Chief Financial Officer
Location: Houston, Texas. HโGAC is a regional council of governments serving a 13โcounty region with a population of over 7 million residents. The organization supports intergovernmental coordination, regional planning, and program execution across a variety of public service areas.
Candidate Vision Statement
The ideal candidate will bring the technical depth, executive judgment, communication ability, and strategic mindset required to serve as HโGACโs senior financial executive. This individual will be a trusted advisor to the Executive Director, leadership team, board members, and external partners, translating complex financial, budgetary, grant, compliance, audit, and risk issues into clear recommendations that support sound decisionโmaking.
Role Overview
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reports directly to the Executive Director and is responsible for financial stewardship, strategic financial planning, enterprise systems, and leadership of the finance and administration function. The CFO must balance rigorous financial controls with operational efficiency, and lead the organization through continued growth and increasing complexity.
Key Responsibilities
- Serve as the senior financial advisor to the Executive Director, leadership team, board members, and department directors.
- Lead longโrange financial planning, forecasting, fiscal policy development, and resource strategy.
- Translate complex financial, grant, compliance, audit, and risk issues into clear recommendations for nonโfinancial decisionโmakers.
- Evaluate the financial implications of organizational growth, program expansion, technology investments, staffing needs, facilities, and major policy decisions.
- Help align financial strategy with HโGACโs mission, regional priorities, and enterprise goals.
- Oversee budgeting, accounting, cash management, financial reporting, audit preparation, grant financial management, internal controls, and compliance.
- Ensure adherence to applicable accounting standards, grant requirements, federal and state regulations, and internal policies.
- Maintain a strong auditโready posture and support transparent, accurate, and timely financial reporting.
- Safeguard restricted and unrestricted resources and ensure sound stewardship of public funds.
- Advise departments on financial matters, spending decisions, budget management, compliance requirements, and allowable uses of funds.
- Manage and coordinate assigned administrative functions, departments, and division operations.
- Establish and implement policies, goals, objectives, and procedures that support agency strategy and operational effectiveness.
- Strengthen enterprise workflows, reporting tools, approval processes, and administrative systems.
- Support ERP planning and broader technology modernization efforts that improve finance and administrative operations.
- Build, develop, and retain a highโperforming finance and administrative team.
- Review and support the performance of key management positions within the division.
- Clarify roles, strengthen accountability, and develop internal leadership capacity.
- Foster a culture of service, collaboration, integrity, transparency, and continuous improvement.
- Lead change with emotional intelligence, practical judgment, and respect for the organizationโs culture.
- Prepare and present reports and recommendations that support timely, wellโinformed decisionโmaking.
- Communicate effectively with board members, elected officials, executive leaders, funding agencies, auditors, department directors, staff, and external partners.
- Respond to legislative inquiries and requests, and provide testimony when required.
- Represent HโGAC with professionalism, credibility, and sound judgment in public and governmental settings.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelorโs degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
- Significant progressively responsible experience in governmental finance, public administration, policy administration, or a similarly complex publicโsector, grantโfunded, or intergovernmental environment.
- Experience leading financial operations, budgeting, accounting, internal controls, reporting, compliance, audit preparation, and fiscal policy.
- Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations, and the principles and practices of public administration and management.
- Demonstrated ability to direct and organize program or division activities, establish goals and objectives, evaluate alternatives, implement effective solutions, and supervise the work of others.
- Ability to prepare concise reports, make presentations, communicate effectively, and advise executive leadership on complex financial and administrative matters.
Preferred
- Masterโs degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
- Certified Public Accountant.
- Executive financial leadership experience in a Council of Governments, Metropolitan Planning Organization, local government, state agency, regional agency, public authority, or similarly complex governmental entity.
- Experience with federal and state grants, restricted funds, indirect cost allocation, passโthrough funding, intergovernmental agreements, publicโsector audits, and compliance monitoring.
- Experience leading or supporting ERP implementation, finance system modernization, administrative technology initiatives, or enterprise process redesign.
- Demonstrated experience leading longโrange financial planning, multiโyear forecasting, team development, and organizational change.
About HโGAC
HโGAC is one of the largest Councils of Governments in the United States, serving a 13โcounty region of over 7 million residents. Established in 1966, it operates as a voluntary association of local governments and a regional service platform that supports intergovernmental coordination, regional planning, and program execution across issues that affect the regionโs economy, infrastructure, workforce, environment, mobility, resilience, and quality of life.