Chief Financial Officer

 

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority’s mission is to generate significant regional economic activity by attracting conventions, tradeshows, and other events to its world-class facilities while maximizing the investment return for the residents and businesses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Established in 1982, The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) is an independent public authority of the Commonwealth. The Authority is governed by a 13-member board of

directors. Nine members are appointed by the Governor, 2 members are appointed by the Mayor of Boston, and 2 (ex officio) members are the Secretary of Administration and Finance and the Collector-Treasurer of the City of Boston or their designees.

Located in the center of Boston, the MCCA owns and oversees the operations of the largest convention centers in the Northeast, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC) and the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center (Hynes) in addition to

the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, The Lawn On D Powered by Citizens Bank, Lot On D and the Boston Common Garage. The BCEC and Hynes have earned a rare gold standard from the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC), making Boston only the fourth city in North America and the 12th worldwide to have been awarded this top standard, the highest certification level a convention facility can achieve under strict AIPC guidelines.

 

In 2023, the MCCA hosted 272 events at the BCEC, Hynes and MassMutual Center with 660,000 attendees, generating 555,000 hotel room nights, and $845 million in economic impact. Today, MCCA has 426 employees with an annual budget of approximately $95 million and its state-of- the-art facilities manage and promote a wide range of events from high school graduations to exhibitions to athletic events. Its facilities are widely acclaimed for offering large scale accommodations. The facility bookings currently extend to the year 2038.

 

Learn more about the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority at https://www.massconvention.com.

 

 

The MCCA seeks a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) who will oversee all aspects of fiscal management of the organization, including the budget, policies, controls, accounting, treasury activities, and financial reporting, planning, and forecasting. Provides strategic leadership, financial perspective, and active contribution to management decisions. Actively works with all departments to drive the mission of the Authority. The CFO is a key member of the senior management team and staff resource to the Board of Directors and its AF&P

 

Subcommittee.

Key responsibilities for the Chief Financial Officer include but are not limited to:

 

 

• Works closely with the Executive Director and other members of the senior management team to ensure achievement of Board-stated goals & priorities and effective links and communication between MCCA constituents.

• Maintains accountability, integrity, and openness in the conduct of the MCCA’s

business.

• Oversees comprehensive budgeting needs for the organization and ensures MCCA effectively manages and maintains all aspects of its critical budget function.

• Works collaboratively with MCCA’s leadership team to develop an organization-wide risk mitigation strategy incorporated into the organization’s financial and operational planning.

 

 

• Defines and communicates MCCA finance policy in accordance with sound business practice and Board/senior management directives.

• Institutes internal control systems designed to ensure protection of assets, accurate accounting of business activities, and effective adherence to operational plans.

• Responsible for compliance with internal policies and procedures, fiscal statutory obligations, and contractual commitments.

 

 

• Fosters and promotes a collaborative and inclusive work environment within the Finance Department team and across the organization broadly.

• Provides and leads critical mentoring, training, and professional growth opportunities for Finance Department staff.

• Directs the activities and evaluates the performance of the Finance Department staff.

• Ensures a fair and appropriate assignment of responsibilities within the department.

• In support of the Director of Finance, responsible for keeping the Finance staff at the highest level of skill necessary to meet MCCA needs and objectives.

• Ensures staff are able to meet tight deadlines particularly during the fiscal year-end close, fiscal year opening, and annual audit.

 

 

• Responsible for the proper maintenance of MCCA’s fiscal accounts and preparation of its financial statements in accordance with US generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

• Manages the relationship and oversees high-level planning with outside auditors.

• Ensures timely submission of financial reports to external constituents, including the Board of Directors, State Comptroller’s Office and the Executive Office for Administration & Finance.

• Serves as the primary point of contact for various State Offices and Departments.

• Works with the CFO of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the Office of the State Treasurer and Receiver General to prepare annual certifications required by bond covenants.

• Serve as the Authority’s representative in updating the Commonwealth’s information

statements and bond disclosure documents, including signing required 10b-5 letters.

 

 

• Works closely with senior management to envision MCCA’s future and develop a

roadmap of strategies, goals, objectives, and action plans to achieve that future.

• Helps to understand the strategic alignment between MCCA’s goals and capabilities and

its changing market opportunities.

• Participates in the development of MCCA’s mid – long-range business plans.

• Develops financial plans that link the MCCA’s strategic mission to measurable financial

goals.

• Drives innovative thinking regarding alternative future revenue streams and explores new business opportunities, as they arise.

• Champions business performance management strategies, including leading and lagging measures to be used by senior management to support business decisions.

• Develops metrics of financial success and operational efficiency within MCCA’s strategic

framework, including articulating KPIs and other benchmarks.

• Remains abreast of emerging trends in convention center, hospitality and related

industries to continually align MCCA’s financial strategies with market dynamics impacting MCCA’s strategic vision and operations.

 

 

• Responsible for preparation of the MCCA’s annual operations and capital budgets.

• Directs the study and on-going measurement of local economic impact derived from MCCA properties and operations.

• Provides thought leadership, financial models, and frameworks to drive key functional decisions including but not limited to pricing and sales compensation.

• Reviews proposed changes to Event License Agreements to minimize

risks to Authority while maximizing the opportunities for events at the Authority’s

venues.

