Utility Financial Services Manager

City of Loveland • Loveland, CO

1d • $115,391 - $167,317 • Hybrid

About The Position

The City of Loveland is seeking an exceptional Utility Financial Services Manager to help shape the future of one of Colorado's most diverse and innovative utility organizations. This role offers an opportunity to influence critical community services, modernize financial operations, and guide long-term decisions impacting over 80,000 residents and businesses. The manager will oversee the financial stewardship of Water, Wastewater, Power, and Pulse Broadband operations, managing an enterprise budget exceeding $400 million and serving as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, governing boards, and City Council. Loveland Utilities is committed to delivering reliable, affordable, and high-quality services, and is entering a new chapter focused on innovation and a "One City" mindset to build modern systems for the future. This role offers a chance to lead transformation in strategic initiatives such as modernizing the budget development process, implementing a financial process improvement roadmap, advancing long-range financial planning and rate strategies, building sophisticated forecasting models, and strengthening financial governance and accountability.

Requirements

• 4 Year/Bachelors Degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Public Administration or a closely related field.
• 7 years progressively responsible in finance or accounting, preferably in utility or governmental environments.
• 5 years' experience in Supervisory/leadership in a management or senior level role.
• Proven budgeting, financial modeling, rate analysis, process improvement, and presenting to executive audiences or elected bodies.
• Governmental and utility rate design, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to analyze financial trends and translate them into actionable insights.
• Strategic financial planning, advanced financial modeling, scenario analysis, and enterprise risk evaluation.
• Deep knowledge of governmental, utility, and FERC accounting standards.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems and business-intelligence tools.
• Strong process-improvement and change-management capabilities with the ability to modernize financial systems and workflows.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to translate complex financial concepts for diverse audiences, including executive leaders, governing bodies and public stakeholders.
• Strong relationship-building and collaboration skills to work across departments and with external partners.
• Ability to manage multiple enterprise priorities in a dynamic fast-changing operating environment.

Nice To Haves

• Graduate Degree: MBA or MPA.
• Professional certifications such as CPA, CPFO, CGFM or CMA.
• Governmental and utility accounting standards, cost-of-service studies.
• ERP or financial system implementation, business intelligence tools, and data analytics.
• Knowledge of both competitive and non-competitive not-for-profit business models.
• Utility revenue bonds or debt portfolio management.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the principal financial advisor to Utility leadership on long-term financial sustainability, risk management, affordability, and major strategic initiatives.
• Lead development and stewardship of multi-year financial plans incorporating operating cost trajectories, capital investment plans, reserve policies, debt strategies, and rate projections.
• Analyze financial trends and translate them into actionable insights.
• Develop the annual Utilities Department budget, currently estimated to exceed $300 million.
• Transform and modernize the annual budget development process to improve accuracy, transparency, efficiency, and cross-department collaboration.
• Implement rolling forecasts, quarterly financial outlooks, and enhanced variance analysis practices supported by enterprise KPIs and performance dashboards.
• Direct cost-of-service studies, rate design, long-term revenue and operating and capital forecasting, and updates to fees and charges for department services.
• Evaluate economic conditions, industry specific and regulatory considerations, and growth-related drivers to develop sustainable long-range rate strategies.
• Present financial scenarios and affordability impacts to the Loveland Utilities Commission, the Loveland Communications Advisory Board, City Council, and other internal and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain short and long-term financial forecasting, advanced financial models, benchmarking tools, and analytical dashboards.
• Enhance the clarity, relevance, and quality of internal and external financial reports, including public communications and governance presentations.
• Lead development and implementation of process improvements across financial workflows, systems, and organizational practices.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and guide staff through evolving expectations, technologies, and business processes.
• Strengthen internal controls and ensure adherence to accounting standards, utility and city specific accounting practices, rate methodologies, and City financial policies.
• Oversee year-end closing processes and provide all utility financial information required for the City’s ACFR, audits, and regulatory reporting.
• Prepare and present financial briefings to utility Boards and Commissions, advisory boards, customers, and City Council.
• Collaborate with the City’s Budget Office, CFO, Treasury, and other departments on cross-functional financial initiatives and enterprise priorities.
• Partner with Utilities leadership, providing consistent and transparent messaging for the department.
• Select, train, supervise, and develop Utility Financial Services staff.
• Direct, oversee and assist with the payroll processing, accounts payable processing and miscellaneous accounts receivable processing for the Utilities.
• Direct, oversee and assist with the analysis and issuance of revenue bonds and internal loans for Utilities.
• Establish clear expectations, performance measures, and professional development plans to support staff growth and accountability.
• Build a high-performance, inclusive, service-oriented team culture focused on excellence, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Maintain working knowledge of governmental, utility, and FERC accounting principles; rate design and financial planning practices; and broadband/ISP financial trends.
• Participate in emergency operations training (NIMS) and support financial functions during emergency response as required.
• Ongoing engagement with industry organizations such as APPA, AWWA, WEF, and broadband associations.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Two (2) Medical plans, Dental, Vision (for self/ spouse/ children)
• A Dedicated, exclusive Employee Health and Wellness Center
• Discounted Chilson Center passes
• Paid vacation, holidays, floating holidays, and medical leave
• Flexible spending including Dependent Care
• Life Insurance, AD&D, Short-term and Long-term disability, and voluntary Critical Illness Coverage
• Retirement 401a, 457, Roth (pre-& post tax) and company match
• A Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program
• Voluntary 529 College Invest program
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Personal and Professional Development opportunities
• Employee Recognition Program
• Exceptional work-life balance
• Market based pay & regular performance reviews
• Local Government employment is eligible for Public Loan Forgiveness Program

What This Job Offers

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