Levine Music welcomes applications and nominations for the position of Chief Financial Officer, available in January 2027. Rafael Manalac, who has served with distinction for nearly 19 years, has announced that he will retire at the end of 2026. A search for the next CFO is currently underway.
About Levine Music
With five campuses in the greater Washington, DC, area and a Virtual Campus online, Levine Music offers outstanding music instruction and performance opportunities for students of all ages, interests, and skill levels. Levine Music connects students with top-tier professional artists and music educators for lessons, classes, and programs in classical music, jazz, rock, musical theatre, folk music, and much more. Levine Music’s 180 faculty members offer instruction in 22 instruments, voice, and composition. They help students achieve their goals, inspire students to realize their potential as musicians, and encourage students to discover the great joy of making music. No matter the age, ability, or financial circumstances, Levine Music welcomes everyone with an interest in exploring, creating, or finding inspiration through music.
Levine Music serves the National Capital Region across five campuses. The main campus is Sallie Mae Hall in Northwest Washington, where the executive offices are located. Additional campuses serve students at THEARC in Southeast DC; The Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, Maryland; a Campus in Silver Spring, Maryland; and the newest campus in West Falls Church, Virginia.
Levine Music is governed by a 32-member Board of Trustees and has an administrative staff of 36. The annual budget is $13 million with 30 percent of income provided by individual and institutional philanthropy. Assets of $28 million include $11 million in endowment. Jeffery Tribble is President and CEO of Levine Music.
The Position
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the President & CEO, the Board of Trustees, and the leadership across Levine’s five campuses. The CFO is a key member of Levine Music’s Executive Leadership Team, which includes the Vice President of Music Education, the Vice President of Development, and the Chief Operating Officer.
The CFO provides strategic and operational leadership for Levine’s financial management, thus maintaining and safeguarding the organization’s financial health. Through rigorous financial planning and informed decision-making, the CFO ensures effective stewardship of Levine’s resources.
The CFO is responsible and accountable for all aspects of financial management, including accounting, budgeting and forecasting, financial reporting, cash and investment management, audit and tax compliance, internal controls, payroll financial administration, and financial systems. The CFO works collaboratively across the organization to translate financial information into insights and data that support sound decision-making, organizational sustainability, and fulfillment of Levine’s mission. Levine Music Chief Financial Officer Page 2 of 3
The CFO provides guidance, direction, and supervision for the accounting staff. The CFO ensures that the development, education, and operation teams have the financial information they need to support their work. The CFO is the primary liaison to the Finance and Audit Committees of the Board, and ensures that the CEO, the Board, and the Senior Executive Team have timely and accurate financial information to assist and inform their decision-making.
As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the CFO is a full participant in the work of Levine Music, which includes attendance at public programs, concerts, and events on Levine campuses throughout the year. The CFO serves as an ambassador for Levine Music with parents, patrons, and donors, and an advocate for Levine Music with the external community.
Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate will bring significant senior financial management experience; thorough familiarity with non-profit fund accounting; proven budgeting, forecasting, and cash management ability; excellent communication skills; and a personal interest in advancing Levine Music’s work for music and music education. Experience working with a non-profit organization is essential; experience working in a mission-driven organization, especially in music, the arts, or education will be considered a major asset.
A degree in finance, accounting, and/or business administration is required.
The successful candidate will have a thorough working knowledge about the technologies available to support finance and operations in non-profit organizations today. Prior experience with Blackbaud’s Financial Edge NXT is strongly preferred. The CFO will have experience with integrated payroll, fundraising, registration, budgeting, reporting, and financial management systems.
The successful candidate will have excellent written and verbal communication skills. The CFO will have the ability to present and interpret financial information to internal and external stakeholders who may have varying degrees of financial knowledge and understanding.
The successful candidate will be a leader with a management style that encourages transparency, collaboration, and teamwork. The CFO will take a pro-active interest in identifying ways that the finance department can support and facilitate the music education, fundraising, and operations work of Levine Music. The CFO will have excellent supervisory skills and a track record for developing and mentoring staff.
The successful candidate will be creative, flexible, curious, and persistent. The CFO will be able to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities with grace and good humor. The successful candidate will welcome the opportunity to become an advocate and active participant in advancing the mission of Levine Music.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $175,000 to $190,000 with a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance, ample paid time off, a retirement plan, and more. Levine Music Chief Financial Officer Page 3 of 3
Applications
Levine Music welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, religion, political affiliation, disability, sexual orientation, gender, national origin, or marital status, or any other basis protected by law. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States.
Please submit a resumé along with a cover letter that describes your specific interest in the mission and work of Levine Music and your qualifications for the position as described in the candidate profile. On a separate sheet, provide the names and contact information for several professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential, and references will not be contacted without the applicant’s knowledge and agreement.
Electronic submissions are requested. Please send to:
Chief Financial Officer – Levine Music
c/o Catherine French Group
(Adobe Acrobat PDF attachments only, please)
This position will be considered open until filled. Levine Music will begin reviewing applications in mid-October.
