The Finance & Operations Director is responsible for the overall operation and financial health of the studio. This role ensures that projects, people, and finances are aligned, transparent and scalable. You will serve as a strategic partner to the founder and leadership team, translating creative ambition into clear financial models, operational systems, and informed business decisions. This is a senior leadership role with direct impact on profitability, growth strategy, and studio stability.

College graduate with 8+ years of experience in finance,operations, studio management or studio leadership. 

Preferred degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field 

3+ years in a leadership role 

Familiarity with accounting and operational tools such as QuickBooks, Harvest, Gusto or similar Background in a professional services environment 

Understanding of agency operations, including resourcing, utilization, capacity planning, and project margin management 

Experienced in building profitable pricing models for both services and products 

Strong financial acumen with hands-on experience in budgeting, forecasting, and profitability analysis 

Ability to communicate financial insights clearly to non-financial stakeholders 

Collaborative by nature; skilled at building relationships cross departmentally and securing buy in of key stakeholders

Possesses a strong sense of ownership and accountability

Experienced leader who is solution oriented and committed to transparency

Extremely detailed oriented with strong organizational and time-management skills

A critical thinker who demonstrates flexibility in approach in an industry constantly adapting to new trends and technologies

Excellent communicator, written and verbal, confident taking the lead in key internal meetings

Positive, and uplifting attitude that inspires coworkers and clients; a collaborative spirit open to feedback

Internally driven to make things better, think creatively to solve problems, and to exceed expectations

Finance & Business Management:

Own studio financial operations, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow management, and annual goal setting

Maintain and interpret P&L statement, chart of accounts, and general ledger – provide clear financial reporting to leadership

Execute all day-to-day bookkeeping tasks such as billing and invoicing, expense tracking and reconciliation, managing accounts payable and receivable, collections, payroll administration, etc.

Track revenue pacing, margins, utilization, and profitability at both studio and project levels

Identify financial risks and opportunities and recommend corrective actions

Identify trends and patterns across financial and operational data that will help optimize the business

Partner with external accountants and tax advisors as needed

Project & Profitability Management:

Track project type profitability and advise on appropriate pricing adjustments, margins, etc.

Guide pricing strategy, scopes of work, retainers, and fee structures

Ensure scopes, change orders, and timelines align with financial goals alongside Accounts Director

Support creative and account leads in managing project financial health

Analyze which clients, services, and work types drive sustainable growth

Balance profitability with realistic workloads and team well-being

Studio Operations & Workflow:

Own end-to-end studio operations

Design and maintain efficient, scalable workflows

Continuously improve processes that support both quality and efficiency

Assist ownership in managing professional partnerships including IT, accounting, legal, and facilities.

Work with established partners to complete annual business administration tasks such as certification renewals and insurance audits

Client & Business Partnership:

Partner with leadership and the Business Development Director on proposal terms, contracts, and client negotiations when appropriate

Ensure operational and financial consistency across client engagements

Support long-term client planning and revenue forecasting

Systems & Tools:

Manage procurement, licensing, renewals, and vendor relationships for all business-critical systems, including Dropbox, Google Workspace, Adobe, and project management platforms

Ensure systems are integrated, well-adopted, and appropriate for studio scale

Maintain clear documentation and operational playbooks

Implement improvements as the studio scales

Strategic Leadership:

Act as a trusted advisor to the owners

Contribute to the long-term planning, growth strategy and organizational design

Translate creative vision into financially and operationally sound execution

Engage collaboratively with owners and department heads to support a unified, holistic approach to decision-making

To ensure focus and clarity, this role is NOT RESPONSIBLE for the following:

Personal financial planning or investment decision-making for ownership

Legal counsel or legal decision making (handled by external legal partners)

Tax Preparation and filing (handled by external accounting partners)

Creative direction or design decision-making

New business sales or client acquisition (may support pricing and proposals but does not own sales)

Benefits strategy and selection (Benefits broker to be utilized for Healthcare and Disability coverage renewals. Will include financial implications of benefits as they relate to payroll and management of the company 401k platform.)

IT infrastructure management or internal tech support (may coordinate vendors, but does not provide technical support

The studio has clear financial visibility and stable cash flow

Ownership has confidence in how the studio fits into their broader financial landscape

Projects are consistently scoped and priced profitability

Leadership can make confident, data-involved decisions

Play a central role in shaping the future of the studio alongside owners and leadership team 

Build systems that support people, creativity and long-term financial stability 

Space to foster philanthropic opportunities during work hours 

The chance to work alongside a group of curious, talented thinkers, doers, and makers devoted to creating work that’s resonant, relevant, and meaningful 

Historic downtown Charleston office with some flex work-from-home benefits 

Four-day work week 

Paid time off benefits, including holidays 

Healthcare benefits — $400/month premium coverage by SDCO following three months 

of service 

Optional Dental and Vision coverage following three months of service 

401K retirement plan and employer 4% match following one year of service 

Opportunity for 401K Profit Sharing contribution based on company performance 

Short Term Disability, Long Term Disability, and Group Life coverage with the monthly premium paid by SDCO, following three months of service 

Continuing education benefits following three months of service 

Parental leave following one year of service 

Opportunities to gather in person as a full company for strategic brainstorming, inspiration sharing, and team bonding

Email a cover letter, resume, and 3 references to jobs@sdcopartners.com.