Summary
Description
The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM), located in Chattanooga TN, was established in 1961 and is the premier visitor destination that preserves and conveys the rich history of railroading in the southeastern United States. Among its several regular excursions, TVRM’s passenger trains run on a historic route, which includes Missionary Ridge Tunnel, completed in 1858 and on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the passenger excursions, TVRM preserves railroad equipment to educate visitors about the importance of this industry and how it helped create the modern world in which we live.
The Board of Directors of this 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization has completed a significant strategic planning process and is looking for a finance and administration leader. The Finance & Administration Director role is a new position, created by the Board within the planning process to both lead and support the finance, accounting, and administrative teams responsible for the attraction, passenger and museum businesses.
The team at TVRM leads within the organization’s vision, mission, and values, the Finance & Administration Director role, as a member of senior leadership, has financial, accounting, administrative operations, and cultural responsibilities for the individuals for which they are responsible and will work as a member of senior leadership to fulfill the strategic objectives of the organization.
The ideal candidate will bring experience in leading financial, GAAP accounting, and administrative operations in a not-for-profit organization, especially one that provides rich experiential opportunities, and offers a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, public administration, or non-profit management. Additional attributes of the ideal candidate include the ability to consistently produce high-quality work, exhibit strong time-management skills, require minimal supervision, and care about mentoring, training and developing other team members. A critical thinker, this person uses critical thinking skills to analyze data and develop meaningful solutions to specific problems. The nature of our organization and business requires this to be an on-site position.
Required qualifications include a minimum of ten years of progressive responsibilities in financial and accounting roles, with the ability to provide values-based leadership to TVRM team members. Other requirements include strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to implement and refine internal controls, appropriate structures and personnel designations; ensure production of timely, accurate, and comprehensive financial and accounting reports; preparation of and assistance in effective budget management; additional desired experience effective partnership with audit, IT, and other partners and service providers. Also under the TVRM umbrella are the for-profit Tyner Terminal and the East Chattanooga Belt Railway, therefore, candidates should be familiar with preparing consolidated statements including cost allocation between the non-profit parent and the for-profit subsidiaries, along with managing related tax strategy.
Information about TVRM may be found by visiting www.tvrail.com.
Finance & Administration Director
Reports to: President
General description: The Finance & Administration Director role is a full-time leadership position that has both lead and support responsibilities for the finance, accounting, and administrative teams for the businesses of Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum (TVRM).
Key Job Responsibilities:
Finance/Accounting
- Ensures compliance with federal, state, local, and organizational laws, regulations, guidelines, and best practices, including but not limited to tax laws, and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
- In collaboration with the leadership team, and skilled and trusted departmental employees, develops, implements, operates, maintains, and controls the essential operating systems, information, and financial business of the company
- Executes the annual financial planning process for operations, working closely with President, directors, and managers to develop budgets
- Defines and implements key performance indicators and strategic objectives for the scope of responsibility and, as appropriate, the entire organization; facilitates measurement of those objectives, reporting results to the leadership team.
- Monitors all cash activity and cash reserve accounts to ensure timely payments to employees, vendors, and collections
- Manages personnel handling tasks related to the monthly close, accounting reports, journal entries, bank deposits, monitors bank accounts and transfers, credit card reconciliation, accruals, accounts payable function, insurance policy renewals, revenue recognition, and cost center reviews with leadership
- Oversees daily accounting functions performed internally and/or externally including tasks performed by third party providers
- Oversees payroll, allocations, and conducts review of payroll reports in support of internal controls
- Manages annual and periodic audits
- Updates and Implements policies and procedures that may impact finances
- Participates in forecasting/mitigating risks through continuous review of policy and procedures
- Supports the research and implementation of new technology systems that create efficiencies and user-friendly experiences
- Provide financial and accounting expertise as it relates to new and major projects
- Ensures availability of adequate and appropriate equipment, staffing, and systems; recommends additional staffing and services
- Directs and reviews preparation and submittal of quarterly reports for worker’s compensation, sales taxes, and other reports as needed and reviews form 5500 as prepared.
- Maintains financial records pertaining to fixed asset acquisition, depreciation, and disposal. Performs research for fixed asset disposals. Prepares documentation for fixed asset reporting to management, auditors and others as required.
- Leads special projects as assigned by President
Human Resources, Contract Management and Compliance
- HR oversight includes overseeing those who facilitate onboarding/offboarding, educating staff on benefit options such as leave, 403b retirement fund, health care enrollment, and medical reimbursement. Ensures compliance with safety, and operational regulatory requirements, worker’s compensation procedures, and labor and employment laws.
- Manages our portfolio of contracts with entities providing products and/or services to TVRM to ensure contract compliance, programmatic renewal and reports, budget submission, and budget amendment(s); establishes and maintains relationships with associated points of contact; ensures complete files on all contracts
- As applicable, manages contracts and relationships with point of contact for funding entities; ensures compliance, complete files on all grants
- Evaluates new opportunities when aligns with mission and strategic growth plan
Organizational Leadership
- Provides thoughtful leadership as part of the Leadership Team
- Upholds the TVRM mission, vision, and values
- Regularly participates in staff meetings and other meetings involving TVRM representation
- Maintains knowledge of developments and trends in finance and administration including technological advances
- Ensures continuous learning of evolving GAAP and other requirements within scope of the role through continuing professional education endeavors as well as committed to developing further as a leader
- Responsible for the hiring, mentoring, training and development, and effective management of a team of finance, accounting, and administrative team members, helping them to grow as professionals in their role
- Provides coverage for staff who are absent or assigns to others when necessary
- Available to assist outside of assigned duties during periods of high activity at TVRM
- Performs other duties as assigned
Qualifications:
Education/Professional Designation
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, or non-profit management or equivalent experience required, Master’s degree preferred
- CPA or CMA designation preferred
Experience:
- Ten years or more of progressive responsibilities in Finance, GAAP Accounting, Administrative operations required
- A minimum of three years supervisory experience required
- Familiarity with Sage accounting platform preferred
- Familiarity with Paycor HRIS platform preferred
- Ability to implement, evolve, and fully support appropriate internal controls
- Experience effectively partnering, working with, and managing outside entity contracts/service providers
Skills/Traits:
- Ability to manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities, projects, and deadlines concurrently
- High attention to detail and results-oriented approach to work
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to implement and refine internal controls, appropriate structures and personnel designations
- Demonstrable effective leadership including hiring, retention, training/development of team members
- Demonstrable ability to ensure production of timely, accurate, and comprehensive financial and accounting reports
- Experience in the preparation of and assistance in effective budget management
- Effective partnership with audit, IT, and other partners and service providers
- Proficiency in the use of personal computers and Microsoft software applications, specifically Excel
Other:
- Ability to successfully complete TVRM background/drug screening processes
- Environment: Office
- Shift Work: No
- On-Call: Yes
- Weekend Work: Yes
- Travel Required: 0 – 2 Days per Month
Physical Demands:
Work is predominantly performed in a quiet to moderately loud office environment. Required to remain in stationary position 50% of the time, occasionally move about inside the office, constantly operate computer and other office productivity machinery such as copier and position self to maintain files in cabinets and occasionally life up to 25 pounds; ability to accurately communicate information and ideas so that others will understand; observe details at close range; lawfully and safely operate a motor vehicle.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
TVRM is an Equal Opportunity Employer encouraging diversity in the workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and subsequent opportunities for training and/or promotions for all job titles without regard to race, national origin, gender, gender identity, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, marital status, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal laws.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
