About the International Festival of Arts & Ideas

For 25 years, the International Festival of Arts & Ideas has inspired and delighted audiences with an annual program of over 200 performing arts and humanities events each June, at least 80% of which are free. 

In 2020, the Festival chose innovation and optimism over cancellation, and celebrated its 25^th anniversary by producing and presenting three months of rich and diverse virtual programming.  Events ranged from world- and nationally-renowned speakers sharing the stage with critical local voices for discussions on democracy, to jazz concerts; take-out mixology classes; virtual bike and walking tours; and live, individual performances by local on-call artists on front lawns and sidewalks throughout the area. 

Year-round programs include special town-hall events, a fellowship program for youth, planning and implementing mini-festivals in New Haven’s culturally-rich neighborhoods, participation in the NEA Big Read, and our annual Visionary Leadership Award program.

The Festival’s mission is to create an internationally renowned festival in New Haven of the highest quality, with world-class artists, thinkers and leaders, attracting and engaging a broad and diverse audience, celebrating and building community, and advancing economic development. 

Position Description

The Director of Finance and Administration will be a strategic thought-partner and support for the Festival’s Executive Director and senior leadership team. The successful candidate will be hands-on and participative, and will lead and develop an internal team to drive the following areas with exceptional business acumen and a lens of equity: finance, business planning and budgeting, human resources, administration, and IT.

The Director of Finance and Administration will play a critical role in partnering with the senior leadership team in Programming, Marketing, Development, and Production for strategic decision making and operations as The International Festival of Arts & Ideas continues to enhance its quality programming and build capacity.  This is a tremendous opportunity for a finance and operations leader to maximize and strengthen the internal capacity of a well-respected, high-impact arts organization that is committed to advancing racial justice, global engagement and community impact in the performing arts.

Responsibilities

 Financial Management

• Oversee and lead annual budgeting and planning processes in conjunction with the Executive Director; administer and review all financial plans and budgets; monitor progress and changes; and, where appropriate, keep staff abreast of the organization’s financial status.
• Oversee all financial, project/program and grants accounting.  Supervise and oversee the work of the Festival Accountant, and review monthly statements and schedules together with them, making such revisions and adjustments as may be necessary. 
• Ensure that the Festival’s financial practices are in compliance with the Financial Policies and Procedures set forth by its Board of Directors.
• Analyze and present financial reports in an accurate, understandable, and timely manner, and serve as the staff liaison to the Finance Committee of the Board, working with the Executive Director and Director of Development to provide members with thorough and accurate reports and forecasts.    
• The Festival is subject to the enhanced scrutiny of an annual, State Single Audit.  Ensure the issuance of a clean opinion by the independent auditor by designing and rigorously maintaining systems for internal processes that produce financial records and reporting of the highest standard.
• Coordinate and lead the annual audit process, liaising with auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board.
• Work closely with the Director of Development to refine and project actual revenues against goals, and ensure that forecasts reflect current conditions, and are as accurate as possible.
• Review and approve all vendor, artist, speaker, and other contracts proposed by staff, prior to their execution, confirming that they are reasonable, understandable, and in keeping with Festival policies and practices. 
• Ensure that the financial terms of all contracts and agreements entered into by the Festival (200+ per year) are met.
• Review and Approve or decline purchase orders for all expenditures submitted by members of staff.  Approve or decline payments for approved expenses based on contractual requirements, the receipt of goods or services, or the presentation of adequate documentation.
• Manage banking and credit relationships, including merchant credit card processing.  Actively seek the best possible interest and discount rates.
• Oversee the tracking, reporting, and reconciliation processes of box office operations.
• Ensure compliance with requirements for organizational licenses, registrations, and legally required filings.
• Manage memberships in outside organizations and professional associations.
• Act as fiduciary and administrator for the Festival’s 403b retirement plan.

 Human Resources, Technology and Administration

• Foster and encourage a positive work environment.
• Be responsive to staff members, and available for questions.  Act as a resource to employees seeking help navigating employment or HR issues. 
• Oversee and Administer the Festival’s human resources policies and procedures, as set forth in the employee handbook.  Work with the Executive Director to engage an ad hoc committee of the board to review and update the handbook periodically, on an as-needed basis.
• Review and refine protocols for performance reviews and metrics for determining employee compensation.
• Manage the Festival’s employee benefit programs, including health insurance, section 105 and 125 plans, and 403b plan offerings.
• Design and administer staff development opportunities and trainings that support organizational policies, values and priorities.
• Create and/or refine existing systems for overseeing and managing the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and orientation of a paid seasonal team of up to 200 employees.
• Manage the Festival’s offices, including allocating workspace and equipment to a small year-round staff and large seasonal workforce, providing each with comfortable, efficient spaces to work.
• Hire, train, and supervise the work of a seasonal Volunteer Coordinator, and work with them to enhance the recruitment, training, and orientation processes for a large and essential volunteer corps.
• Manage the Festival’s IT systems, including an internal, server-based network with up to 60 users, many now working remotely, and an owned inventory of approximately fifty PCs, and 10 MAC computers.  Work together with a fee-based external IT company to insure the integrity and security of all systems.  Provide employees with limited help-desk type IT support. 
• Manage the Festival’s office equipment, including programming the phone system; handling copier leases, equipment inventories, etc.
• Hire and oversee the Festival’s Volunteer Coordinator, Festival Office Coordinator and Accountant.
• Oversee policies and relationships with Festival insurance vendors.