--- title: 'Director of Finance Operations at The Metropolitan Opera' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/director-of-finance-operations-the-metropolitan-opera-new-york-97te8840qprp' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-15' --- # Director of Finance Operations at The Metropolitan Opera - **Company:** The Metropolitan Opera - **Location:** New York, NY - **Compensation:** $150k–$175k - **Employment:** full-time - **Work type:** onsite - **Posted:** 2026-06-17 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-15 - **Apply:** https://jobs.lever.co/metopera/90da39fe-245f-4cee-92e7-7fd040b81eda ## Job description The Director of Finance Operations is responsible for the leadership, management, and continuous improvement of the Metropolitan Opera's transactional and operational finance functions. This position oversees Accounts Payable, Payroll, Gift Processing, Media Finance, Business Systems, and finance process improvement initiatives. The Director ensures efficient, scalable, customer-focused operations while maintaining strong operational controls and service levels. The role partners closely with the Controller to support accurate accounting and compliance and with the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis to support financial planning and operational decision-making. Primary Responsibilities Finance Operations Leadership - Lead core transactional finance functions: - Accounts Payable - Gift Processing - Media Finance - Business Systems - Establish service standards, operational metrics, and accountability measures. - Develop and mentor finance operations staff. - Create a culture focused on customer service, process excellence, and continuous improvement. - Partner with the Controller to ensure effective operational controls and compliance. Accounts Payable Operations - Oversee invoice processing and payment execution. - Ensure timely and accurate vendor payments. - Manage banking and payment vendor relationships. - Optimize payment timing and cash disbursement processes. - Improve cycle times, exception handling, and workflow efficiency. Revenue Operations Gift Processing - Oversee recording and processing of contributions. - Ensure compliance with donor intent and gift acceptance requirements. - Partner with Development on donor reporting and stewardship needs. - Manage major gift processing activities. Media Finance - Oversee financial operations associated with media distribution activities. - Manage invoicing, collections, cash application, reconciliations, and revenue tracking. - Coordinate reporting for media partners and revenue-sharing arrangements. - Support audit and reporting requirements associated with media activities. Business Systems Administration - Lead finance-related business systems and technology platforms. - Partner with Information Systems to establish finance system priorities. - Ensure data integrity and system effectiveness. - Support ERP enhancements, upgrades, and integrations. - Develop reporting and workflow solutions that improve efficiency and accuracy. Process Improvement and Transformation - Lead finance automation initiatives. - Evaluate and redesign business processes to improve efficiency and scalability. - Reduce manual work and eliminate redundant processes. - Implement best practices for finance shared services and transaction processing. - Develop operational dashboards and key performance indicators. Cross-Functional Partnership - Partner with: - Controller - Director of Financial Planning & Analysis - Human Resources - Development - Information Systems - Legal - Support organization-wide initiatives involving finance processes, systems, and controls. - Participate in major system implementations and transformation efforts. ## Skills and Qualifications - Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or related field. - Minimum 8 years of progressive finance operations experience. - Minimum 3 years leading finance operational teams. - Strong experience managing Accounts Payable, Payroll, and business process improvement. - Experience leading ERP and financial systems initiatives. - Advanced Excel and data analysis skills. - Strong project management and change management experience. - Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. The Metropolitan Opera is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and existing employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth, lactation and related medical conditions), national origin, citizenship status, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information (including characteristics and testing), military and veteran status, or any protected category prohibited by local, state or federal laws. ## About The Metropolitan Opera ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: The Metropolitan Opera is the largest classical music organization in North America, presenting world-class opera performances at the Lincoln Center in New York City and broadcasting them globally via HD cinema transmissions, radio, and digital streams. - **Entity Type**: Private (Nonprofit; founded in 1883) - **Headquarters**: New York, NY, United States - **Founded**: 1883 - **Founders**: A group of wealthy businessmen who built the first opera house on Broadway and 39th Street; the company’s current leadership includes General Manager Peter Gelb (since 2006) and Music Director Yannick Nézet‑Séguin (since20 18) ## Core Business - **Primary industr/ies**: Performing arts / Opera production & presentation; media & broadcasting (Live in HD, radio, streaming) - **Target customers**: B2C – opera enthusiasts, theater‑goers, cultural tourists, and cinema audiences worldwide; B2B – corporate sponsors, donors, and