Chief Financial Officer City Of Fort Collins Municipality

The City of Fort Collins seeks a visionary and highly skilled Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to drive business strategies and lead the City's financial operations and ensure long-term fiscal stability. As a key executive leadership team member, the CFO manages all aspects of the City's finances, including financial planning and analysis, budgeting, accounting, procurement, safety and risk management, and financial reporting. This role also oversees strategic planning, policy development, and financial risk assessment to align with the City's mission and priorities. The CFO plays a critical role in developing and advising the City Manager and elected officials on financial strategies, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
The CFO drives the development of a high-performing Financial Services organization that emphasizes exceptional customer service, fiduciary responsibility, and data-driven decision-making. The leader guides strategic planning and budgeting processes to ensure resources are allocated to the City's highest-priority objectives, fostering organizational accountability and monitoring progress through financial reports and metrics. The CFO also provides financial analysis and decision support to Service Area Directors and Department Heads, enabling data-based and collaborative decision-making.
As a champion of innovation and efficiency, the CFO leads the implementation of systems and processes that enhance service delivery and ensure sound financial management. This role is responsible for developing financial policies, overseeing investment programs, managing debt, and guiding the development of comprehensive financial plans. The CFO builds relationships across the organization to promote transparency and support effective financial decisions while anticipating future challenges and emerging trends to proactively prepare the organization.
Financial Services Service Area The CFO joins the City at a time of significant transformation as the Utilities and Financial Services departments undergo a reorganization with an anticipated completion date in early 2025. The successful candidate joins an internal Change Team and a trusted consultant to impact City and service area culture, shape the efficiency and effectiveness of our infrastructure, and support our goals of innovative strategies propelling us into the future. The new CFO will play a critical role in implementing new organizational models, shaping the structure with people placements, and driving innovation to make a lasting and significant contribution.
Financial Services employees are innovative leaders and partners in fiscal stewardship. The Service Area has a budget of $16.7 Million and is comprised of nine departments with a total of 78 employees and currently encompasses Accounting and Financial Operations, Budget, City Give, Financial Planning and Analysis, Purchasing, Safety and Risk Management, Sales Tax, Utility Customer Connections, and Utility Finance. The reorganization will transition Financial Services to six departments, including Accounting and Financial Operations, Budget and Financial Planning, City Give, Purchasing, Sales Tax and Revenue, and Utility Finance.
One to Three Year Priorities Lead Financial Services through the reorganization. Increase strategic alignment, enhance decision-making opportunities, bolster collaborative partnerships, and strengthen the sustainability of our operations to support a robust, strong, and sustainable future.Support a collaborative team environment, reconstitute the management team, align processes across the organization, and rebuild the culture while ensuring a core financial foundation of transactional, internal control, and compliance excellence.Collaborate with the City Manager to modernize and enhance the budget methodology and process to increase meaningful transparency and connectivity between financial investments and service levels.Mature grant development and compliance to sustainably leverage outside funding opportunities, including federal grant dollars. Properly manage and allocate the City's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), oversee the reporting and compliance, and ensure readiness for federal audits.Manage the financial information systems portfolio. Lead digital transformation and future financial technology initiatives, including the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and Customer Information System (CIS) implementations.Lead the capital financing using instruments like revenue bonds and certificates of participation and partner with engineers, design firms, and program managers to realize projects such as the Halligan Reservoir, Water Quality Lab, Civic Center Master Plan, and Southeast Community Center.Develop a long-term capital planning and asset management strategy working horizontally with departments to consolidate individual plans in support of a holistic strategy and funding approach.Enhance the City's revenue strategy. Consider utility rate increases and future tax initiatives, develop and resource an expanded sales and use tax audit program, and explore and implement a comprehensive cost recovery strategy.Proactively partner and build trust with colleagues and peers throughout the City. Provide financial tools and support to advance City Council goals, departmental initiatives, and organizational priorities.Actively champion and support the City's ongoing efforts to lead with equity in our processes and service delivery. Collaborate with colleagues to ensure Fort Collins continues to foster an inclusive and equitable culture that represents all residents.The Successful Candidate The Chief Financial Officer is excited by the opportunity to provide strategic leadership, evolve Financial Services, and strengthen the organization to meet the needs of the Fort Collins community. Invested in building organizational resilience and capability, the CFO is a trusted partner who combines operational know-how with the ability to work horizontally across the organization to shape and execute the City's financial strategy. With a forward-looking approach to financial management and local government, the CFO is committed to long-term financial sustainability and operational excellence.
The CFO actively builds relationships across the organization and works collaboratively to understand and address its financial needs. The successful candidate easily gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty and integrity in all interactions. Considered an effective communicator and authentic storyteller, the successful candidate simplifies complex financial information to create understanding among diverse audiences. With strong political acumen, the CFO balances confidence and humility and effectively articulates the financial position and needs of Fort Collins to the City Council, City leadership, staff, and the broader community.
The CFO fosters a culture of teamwork, innovation, and shared problem-solving, ensuring Financial Services maintains its core strengths while building adaptable and sustainable leadership structures that embrace change and transformation. The CFO develops and invests in employees, empowering them to reach their full potential.
Total Compensation The City of Fort Collins offers a competitive comprehensive benefits package, including a market salary commensurate with education and experience. The annual salary range is $156,526 – $260,881, and the anticipated hiring range is $200,000 – $240,000; salaries are paid biweekly. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability insurance. Additionally, the City of Fort Collins offers additional benefits, including 401(a) and a 457 deferred compensation plan with an employer contribution, an optional Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Accounts, a significant Wellness Program, and relocation assistance for the successful out-of-area finalist.
Education and Experience At least 8-10 years of progressively responsible senior management-level experience in finance, budgeting, and accounting is required. A diverse background that may include experience in local government, private sector, or consulting is ideal. Change management experience coupled with business and digital transformation is essential, as is prior experience navigating organizational complexity. Prior experience working with a board or elected body is ideal.
A bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, public administration, or related field is required, with a master's degree preferred. An equivalent combination of experience and education that enables success as the Chief Financial Officer will be considered.
Residency The Chief Financial Officer is subject to residency requirements under the City's Charter (Article IV, Section 3), which requires the incumbent to reside at the time of appointment and throughout employment within the Fort Collins Urban Growth area.
How to Apply Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. For full consideration, please apply byWednesday, January 8, 2025.
Questions Please direct questions to Heather Gantz at******.
The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce. Applicants selected as finalists for this position will be subject to a criminal history, credit, and driver's license check prior to the interview. Under the Colorado Open Records Act, information from your application or resume may be subject to public disclosure. Position Contact Heather GantzSenior Manager (503) 860-1111
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