Chief Financial Officer

Job Description

Position Summary:

At NRECA, we power more than just communities—we power progress. As the national trade association representing over 900 consumer-owned electric cooperatives, we play a vital role in shaping the future of energy across the country. Our employees are united by a shared mission, a collaborative and inclusive culture, and a commitment to innovation and service excellence. Recognized as a “best place to work,” NRECA fosters an environment where ideas are valued, impact is visible and careers can thrive.

NRECA works with people who are leaders in their fields. They are down-to-earth, hardworking professionals committed to helping members serve their communities. NRECA’s work is motivating, constantly advancing, and requires new skills to meet the evolving needs of a dynamic industry. NRECA and its team members thrive in this collegial, inclusive work environment, united around the compelling purpose and history of electric cooperatives. NRECA has won numerous “top workplace” awards by caring about each person’s well-being, encouraging health, financial security, and a sustainable work/life balance.

NRECA seeks a strategic leader to serve as a collaborative member of the senior leadership team and to lead the continued transformation of NRECA’s finance function. Highly collegial with a proven ability to optimize an organization’s people, processes, and technology, this leader will support a strong culture and high-performing team that engages across the NRECA enterprise. Demonstrating an enterprise mindset, the successful candidate will leverage and effectively translate their knowledge from across a range of professional experience to support organizational decision-making.  NRECA’s financial function supports the association, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities, three multiple-employer pension and welfare plans, and the Homestead Mutual Funds.  This executive is responsible for the leadership of a team of 64 across the NRECA Finance and Accounting Department, and for the stewardship of NRECA’s $290 million budget.

The successful CFO candidate will be a seasoned CFO or equivalent financial executive with a track-record of successful leadership in complex organizations across the private and/or nonprofit sectors. This executive will be a business-driven finance leader with experience leading scalable teams and financial organizations of similar complexity.

NRECA has engaged executive search firm Russell Reynolds to help us find the right leader for this role.  If you are interested and qualified, please e-mail them directly at [email protected]. 

Salary Range: $500,000 - $615,000 annual salary and a 20% incentive opportunity.  Final compensation determined by individual qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of strategic planning efforts to enhance NRECA’s ability to deliver on its mission and goals through the optimization of its financial position.

• Leads the finance department to engage across the enterprise effectively, aligning capabilities and capacity to optimize the departments performance.

• Drives technological innovation in a complex, highly regulated service environment.

• Ensures strong financial functions including financial and operational internal controls, functional integration, planning, forecasting and analysis, balance sheet and cash flow management, audit, and taxes.

• Responsible for Strategic, Sourcing and Procurement (SS&P) strategies and operations to support all NRECA business operations.

• Leads a data-driven, business-forward and cohesive budgeting and financial forecasting process to support organization-wide decision making and strategic planning.

• Ensures that accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls are consistent with the highest standards of integrity, transparency and compliance.

• Oversees cash management and Treasury functions.

• Collaborates with building operations on leasing of NRECA’s buildings’ space to maximize long-term leasing and minimize risks of vacant space.

• Oversees the optimization and integration of Workday ERP accounting and budget system and enhancements to improve efficiencies and automation to increase productivity across the organization.

• Keeps informed and educated on applicable new accounting concepts, SEC rules, GAAP, tax laws, and NRECA policies and procedures to ensure NRECA compliance.

Qualifications

Formal Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.   

• Master’s degree preferred along with additional training in finance related information systems and functional procedures.

Experience and Certifications Required:

• 10+ years progressively senior management experience in finance and accounting.

•  A broad finance background, with strength in accounting and FP&A.

• Prior public accounting experience as well as nonprofit, government contracting, and ERISA experience a plus.

In terms of the performance and personal competencies required for the position, we would highlight the following abilities:

Strategic Thinking & Setting Financial Strategy

• Develop and lead a finance strategy that drives the continued transformation of a complex organization.

• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO, senior leadership team and Boards.

• Seek and analyze data to support decisions and create strategic alignment.

• Entrepreneurial and creative, developing new, innovative ideas.

• Effectively drive continued innovation.

People Leadership

• Attract, recruit, motivate and develop top talent while fostering a strong organizational culture.

• Ensure the alignment of resources, talent, processes, and technology.

• Self-reflective, leads by example and drives continuous improvement.

Relationships and Influence

• Naturally connects and builds strong relationships, advises others and communicates clearly and persuasively.

• Translates complex financial information into clear, practical guidance.

• Strong judgement and diplomacy with the ability to challenge assumptions constructively.

• Creates a sense of purpose/meaning/mission for the team.

Executing for Results

• An enterprise leader with sufficient technical depth to effectively devise and delegate decision making processes.

• Set clear and challenging goals and drive results.

• Develop strong implementation plans and to execute strategies effectively.

• Demonstrated experience strengthening finance systems, processes, teams, and organizational design.

Essential Physical Requirements:

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal and extensive reading.

• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Disclaimer Statement: The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Additional Requirement:

The preceding job description has been written to reflect management’s assignment of essential functions. It does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected status.

NRECA is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. If you need special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment, please e-mail [email protected] or call: 703-907-5992 - NRECA Arlington Human Resources. Please call 402-483-9275 - NRECA Lincoln Human Resources, for Lincoln, NE employment opportunities. We will make a determination on your request for reasonable accommodation on a case-by-case basis.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) recently released the 'Know Your Rights' poster, which updates and replaces the previous "EEO is the Law" poster and "EEO Is the Law Poster Supplement". 

Pay Transparency Non-Discrimination. NRECA will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay. Please see the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision for more information.

E-Verify. As a Federal Contractor, NRECA is required to participate in the E-Verify Program to confirm eligibility to work in the United States. For information please click on the following link: E-Verify.

For more information about life at NRECA please visit www.Electric.coop.