Director / VP of Finance and Administration

Position Summary

(Depending on experience, this position may be filled at the Director or VP level. In either case, it is designed to evolve into a key senior leadership role with firmwide impact.)

As Director or VP of Finance and Administration, you’ll spearhead financial strategy and operations for Pinkston, bridging high-level planning with hands-on execution. You’ll own financial reporting, budgeting, and forecasting while partnering with service-line leaders to optimize profitability and drive growth initiatives. Because Pinkston is a professional services firm, success in this role requires a deep understanding of—or the proven ability to quickly master—the financial and operational levers unique to services businesses, including utilization, project-based financials.

This role is finance-first, but also touches adjacent areas such as pricing, compensation planning, insurance renewals, and contract financials — you should be able to hit the ground running in all core finance areas and expand into broader firm leadership responsibilities over time. Ideal candidates bring 7-10 years of progressive finance experience, including a track record of owning end-to-end financial operations and partnering cross-functionally across operations, HR, and client teams.

Additional Details

• Status: Exempt, Salaried
• Work Location: Falls Church, VA
• Travel: 0%-5%
• Reports to: Christian Pinkston, CEO

Role Responsibilities

     Finance Core 

• Own end-to-end financial operations, including P&L management, cash flow optimization, and working capital oversight
• Lead annual planning cycle, including budgeting, forecasting (monthly/quarterly), and Board-level financial reporting.
• Develop multi-year strategic financial roadmaps aligned with growth targets (revenue diversification, margin expansion, M&A preparedness)
• Partner with service line leaders to analyze profitability by client/engagement and lead pricing strategy for large projects and RFPs, including maintaining and optimizing firm-wide rate cards.
• Serve as primary liaison with external CPA firm for tax strategy/execution.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the business to deliver actionable financial insights and strategic recommendations.

   Cross-Functional Responsibilities

• Collaborate with HR and practice leaders to design and execute annual compensation planning (raises, promotions, bonus allocations)
• Analyze benefits and insurance renewals to guide the selection of optimal packages  
• Oversee financial and commercial terms in client and vendor contracts, ensuring alignment with firm objectives; collaborate with leadership and external counsel as needed on legal details
• Evaluate and implement financial tools and improve processes to increase efficiency and scalability

Skills & Qualifications

Required

• 7–10 years of progressive finance experience, including FP&A and operational finance leadership
• Proven track record in leading annual budgeting cycles and contributing to multi-year strategic planning initiatives, with the ability to translate high-level goals into actionable financial targets
• Exceptional interpersonal acumen with demonstrated competence advising stakeholders on financial strategy in high-pressure decision-making contexts.
• Advanced analytical skills with proficiency in financial modeling, scenario analysis, and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) to drive data-informed decision-making
• Alignment with Pinkston’s guiding principles.

Preferred

• Experience in professional services economics (utilization, rate cards, project-based accounting, revenue recognition)
• Exposure to compensation planning, benefits analysis, or contract negotiations
• Demonstrated ability to improve or build financial processes in growing organizations
• Diverse financial acumen (e.g., treasury, working capital management, M&A readiness)
• Demonstrated history of rapid career progression and meaningful tenure within an organization, coupled with a strong desire to grow into a strategic finance leadership role

Who We Are

Pinkston is a full-service branding, marketing, and communications agency offering integrated public relations, creative, digital, and research services to transform companies and organizations. As an outcome-driven agency, Pinkston is committed to delivering customized, strategic solutions that drive real-world impact. 

We serve a broad portfolio of clients across sectors — including government and public sector organizations, corporations and consumer brands, public affairs initiatives, and a significant number of faith-based organizations and mission-driven non-profits.

Pinkston offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes company-sponsored health, dental, and vision plans accompanied by employer-funded life insurance, HRA, and short-term disability plan. Optional long-term disability and additional Life Insurance are also available. Pinkston provides a 401k retirement plan and contributes to each employee’s retirement annually regardless of employee participation.

At Pinkston, we believe great things happen when people come together and are committed to building a collaborative in-person work environment. Pinkston is also committed to a healthy work-life balance. We offer flexibility through an innovative hybrid work model that gives team members the opportunity to work from home up to 30% of the time. Pinkston provides generous holiday and vacation policies, paid parental leave, and an additional week of paid “volunteer time off” to encourage employees to invest time in a 501C non-profit of their choice.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Pinkston is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Pinkston makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.