Sample Job

Houston-Galveston Area Council•Pittsburgh, PA

29d•Onsite

About The Position

H-GAC is seeking a financial and administrative executive to lead its finance operations. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of governmental finance, public sector complexities, and the stewardship of public resources. This role requires not only technical expertise but also strong leadership, communication, and strategic thinking skills to guide the organization through its next phase of growth. The CFO will be adept at navigating a complex public-sector environment with restricted funding, significant compliance requirements, and interdepartmental decision-making. While emphasizing controls, audits, grants, and allowable costs, the CFO must also ensure finance supports the organization's mission. Key attributes include calm authority, sound judgment, and practical problem-solving, with the ability to articulate 'no' when necessary and propose alternative solutions. Building credibility with diverse stakeholders, including staff, leadership, auditors, and external partners, is crucial. The CFO will also play a key role in shaping long-range financial strategy, strengthening enterprise systems, developing talent, modernizing processes, and supporting H-GAC's aspiration to be a national model for public service.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
Significant progressively responsible experience in governmental finance, public administration, policy administration, or a similarly complex public-sector, grant-funded, or intergovernmental environment.
Experience leading financial operations, budgeting, accounting, internal controls, reporting, compliance, audit preparation, and fiscal policy.
Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations, and the principles and practices of public administration and management.
Demonstrated ability to direct and organize program or division activities, establish goals and objectives, evaluate alternatives, implement effective solutions, and supervise the work of others.
Ability to prepare concise reports, make presentations, communicate effectively, and advise executive leadership on complex financial and administrative matters.
All employees of H-GAC are required to reside within the agency’s region of service.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
Certified Public Accountant.
Executive financial leadership experience in a Council of Governments, Metropolitan Planning Organization, local government, state agency, regional agency, public authority, or similarly complex governmental entity.
Experience with federal and state grants, restricted funds, indirect cost allocation, pass-through funding, intergovernmental agreements, public-sector audits, and compliance monitoring.
Experience leading or supporting ERP implementation, finance system modernization, administrative technology initiatives, or enterprise process redesign.
Demonstrated experience leading long-range financial planning, multi-year forecasting, team development, and organizational change.

Responsibilities

Lead financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, internal controls, reporting, compliance, audit preparation, and fiscal policy.
Direct and organize program or division activities.
Establish goals and objectives.
Evaluate alternatives and implement effective solutions.
Supervise the work of others.
Prepare concise reports and make presentations.
Advise executive leadership on complex financial and administrative matters.
Shape long-range financial strategy.
Strengthen enterprise systems.
Develop people.
Modernize processes.
Support the organization’s aspiration to be a national model for public service.