FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

Youth Orchestra of the Americas
USA
Applications close 26 March 2003

Youth Orchestra of the Americashttp://www.youthorchestraoftheamericas.org The Youth Orchestra of the Americas (YOA) is a non-profit, multicultural symphony orchestra of 110 gifted young musicians from the countries of the Western Hemisphere. Its mission is "to pursue musical excellence, develop young leaders with cross cultural understanding and inspire a spirit of hemispheric unity that will produce greatness in the people, communities and governments of the Americas." Plácido Domingo serves as Artistic Advisor of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas. YOA has received broad international support from artists, heads of state, and leaders in the arts, government, and diplomatic communities. The President of the United States and Mrs. Bush are Honorary Chairmen of the YOA Presidential Partners; The Honorable Madeleine K. Albright is Chairman of the Leadership Advisory Council; the American Symphony Orchestra League, the Organization of American States, and The Americas Society are institutional Advisory Council members; and the New England Conservatory and Vision, Inc. are Founding Institutions. The YOA provides a unique opportunity for young musicians aged 14 to 24 to rehearse and perform under the baton of leading conductors and receive coaching from an exceptional faculty of distinguished musicians assembled from throughout the Americas. Every musician participates on a full scholarship. Orchestral membership is open to citizens of the participating countries in the Western Hemisphere who are selected foremost on their artistic accomplishments. (In 2002, YOA members represented 19 countries in the Western Hemisphere, including Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile Columbia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, U.S., and Venezuela.) Each year, following an intensive rehearsal period, the YOA embarks upon a concert tour of performances in the most renowned concert halls and festivals in North, Central and South America. Resident conductors for 2002 were Christopher Wilkins and Gustavo Dudamel. Guest conductors for the 2002 tour included Leonard Slatkin, Carlos Prieto, and Benjamin Zander. Soloists included Yo-Yo Ma, Horacio Lavandera, Frederico Osorio and Daniel Lee.The 2003 program highlights include:

• Concerts at the United Nations and the Kennedy Center in March with soloist Paquito d'Rivera and conductor Carlos Prieto
• A two-week residency in Costa Rica in July, including rehearsals and master classes with renowned conductors, orchestral musicians and educators; and
• A four-week tour throughout the Americas with performances in San Jose, Panama City, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Montevideo, Buenos Aires, Mexico City and Lima. The tour culminates with a featured performance at the European Summer Music Festival where YOA will be the sole orchestra representing the Americas.

The YOA is governed by a 37-member Board of Directors and has a staff of 4. The annual budget is $2.2 million. Debra McKeon is Managing Director and CEO. The Position The Finance and Administration Manager is responsible for the business and financial operations of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, including preparation of the operating budget, long-range financial projections, bookkeeping, financial statements and reports, cash flow projections, banking relationships, office management, equipment acquisition and maintenance, and the administration of payroll, benefits, and personnel policies. The Finance and Administration Manager oversees the maintenance of the YOA website and provides staff support to the organization's Finance and Strategic Planning Committees. The Finance and Administration Manager develops and implements sound financial and administrative policies, procedures, and internal controls for accounting, auditing, budgeting, purchasing, inventories, payroll, contracts administration, and administrative services. S/he manages the day-to-day financial activities, maintains accurate records, and produces financial forecasts, reports and analyses as required. The Manager maintains the YOA's revenue and expense records, processes accounts payable and accounts receivable, processes bank deposits, and produces monthly financial statements The Manager works with the auditors in preparation of the annual audit report and filing of tax reports. In consultation with the Finance Committee, s/he responds to auditor's findings and recommendations. The Manager works with the Managing Director to coordinate the long-range planning process for the Youth Orchestra of the Americas. S/he prepares materials for Strategic Planning Committee meetings and writes report and summaries of discussions. The Manager is responsible for securing and maintaining supplies and equipment for the organization. S/he negotiates contracts and leases for telephone, computer services, office equipment, building lease, insurance, employee benefits, and other services. S/he prepares and reviews all contracts for artists, independent contractors and consultants for the Managing Director's signature. The Manager oversees the work of the YOA Website designers and ensures that the information on the site is current, complete, and accessible. Candidate Profile The successful candidate will be an accountant or finance manager with at least three years experience with a not-for-profit organization. S/he will be proficient in MS Office Suite and familiar with QuickBooks Pro software. The successful candidate will be well organized and efficient. S/he will be able to work independently, but also as a vital part of the YOA team. The successful candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills and will function well in a fast paced environment. Knowledge of classical music and familiarity with orchestra operations are assets. Conversational ability in Spanish is helpful but not required. Salary: Up to $40,000

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