Director of Finance

STEPPENWOLF THEATRE COMPANY

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is the nation’s premier Ensemble Theater with 50 members who areamong the top actors, playwrights and directors in the field. Thrilling, powerful, groundbreaking productions have made this Chicago theatre legendary. From the 1980 phenomenon of Balm in Gilead, to The Grapes of Wrath, August: Osage County, Downstate, The Brother/Sister Plays, and now, the 2025 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Purpose, Steppenwolf Theatre has had a long-running and undeniable impact on American Theatre and Chicago’s cultural landscape. Founded in 1975 by Terry Kinney, Jeff Perry and Gary Sinise, Steppenwolf started as a group of young people in their teens and early 20s performing in the basement of a church. Today, the company’s artistic force remains rooted in the original vision of its founders: an artist-driven theatre, whose vitality is defined by its appetite for bold and innovative work. Every aspect of Steppenwolf is rooted in its Ensemble ethos, from the intergenerational artistic programming to the multi-genre performance series LookOut, to the nationally recognized work of Steppenwolf Education and Engagement, which serves nearly 15,000 teens annually.

While grounded in the Chicago community, more than 40 original Steppenwolf productions have enjoyed success nationally and internationally, including Broadway, Off-Broadway, London, Sydney, Galway and Dublin. Steppenwolf also holds accolades that include the National Medal of Arts, 14 Tony Awards, two Pulitzer Prize-winning commissions and more. Led by Artistic Directors Glenn Davis and Audrey Francis, Executive Director E. Brooke Flanagan and Board of Trustees Chair Keating Crown — Steppenwolf continually redefines the boundaries of live theater and pushes the limits of acting and performance.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

Steppenwolf Theatre Company is seeking candidates for the full-time position of Director of Finance. The Director of Finance serves as a strategic partner to the Executive Director and Senior Leadership team in guiding the financial health of Steppenwolf Theatre Company. They serve as a senior-level executive overseeing the theater’s accounting, financial planning, budgeting, and risk management functions. In this role, they will drive financial strategy, ensure regulatory compliance, establish and monitor standard operating procedures across departments as they relate to income and expense, and manage a team of three additional staff members.

Areas of Responsibility:

Provide Financial Oversight and Strategic Counsel

Direct the successful financial management of the theater, including accounting processes, internal controls and treasury management.
Serve as the lead financial strategist and counselor for Steppenwolf Theatre’s Executive Director, Senior Leadership Team members and the Board of Directors.
Establish and monitor standard operating procedures for all financial matters of the organization, amplifying cross-departmental collaboration and operational efficiencies that enable real time financial reporting and analysis.

Budgeting and Reporting

Lead the annual budgeting process for the organization, providing strategic analysis that facilitates operational efficiencies and revenue growth.

Provide oversight to the Finance Team and partnership for Department Leads in developing and issuing daily, weekly, monthly and annual reports that support the financial health of the theater and provide strategic tools for internal and external stakeholders.
Partner with the Development Team to provide proposal and reporting tools for key funders as well as reports on special campaigns and endowment funds.
Compliance and Risk Mitigation

Collaboratively lead the successful completion of the annual Audit of Financial Statements, 401k Plan and Tax Filing, leveraging cross-department teams to work in conjunction with external auditors, reporting to the Executive Director and Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
Ensure compliance with GAAP, ensuring consistency, transparency and accuracy in the theater’s financial statements and reports.

Ensure City, State and Federal regulatory compliance; provide oversight on the renewal of all licenses and associated fees; provide the Audit Committee with a regular SWAT analysis of operational risks and associated recommendations for mitigation strategies.
Negotiate the annual renewal of business and property insurance, mitigating the organization’s exposure.
Staff Training and Development

Lead and develop the finance team in completing the consistent and accurate execution of payroll, accounts payable, accounts and pledges receivable, and general ledger, accounting and budget maintenance.

Ensure that the financial accounting software (NetSuite) is optimized for the organization, coordinated with the other Systems used by the theater to facilitate income and expense (Tessitura, Paycom, Toast and Shopify).
Develop training and development programs that encourage cross-departmental collaboration in complying with operating procedures, leading to the optimal financial health of the company.
Investment Stewardship and Debt Oversight

Steward the theater’s investment holdings, aligning with the Investment Policy, and provide regular reports and counsel in conjunction with the banking partner to the Executive Director and Finance Committee of the Board of Directors.
Steward the theater’s Bonds, meet all interest and principal payments, advise on swap arrangements, conduct covenant tests, and provide counsel on the mitigation of risk/exposure to safeguard the debt repayment strategy.

Desired Qualifications: The desired candidate will hold a degree in Finance/Accounting as well as a MBA or CPA Certification, with a strong knowledge of GAAP procedures. 10 + years of experience in progressive finance leadership positions at non-profit organizations, with a preference for those with experience in large budget performing arts organizations. Proficient use of software systems, including: Microsoft Systems, NetSuite, Paycom, Tessitura, Toast and Shopify.

Compensation:

This is a Full Time Position with a salary range of $122,801 – $136,564 per year with excellent benefit package, including medical, dental, vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, vacation pay, paid sick time, personal days, Ventra transit benefit program, employee assistance program and 401(k) matching retirement program.