Chief Financial Officer

Mid Ohio Regional Planning Commission • Columbus, OH

29d • $133,805 - $176,454 • Hybrid

About The Position

As Central Ohio’s regional council, MORPC brings together cities, villages, townships, counties, and regional organizations to plan for the future of our growing region. We serve rural, suburban, and urban communities and collaborate on best practices through a wide range of programs, services, projects, and initiatives — all with the goal of improving quality of life and strengthening Central Ohio’s position on the world stage.

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.

Requirements

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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Leads the development, administration, monitoring, and forecasting of agency-wide budgets, including revenue projections, expenditure controls, indirect costs, cash flow, reserves, and long-term financial planning.
• Oversees the financial management and compliance of federal, state, local, and private grants, including budgeting, reimbursements, matching requirements, allowable costs, subrecipient monitoring, reporting, closeout, and records retention.
• Maintains effective internal controls for accounting, grants, procurement, payroll coordination, cash management, investments, debt, assets, and financial reporting to safeguard agency resources and ensure accurate and timely financial information.
• Oversees the preparation, review, and presentation of monthly, quarterly, annual, and special financial reports, including budget-to-actual analyses, forecasts, project and grant financial reports, variance explanations, and recommendations for corrective action.
• Coordinates the annual financial audit, single audit, and related reviews and serves as the primary liaison to external auditors.
• Oversees the preparation of financial statements and supporting schedules and directs management responses and corrective action plans resulting from audit findings.
• Develops, recommend, implement, and monitor fiscal policies, procedures, and practices that promote transparency, accountability, compliance, operational efficiency, and alignment with MORPC’s strategic priorities.
• Partners with department heads and managers to align accounting, budgeting, cost allocation, grant funding, procurement, contract budgeting, project financial planning, and fiscal controls with program delivery and organizational priorities.
• Oversees contract administration, including reviewing contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, resolutions, and other documents with financial or contractual implications and providing CFO approval when appropriate.
• Coordinates with legal counsel on contractual and other non-HR legal matters.
• Supports the Executive Director and legal counsel on filed or threatened litigation and other legal matters involving financial, contractual, insurance, or risk-management implications.
• Directs Finance Department operations and staff, including work assignments, performance expectations, professional development, process improvement, succession planning, and cross-training.
• Ensures all financial activities overseen by the Chief Financial Officer comply with applicable accounting standards; grant, procurement, tax, and payroll reporting requirements; and Board policies, bylaws, and agency procedures.
• Analyzes financial trends, funding scenarios, project performance, staffing and program costs, and significant budget variances; identify financial risks and opportunities; and provide recommendations to decisionmakers.
• Provides financial updates, reports, studies, analyses, and recommendations to the Executive Director, Board officers, Executive Committee, Commission, and finance-related committees, and presents financial information at meetings as needed.
• Serves as the lead staff representative to the Reserve and Investment Subcommittee and support the committee’s planning, analysis, and decision-making.
• Communicates complex financial information clearly and concisely to technical and non-technical audiences through written reports, presentations, and discussions.
• Demonstrates commitment to MORPC's Equal Employment Opportunity principles, organizational policies, and ethical standards.
• Creates and sustains a positive, values-driven workplace culture within the Finance Department by fostering collaboration, trust, respectful communication, employee engagement, accountability, innovation, and continuous professional growth.
• 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