SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment · 9 hours ago
VP, Finance
SeaWorld San Diego
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$140K/yr - $175K/yr
10+ years expSeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is dedicated to animal care and creating memorable experiences for visitors. They are seeking a VP of Finance who will lead financial operations, develop strategic financial plans, and ensure operational excellence across the San Diego parks.
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Responsibilities
Develop proactive, data‑driven financial strategies and long‑range tactical plans, including B2C revenue budgets, labor and operational expense budgets, timely and accurate forecasts, and performance against targets
Conduct financial impact analyses for mandated cost changes—including minimum wage increases, benefit adjustments, and regulatory requirements—and develop proactive strategies to mitigate operational and labor cost impacts
Oversee all local financial planning, accounting, timekeeping, labor management, IT and compliance operations to ensure operational excellence
Serve as an as member of the Park Senior Leadership Team, contributing to the achievement of both operational and financial goals
Develop appropriate criteria and tracking methods for revenue, labor, and expenses
Review labor performance daily to identify and proactively address efficiency opportunities influencing overall performance
Oversee financial compliance with local real estate lease and partner agreements
Prepare financial analysis in preparation for contract negotiations and product investment decisions
Mentor and challenge team members by fostering a creative, growth‑oriented environment focused on continuous improvement
Partner with external consultants and utility providers to assess energy usage, evaluate cost‑saving opportunities, and implement efficiency improvements aligned with operational and sustainability goals
Lead price value, retail positioning, offers, and communication of offers while leveraging best practices and consulting with identified pricing Subject Matter Experts for best retail position of offers to drive incremental volume and demand
Provide strong leadership to the on-site teams across lines of business as well as other key stakeholders to accomplish objectives
Execute strategic and tactical financial plans with excellence while cultivating a positive, inclusive culture centered on mentorship, development, and team growth
Review sales tax calculations for accuracy and ensure full compliance with California and applicable local tax laws, proactively identifying and addressing discrepancies
Review operating expenses to identify items eligible for capitalization under company policy, ensuring accurate classification, proper documentation, and alignment with corporate accounting standards
Review chargebacks regularly to identify unusual trends, discrepancies, or emerging risks, and collaborate with relevant teams to investigate and resolve issues promptly
Build and maintain attendance and consumer‑demand forecasts by integrating real‑time city data (e.g., tourism trends, events, school calendars, weather), market data points, and historical performance; translate insights into staffing, pricing, marketing, and inventory decisions
Effectively assess complex information to provide the best direction to the business in a highly visible role; monitoring metrics and feedback in a fast-paced environment, correcting and optimizing as necessary to ensure proper utilization of resources
Lead development of high-level presentations addressing financial and park plan topics, financial performance, market updates, etc
Create and manage a significant budget while aligning budget resources with prioritized business strategies and tactics, adjusting as needed
Actively collaborate with senior park leaders and corporate partners to build strong, cross‑functional relationships that support business growth and overall organizational success
Qualification
Required
Minimum of 10 years' experience in positions of increasing responsibility overseeing on-site finance for a consumer products or services business
Demonstrated ability to create and deliver board‑level presentations, clearly explaining budgets, forecasts, and prior‑year variances to executive leadership and key stakeholders
Executive level oversight of multiple functions, including finance, California taxes, payroll submissions to corporate, parks' month‑end close, information technology, utilities, and/or data and analytics
Strong analytical capabilities with demonstrated experience modeling labor cost impacts, including minimum wage changes, regulatory shifts, and other external cost pressures, and translating findings into clear business recommendations
Ability to collaborate effectively with consultants, sustainability experts, and utility providers to understand energy consumption drivers and identify actionable efficiency and cost‑reduction opportunities
Strong understanding of California and local sales tax requirements, with experience reviewing tax calculations for accuracy and ensuring ongoing compliance
Strong understanding of capitalization policies and accounting standards, with experience evaluating expenses for capitalization eligibility and ensuring accurate treatment in financial records
Strong analytical skills with experience monitoring chargebacks for anomalies or unexpected patterns and translating findings into corrective actions or process improvements
Proven expertise in forecasting attendance and consumer behavior using time‑series analysis and market intelligence (city/municipal data, economic indicators, competitive activity), with a track record of converting insights into actionable operating plans
Expertise in labor modeling and operational staffing alignment within high‑volume, consumer‑facing environments
Unparalleled people leadership with a results-driven mentality, high energy level, strong bias for action, financial savvy, and an ability to see issues or solutions through cold numbers
Ability to simplify and communicate complex business challenges to drive alignment of impacted stakeholders
Superior multi-tasking, competing priority management, and speed to execution designed for a fast-paced, nimble, and demanding environment
Effective tactical execution includes alignment, identification, and prioritization of resources with superior analytical aptitude combined with strong bottom-line orientation
Experience developing and managing complex budgets
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability to read and write English and including polished oral and visual presentations
Respectful of all colleagues and partners; a leader of impeccable integrity
An undergraduate degree in finance, accounting, or a related field is required
Preferred
An MBA or CPA is preferred
Benefits
Paid Time Off
Complimentary Park Tickets and Passes
Park Discounts on Food and Merchandise
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
401K Retirement plan
Voluntary Insurance
Life Insurance
Disability Benefits
Tuition Reimbursement
Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
Employee Assistance Program
Legal Assistance Plan
Company
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment™ is a leading theme park and entertainment company providing experiences that matter and inspiring guests to protect animals and the wild wonders of our world.
10001+ employees
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
unknownKey Investors
Zhonghong Holdings Group
2017-03-24Post Ipo Equity
2013-04-19IPO
2009-01-01Series Unknown
Leadership Team
Jim Forrester
Interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Ian Parker
Corporate Vice President, Head of Groups and Partnerships
Recent News
The Orlando Sentinel
2025-12-29
2025-11-27
2025-11-11
Company data provided by crunchbase