Director of Finance

Position Summary

Founded in 1974 and located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, People’s Light seeks an exceptional Director of Finance (DOF) to join its senior leadership team at an exciting moment in the organization’s evolution. Reporting to the Producing Artistic Director, who serves as the organization's chief executive, the DOF will serve as the architect of a comprehensive finance and administration transformation, leading the transition from a predominantly outsourced model to a high-performing, fully integrated operation. The DOF will be charged with assessing existing financial practices, identifying and resolving historical operational, financial, and compliance challenges, and establishing the people, processes, systems, and controls necessary to support strategic growth, transparency, and institutional sustainability. As a key strategic partner to leadership and the Board, the successful candidate will combine strong financial expertise with a collaborative leadership style, building effective teams and fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and service in support of People’s Light’s mission and future success.

About People’s Light

Founded in 1974, People’s Light is a nationally recognized and award-winning LORT D theatre company and Live Arts destination located in Malvern, Pa. (Chester County), just outside Philadelphia. It is known for producing classics, contemporary plays and musicals, including signature holiday “panto” musicals, as well as commissioning and producing new work: over one-third of its productions in its 52-year history have been world or regional premieres. These include MUD ROW by Dominique Morisseau, LIGHTS OUT: NAT “KING” COLE by Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor, and BARCELONA by Bess Wohl. The company’s season of “Home Grown” productions is complimented by a series of “Special Presentations” of touring productions, as well as a range of artistic programs in their Farmhouse event space and 7-acre campus, including cabarets, concerts, and social-culinary cultural happenings like their “Flight Nights” series and drag brunches.

In addition, People's Light offers a robust array of education and community programs, including the New Voices Ensemble, a multi-decade program serving young people from the City of Chester; and New Play Frontiers, a long-term initiative rooted in community partnerships to develop and produce new plays that explore the American identity through stories of deep meaning to the diversity of populations rooted in Chester County.

People's Light has always called Chester County “home.” In 1979, the theatre moved to its current Malvern location, which includes two black box theatres with 330 and 140 seats respectively; offices; scenic shops; rehearsal halls; classrooms; a restored 18th-century farmhouse that includes housing for guest artists and a banquet and catering facility that can be rented for special events, and which is owned and operated as a for-profit entity.

People’s Light has an annual operating budget of $7.7M and annually employs 40 full-time staff, with an additional 60 part-time artists and staff members, many of whom live within 15 miles of campus. Each season it welcomes almost 200 guest artists from Philadelphia, New York, Washington, D.C., and beyond. With a resident company of artists and serving 80,000 patrons, guests, students, and community members each year, People’s Light is a community beacon and cultural hub that champions innovation, inclusion, and the transformative power of the arts.

Primary Responsibilities

Finance and Accounting

• Provide strategic leadership in restructuring and strengthening the Finance Department, building a high-performing team to support organizational growth and financial sustainability.
• Oversee comprehensive financial operations for People’s Light and The Farmhouse, ensuring effective management of accounting, budgeting, forecasting, payroll, treasury functions, financial reporting, and compliance.
• In partnership with the Producing Artistic Director and General Manager, provide strategic leadership for the annual budgeting and long-range financial planning processes, collaborating closely with senior leadership, department heads, and the Board of Directors to align financial resources with organizational priorities and objectives.
• Prepare and present timely, accurate, and insightful monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, forecasts, analyses, and executive narratives to support informed decision-making by the Producing Artistic Director, General Manager, and Board Committees (Executive, Finance, Audit).
• Ensure organizational compliance with GAAP, maintain a robust internal control environment, and serve as the principal liaison to external accountants, fostering transparency, accountability, and sound financial governance.
• Lead the annual audit process and oversee the preparation and filing of IRS Forms 990 and 5500, as well as all applicable tax reporting requirements for People’s Light and The Farmhouse, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Direct grant and restricted fund accounting activities, ensuring accurate tracking, stewardship, and reporting of government, foundation, and donor-restricted funding while supporting organizational fundraising and compliance efforts.
• Manage and strengthen strategic relationships with banking institutions, investment advisors, insurance providers, and other financial partners to optimize financial performance, liquidity, risk management, and asset stewardship.
• Ensure the timely and accurate completion of monthly financial close activities, producing comprehensive financial results promptly following period-end to support organizational planning and decision-making.
• Lead the development and management of annual operating, facilities, and capital budgets, while maintaining long-range capital investment plans and deferred maintenance strategies that support organizational sustainability and asset stewardship.

Leadership and Strategy

• Serve as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing strategic financial leadership, organizational planning, and enterprise-wide decision-making in partnership with the Producing Artistic Director and senior leadership.
• Provide sophisticated financial modeling, analysis, and recommendations to support strategic initiatives, capital investments, revenue-generating opportunities, and other organizational growth priorities.
• Partner closely with leaders across Artistic, Production, Education, Marketing, Development, Farmhouse, Human Resources, and General Management functions to align financial resources with strategic objectives, establish accountability, and ensure timely performance reporting.
• Ensure organizational compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and reporting requirements across financial and administrative operations.
• Oversee the organization’s enterprise risk management framework, proactively identifying and mitigating financial, operational, legal, and compliance risks.
• Communicate financial information with clarity and impact, delivering presentations, analyses, and recommendations to executive leadership, staff, Board Committees (Executive, Finance, Audit) donors, and other key stakeholders to support informed decision-making and organizational transparency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or equivalent experience
• CPA or MBA is a plus, but not required.
• Minimum 5-7 years of progressive experience in nonprofit financial management
• Deep knowledge of nonprofit accounting, GAAP, and audit processes
• Experience managing budgets of $5-10 million or more
• Demonstrated ability to manage finance and administrative staff
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial audiences
• Experience in the arts or cultural sector preferred
• Experience with facilities-based businesses preferred
• Experience with Quickbooks and Bill.com a plus

Compensation and Benefits

The Director of Finance is a full-time exempt position with a starting salary of $100,000, with flexibility for exceptional candidates based on experience and qualifications.

Comprehensive benefits package including pension plan, generous vacation policy and some WFH flexibility.