Chief Financial Officer, LOVB Pro League at League One Volleyball – New York, New York

JOB DESCRIPTION

Title: Chief Financial Officer, LOVB Pro League

Department: Finance

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: New York City area preferred (flexible/hybrid)

Direct Reports: Finance team - Pro

Job Summary

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of LOVB Pro League is an executive-level leader responsible for the financial integrity, league economics, and long-term sustainability of League One Volleyball's professional league. Reporting to the Pro League Commissioner, the CFO partners closely with team ownership groups, the Pro Senior Leadership Team, HoldCo Finance, and the LOVB Pro Board of Governors and the LOVB Inc Board of Directors to build the financial foundation of a rapidly scaling professional sports league.

LOVB Pro is entering a pivotal stage of growth. Currently in its second season with six professional teams and three additional markets announced for Season 3, the League is positioned for continued expansion. This is not a maintenance role — it is a league-building mandate. The CFO will design and mature financial systems, governance standards, and economic frameworks that will shape the League's trajectory for years to come.

The ideal candidate combines deep financial expertise with strong business judgment, owner-facing credibility, and the ability to operate effectively in a high-growth, evolving environment. This leader must balance strategic vision with hands-on execution, partnering collaboratively while upholding the discipline required to drive league-wide financial alignment and long-term sustainability.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Financial Strategy & League Economics

• Serve as the financial architect for LOVB Pro, shaping short- and long-term league economics in a high-growth environment.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive financial strategy aligned with LOVB's mission, competitive excellence, and long-term sustainability.
• Build multi-year financial models, capital plans, and expansion scenarios to support new markets and evolving league operations.
• Provide executive-level financial insights across key revenue streams including ticketing, media/broadcast, sponsorship, partnerships, merchandise, and events.
• Partner closely with the Commissioner on team sales and expansion efforts, including valuation frameworks, financial modeling, owner diligence, and transaction readiness.
• Ensure financial strategy supports disciplined growth across both league and team operations within LOVB's integrated club-to-pro ecosystem.

FP&A, Budgeting & Financial Operations

• Lead all league FP&A functions, including annual budgeting, rolling forecasts, scenario modeling, and variance analysis.
• Oversee accounting, cash flow management, working capital, fundraising support, and financial reporting for LOVB Pro.
• Establish strong internal controls, reporting standards, financial rhythms, and performance metrics appropriate for a scaling professional league.
• Ensure compliance with all legal, tax, regulatory, and league financial requirements.
• Manage relationships with auditors, banks, investors, and external financial partners.
• Partner effectively with shared services / HoldCo finance teams while maintaining clear accountability for Pro League performance and insight.

Revenue Optimization & Cost Management

• Establish visibility into league and team-level unit economics to drive performance accountability and financial decision-making.
• Provide financial leadership on major commercial agreements including sponsorships, media rights, vendors, and player contracts.
• Oversee labor economics across players, coaches, and staff, including budgeting, forecasting, and cost controls.
• Partner with People/HR leadership on compensation structures, incentives, benefits, and workforce planning.
• Identify opportunities to optimize costs while protecting athlete experience, fan engagement, and brand quality.

Team Owner Engagement & Governance

• Serve as a primary financial partner to team ownership groups, providing transparency, insight, and clear expectations.
• Prepare financial materials for the LOVB Pro Board of Governors, the LOVB Inc Board of Directors, and other ownership forums.
• Lead complex conversations with ownership groups related to capital commitments, league standards, compliance, and financial trade-offs.
• Balance relationship-building with firmness, reinforcing league-wide financial integrity while respecting owner perspectives.
• Support onboarding of new ownership groups into league financial standards and operating norms as expansion continues.

Controls, Risk & Compliance

• Design and implement scalable financial controls, governance frameworks, and risk management practices.
• Partner with legal, audit, tax, and external advisors on compliance and regulatory matters.
• Proactively identify and mitigate financial, operational, and reputational risks.
• Promote a culture of fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability across the organization.

Administration, Infrastructure & Culture

• Build scalable systems and processes to support rapid league growth across multiple markets.
• Build and mentor a high-performing finance organization capable of supporting expansion and increasing complexity.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Sporting, Commercial, Media, Marketing, and Team Business leaders.
• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high-performance culture aligned with LOVB's mission and values.
• Serve as a steady, credible leader in moments of ambiguity, pressure, and change.

Required Skills & Abilities

• Exceptional financial acumen paired with strong strategic judgment.
• Executive presence with the ability to influence and advise ownership and senior leadership.
• Entrepreneurial mindset; comfortable operating in ambiguity and building structure where little previously existed.
• Skilled in navigating complex stakeholder dynamics with clarity, diplomacy, and resolve.
• Ability to hold boundaries and drive outcomes without eroding trust.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration required.
• MBA, CPA, or CMA strongly preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive senior finance leadership experience.
• Prior experience in professional sports, media, entertainment, live events, or other owner-driven/high-growth environments strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success working with boards, investors, and ownership groups.
• Proven experience building or scaling financial operations in early-stage or rapidly growing organizations.
• Deep expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, multi-entity budgeting, and labor economics.

Personal Attributes

• Visionary yet detail-oriented.
• Collaborative, pragmatic, and resilient.
• Results-focused leader with high integrity and a strong sense of stewardship.
• Deep alignment with LOVB's mission to elevate women's sports and build a best-in-class professional league.

About LOVB Pro

League One Volleyball (LOVB, pronounced “love”) is a first-of-its-kind professional sports platform re-imagining the future of volleyball in the United States. LOVB is one holistic ecosystem — from youth to pro to life — built to support athletes at every stage of their journey while strengthening communities and elevating the sport nationally.

LOVB Pro brings the world's best players home to compete in front of passionate, local fan bases, while remaining deeply connected to the grassroots club network that fuels long-term athlete development, fandom, and sustainability.

Why This Role Matters

This CFO role sits at the heart of LOVB Pro League's next chapter. The person in this seat will help define how the League grows — economically, operationally, and culturally — while reinforcing trust with owners and alignment across the broader LOVB ecosystem. It is a rare opportunity to help build a modern professional sports league from the ground up, with intention, rigor,