Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer

Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer

Position: CFO/COO

Reports to:

Executive Director/CEO, David Brenneman

Date Written: 11/14/2025

Job Classification:
Full-time, exempt

The Museum:
Telfair Museums is the oldest public art museum in the southern United States. The legacy of one visionary Savannahian, it was founded in 1883 through the bequest of prominent local philanthropist Mary Telfair, who left her home and its furnishings to the Georgia Historical Society to be opened as a museum.

Today, Telfair Museums consists of three unique buildings: the Telfair Academy, and the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, two National Historic Landmark sites built in the early 19th century, and the contemporary Jepson Center and Telfair Children’s Art Museum. Each of the museum’s three buildings represents an innovative expression of its time and houses a collection corresponding to the era in which it was built.

Together, these unique buildings and distinct collections bridge centuries of art and architecture, illustrating the continuum of art and history in Savannah.

The CFO/COO is a key member of the Museum’s executive management team and is responsible for all strategic financial matters and the oversight of the daily financial and operational business of Telfair Museums, as well as all human resources, buildings, grounds, maintenance, and security functions. The CFO/COO reports to and works closely with the Executive Director/CEO and has primary responsibility for the Museum’s financial operations and human resources matters, including development of the annual budget, supervision of finance/accounting staff, establishment of the financial reporting system, and presentations to the Finance Committee, Investment, and Executive Committees and the Board of Directors.

The CFO/COO will serve as the compliance officer regarding government or other foundation grants, restricted funds, as well as acting as the chief liaison with the Museum’s independent auditors and financial services partners. The CFO/COO, working closely with other senior leadership, develops and implements appropriate policies and internal control procedures to protect the Museum’s assets and ensure accountability and solvency.

The CFO/COO oversees all employee support functions including payroll, benefits management, and policy and procedure development. The CFO/COO is also responsible for overseeing all functions related to the maintenance, preservation, and security of the three structures and surrounding properties making up Telfair Museums.

Working with controller and finance department staff:

• Oversees cash flow planning and ensures availability of funds as needed
• Oversees cash, investment, debt, and asset management
• Oversees financing strategies and activities, as well as banking relationships
• Monitors the investment portfolio and provides staff support to the Investment Committee

• Coordinates the development and monitoring of budgets
• Develops financial business plans and forecasts
• Participates in corporate policy development as a member of the Executive team
• Works with the Board of Directors, Executive and Finance Committees and other board committees to develop short-, medium-, and long-term financial plans and projections
• Represents the Museum to financial partners, including financial institutions, donors, foundation executives, auditors, public officials, etc.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of nonprofit audit best practices and state and federal law regarding nonprofit operations
• Serves as plan administrator for 401(a) and 403(b) retirement plans and ensures all ERISA guidelines are followed
• Coordinates with insurance brokers, legal counsel, and other professional service providers

• Manages the accounting department to ensure proper maintenance of all accounting systems and functions
• Ensures maintenance of appropriate internal controls and financial procedures
• Ensures timelines, accuracy, and usefulness of financial and management reporting for federal and state funders, foundations, and the Museum’s…