Director of Finance & Operations

Business Management & Operational Systems Lead

Minneapolis, MN

Full Time | Exempt

What We’re Looking For

SN is collaborating with MSR Design (MSR) in their search for a Director of Finance & Operations to join their award-winning firm celebrating 45 years of architecture and interior design excellence. This newly developed role functions as the firm’s Business Manager, coordinating financial and operational systems to support leadership decision-making and ensuring those decisions translate into consistent operational follow through.

Why this Role Matters

• Improves financial predictability and supports sound business decision‑making.
• Supports firm leadership by reducing operational burden and improving decision readiness.
• Helps ensure the firm’s operations remain stable and well supported as the firm evolves.
• Provides continuity between leadership priorities and day‑to‑day business follow-through.

What this Role Owns

Financial Integration & Decision Preparation

• Maintain firmwide financial forecasting, scenario planning, and cash flow visibility
• Interpret project delivery and performance signals to identify financial, staffing, and risk implications
• Prepare standard financial reports (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow) and highlight issues, trends and implications for leadership
• Prepare decision-ready options and recommendations for the CEO
• Serve as the primary point of coordination with banking partners, external accountants, and investment firms

Budgeting, KPIs & Firm Health

• Lead annual budget development
• Monitor firmwide KPIs and performance trends
• Identify emerging risks, tradeoffs, and implications before issues escalate

Compensation, Benefits & People Systems

• Own payroll and HR-adjacent administrative processes (e.g., PFML, HSA, transportation)
• Serve on the firm’s 401(k) committee, including quarterly updates and fielding staff questions
• Develop annual compensation, bonus modeling, recommendations, and billing rates
• Lead benefits strategy and open enrollment planning
• Serve as first point of contact for HR policy interpretation and compliance questions
• Ensure consistency, fairness, and clarity in people-related decisions

Risk Management & Insurance

• Own professional liability, general liability, and other insurance processes
• Coordinate renewals, applications, and risk narratives
• Advise on coverage levels, deductibles, and firm exposure
• Serve as the primary point of coordination with insurance brokers and legal counsel

Governance, Ownership & Infrastructure

• Coordinate ownership transactions, documentation, and timelines
• Prepare financial materials for leadership and board discussions
•  Serve as the primary point of coordination with IT vendors, ensuring systems support firm operations, risk management, and continuity
• Track governance decisions and ensure follow-through

What this Role Does NOT Own

• Staffing or day-to-day utilization
• Management of individual project performance
• Project delivery or practice leadership
• Accounting transactions, except as contingency backup when necessary
• Month-end close or invoice processing, except as contingency backup when necessary

Key Role Intersection

With the CEO:

• Acts as the CEO’s primary business management support resource
• Brings clear options, tradeoffs, and recommendations—not raw data
• Owns follow-through so decisions are carried through consistently

With Director of Practice Performance:

• Receives real-time staffing, utilization, and project health signals
• Translates performance patterns into firmwide financial, people, and risk implications

With Senior Accountant:

• Provides oversight for financial reporting
• Serves as contingency backup when necessary
• Owns payroll, benefits administration, and 401(k) coordination

Key Skills, Education & Experience

Skills

• Experience in architecture, engineering, consulting, or similar project-based firms.
• Comfort working closely with firm leadership.
• Strong budgeting, financial management, and operational coordination skills.
• Enjoys improving business clarity, coordination, and follow-through to strengthen the firm’s stability.
• Familiarity with people systems such as compensation modeling, benefits administration, and payroll coordination.
• Sound judgment in risk, governance, and organizational matters.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related business or analytical discipline preferred.
• Equivalent professional experience, advanced certifications, or a demonstrated record of progressive responsibility in financial and operational leadership will be considered in lieu of a specific degree concentration.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in finance, accounting, business operations, or project‑based management within an architecture, design, engineering, or professional services environment.
• Strong working knowledge of project‑based financial management and reporting.
• Experience working with financial, project accounting, or ERP systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong working knowledge of the Microsoft Office suite; ability to translate financial and operational data into clear information for leadership decision-making.
• Relevant certifications or specialized training are welcome but not required.
• Candidates actively pursuing professional certification, or those with equivalent applied experience overseeing complex financial and operational functions, are encouraged to apply.

Benefits Highlight

The firm offers a competitive and thoughtfully designed benefits program that includes Paid Leave, Paid Holidays, Compensatory Time, Various Insurance Options (Medical, Dental, Long Term Disability, Life, etc.), and a 401(k), among others.

About MSR Design

MSR Design is a nationally recognized, women-owned architecture and interior design firm founded in 1981 that creates transformative, human-centered work of enduring value. Known for tailoring thoughtful, equitable, healthy, and beautiful solutions to each client and community, the firm has earned national recognition for design excellence and sustainability, including two AIA COTE Top Ten Awards.

MSR’s values are reflected not only in its work, but also in its business practices, including its ILFI Just label and its certifications as a Women’s Business Enterprise and Small/Women-Owned Business Enterprise. Join their team of highly motivated individuals fueled by curiosity and a passion for learning.

MSR Design is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.