SDCO Partners · 1 day ago
Finance & Operations Director
Charleston, SC
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/Executive
8+ years expSDCO Partners is an award-winning creative studio that focuses on fostering collaboration and enduring relationships. The Finance & Operations Director will oversee the studio's financial health and operations, ensuring alignment between projects, people, and finances while serving as a strategic partner to the leadership team.
ContentDigital MediaGraphic DesignPersonal BrandingPhotography
Responsibilities
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
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
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
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
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
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
Qualification
Required
College graduate with 8+ years of experience in finance, operations, studio management or studio leadership
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
Preferred
Preferred degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
Benefits
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
Company
SDCO Partners
Sdco Partners is a branding and design company providing art direction, content creation, and photography services.
11-50 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Early StageLeadership Team
A
Amy Pastre
Executive Creative Director at SDCO Partners
C
Courtney Rowson
Founder and Executive Creative Director
Company data provided by crunchbase