The San Francisco Symphony is among the most adventurous and innovative arts institutions in the United States, celebrated for its artistic excellence, creative performance concepts, award-winning recordings, and standard-setting education and community engagement programs. Since it was established in 1911, the Symphony has grown in acclaim under a succession of distinguished music directors: Henry Hadley, Alfred Hertz, Basil Cameron, Issay Dobrowen, Pierre Monteux, Enrique Jordá, Josef Krips, Seiji Ozawa, Edo de Waart, Herbert Blomstedt, Michael Tilson Thomas, and Esa-Pekka Salonen.
The San Francisco Symphony presents more than 200 concerts and presentations annually for an audience of nearly 350,000 in its home of Davies Symphony Hall and around the Bay Area. A cornerstone of its mission, the San Francisco Symphony provides some of the most extensive education and community programs offered by any American orchestra. The Symphony’s free music education experiences engage students in grades 1–12 throughout the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD), serving more than 25,000 students annually.
In 2001, the SF Symphony became the first American orchestra to launch its own in-house record label SFS Media. Recorded live in concert and engineered at Davies Symphony Hall, SFS Media recordings showcase music by contemporary composers as well as core classical masterworks. San Francisco Symphony radio broadcasts, the first in the nation to feature symphonic music when they began in 1926, today carry the Orchestra’s concerts across the country. In 2004, the SF Symphony launched the groundbreaking multimedia Keeping Score series on PBS-TV and the web; the series was made available for unlimited free streaming on the Symphony’s YouTube channel in 2020. In 2014, the San Francisco Symphony inaugurated SoundBox, an experimental and eclectic live music series, which takes place in an alternative performance space located backstage at Davies Symphony Hall. In 2023, the San Francisco Symphony partnered with Apple for the launch of a new classical music streaming app, Apple Music Classical, and has since released 15 spatial audio recordings of live concert performances through the app. For its adventurous programming, the Symphony has been honored 19 times by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, and the Symphony’s recordings have garnered France’s Grand Prix du Disque and Britain’s Gramophone Award, as well as 17 Grammy® Awards.
JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Financial Analyst reports to the Director Financial Planning & Analysis, and facilitates the financial planning and budgeting process, conducts analyses to guide strategic decisions and identify opportunities for growth and cost reductions. Key responsibilities include analyzing financial statements, tracking performances against budgets, creating forecasts, performing ad-hoc analyses, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to provide financial insights and support to leadership.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES
Coordinate and prepare departmental forecast and budget analysis in partnership with a portfolio of budget managers. Work with department managers in preparation of budgets and forecasts.
Lead season planning forecast by developing financial models to support business planning.
Provide insight and recommendations to leadership based on financial analyses, helping to drive strategic decision-making.
Identify financial trends and risks to safeguard the organization’s financial stability.
Perform system administrative duties for FP&A system.
Maintaining and participating in continued development of financial systems
User level support in training and using the FP&A system.
Support development of multi-year forecasts and analyses.
Coordinate periodic review of budgets & projections with departments; adjust projections accordingly. Prepare variance analysis between projections and budget.
Prepare monthly operating statement reports, providing variance analyses and commentary.
Prepare grant reports in compliance with granting agency requirements.
Prepare external statistical reports.
Prepare financial reports as needed for department managers.
Participate in month close processes.
Maintain the chart of accounts, for planning system in alignment with the ERP to meet the needs of the organization.
Perform related duties as assigned by the Director or Manager of FP&A.
Respond to all clients and users of financial information with the highest level of service.
Perform additional duties as required by SFS.
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
BA/BS degree or equivalent experience in accounting, business, finance or related field required.
3-5 years broad experience in financial planning, budgeting, and report preparation.
Strong mathematical and superior analytical skills.
Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
Ability to professionally and diplomatically communicate and interact with a wide variety of internal stakeholders.
Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment when sharing information.
Strong organizational skills, with ability to work independently and manage highly detailed tasks.
Ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities, and meet deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment.
Advanced skill level in Excel required.
Familiarity with and/or passion for orchestral music a plus.
FP&A system knowledge required. Adaptive Planning a plus.
Able to adjust to changing work priorities and willing to work flexible hours during high-demand periods.
Self-starter; tolerance for ambiguity.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
None
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
The internal and external constituents with whom this position most frequently interacts include:
Finance and Accounting teams
Budget managers across organization
Grant writers
EEO STATEMENT
In alignment with the values statement above, the San Francisco Symphony is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
Pursuant to?the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, the San Francisco Symphony will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
The San Francisco Symphony exists to inspire and serve audiences and communities throughout the Bay Area and the world through the power of musical performance.
