Agency Chief Financial Officer III

Job Code: 32005328
Salary Grade: NC26

Class Concept

Positions in this class direct and are accountable for the financial and business functions of an agency including but not limited to budget, accounting, and procurement. Agency Chief Financial Officers provide leadership in the development of financial processes, procedures, and systems that contribute to successful business operations across the agency. Positions are responsible for determining strategic plans that outline the mission, vision, and high-level goals for an agency. Work also involves setting the direction, goals, and objectives of budget and other fiscal activities such as developing and preparing long-term strategic objectives, developing the agency's budget, and forecasting additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies.

The Agency Chief Financial Officer III is responsible for consulting with external and internal auditors and state, federal, and local officials regarding the financial operations of the agency. This work also includes serving on agency and statewide committees in the design, development, and implementation of new management information, accounting, and reporting systems. Positions testify before legislative committees relative to the financial operations of the agency. The position is also the authority within an agency for allocating budgets, employees, and resources in support of financial aspects of projects and programs as authorized by top-level management.

Positions authorize redistribution of available resources to meet changing program needs, setting fiscal and performance objectives, as well as monitoring results. Positions direct the management of state and federal funds, which may include grants, debt management and monitoring including bond issuance activities, cash flow projections, investments, debt service, and ongoing bond compliance, and oversee revenue and expenditure activities for an agency.

Positions function as the key advisor and counsel to agency head and executive management team, recommending strategies for short and long-term financial stability. Positions typically serve as a member of the executive management team.

Agency Chief Financial Officer roles vary considering the variety, scope, and degree of complexity of the agency. Each agency should only have one position in the Agency Chief Financial Officer series (I, II, III or IV). The levels of Agency Chief Financial Officer are differentiated by specific duties, budget size and complexity, and span of control.

When determining the level of the Agency CFO, analysis of the work described in the position description must weigh the variety and complexity, operational risk, decision making, consequence of error, and time spent performing the actual duties and tasks. The Agency Chief Financial Officer III classification is differentiated from other levels by the following characteristics:

• Provides direct/indirect supervision to multiple and diverse units in completion of tasks in all fiscal functions including finance, accounting, budgeting, and purchasing. Work is broad in scope and with a high degree of complexity.
• Manages the fiscal work through upper-level supervisors and/or lower-level managers. Resolves problems/issues of a higher degree of complexity than the II level, that may require investigation and analysis.
• Typically manages units that are diverse in function and represent a significant portion of the agency's operations.
• This level plans, organizes, controls, and directs the fiscal functions in the agency. Work activities include preparing cash flows and forecasts to maintain the agency's cash position by using predictive cash models, developing financial plans and budgets, and aligning them to the agency's mission making the most efficient use of state, federal, and receipted funds.
• Typically responsible for five to nine funding sources such as General Fund appropriations, fees, federal grants, and other outside grants.
• Typically responsible for budget and transfers up to $2 billion.
• Positions typically manage at least five FTE directly or indirectly within the managed reporting structure, including hiring, firing, performance management, discipline, work distribution, and employee development.

Recruitment Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and governmental finance including budgeting, accounting, auditing, program analysis, and strategic planning
• Thorough knowledge of theories, principles, and practices of accounting, auditing, budgeting, or financial management
• Thorough knowledge of governmental accounting, auditing, and reporting requirements
• Thorough knowledge of state appropriation, budgetary, and accounting systems
• Thorough knowledge of governmental finances, programs, and institutional fund accounting
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply state and federal statutes, rules, and regulations governing fiscal programs and establish internal operating standards to maintain compliance
• Intermediate knowledge of HR policies, practices, and procedures
• Demonstrated ability to perform strategic planning to establish and accomplish short- and longrange goals to support the vision of the agency
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate and allocate resources, develop plans, and direct the budget and contracts to ensure fiscal stability of the agency
• Proficiency in organizing and presenting clear oral and written reports of findings and recommendations

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, finance, public administration, or related field from an appropriately accredited institution and six years of progressive accounting, finance, and/or budgeting experience, including three years of supervisory experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Necessary Special Requirements

May require a Certified Public Accountant certification.