• Assesses and implements financial technologies (e.g. ERP systems, forecasting tools, etc.) to improve organizational efficiency across MCCA.

 

 

• Establishes and maintains banking relationships.

• Responsible for cash management and short-term and long-term investing.

• Responsible for fiscal management of all long-term capital projects, including oversight of budgeting and spending.

• Directs all long-range capital planning and investing activities.

• Works with fiscal agencies of the Commonwealth to develop long term financing strategies to meet future capital and operating needs of the MCCA.

• Ensures that operating and restricted funds are used in accordance with legislative, contractual, Board, and regulatory requirements.

• Manages all activities of the Authority’s pension and OPEB trust funds and serves as the

secretary of the pension and OPEB Board.

 

 

• Participates actively in negotiations for all significant contracts including but not limited to revenue generating and union agreements.

 

 

The ideal candidate will have the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

 

 

The ideal candidate will utilize deep knowledge of financial planning, analysis, and management to develop and implement strategies, policies, and business practices that improve measurable outcomes and align with broader organizational strategy. Drawing upon exceptional planning, analytical, and organizational skills, along with excellent time management, the CFO will guide senior leaders and the MCCA team to successfully manage and implement a comprehensive financial function within a complex environment. The CFO will have experience using innovative solutions to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of organizational resources to better assess, prioritize and operationalize solutions. Serving as an expert resource in these areas for the Executive Director and MCCA’s leadership team, the CFO will draw upon keen quantitative reasoning and analysis skills and data evidence to provide thoughtful insight on projects and lead the organization forward with a focused and pragmatic strategy.

 

 

In overseeing a broad portfolio, the CFO will act as a creative problem solver and remain flexible in adapting to emerging and developing needs of MCCA as the organization transitions into a new organizational chapter. Working in partnership with the Executive Director, the CFO will be able to successfully develop and implement clear, action-oriented, and innovative strategies to grow organizational capacity and improve service across a variety of functions within MCCA’s network. A self-starter with a keen sense of broader priorities, the CFO will possess a high level of business acumen and judgment, with the ability to make practical, realistic, data driven, and timely decisions. As MCCA’s guide through structural changes impacting financial functions across the organization, this individual will understand, analyze, and interpret complex problems and achieve sustainable solutions with the sophistication,

creativity, and openness needed to identify and implement new strategies to ‘get things done.’ This leader will be nimble, strategic, and collaborative at incorporating perspectives while informing decisions based on best practices.

 

 

Leading with strong management skills and a collaborative working style, the CFO will bring a demonstrated ability to build and motivate a diverse team toward a common purpose. This leader will inspire high performance and enhance morale to build, nurture, and retain a strong team of professionals that is focused on excellence, accountability, and efficiency. Constantly fostering and promoting an equitable and inclusive environment across an organization, the CFO will employ a command of key Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion principles in leading their team and infusing those values across the broader organization. The CFO will be a strategic, results-driven leader with demonstrated success in similarly complex roles with increasing responsibility in governmental or nonprofit agencies.

 

 

The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated success in developing, cultivating, leveraging, and managing major relationships and partnerships. The CFO will collaborate closely with the Executive Director in developing strong working relationships across all organizational functions. Leading with transparency and trust, the ideal candidate will effectively provide senior leaders and direct reports alike with relevant, updated information related to overall financial and administrative matters and coalesce MCCA’s team around a common path forward. Using strong facilitation skills, the CFO will employ clear and concise communication to share information verbally and in writing with a diverse range of constituents, including the Executive Director, leadership team, Finance team, staff, and external constituents. The CFO will effectively communicate complex financial data that is digestible and clearly understood by a range of both financial and non-financial constituents.

 

 

• CPA and/or MBA with a minimum of 10 years of overall management or relevant education and practical work experience.

• High moral and ethical standards along with strict adherence to

confidentiality is of utmost importance considering the position’s access to all financial

information of the Authority, including payroll.

• In depth knowledge of the geopolitical environment and the ability to relate that knowledge to organizational priorities and activities.

• Extensive knowledge of Massachusetts State Finance Law.

• Demonstrated knowledge of Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statements and experience implementing and/or auditing said standards.

• Ability to prepare, review and analyze governmental financial statements and present results to a wide range of constituents with varying backgrounds.

• Exceptional communication skills with an ability to engender trust and operate with the highest integrity.

 

 

Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. The salary range for this role is

$190,000 - $205,000 with a generous benefits package.

The work schedule for this position typically involves whatever hours are necessary to complete the job. The hours and days may fluctuate based upon the needs of a particular event or project, which would require the ability to work a flexible schedule including late nights, early

mornings, long days, weekends and holidays.

 

 

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Maureen Alphonse-Charles. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by . All inquiries are strictly confidential.

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

 

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority is devoted to strengthening community relations by generating economic impact and by developing both employment and business opportunities. Doing so allows us to effectively contribute to the city, both economically and culturally.

The MCCA's success is a credit to the hard work and exceptional customer service practiced by our employees and vendors. With the increasing number of events taking place at our convention centers, our partnerships are continuing to grow. While promoting diversity and equal opportunity, we are in search of dedicated, enthusiastic individuals to join our team or to do business with us and our clients.

 

 

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

 

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

 

Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.