Chief Financial & Operating Officer

Network(s)

Finance, HR, & Administration

Spoleto Festival USA is one of America’s leading performing arts festivals. Each spring, for 17 days and nights, the Festival fills Charleston’s historic theaters, churches, and outdoor spaces with more than 150 performances in opera, theater, dance, and chamber, symphonic, choral, and jazz music. The 2026 Season will run from May 22 through June 7.

Spoleto is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with an annual operating budget of $10–12 million and a year-round staff of approximately 30. During the Festival season, the team expands to more than 500 seasonal employees and contractors.

Spoleto Festival USA seeks an experienced and strategic Chief Financial & Operating Officer (CFOO) to oversee Corporate Administration, including Finance, Human Resources, Operations and Facilities, Contracts, and Information Technology. The CFOO reports directly to the General Director and CEO and works in close partnership with the Chief Producer, Chief Advancement Officer, Marketing team, and Artistic Cabinet.

The CFOO is a key member of the c-suite and serves as the primary liaison to the Finance, Audit, and Investment Committees –of the Board of Directors, as well as the Board Treasurer. The CFOO leads a dedicated internal finance and operations team and plays a pivotal, collaborative role across the Festival.

The CFOO is responsible for stewarding Spoleto’s financial health and business operations while supporting innovation and organizational growth. This includes ensuring transparency, accountability, and long-term sustainability. The CFOO partners closely with colleagues across departments to align financial and operational strategy with institutional priorities, enabling the Festival to deliver on its mission and vision.

The ideal candidate brings a builder mindset and thrives in collaborative, resource-constrained environments. They understand that Spoleto is a complex, layered institution that operates as a producing entity, a creative laboratory, and a civic convening engine. They are energized by that multifaceted identity.

This person has experience scaling systems and teams in nonprofit or entrepreneurial settings and knows how to balance structure with flexibility. They view Finance, HR, Operations, and IT as core enabling infrastructure that supports creativity, innovation, and sustainable growth.

They are comfortable with iterative planning, mid-course adjustments, and festival tempo decision making. They communicate financial information in clear, accessible ways, especially to colleagues and board members without deep finance backgrounds. They approach challenges with energy, curiosity, resourcefulness, respect, and pragmatism and hold steady during high-volume periods with multiple deadlines and stakeholders.

Above all, they understand that great artistry requires great management. They build systems that serve humans, not the other way around.

Full-time, exempt, and benefit-eligible

A standard 40-hour work week; including work nights, holidays, weekends, and extended hours as required; on-call during Festival period

January 2026

Charleston, SC (on-site)

Finance & Business Operations

General Director & CEO

Oversee and manage all accounting and finance operations, including AP and AR, payroll, reconciliations, and internal controls.

Produce timely reports, dashboards, and financial statements for leadership and the board.

Collaborate with department heads to develop and monitor budgets and forecasts.

Advise the CEO on financial strategy and risk mitigation.

Lead the annual budgeting process and the multi-year budget model.

Identify opportunities for financial and operational improvement across departments.

Translate data into actionable insights for staff and board leadership.

Ensure accurate tracking of restricted gifts, grants, and endowment funds.

Oversee audit preparation and compliance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.

Collaborate and ensure accurate financial reporting for grants and related government compliance.

Maintai…