Chief Financial Officer

Riverside Park Conservancy seeks an experienced, dynamic Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to join its executive team. In addition to financial management, their responsibilities also include oversight of the organization’s human resources staff, outsourced accounting team, information technology and other functions of nonprofit administration. The CFO is part of a high-functioning team committed to excellence and innovation in caring for one of New York City’s largest and most beautiful neighborhood parks.

Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the CFO works closely with the organization’s leadership team and Board of Directors to develop and implement financial and operational strategies and processes to help make the organization more effective and efficient and to support the Conservancy’s mission and continued growth. The CFO has two direct reports, the Director of People Operations (DPO) and Director of Finance & Administration (DFA), whose responsibilities include managing the organization’s human resources, day to day financial and accounting operations, information technology, insurance and office facilities.

Riverside Park Conservancy cares for six miles of parkland on the west side of Manhattan from 59th to 181st Street. Founded by a small group of volunteers in 1986, we now employ more than 70 professional staff who work alongside hundreds of volunteers and dozens of NYC Parks employees to care for 400 acres of green space. As a neighborhood-based environmental nonprofit, our work is grounded in local partnerships.

We leverage public and private funding to make meaningful capital improvements in the park, such as replacing staircases and pathways, restoring gardens and renovating playgrounds. We employ 25 Zone Gardeners who provide specialized horticultural care for the Park’s varied landscapes. We produce over 400 free public events every year and run a sports summer camp attended by more than 1,500 children.

With a current annual operating budget of $12 million, the Conservancy serves approximately 3 million visitors annually. Central to our mission is a commitment to fairness and inclusivity. We recognize that park needs are not uniform across all areas; rather, they reflect the diverse communities we serve. Our goal is to ensure that resources are distributed equitably and that the standard of care across all six miles is of the highest caliber.

We are committed to ensuring that our park is a dynamic and vibrant space for all to enjoy. Our vision is grounded in comfort, community, environmental stewardship, and opportunities for active engagement. As we look to the future, we see a park where users feel safe and welcomed, where nature is nurtured and protected, and where recreation and programming flourish.

Under the leadership of a seasoned CEO and with the strong support of an engaged Board, Riverside Park Conservancy is on a solid trajectory of growth and increased visibility. The new CFO will play a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s future at a time when the value of urban public parks has never been more important or widely recognized.

• Oversee all financial functions including accounting (currently performed by an external accounting firm), budgeting, forecasting, cash flow/liquidity and financial reporting.
• Oversee investment portfolio and work with Finance Committee of Board on updating Investment strategy and policy.
• Evaluate and work closely with the President, DFA and outsourced accounting team to update and streamline financial & accounting processes, policies and financial reporting.
• Prepare and present financial reports to the President and Board of Directors, providing analysis and insight that is clear and succinct to an audience that has wide range of financial experience.
• Manage relationships with financial vendors, including accountants, auditors, financial institutions and other service providers.
• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of financial records, including the general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and other financial systems.
• Ensure compliance with all financial reporting and regulatory…