Country Club of Darien | Darien, Connecticut  
Chief Financial Officer

About the Club
In 1957, Edgar S. Auchincloss had a vision of turning his family’s 200-acre “gentleman’s farm” into a club. The family originally bought the farm in 1905 as a vacation retreat, and in 1956, the family transformed the land into the grounds of the Country Club of Darien. By June 1957, 250 charter members had been assembled, and the Club opened its doors, and membership quickly expanded to 400. The golf course was designed in 1958 by Alred Tull and was available for play that year.

Over the years, the membership has continued to invest in the Clubhouse and amenities. The Club now offers 18 holes of championship golf with a vibrant caddy program, eight Har-Tru tennis courts, six paddle courts with a recently built Paddle Hut, a six-lane pool with a diving well, a new pool bar, multiple dining outlets, and a fitness center to the over 700 members.

The original golf course was designed by Alfred Tull, who was a partner of noted course architect Devereux Emmet. In 2007, Dr. Michael Hurdzan, architect of US Open host Erin Hills, was commissioned to modernize the course. He earned the Renovation of the Year award in 2010 by Golf, Inc. for the work done at Country Club of Darien. The course hosted the 2018 Met Match Play Championship, the 2019 Westchester Open, the 2021 Connecticut State Open, the 2022 IKE MGA Stroke Plan, and the 2022 Ladies MET Open. The Club’s practice facilities are the most expansive in the area and include two practice ranges and two chipping greens alongside the central putting green. An indoor Golf Performance Studio provides year-round hitting facilities, golf lessons, and high-tech swing analysis.

The Club is designed to be very family-friendly, offering six weeks of children’s camps, swim/dive/water polo teams and lessons, and junior golf and tennis programs and teams. Active social and competitive adult programs include USTA Tennis and APTA Platform Tennis offerings. The Paddle Hut, completed in 2013, features a lounge area with a stone fireplace, observation deck, and built-in fire pit to add to the winter activity list.

In the past 12 years, the Club has invested over $20 million in upgrades financed through an effective Capital Budget. In 2021, a new pool bar was added along with a zero-degree entry children’s pool, six of the eight tennis courts, which included an irrigation system, and renovated all greens and bunkers. Discussions have started to renovate the casual dining area and to upgrade the irrigation system ($6.5 million). A Master Plan is in the early stages, with another $20 million project on the horizon.

About the Position
As a vital Executive Team member, the CFO oversees all financial operations at the Club, ensuring accuracy and efficiency while presenting monthly reports to the Finance Committee and annually to the Board of Directors. Collaborating closely with the Finance Committee and General Manager, s/he will provide strategic guidance on budget development, cost analysis, forecasting, and financial and “best practices” guidance for future capital projects. Reporting directly to the General Manager, the CFO creates, directs, monitors, reports, and interprets all accounting, internal controls, reporting, and budgetary aspects of the Club’s operation. S/he will establish and enforce financial procedures, prepare comprehensive statements and forecasts, and conduct thorough analyses to optimize profitability, all while supporting individual Department Heads in creating and meeting their targeted financial goals. Lastly, the CFO will manage IT and the relationship with the third-party vendor.

About the Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate for the CFO position is someone who embodies teamwork, seamlessly integrating into the management team while overseeing the Club’s financial operations. S/he will possess a strategic mindset, offering invaluable assistance to the Finance Committee and General Manager on budget development, cost-benefit analysis, and forecasting.

S/he will have 15+ years of related accounting management experience, ideally in a not-for-profit, member-owned Club environment or hospitality. The ideal candidate will have expertise in financially guiding and adeptly planning short- and long-term capital projects and a deep understanding of membership billing and fiscal concerns. A bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance is a prerequisite, while certifications such as CHAE or CPA and an MBA are highly desirable qualifications.

Apply for This Position
Interested candidates should complete the online candidate profile form and submit a compelling cover letter and resume for consideration to DENEHY Club Thinking Partners at http://denehyctp.com/apply-for-a-position/. If you have any questions or to recommend a candidate, please contact Karen Alexander at 203.319.8228 or by email at karen@denehyctp.com.