Finance & Administrative Director – Visit Lake County

Visit Lake County seeks an experienced and strategic Finance & Administrative Director, to provide fiscal leadership for the organization. The Finance & Administrative Director will oversee financial, accounting, grant, and reporting functions, ensuring state and county compliance, and supporting organizational decision-making through accurate analysis and reporting duties.

The Finance & Administration Director will work closely with executive leadership & staff, external partners, and government entities to safeguard public funds, strengthen financial operations, and clearly communicate tourism’s financial and economic impact in Lake County.

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented, strategic thinker who values public accountability, understands the importance of tourism’s economic impact, and enjoys collaborating with hospitality community partners and local government leaders to support Visit Lake County’s mission.

Key Responsibilities
Financial Leadership & Management

• Serve as the organization’s senior financial leader, overseeing finance, accounting, budgeting, and business operations. Reports to the president.
• Maintain and manage the chart of accounts, cash flow forecasting, and expense controls.
• Coordinate and manage banking relationships, investments, and operational funding.
• Perform accounts payable and accounts receivable functions, including community investment, partnership, and sponsorship invoicing and tracking.
• Manage payroll processing, ensure compliance with payroll, tax, and regulatory requirements.
• Administer employee benefits programs.

Budgeting, Reporting & Audits

• Coordinate the annual budget process and support leadership with financial planning.
• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reports.
• Oversee the annual audit process and serve as the primary liaison with auditors.
• Ensure accurate, timely county and state financial reporting.

Grant & Compliance Management

• Manage State of Illinois grant funding, including submission, administration, modifications, compliance, and reporting.
• Ensure adherence to all grant, government, and not-for-profit accounting standards.
• Maintain documentation and internal controls to support public funding accountability.

Analytics, Reporting & Impact Measurement

• Prepare community, vendor, and stakeholder reports.
• Analyze hotel and short-term rental trends, visitor data, and revenue impacts.
• Measure and report on the financial and economic impact of sales and marketing programs.
• Assist leadership in preparing and presenting organizational results, financial status, and local tourism impact reports to boards, partners, and government entities.

Organizational & Community Engagement

• Serve as a trusted financial advisor to executive leadership and internal teams.
• Implement efficient technologies to streamline & automate processes and office functions.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of Lake County, Illinois communities, geography, local issues, government, and culture.
• Enhance partnerships with community stakeholders, sponsors, and government agencies through transparent financial practices.

Qualifications & Experience

• 10+ years of professional experience in accounting, preferably within a non-profit, government, business, or public-sector environment. Hospitality, marketing or tourism industry background and bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing grants, particularly State of Illinois funding.
• Strong knowledge of not-for-profit accounting standards, financial controls, and GATA compliance requirements.
• Experience with audits, budgeting, payroll, benefits administration, and financial analytics.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information clearly in public settings.

Salary & Benefits

• A full-time position range of $80,000-$90,000, based on experience level.
• Employer supported health insurance package available.
• Employer matched IRA.
• Collaborative office environment, with vacation, PTO, holiday, and seasonal benefits.
• Professional development opportunities.

Submit Resume & Cover Letter to John@lakecounty.org

The Organization
Visit Lake County (Lake County Convention & Tourism Bureau) is a 501c6 Not-for-Profit organization whose mission is to drive economic impact by creating positive consumer awareness, marketing strategies, sales objectives, and a cohesive image for Lake County, Illinois. Branding the county and all partner communities together, the VLC team serves both residents and visitors by highlighting the area’s unique assets, events, and accommodations to attract business and leisure travelers.