Chief Financial Officer

Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission • Columbus, OH

27d

About The Position

Under the general direction of the Executive Director and Board, the Chief Financial Officer serves as MORPC’s senior financial executive and advisor. The position provides strategic leadership and oversight of the agency’s financial operations and advises agency and Board leadership on the financial implications of significant policy, program, grant, contract, and operational decisions.

The CFO leads the Finance Department and oversees agency-wide budgeting, financial reporting, grant fiscal management, internal controls, audits, fiscal policies, contract administration, and compliance. The role partners with department leaders and advises the Executive Director, Board officers, committees, and Commission on financial trends, risks, funding scenarios, and recommendations. It also supports a collaborative, accountable, and values-driven workplace within the Finance Department.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible experience in governmental, nonprofit, or public-sector accounting and financial management, including leadership responsibility for budgeting, financial reporting, grants management and single audits, internal controls, and compliance functions.
• Knowledge of governmental accounting, public finance, budgeting, cash management, financial reporting, grant fiscal management, internal controls, procurement-related fiscal controls, audit coordination, contract review, and compliance for local or regional government entities.
• Ability to lead financial functions in a regional planning commission and interpret and apply federal, state, local, and grant requirements.
• Ability to analyze complex financial information and communicate financial risks and recommendations clearly.
• Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and remain neutral and objective when addressing difficult financial, policy, or political issues.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with elected and appointed officials, board members, executive leadership, department directors and leaders, auditors, legal counsel, funders, and staff.
• Ability to sit for prolonged periods while performing computer-based work; communicate effectively in person, virtually, and in writing; operate standard office equipment; move throughout office and meeting locations; occasionally lift and carry materials weighing up to 15 pounds; and travel as required.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree.
• CPA, CGFM, CPFO, or comparable public finance credential.
• Experience with public-sector procurement, contract review, and work with boards, commissions, or elected and appointed officials.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, administration, monitoring, and forecasting of agency-wide budgets, including revenue projections, expenditure controls, indirect costs, cash flow, reserves, and long-term financial planning.
• Oversee financial management and compliance for federal, state, local, and private grants, including budgeting, reimbursements, matching requirements, allowable costs, subrecipient monitoring, reporting, closeout, and records retention.
• Maintain internal controls for accounting, grants, procurement, payroll coordination, cash management, investments, debt, assets, and financial reporting.
• Oversee preparation, review, and presentation of monthly, quarterly, annual, and special financial reports, including budget-to-actual analyses, forecasts, grant and project reports, variance explanations, and recommendations.
• Coordinate the annual financial audit, single audit, and related reviews; serve as primary liaison to external auditors; oversee financial statements and supporting schedules; and direct responses and corrective action plans for audit findings.
• Develop, recommend, implement, and monitor fiscal policies, procedures, and practices that advance transparency, accountability, compliance, efficiency, and alignment with strategic priorities.
• Partner with department heads and managers on accounting, budgeting, cost allocation, grant funding, procurement, contract budgeting, project financial planning, and fiscal controls.
• Oversee contract administration and review contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, resolutions, and other documents with financial or contractual implications; provide CFO approval when appropriate.
• Coordinate with legal counsel on contractual and other non-HR legal matters and support the Executive Director and legal counsel on litigation and other matters involving financial, contractual, insurance, or risk-management implications.
• Direct Finance Department operations and staff, including work assignments, performance expectations, professional development, process improvement, succession planning, and cross-training.
• Ensure financial activities comply with applicable accounting standards; grant, procurement, tax, and payroll reporting requirements; and Board policies, bylaws, and agency procedures.
• Analyze financial trends, funding scenarios, project performance, staffing and program costs, and budget variances; identify financial risks and opportunities; and recommend actions to decisionmakers.
• Provide financial updates, reports, studies, analyses, and recommendations to the Executive Director, Board officers, Executive Committee, Commission, and finance-related committees; present information at meetings as needed.
• Serve as lead staff representative to the Reserve and Investment Subcommittee and support its planning, analysis, and decision-making.
• Communicate complex financial information clearly to technical and non-technical audiences through reports, presentations, and discussions.
• Demonstrate commitment to MORPC’s Equal Employment Opportunity principles, organizational policies, and ethical standards.
• Foster collaboration, trust, respectful communication, employee engagement, accountability, innovation, and professional growth within the Finance Department.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Free system-wide transit pass and discounted alternative transportation options.
• Flexible schedules and remote work options for eligible permanent positions.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Tuition assistance, professional development incentives, and leadership programs.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance.
• Employer-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance.
• Participation in OPERS and optional deferred compensation plans.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive