Overview
This is a rare opportunity to join Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue as only the third Chief Financial Officer in the District’s history! TVF&R is Oregon’s largest fire district and provides fire protection and emergency medical services, fire prevention and public education, hazardous materials response, and more to residents within its service area in NW Oregon.
The CFO provides strategic oversight of the District’s finance division and technology services division. Reporting directly to the Fire Chief, the CFO is a key member of the executive leadership team and takes an active, collaborative planning and decision-making role in many areas.
The ideal candidate comes with extensive knowledge of current and best practices in the areas of finance, budgeting, and regulatory compliance, and the ability to provide strategic oversight of the District’s technology services division.
Please see our recruitment brochure for additional information about the opportunity, the District, compensation, and more! Also available for review: 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and 2023-2024 Annual Budget.
Example of Duties
The essential functions of this position include, but are not limited to, the following duties and responsibilities:
STRATEGY: Develops finance and technology services strategy that is aligned with the District’s strategic plan, anticipating and supporting short- and long-term business needs. Provides executive management with strategic advice to enhance financial performance, assesses current and prospective business activities, understands and analyzes major costs drivers for the District’s finances, and establishes and maintains strong working relationships.
BUDGET: Serves as District Budget Officer, collaborating with District officials in preparation of District budget for review of Budget Committee. Oversees the development, execution, and reporting of the annual budget in accordance with related laws and regulations. Drives opportunities to integrate, standardize and simplify systems and processes related to budget management.
FORECASTING: Provides critical inputs to the business planning and expenditure processes. Provides insight and strategic advice on cost drivers and revenue risks affecting the organization. Forecasts cash flow for current and future fiscal years and meets with stakeholders to ensure operational resources and expenditures are aligned with the District’s goals and objectives.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL CONTROLS: Advises on the application of the Board’s risk management policies and industry best practices, and constructs organizational guidelines. Develops innovative and strategic approaches to managing significant business risks across the organization. Ensures that effective internal controls are in place and the District is in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and applicable federal, state and local regulatory laws and rules for financial and tax reporting. Ensures there are internal audit functions for policy and legal compliance.
FINANCE OPERATIONS: Ensures all aspects of the finance and accounting functions of the organization are aligned with Board policy and fulfill statutory and regulatory obligations according to the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and professional accounting standards. This includes the maintenance of appropriation, expenditure, and general ledgers and the posting of encumbrances, expenditures and balances. Provides direction and oversight for mission-critical payroll function. Ensures organization-wide optimization of technology solutions to support finance operations. Serves as executive sponsor of District’s enterprise resources planning (ERP) system and provides broad oversight.
COST ACCOUNTING AND MANAGEMENT: Advises executive team on cost management strategies that cut waste while maintaining or enhancing value creation. Approves new services and advises on alternative costs and revenue strategies with financial consequences.
ORGANIZATIONAL FINANCE AND TREASURY MANAGEMENT: Serves as lead for the most significant and complex transactions, including: 1) potential mergers, annexations or divestitures, and 2) fire protection contracts. Leads and provides strategic oversight on the implementation and execution of organizational treasury policies. Oversees banking relationships and maintains external communication with rating agencies and investment banks. Oversees the District Pension Retirement Trust and volunteer Length of Service Award Program.
TAX STRATEGY, PLANNING AND COMPLIANCE: Interprets new legislation and evaluates its implications for the District, and advises on application of existing legislation to new situations. Evaluates impact of amendments in tax laws.
INVESTMENTS: Directs and performs investment research and execution. Serves as portfolio manager and invests surplus funds and borrows required funds based upon cash flow projections.
ANALYSIS AND REPORTING: Analyzes financial statements and data to provide insights about the financial performance and position of the District over time and in comparison with other organizations. Interprets and translates financial statements to drive strategic and successful business decisions. Directs preparation of internal and external financial reports, including government reports such as tax returns, Department of Justice filings, etc.
SUPERVISION/HUMAN CAPITAL: Oversees work of direct reports, including hiring, providing direction, identifying learning and development opportunities, employee recognition, managing performance, and administering corrective and/or disciplinary action. Ensures effective supervision practices of managers within directorate. Ensures strategic workforce planning and other personnel management activities within assigned business units are aligned with broader organizational talent management strategies. Recommends organizational design changes for assigned divisions and programs
Qualifications
The education and experience minimum requirements below are those typically required for performing the job functions (unless specifically noted to be preferred). Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.
EDUCATION:
A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field.
EXPERIENCE:
Ten years of experience in finance and/or accounting in roles involving strategic, complex and critical decision-making discretion and accountability, preferably with public sector organizations. Five years of this experience must be at a management level.
A CPA license is preferred but not required.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS:
– Considerable knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and practices.
– Knowledge of investments, legal and regulatory requirements for payroll, tax reporting, purchasing, and applicable tax codes. Knowledge of cost accounting and governmental accounting and theory.
– Knowledge of controllership duties and responsibilities.
– General knowledge of business law, economics, forecasting, political matters, project management, and other general managerial skills.
– Knowledge of and ability to provide direction in the areas of payroll, tax, employment law, and labor contracts.
– Ability to lead, motivate, supervise and evaluate personnel and District programs and to assist in the achievement of division goals and objectives.
– Ability to apply organizational agility competency to effectively bridge operational demands with financial realities.
– Ability to perform a wide variety of financial analysis, rapidly and accurately. Ability to perform investment analysis and special project management.
– Ability to research legal or other matters and make recommendations.
– Ability to create and institute change within the District’s financial operations as needed to stay current with economic and technological changes.
Please see the job description for additional information.
Supplemental Information
Consideration of candidates will occur immediately upon application receipt, with evaluation steps moving very quickly for qualified candidates. The open period may close without notice as soon as a sufficient number of qualified candidates are received.
Evaluation of candidates applying by February 26, 2024, will proceed on an accelerated timeline with the following key events for advancing candidates:
· Virtual screening interview: March 1, 2024
· First round interviews: March 14, 2024
· Final round interviews: April 1, 2024.
Compensation
The annual salary rage for this position is $151,584.00 – $205,080.00.
VETERANS PREFERENCE:
It is the District’s policy to provide eligible veterans with preference as required by law. Applicants must provide certification of eligibility for entitlement to the preference (e.g. DD-214 long form clearly showing discharge status) with the application submission by the closing date of the posting.
TVF&R is an equal employment opportunity employer and seeks to attract a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve in order to deliver safe, profession, and high-performance service.