PRODUCTION & ARTISTIC FINANCE MANAGER

About the Role

Cincinnati Opera, founded in 1920, is one of the oldest and most highly regarded opera companies in the United States. Known for its partnership with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, world-class singers, and the spectacular Cincinnati Music Hall, the company offers a primary season from June through August (paid attendance 17,000-20,000) plus year-round events including educational programming, performances, recitals, and fundraisers.

The Finance Manager serves as the primary financial administrator for Cincinnati Opera's Production and Artistic departments, coordinating financial, contractual, payroll, and administrative processes for each production from planning through final reconciliation. This role acts as the key liaison between Production, Artistic, Human Resources, Finance, and the organization's shared-services accounting partner, ensuring efficient, accurate, and policy-compliant execution of artistic and production activities.

Responsibilities

• Production Financial Administration
  • Serve as the primary financial administrator for the Production and Artistic departments.
  • Process, track, code, and coordinate all incoming and outgoing production invoices, including labor invoices, ensuring timely approvals and payment.
  • Administer the Accounts Payable program (Beanworks), coordinating invoice workflow, approvals, coding, payment requests, and supporting documentation.
  • Prepare and submit check requests and ACH payment requests for artist fees, giglets, staff and artist reimbursements, per diem, mileage, and other production-related expenses.
  • Reconcile departmental credit card activity, ensuring proper coding, documentation, and receipt support.
  • Resolve missing documentation, coding discrepancies, invoice questions, and payment issues with cardholders and vendors.
  • Maintain complete and organized financial records supporting all departmental expenditures.
  • Administer petty cash, including distribution, reconciliation, replenishment, and recordkeeping.
• Payroll & Personnel Administration
  • Produce, maintain, and distribute the weekly Production Worksheet Pay Schedule for all seasonal production employees and AGMA production personnel.
  • Review, verify, and code stagehand and wardrobe payroll prior to processing.
  • Coordinate weekly payroll for hourly AGMA artists, including chorus and dancers, updating hours based on costume fittings, absences, lateness, and other fees/deductions.
  • Generate and update the Artistic Payroll Matrix for the Artistic Administrator’s review based on seasonal contracts and schedule C documents.
  • Facilitate contract preparation, routing, signatures, payment schedules, and submission of required documentation to union offices for seasonal staff, AGMA artists, USA designers, and other production personnel.
  • Maintain personnel and payroll documentation in accordance with organizational policies.
• Vendor Administration
  • Administer co-production agreements and scenic and costume rental contracts in partnership with the Director of Production.
  • Coordinate contract execution, deposits, rental fees, insurance certificates, payment schedules, renewals, and key contractual deadlines for both Production and Artistic Departments.
  • Monitor contract compliance and maintain accurate records for all agreements.
  • Serve as the primary administrative liaison with vendors regarding payments, contract documentation, and financial requirements.
• Budget Management & Financial Reporting
  • Assist Production and Artistic leadership with the preparation, monitoring, forecasting, and reconciliation of departmental budgets.
  • Produce recurring budget reports, expenditure summaries, and ad hoc financial analyses to support operational decision-making.
  • Monitor departmental spending and proactively identify budget variances or potential cash-flow concerns.
  • Coordinate with the Finance Department and shared-services accounting partner to ensure timely and accurate month-end financial reporting.
  • Prepare schedules, reconciliations, and supporting documentation for the annual audit and other financial reporting requirements.
• Operational Stewardship
  • Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, strengthen internal controls, and increase operational efficiency.
  • Anticipate budget and cash-flow pressures and provide timely information to help departments avoid financial surprises.
  • Support a culture of fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability across Production, Artistic, and Finance teams.
  • Coordinate closely with Cincinnati Opera Production, Artistic, and Finance leaders, and accounting and HR payroll partners to ensure seamless financial and personnel administration.
  • Perform other duties as assigned in support of Cincinnati Opera's artistic and operational objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Arts Administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, financial administration, production finance, payroll administration, or comparable operational support.
• Experience supporting complex departmental budgets, multiple funding sources, and high-volume seasonal financial activity.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating financial processes involving invoices, payroll, contracts, reimbursements, and vendor payments.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong working knowledge of financial management systems, invoice workflow software, and reporting tools.
• Exceptional organizational skills with outstanding attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and consistently meet deadlines in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain strict confidentiality when handling sensitive financial and personnel information.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in performing arts, theatre, opera, live entertainment, or other production-based environments.
• Familiarity with nonprofit accounting practices, annual audits, and restricted funding.
• Experience administering or supporting union agreements, including AGMA, USA, IATSE, or similar collective bargaining agreements.
• Experience working with outsourced accounting or shared-services finance organizations.
• Experience with contract administration, production rentals, or co-production agreements.

Working Conditions

• Full-time, year-round position.
• Hybrid work environment, with flexibility during lower-activity periods and regular on-site presence required during rehearsals, productions, performances, and other operationally critical times.
• Work schedules are based on organizational and production needs and may vary throughout the year.
• Occasional evening and weekend work is required to support production schedules, performances, and organizational events.
• Vacation time may be restricted during peak production and performance periods. Employees are expected to plan time off around the organization's operational calendar, including designated vacation blackout periods during the performance season.
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent priorities while maintaining a high level of accuracy during peak production periods.

Cincinnati Opera receives administrative support through a shared services agreement with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (CSO). As part of the application process, you may receive communications from CSO team members.

Pay

$65,000 – $70,000