Chief Financial Officer

Recruitment Information: 

• Starting salary is negotiable based on relevant years of work experience in a similar position.
• All qualified candidates will be referred to a consulting executive search firm for further review and consideration.
• The recruitment timeline is now through late 2025, with various stages of review and engagement throughout the process with the consulting executive search firm, county hiring team and board of commissioners.

Department:                     Finance                  

Sub-Department:             N/A

Pay Grade:                      125               

FLSA Status:                   Exempt

Employment Status:       Full-Time

Reports to:                      Board of Commissioners

Supervises:                     Finance Director

Job Summary:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the senior financial executive Cumberland County, a third-class county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The CFO is responsible for managing the county’s overall financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, financial planning, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The CFO provides strategic financial leadership to ensure fiscal integrity, transparency, and efficiency in the use of public funds.

Essential Job Functions: 

• Manage, lead and direct the financial operations of the county in accordance with all local, state, federal and financial reporting requirements which includes but is not limited to managing expenditures, revenue, and procurement across all funds.  
• Develop and analyze financial and statistical reports, including long term projections.
• Analyze current and future financial trends and the financial position of the county; make recommendations to the commissioners as needed.
• Develop and implement county-wide accounting and financial management policies as well as partnering with county stakeholders to develop policies.     
• In conjunction with the COO, work on the strategic vision of the county and also evaluate and advise on long-term impacts of concepts, initiatives, and regulatory changes and make recommendations based on the analysis.
• Working with the COO, lead periodic reviews of all programs, services and expenditures to determine continued justification/need, cost-benefit and whether the program or service is being performed in the most cost-efficient manner. Make recommendations to the commissioners as needed.
• Exercise delegated authority of the Commissioners with a degree of autonomy.
• Direct, manage, and implement special projects with a degree of autonomy as delegated by the commissioners.
• Participate as a subject matter expert in discussions and planning sessions with state and federal officials, union personnel, community stakeholders, and providers. Participation includes providing reports and analysis on the topic at hand to include any forecasting needed for the discussion.
• Lead and develop a highly effective financial team and provide guidance to financial staff, to include liaising with the Controller’s and Treasurer’s offices to provide compliance oversight with county policies and procedures.
• Establish Grant compliance guidelines and ensures compliance with Federal Uniform Guidance as it pertains to federal cost principals, reimbursement, procurement, and audit requirements.
• Collaboratively work with the COO and Grant Administration Manager to ensure grant compliance for major grant programs as it relates to federal cost principals, procurement, and audit requirements.
• Advise COO and Commissioners of sound policy and actions to be taken to ensure compliance with and federal, state, and county audits.
• Oversee county risk management through property, casualty, professional liability, self-insured health and benefit insurance and workers’ compensation program(s) in conjunction with the COO, Solicitor, Facilities Director, and Human Resource Director.  
• Analyzes significant contracts and/or projects for their financial impact prior to recommending to the Commissioners.
• Attends meetings and trainings sessions as required.
• Serves on committees or task forces as required.
• Performs other job-related services as required. 

Minimum Requirements to Perform the Work: 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field, Master’s degree or Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), or Certified Government Financial Manager (CCFM) preferred.

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 7-10 years’ progressive experience in financial management, preferably in the public sector.