foundation partners - **Mission/purpose statement**: To be a vibrant home for the most creative and talented singers, conductors, composers, musicians, stage directors, designers, visual artists, choreographers, and dancers from around the world, while broadening its reach through innovative broadcasts and educational programs. ## Products & Services - **[Main Stage Performances]**: Full‑scale opera productions at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center (Sept–May season) – mix of classic repertoire and new commissions. - **[Live in HD]**: High‑definition live performance transmissions to movie theaters in over 70 countries – a flagship digital product initiated in 2006. - **[Met Opera on Demand / Streaming]**: Digital library of recorded performances available via paid subscription. - **[Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcasts]**: Weekly live radio broadcasts – a tradition since 1931, reaching millions of listeners. - **[Education & Public Programming]**: School matinees, student dress rehearsals, the Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition, and the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. - **[Met Opera Shop]**: Retail merchandise and licensed content. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not publicly available (nonprofit) - **Key Metric**: Annual revenue of **$134.4M** (according to LinkedIn data); total funding of **$1M** (likely grants/sponsorships) - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Bank of America (presenting sponsor of the internship and fellows program); major corporate donors and foundations (e.g., Lincoln Center Theater, Maria Manetti Shrem, etc.) - **Growth Signals**: +1.2% headcount growth (693 employees, +15 YoY); continued expansion of the Live in HD and streaming services; renewed focus on commissioning works by living composers (e.g., Terence Blanchard’s *Fire Shut Up in My Bones* , the first opera by a Black composer at the Met); global audience reach across 13+ countries. ## Competitive Advantages - **Brand & History**: 140+ year legacy as the premier opera house in the United States; unmatched reputation for artistic excellence. - **Global Distribution**: The Live in HD and radio network create a massive worldwide subscriber base that no other opera company matches. - **World‑Class Talent Pipeline**: Lindemann Young Artist Program and Laffont Competition source and develop the next generation of opera stars. - **Institutional Resources**: Lincoln Center facilities and a dedicated orchestra, chorus, and technical staff allow for production scale unmatched in North America. ## Strategic Focus - **Repertoire Expansion**: Increasing the number of new productions and commissioning contemporary works to attract younger and more diverse audiences. - **Digital Innovation**: Growing the streaming and on‑demand library, improving the live‑broadcast experience, and developing digital education tools. - **Diversity & Inclusion**: Actively working to present more works by underrepresented composers and to diversify the workforce through internships/fellowships with partners like Bank of America. - **Financial Sustainability**: Balancing high‑production costs with earned revenue (tickets, broadcasts, shop) and philanthropic support. ## Why Work Here - **Mission‑Driven Environment**: Employees contribute to a globally revered cultural institution dedicated to artistic excellence. - **Career Development**: Paid internships/fellowships (Bank of America program) with mentoring from top professionals in arts management, production, technology, and marketing. - **Workplace Culture**: Reviews on LinkedIn rate culture 3.4/5, compensation 3.4, career 3.4 (121 reviews); work‑life balance scored lower at 2.1 (typical for live‑performance environments with irregular hours). - **Location**: Based at Lincoln Center in New York City – access to world‑class arts and cultural amenities. - **Notable Perks**: Exposure to top opera artists, free or discounted tickets (likely), and the chance to work alongside specialists in technology, media, and stagecraft. ## Sources 1. [LinkedIn Company Profile](https://linkedin.com/company/metropolitan-opera) 2. [Met Operra – Our Story](https://www.metopera.org/about/the-met/) 3. [Bank of America Internship and Fellows Program](https://www.metopera.org/about/internships) 4. [Met Operra Administration Page](https://www.metopera.org/About/Who-We-Are/Administration/) 5. [Met Operra Careers on Lever](https://jobs.lever.co/metopera) ## Other roles at The Metropolitan Opera - [Executive Office Internship](https://feeny.ai/job/executive-office-internship-the-metropolitan-opera-new-york-rxcr5trywkay) — New York, NY - [Patron Associate](https://feeny.ai/job/patron-associate-the-metropolitan-opera-new-york-z5g1dgd9nm5t) — New York, NY - [Patron Associate / Dress Circle Lounge](https://feeny.ai/job/patron-associate-dress-circle-lounge-the-metropolitan-opera-new-york-h5af4dynqy1g) — New York, NY - [Development Researcher](https://feeny.ai/job/development-researcher-the-metropolitan-opera-new-york-695tb7zyt02v) — New York, NY - [Customer Care Representative](https://feeny.ai/job/customer-care-representative-the-metropolitan-opera-new-york-fsr2rsecwq28) — New York, NY - [Media Finance & Gift Processing Coordinator](https://feeny.ai/job/media-finance-gift-processing-coordinator-the-metropolitan-opera-new-york-5cehaybnp4bd) — New York, NY - [Broadcast Audio Operations Director](https://feeny.ai/job/broadcast-audio-operations-director-the-metropolitan-opera-new-york-ha5pg7w4sw9v) — New York, NY - [Performance Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/performance-manager-the-metropolitan-opera-new-york-4wka40751p3y) — New York, NY