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Finance Manager

Brevard Zoo • Melbourne, Florida • 13h ago

Position: Finance Manager

Status: Full-time, FLSA Salary Exempt

Department: Finance and Accounting

Reports to: Finance Director

POSITION OVERVIEW

Located along the Space Coast in Melbourne, Florida, the Brevard Zoo is an AZA-accredited facility with a diverse collection of over 900 animals representing nearly 200 species. It is also home to the Sea Turtle Healing Center for rehabilitation of wild marine turtles. Brevard Zoo is well-known for its strong conservation ethic and unique attractions, such as kayaking through the Africa area, giraffe feeding, and rhinoceros and various other animal encounters.

The Finance Manager is a dual-function role that combines oversight of the company's day-to-day accounting operations with financial analysis and reporting. This position is the operational backbone of a lean finance team, responsible for ensuring the accuracy of financial records and the integrity of the close process, while also delivering the cash flow forecasting, variance analysis, and ad-hoc financial analyses that inform leadership decisions. The Finance Manager supervises the accounting staff (four direct reports), partners closely with the Director of Finance on reporting and compliance and provides direct analytical support to the CFO.

QUALIFICATIONS

REQUIRED:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
5–8 years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 1–2 years in a senior or lead capacity.
Strong technical accounting foundation: thorough understanding of GAAP, the full close cycle, and balance sheet reconciliations.
Demonstrated experience with cash flow forecasting, variance analysis, or financial reporting beyond routine close work.
Proven ability to supervise and mentor staff
Advanced Proficiency in Excel, including financial modeling, pivot tables, and data analysis.
Experience with accounting software (e.g. Sage Intacct preferred).
Highly organized with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet close deadlines in a lean team environment.
Strong written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting financial information to non-finance audiences.

PREFERRED/DESIRED:

Familiarity with non-profit accounting
Experience in a company with $15M–$50M in annual revenue, ideally in a role that blended accounting and analysis responsibilities.
Experience developing and managing financial/operational and dashboard metrics.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES

Accounting Operations & Close

Manage and execute the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, ensuring all journal entries, reconciliations, and accruals are completed accurately and on time.
Review and approve the work of the Senior Accountant, AP Specialist, AR Specialist, and cash clerk providing guidance and coaching as needed.
Maintain the integrity of the general ledger, chart of accounts, and supporting schedules.
Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, ensuring timely processing, collections, and vendor payment runs.
Coordinate with the Director of Finance on the preparation of internal and external financial statements including departmental reporting
Manage year end compliance filings.
Ensure adherence to internal controls, accounting policies, and GAAP; identify and recommend process improvements.
Work with Director of Finance on financial audits and assist in the preparation of audit schedules and supporting documentation.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

Own the company's weekly rolling cash flow forecast, maintaining an accurate short- and medium-term view of cash position and flagging risks or opportunities to the CFO.
Prepare monthly variance analysis comparing actual results to budget and prior periods, providing clear narrative commentary on key drivers.
Support the annual budgeting process by preparing historical trend analyses, building departmental templates, and consolidating submissions.
Respond to ad-hoc analytical requests from the CFO and senior leadership, including profitability analyses, scenario modeling, and operational metrics reporting.
Develop and maintain financial models and reporting tools that improve the speed and quality of recurring analyses.
Identify trends in the financial data and proactively surface insights relevant to business performance.

Team & Cross-Functional Leadership

Directly supervise the Senior Accountant, AP Specialist, AR Specialist and Cash Clerk; set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, and support professional development.
Partner with department heads to provide financial context, answer questions about budget performance, and support data-driven decision-making.
Collaborate with HR and operations on payroll oversight, expense policy compliance, and cost tracking.
Assist the CFO and Director of Finance on special projects including system implementations, process redesign, and strategic initiatives.
The right candidate will be energized by both sides of this role — they take pride in a clean close and accurate books just as much as they enjoy digging into a variance or building a model that helps a business decision. This is not a role for someone who wants to do only one or the other.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
(L) Light work
Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force as frequently as needed to move objects. If the use of arm/leg controls require exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated as light work.

POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS/HAZARDS:
Indoor office environment most often with frequent movement outdoors. Exposure to extreme heat and weather conditions. Requires Sitting, Standing, Walking, Bending, Stooping, Kneeling, Finger Dexterity, Talking, Hearing, and Visual Acuity frequently.

Must be willing to work in inclement weather including temperatures exceeding 100 degrees and high humidity. Frequent movement outdoors with some indoor office environment. Exposure to extreme heat and weather conditions. Requires Sitting, Standing, Walking, Bending, Stooping, Kneeling, Finger Dexterity, Talking, Hearing, and Visual Acuity frequently.

WORK SCHEDULE:
May be required to work weekends and nights as necessary.

TRAVEL:
Occasional travel in and out of county as necessary.

The above information in this job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Performance of this job will be evaluated in accordance with the Zoo’s policies on evaluation of personnel.

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Statement

East Coast Zoological Society of Florida, Inc., dba Brevard Zoo, is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any aspect of employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, benefits, training, transfer, termination, or any other terms and conditions of employment.

Employees and applicants are encouraged to report any concerns regarding discrimination or harassment, and retaliation for reporting such concerns is strictly prohibited.

Brevard Zoo is committed to an environment where employees are encouraged to be their authentic selves. We value the diverse qualities, perspectives, and experiences of all individuals. Join us in sharing the joy of nature to help people and wildlife thrive.