Finance & Operations Director

We’re an award-winning creative studio founded in 2009 — a multi-disciplinary collective of designers, developers, writers, and strategists who create fertile ground for conversation, collaboration, and enduring relationships with clients, partners, and each other. Drawing inspiration from wildly diverse influences, we thoughtfully consider every detail — to create holistic solutions that are compelling, immersive, relevant, and part of richer lived experiences for emerging, evolving, and storied brands worldwide.

The Finance & Operations Director is responsible for the overall operation and financial health of the studio. This role ensures that projects, people, and finances are aligned, transparent and scalable. You will serve as a strategic partner to the founder and leadership team, translating creative ambition into clear financial models, operational systems, and informed business decisions. This is a senior leadership role with direct impact on profitability, growth strategy, and studio stability.

• College graduate with 8+ years of experience in finance, operations, studio management or studio leadership.
• Preferred degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 3+ years in a leadership role
• Familiarity with accounting and operational tools such as Quick Books, Harvest, Gusto or similar
• Background in a professional services environment
• Understanding of agency operations, including resourcing, utilization, capacity planning, and project margin management
• Experienced in building profitable pricing models for both services and products
• Strong financial acumen with hands‑on experience in budgeting, forecasting, and profitability analysis
• Ability to communicate financial insights clearly to non‑financial stakeholders
• Collaborative by nature; skilled at building relationships cross departmentally and securing buy in of key stakeholders
• Possesses a strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Experienced leader who is solution oriented and committed to transparency
• Extremely detailed oriented with strong organizational and time‑management skills
• A critical thinker who demonstrates flexibility in approach in an industry constantly adapting to new trends and technologies
• Excellent communicator, written and verbal, confident taking the lead in key internal meetings
• Positive, and uplifting attitude that inspires coworkers and clients; a collaborative spirit open to feedback
• Internally driven to make things better, think creatively to solve problems, and to exceed expectations

Finance and Business Management:

• Own studio financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and annual goal setting
• Maintain and interpret P&L statement, chart of accounts, and general ledger – provide clear financial reporting to leadership
• Execute all day‑to‑day bookkeeping tasks such as billing and invoicing, expense tracking and reconciliation, managing accounts payable and receivable, collections, payroll administration, etc.
• Track revenue pacing, margins, utilization, and profitability at both studio and project levels
• Identify financial risks and opportunities and recommend corrective actions
• Identify trends and patterns across financial and operational data that will help optimize the business
• Partner with external accountants and tax advisors as needed

Project and Profitability Management:

• Track project type profitability and advise on appropriate pricing adjustments, margins, etc.
• Guide pricing strategy, scopes of work, retainers, and fee structures
• Ensure scopes, change orders, and timelines align with financial goals alongside Accounts Director
• Support creative and account leads in managing project financial health
• Analyze which clients, services, and work types drive sustainable growth
• Balance profitability with realistic workloads and team well‑being

Studio and Operations Workflow:

• Own end-to-end studio operations
• Design and maintain efficient, scalable workflows
• Continuously improve processes that support both quality and efficiency
• Assist ownership in managing professional partnerships including IT, accounting, legal, and facilities.
• Work with established partners to…