Job Description
Job Description
Position SummaryThe Tradeshow Finance Specialist (TFS) plays a critical role in bridging project finance with tradeshow execution. This position ensures accurate financial tracking, budget alignment, and cash flow planning for all tradeshow projects, while serving as a thought leader in industry practices. As a key contributor to RGI’s collaborative estimating process, the TFS provides cost insights and supports estimating, project management, and client communication to ensure tradeshow projects are delivered on time, on target, and on budget—with no unpleasant surprises.
Responsibilities & Accountability
1. Project Financial Oversight
- Manage AR and AP transactions for all tradeshow projects in real time
- Monitor budget vs. actual performance and flag risks proactively
- Oversee cash flow health, ensuring large pre-show expenses are anticipated and managed
2. Estimating Process Contributions
- Provide tradeshow-specific cost inputs, ROM estimates, and vendor pricing to support the Estimator
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure estimate accuracy
- Maintain financial templates and cost libraries with tradeshow insights
3. Client-Facing Financial Support
- Partner with Tradeshow Client Specialists to communicate invoice schedules and budget updates
- Participate in pre-show kickoff and post-show debriefs to present financial results
- Counsel clients on financial best practices in tradeshow management
4. Internal Collaboration & Process Alignment
- Coordinate with Design Project Managers, fabrication, and warehouse teams to align budgets with execution
- Ensure financial checkpoints are embedded in all project milestones
- Escalate issues when budgets or AR/AP timelines are at risk
5. Thought Leadership & Industry Engagement
- Stay current with tradeshow industry trends, certifications, and vendor innovations
- Share quarterly financial and industry updates with internal teams
- Recommend tools, training, or resources to strengthen RGI’s tradeshow services
Qualifications & SkillsRequired:
- 5+ years finance or project accounting experience; tradeshow/event experience strongly preferred
- Associate degree in business or related field (Bachelor’s preferred)
- Strong financial acumen with AR/AP, cost control, and forecasting
- Proficiency with accounting/ERP systems (Foundation, Exhibit Force)
- Excellent organizational and client-facing communication skills
- Ability to lift 50lbs
Preferred:
- 10 years of tradeshow management or financial oversight experience
- Certified Trade Show Marketing (CTSM) credential
- Strong presentation and reporting skills for internal/external stakeholders
Accountability FrameworkThe TFS is accountable for ensuring financial integrity and client confidence in RGI’s tradeshow projects. Success is measured by accurate estimates, proactive risk management, healthy cash flow, and alignment with RGI’s “On Time, On Target, On Budget, With No Unpleasant Surprises” promise.
About RGI CreativeRGI Creative is a multidisciplinary design-build firm specializing in immersive exhibits, events, and environments. With over four decades of experience, we combine storytelling, technology, and craft to transform space into meaningful experience. Our team of creatives, engineers, and fabricators work under one roof to build projects that inspire, educate, and endure. At RGI, we lead with empathy, design with purpose, and deliver with precision.