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THE MISSION

The McCallum Theatre’s mission is to entertain, educate, and enrich the Coachella Valley community through world-class performances, critically acclaimed education experiences, and serving as the desert’s premier performing arts center.

ABOUT MCCALLUM THEATRE

Located in the heart of Palm Desert, California, the McCallum Theatre is one of the nation’s premier performing arts centers—recognized for its artistic excellence, diverse programming, and deep community impact.

Since opening in 1988, the McCallum has become a cornerstone of the Coachella Valley’s cultural life, presenting an extraordinary breadth of performances each season. Its stage hosts the best of Broadway, world-renowned musicians, acclaimed comedians, classical ensembles, and international dance companies, alongside family programs and community showcases. With one of the longest and most varied presenting seasons in the country, the Theatre consistently ranks among the top 50 theaters worldwide for ticket sales and is celebrated for the quality of its productions, audiences, and artistic partnerships.

The McCallum’s acclaimed Education Department has served more than one million students, educators, and families through programs such as the Aesthetic Education Program and Field Trip Series. These initiatives connect young people to the performing arts through interactive classroom learning, professional performances, and teacher training that inspire creativity and lifelong appreciation for the arts.

Its Community Engagement Programs extend the Theatre’s reach across the Coachella Valley. Signature events include the Palm Desert Choreography Festival and Open Call Talent Project, as well as community celebrations like Hispanic Heritage Month, the Veterans Day Eve Celebration, and the new McCallum Jazz Festival, each reflecting the region’s diversity and vitality.

With an annual budget of approximately $20 million and an endowment of $10 million, the McCallum is led by Chief Executive Officer Yvonne Bell and supported by a dedicated staff of 43 and a 39-member Board of Directors. Together, they advance the Theatre’s mission to inspire, educate, and entertain through the transformative power of live performance. For more information, please visit www.mccallumtheatre.org.

THE OPPORTUNITY

As a key strategic partner to the CEO, the Vice President of Finance (VP of Finance) will take the lead as the McCallum Theatre's principal financial steward, ensuring the long-term sustainability and operational excellence of this premier performing arts organization.

The VP of Finance will be responsible for building and maintaining strong fiscal infrastructure, including establishing robust internal controls and comprehensive compliance programs. This executive will have direct oversight of all critical financial functions: accounting, budgeting, audits, and risk management.

A vital component of this role is collaborating with the Board and senior leaders to translate the McCallum's mission into a sound financial strategy. The VP of Finance will provide essential financial forecasting and analysis to guide strategic discussions and ensure sustainable growth through expert management of earned and contributed revenue, expenses, and cash flow.

Finally, the VP of Finance is expected to supervise and mentor a small, dedicated finance team, fostering a culture of mutual respect, open communication, and high accountability.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to: 

Financial Planning & Management

• Lead the development, implementation, tracking, and management of the annual operating and capital budgets.
• Guide financial decisions through establishing and enforcing internal controls, ensuring adherence to operational policies and procedures, and recommending processes for increased efficiency and effectiveness.
• Manage relationships with banking, external audit, and investment partners, and oversee the resolution of their findings and recommendations.
• Serve as the primary liaison with bankers, CPAs, tax attorneys, general counsel, and the Board of Directors’ Finance, Investment, and Audit committees.
• Partner with the CEO and Development Department to ensure proper coding and tracking of comprehensive campaign gifts, and to develop gift coding policies for unique gift types (e.g., multi-year pledges, endowment gifts, and programmatically restricted support).
• Oversee the McCallum’s transaction processing systems, including credit card payments, ensuring staff training and compliance with required processes and information sharing regulations.

Fiscal Monitoring, Reporting, & Analysis

• Manage all finance and accounting functions, including preparing accurate month- and year-end close documents, financial reporting, and long-term forecasts.
• Oversee fiscal operations and produce financial statements and cash flow analyses for internal and external stakeholders. 
• Monitor and report on the organization’s financial performance, including departmental budgeting and spending.
• Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements and develop financial strategies and long-term plans to support the financial health and stability of the organization.
• Provide oversight of all project-based and departmental financial reporting, including box office reporting.
• Provide oversight and strategic direction for donor commitments, including pledge management, reconciliation of restricted and unrestricted funds, and compliance with donor intent.
• Maintain and implement risk management procedures, including the purchase, implementation, and management of appropriate insurance and coverage.
• Develop and provide program-specific reports and budgets for funder purposes, and train relevant staff on how to interpret, prepare, and explain those reports.

Administration & Organizational Leadership

• Collaborate with the CEO and senior team members to execute an organization-wide financial strategy, while actively participating in strategic planning discussions to achieve the McCallum’s mission, goals, and objectives.
• Mentor and support finance staff members, ensuring departmental stability, professional growth, and cross-departmental alignment on policies and procedures.
• Collaborate with the Development Department by providing reports for grant budget development and timely grant reporting, demonstrating a deep understanding of fundraising’s financial importance. 
• Oversee finance orientations for new board members, and clearly and transparently report on financial matters in committee and board meetings.
• Foster a culture that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as collegiality and collaboration throughout the organization.

DESIRED TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS

The VP of Finance must be a strategic, collaborative, and forward-looking leader who fully appreciates and respects the mission of the McCallum Theatre. This role requires a highly organized problem-solver with exceptional conceptual and analytical skills. The successful candidate will not only be capable of maintaining existing financial systems but also adept at creating new procedures to meet both short- and long-term organizational goals.

• Decisive and Analytical: Possessing excellent attention to detail, the VP of Finance must synthesize large amounts of complex information, make sound, ethical, and timely decisions, and communicate them clearly and transparently.
• Agent of Change: The VP of Finance must exhibit flexibility and personal accountability, readily adapting to shifting priorities and modifying plans with minimal resistance. They should be a goal-oriented leader who navigates obstacles effectively.
• Systemic Thinker: This leader will define, analyze, and diagnose financial challenges to formulate innovative solutions and analyze hypothetical scenarios to ensure effective execution of all work.
• Pragmatic Manager: The VP of Finance must be resourceful, maximizing the efficient use of time and resources. They will set clear expectations, organize projects, and motivate and evaluate the performance of their direct reports.

The ideal candidate will be emotionally intelligent, exercising discretion and composure, particularly under pressure. They must be self-motivated and comfortable working independently while fostering a team environment that values creativity, collegiality, and transparency.

CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION

The ideal candidate will have senior-level experience as a financial leader in a performing arts organization of similar size and scope. The role requires strong knowledge of nonprofit taxation and filing requirements, management of investment and endowment accounts, and cash flow management of earned and contributed income. Knowledge of the Tessitura CRM platform and Blackbaud’s Financial Edge is beneficial. A bachelor’s degree in accounting or commensurate educational training in finance and accounting is required, and a master’s degree is preferred.

COMPENSATION

The annual salary range for this position is $200,000-250,000. Relocation assistance, if needed, is negotiable. A comprehensive and competitive benefits package will be provided.