Position: Vice President, Finance – Full Time/Exempt

Department: Accounting & Finance

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

Location: Arizona Cardinals (Tempe, AZ)

Format: In-person 

Cardinals Organizational Summary:   

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club is a professional football team within the National Football League (NFL). We compete in the National Football Conference (NFC) West division and call State Farm Stadium, in Glendale, Arizona, our home.

As one of the oldest pro football franchises in the U.S., the Club has established itself as a sport and cultural hallmark within Arizona, as well as a trailblazer for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) initiatives and firsts around the League.  Our vision is to build a leading sports organization that competes for championships, drives business results, creates loyal fans, develops proud employees, and inspires hope in our community. We are relentless in our pursuit of greatness on and off the field, while positively impacting our people, our fans, and our community.

If you want to join an organization that values putting the team first, doing what is right, growing with positivity, valuing every voice, while driving performance, we would love for you to join our team. Learn more about the Arizona Cardinals and see what’s happening here. 

Job Summary:

The Vice President, Finance, will oversee the finance and accounting function; managing the month-end close; preparing related audits of financial statements; monitoring internal controls; and supervising the financial accounting, accounts receivable and accounts payable teams. This includes managing the production of timely periodic financial reports, maintaining an adequate system of accounting records and a comprehensive set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk and ensuring the company’s reporting financial statements comply with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”). This role will play a significant role in long-term planning, including initiatives geared toward operational excellence and acting as an ambassador and liaison for club departments, clients and vendors while advancing a positive, passionate and innovative work environment.

With the importance of efficient and correct reporting to the league, learning the business, the finance and accounting functions and systems will be critical to your immediate and long-term success in the role. The Vice President, Finance will assess the finance and accounting team, learning each person’s capability and potential to ensure team members are set for success and development. Our new colleague will also be involved with the RFP and implementation process for a new accounting system as well as the internal controls review. The Vice President, Finance will collaborate across the organization, working with other teams to improve the overall operations of the Arizona Cardinals.

Primary Job Duties:

The Vice President, Finance, will have the daily responsibilities including, without limitation, to the following:

• Oversee the preparation and analysis of accurate and timely monthly, quarterly and annual close and reporting efforts in accordance with GAAP.
• Maintain the general ledger and review/approval of all daily entries to ensure all financial transactions are properly recorded, filed and reported for the club and its subsidiaries.
• Prepare financial statements and other required financial reports to meet the needs of internal and external stakeholders including the NFL.
• Collaborate, manage and conduct auditing program services and procedures to ensure records are accurately maintained and that established policies and practices are satisfactory and consistently followed. Partner with outside auditors, ensuring plans are efficient.
• Function as the technical accounting expert performing research and preparing memos as needed to support accounting positions, as required, for audits.
• Partner with the Director of Financial Planning and Analysis in the development and preparation of budget and financial plans based on research, data collection and input from department managers for the general management and administration of the Club, Accounting Department and other departments as requested.
• Operationalize accounting systems and processes to deliver continuous improvements while maintaining a strong system of internal controls. Develop systems to aid in reconciliations and prevent errors in data collection and calculations.
• Provide input on the process for the selection of a new accounting system, including the RFP and implementation while ensuring the new system effectively supports the business beyond finance.
• Motivate and lead accounting team members by setting clear expectations and providing helpful feedback. Develop and manage the finance department personnel including the general ledger, accounts payable and accounts receivable teams.
• Maintain banking relationships and monitor cash balances for the Club and subsidiaries.
• Ensure required deadlines are met for monthly close, financial reporting, sales and income tax processing, annual audit submissions, procedure report submissions and ad hoc reports.
• Assist in the development of performance action plans for your team's growth, including reviewing the annual technical training plan.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications/Requirements

• Education: Bachelor degree and CPA required, MBA or master’s degree in related field preferred
• Experience: At least 10–15 years of progressive and innovative accounting and finance experience.
• Possesses a high level of business acumen; thinks about the broader business beyond the finance organization.
• Experience as a CPA.  Minimum experience leading finance and/or accounting teams at the Controller or Director level within a privately held, mid-size company. Has specific experience improving processes and systems in a collaborative manner. Additional exposure to larger, publicly traded companies is also valued.
• Served as a finance or accounting leader within a complex organizational structure, especially in companies with multiple independent business units. Experience within professional sports is strongly preferred.
• Strong accounting skills with additional experience with reporting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Skills in business operations, process improvement, strategic planning, leadership, budget management, project management and staffing management.
• A strong understanding of GAAP and the ability to research technical accounting issues and develop accounting positions.
• A strong background in accounting, finance and business.
• Knowledge of accounting and database software and other technology; understands how to effectively utilize technology to shape a more efficient and timely function. Excel expertise is required, and specific experience evaluating and implementing new systems is highly valuable.
• Substantial client relationship skills and leadership skills in high-stress environments.
• A flexible operating style; able to wear multiple hats and effectively manage multiple priorities at once.
• Strategic as well as tactical; possesses a high level of business acumen and thinks about the broader business beyond their scope without losing sight of ongoing operational needs. A hands-on, scrappy leader willing to roll up their sleeves.
• Collaborative; works effectively with others to improve their function and business.
• Leads with a player-coach mentality; is willing to roll up their sleeves to get any type of work done and is not simply a chair occupier who relies on delegation. Naturally and intentionally develops members of their team.
• Innovative; brings new ideas and attitudes to an organization while learning and respecting what has worked for the organization so far.
• Distinct learning agility paired with a continuous improvement mindset. Quickly learns what works and what doesn't and takes steps to improve upon it.
• Has a high level of executive presence, professionalism and maturity that raises the level of others around them as well as the broader organization.
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with all individuals across the organization.
• Detail-oriented and highly self-motivated with a shared commitment to excellence.
• A proactive problem solver with a strong work ethic.

Cardinals Benefits/Perks Summary:

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club has developed a comprehensive benefits package that provides economic and inclusive benefits to full-time employees. The Cardinals benefits offer care, protection, and support for employees and their loved ones. The Cardinals organization encourages an environment that is conducive to living a healthy, productive, and flexible lifestyle.

Benefits and Perks include, but are not limited to:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance options; effective the first day of hire
• 401 (k) retirement option with employer match contribution
• Paid Time Off Accruals (including sick time accruals)
• Paid Time Off for most Federal holidays
• Time off for Maternity, Paternity, Military, and Bereavement
• MDLIVE: 24/7 medical support
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) & Health Care Saving Account options
• Discounts on Cardinals gear & paraphernalia
• Tuition reimbursement & Professional Growth opportunities
• Daily free lunch
• Complimentary season tickets
• Subsidized gym memberships

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.