Chief Financial Officer

Dickson Electric•Dickson, TN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Chief Financial Officer is a senior executive level position responsible for the organization's financial strategy, regulatory financial compliance, capital planning, and overall financial health of the utility. This role plans, negotiates, organizes, directs, and guides the management of all utility accounting and finance functions to ensure the adequacy and reliability of the utility’s combined systems. The CFO develops financial strategies that support the long-term business plan, prepares annual operating and capital budgets, and develops long-range financial forecasts and capital investment plans. They coordinate annual financial audits, ensure compliance with reporting requirements from regulatory agencies, and oversee the preparation of accurate financial statements. The position involves managing cash flow, overseeing debt issuance and refinancing, managing investments and working capital, and ensuring compliance with Federal, state, and local requirements related to debt obligations. The CFO also oversees the development of fiscal budgets for all utility departments and the preparation of a complete financial statement and report for the Board of Directors at the end of the fiscal year. Additionally, they formulate policies and planning recommendations, direct and ensure compliance with utility policies and procedures, monitor revenue and customer billing for electricity, broadband, and sanitation, and analyze operating costs. The role includes preparing and reviewing reports on departmental activities, ensuring compliance with safety, reliability, and environmental standards, and attending Board of Directors meetings to explain utility expenditures. The CFO is responsible for supervisory activities, including selection, training, evaluation, and counseling of accounting employees. They are also expected to attend meetings outside normal working hours and evenings as required, and handle other assigned duties.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field
Ten (10) years of relevant municipal or utility financial management experience, at least five (5) of which were in a managerial or executive capacity.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) required.
Must possess at the time of employment a valid Class D Driver License allowing legal operation of motor vehicle in Tennessee.
Comprehensive knowledge of utility finance and accounting principles.
Knowledge of GAAP, Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) accounting standards, as applicable.
Experience with debt issuance, bond markets, and public financing.
Ability to build effective relationships with Board members, regulators, financial institutions, and auditors.
High ethical standards and sound professional judgment.
Ability to analyze and interpret financial data
Computer software skills using Microsoft Office.
Ability to effectively communicate with customers, other employees of DES and the general public.
Customer service oriented at all times.
Willing to work with all employees in the best interest of the utility and to accept changes in work programs and patterns to keep pace with changing times.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree is preferred and may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience up to a maximum of two (2) years.
Must maintain at the time of employment or obtain at a time designated by DES, a valid certification of proficiency in adult CPR, first aid, and AED.

Responsibilities

Plans, negotiates, organizes, directs and guides the management of all utility accounting and finance functions to ensure the adequacy and reliability of the utility’s combined systems.
Develop financial strategies that support DES long-term business plan
Prepare annual operating and capital budgets.
Develop long-range financial forecast and capital investment plans
Coordinate annual financial audits.
Ensure compliance with reporting requirements with regulatory agencies.
Submits to the Board of Directors through the General Manager a monthly statement of revenues and expenses in sufficient detail to show the exact financial condition of the utility.
Oversees the preparation of accurate financial statements.
Monitor capital expenditure budgets.
Manage cash flow.
Oversee debt issuance and refinancing
Manage investments and working capital.
Ensures compliance with Federal, state, and local requirements in connection with the issuance of debt obligations.
Oversees the development of fiscal budgets for all utility departments.
At the end of the fiscal year, oversees the preparation of a complete financial statement and report for submission to the Board of Directors.
Formulates policies and planning recommendations; directs and ensures compliance with the utility’s policies and procedures.
Monitor electricity, broadband and sanitation revenue and customer billing.
Analyze operating cost, including fuel, purchased power, labor and maintenance.
Prepares and reviews reports on departmental activities and recommends changes.
Ensures compliance with all safety, reliability, and environmental standards and requirements.
Attends meetings of the DES’ Board of Directors to explain utility expenditures.
Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities, including selection, training, evaluation, and counseling of all accounting employees.
Attends meetings outside normal working hours and in the evenings as required.
Handles other duties as assigned.