organizations, preferred.

Ability to balance financial stewardship with programmatic investment and innovation.

Adaptability + Resilience Comfortable navigating ambiguity and organizational growth.

Able to manage competing priorities and shifting timelines with composure.

Entrepreneurial mindset with a commitment to continuous learning and improvement.

While direct knowledge and experience in a Zoo, Aquarium, or environmentally focused mission area are not required, the ideal candidate will be passionate about animal well-being, education, conservation, and our environment and will understand the value proposition of our organization, our local communities, and the global community of conservationists.

Reporting Relationships

The CFO reports directly to the CEO with a dotted-line relationship to the Chair of the Finance Committee, and has the following direct reports: Director of Finance *

Accounting Manager

Senior Accountant

Accounts Payable Clerk

Accounts Receivable Specialist

Cash Room Clerk

* Bold

indicates direct report to CFO

Location

This position is based in Brevard County, FL. The successful candidate must reside in or relocate to the Brevard County region.

Compensation + Benefits

The salary for this position is approximately $190,000-$210,000.

New employees are eligible for company insurance benefits on the first day of the month following 60 days of continuous full-time employment. Benefits include: Medical insurance

Dental and Vision insurance

Life and Short-term disability insurance

Voluntary long-term disability, accident, critical illness options

Voluntary term life and AD+D coverage

Health Savings Account (HSA) for eligible employees

403(b) retirement plan with a discretionary match up to 3% of base salary

Paid time off accrues at 5.23 hours per pay period for a total of 136 hours or seventeen (17) days per year for employees in their first three years; in months 36-71, a total of 184 hours or twenty-three (23) days per year are accrued at 7.07 hours per pay period; beginning at 72 months, employees accrue a total of twenty-eight (28) days per year; maximum carryover is 160 hours.

Bereavement leave offered in the event of the loss of a family member, a companion pet, or a Zoo animal in an employee's direct care

Employee assistance program

Zoo membership and tickets

Admission to local attractions through AttractionShare

As a reflection of our firm's commitment to equity and equal pay for all, Cooper Coleman requires that salary ranges or salary starting points be published for every search we conduct. The practice of not posting salaries perpetuates the gender and racial wage gap and discriminates against women, people of color, and other historically excluded populations by causing individuals to negotiate from a disadvantaged starting point.

Background Checks

Before sending your resume for this position, please read it over for accuracy. Cooper Coleman verifies its candidates' employment and academic credentials at the time of offer.

Note: ECZF performs drug screening and background checks on all staff members as a condition of employment and must be completed before the start date.

EEO + Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

ECZF provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Brevard Zoo complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

ECZF expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. Improper interference with the ability of ECZF's employees to perform their expected job duties is not tolerated.

ECZF will not tolerate retaliation against employees who raise concerns or who file a claim of discrimination whether through external agencies or through ECZF's internal procedures. Please see the following link for more information:

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal (dol.gov)

This job description is a summary and is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required by the employee. This document is subject to change at any time.

Brevard Zoo is committed to an inclusive environment where employees are encouraged to be their authentic selves. We value the diverse qualities, perspectives, and experiences of all individuals. Join us in sharing the joy of nature to help people and wildlife thrive.

Submission Instructions

(read carefully)

Cooper Coleman

is leading this search on behalf of East Coast Zoological Foundation. To apply, please visit

this link

( www.coopercoleman.com/current-searches ). Inquiries and nominations of qualified candidates can be sent to:

Kathy Kraushar Vice President, Executive Search kathy.kraushar@coopercoleman.com

Kindly use the position title as the subject line of your email. All inquiries will be held in confidence.

A cover letter is not required with your initial application but is welcomed to help us understand your fitness for this role during our initial evaluation.

Candidates invited for interviews will be asked to provide a thoughtful letter of interest indicating their specific qualifications for the opportunity, desire to join ECZF, and connection to its mission.

Cooper Coleman LLC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or identity, age, ability, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis.

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