Chief Financial Officer

West Carolina Rural Telephone•Abbeville, SC

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the organization’s senior financial executive and a key strategic partner to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors. The CFO is responsible for safeguarding the financial strength of the company through disciplined financial planning, capital allocation, liquidity management, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and enterprise risk oversight. As a member of the executive management team, the CFO leads the finance and accounting functions while partnering across departments to align financial strategy with operating priorities, broadband expansion initiatives, and long-term organizational goals. The role combines executive-level strategic leadership with operational accountability for financial reporting, budgeting, financing, taxation, and financial governance.

Requirements

Comprehensive knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), financial reporting standards, internal control practices, and executive-level financial governance.
Knowledge of rural telecommunications, broadband, utility, or similarly regulated financial environments, including USDA RUS requirements, FCC obligations, and applicable state regulatory expectations.
Knowledge of cooperative governance and finance, including patronage capital, member equity, and Board and Audit Committee reporting.
Knowledge of broadband funding programs and related financial compliance, grant administration, reporting, reimbursement, and audit support requirements.
Strong skill in budgeting, forecasting, long-range planning, capital investment analysis, cash forecasting, and financial modeling.
Skill in evaluating infrastructure and construction-intensive investments, including return analysis, funding structures, and long-term financial impacts.
Skill in evaluating acquisitions and other growth opportunities, including due diligence, valuation, and integration planning.
Skill in financial systems, spreadsheet modeling, reporting tools, and accounting platforms; experience with utility, broadband, or telecommunications billing environments is preferred.
Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to present complex financial information clearly to senior leadership, Board members, lenders, auditors, and regulatory agencies.
Ability to establish and enforce effective internal controls, policies, procedures, and documentation standards.
Ability to supervise, coach, and develop staff while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Ability to manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and make data-driven decisions in a dynamic operating and regulatory environment.
Valid driver’s license.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
Professional certification such as CPA or CMA strongly preferred; equivalent advanced financial credentials may be considered.
Minimum of eight (8) years of progressive financial management experience, including at least three (3) years in a senior financial leadership role with responsibility for financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and staff supervision.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a rural telecommunications, utility, cooperative, infrastructure, or similarly regulated operating environment.
Familiarity with USDA RUS loan and grant programs, broadband funding compliance, and construction-related financial oversight.
Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other advanced degree in finance, accounting, or business.
Experience leading or supporting mergers, acquisitions, or other significant growth transactions.
Experience presenting to Boards of Directors, lenders, auditors, and regulatory stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Lead all financial operations of the company, including accounting, budgeting, forecasting, cash management, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, tax coordination, and financial reporting.
Prepare and deliver accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, management reports, and Board-level financial materials.
Direct the annual operating and capital budget processes and maintain multi-year financial forecasts aligned with strategic and operational plans.
Lead financial strategy related to broadband infrastructure investment, including business-case development, rate-of-return analysis, funding-source evaluation, and long-range capital planning.
Oversee liquidity planning, debt management, lender compliance, and relationships with financial institutions, auditors, and other external stakeholders.
Ensure compliance with loan covenants, U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service (USDA RUS) borrower requirements, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) reporting obligations, and other applicable financial and regulatory requirements.
Oversee financial administration and compliance for federal and state broadband funding programs, and other applicable grant or reimbursement programs.
Direct grant financial reporting, drawdown processes, audit readiness, documentation standards, and internal controls associated with restricted or reimbursable funding.
Establish, maintain, and continuously improve internal controls, accounting policies, financial procedures, and approval authorities to protect company assets and preserve the integrity of financial data.
Identify, assess, and monitor enterprise financial risks, including liquidity, covenant compliance, audit exposure, grant compliance, tax exposure, fraud risk, and financial control weaknesses.
Oversee tax planning and compliance, including federal and state income tax matters, property taxes, and telecommunications-specific tax obligations.
Support executive leadership with financial modeling, scenario analysis, pricing and investment evaluation, contract review, and decision support for major strategic initiatives.
Lead financial due diligence, valuation, and integration planning for acquisitions and other growth opportunities, partnering with the CEO to strengthen the Cooperative's long-term value for its members.
Supervise, mentor, and develop finance and accounting staff; establish performance expectations, ensure cross-training, and build a high-performing, service-oriented finance team.
Direct financial consolidation, reporting, and controls across all companies in the Cooperative's affiliated organization, and administer patronage capital allocation, retirement, and member equity accounting.
Monitor industry, regulatory, and economic developments that could affect the company’s financial performance, capital structure, or strategic direction.
Serve as executive sponsor of the Cooperative's NISC enterprise billing and ERP platform, putting financial systems and data to work toward the operational efficiencies the Cooperative is driving across the organization.
Perform other duties as assigned consistent with the scope and level of the position.