Chief Financial Officer

Conference Treasurer / Director of Administrative Services (p 619) - Senior Leadership Team Position at a Glance Position title: Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Disciplinary offices: Also elected by the Annual Conference as Conference Treasurer under p 619 of The Book of Discipline, and designated Conference Benefits Officer and Conference Statistician. Reports to: Administratively to the Resident Bishop through the senior leadership team; disciplinarily amenable to the Conference Council on Finance and Administration (CF&A) per p 619. Team led: Stewardship Team — 5 direct reports, including staff and contractors. Financial scope: Approximately $14.8M annual operating budget for 2026; $116.9M total net assets, including $108.8M designated and restricted net assets. Constituency served: 352 local churches, 10 districts, 3 camps and 8 Wesley Foundations; and 692 clergy and lay benefit plan participants Classification: Full-time, exempt (FLSA). Lay and clergy are eligible. Location: Hybrid, based at the Horizon Texas Conference office in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. On-site at least 2 days per week; residence within commuting distance required. Travel: Approximately 30 days per year --- including Annual Conference session, Cabinet Retreat, district meetings, and periodic denominational trainings. Compensation: $145,000-$155,000, commensurate with experience, plus the benefits summarized below. Target start date: January 1, 2026 Posting closes: November 13, 2026 The Horizon Texas Conference of The United Methodist Church invites inquiries and applications for the position of Chief Financial Officer. This is a senior leadership appointment with denominational, fiduciary, and pastoral dimensions, and it is central to how the conference resources ministry across its churches, camps, campus ministries, and mission partners. Our vision is to be Jesus followers seeking the loving, just, and free world God imagines for all people. We pursue that vision by loving boldly — multiplying ministry, raising up younger leaders, and building a conference culture marked by inclusion and respect for the diversity of our churches and communities. We are looking for a financial leader who understands that stewardship is a ministry: budgets, audits, and benefit plans are means by which congregations are freed to serve. The CFO serves on the senior leadership team as the chief financial voice of the conference and as the principal steward of its financial integrity, transparency, and accountability. The role combines the strategic work of an executive with the disciplinary duties of the Conference Treasurer, and it carries responsibility for the conference’s benefit programs and statistical reporting. Why This Role Matters Now Overseeing accounting system, ensuring transparent reporting across the conference, and pursuing efforts to streamline business practices. Stewarding mission share (apportionment) income in a period of changing congregational capacity, and helping leadership build realistic multi-year revenue models. Strengthening the sustainability of pension, health, and welfare benefit programs for clergy and lay employees. Rebuilding or reinforcing internal controls, documentation, and audit readiness so the conference can answer financial questions quickly and credibly. Raising the financial literacy and confidence of local church treasurers, finance committees, and trustees. Expected Outcomes in the First Twelve Months Deliver a clean, on-time annual audit with no material weaknesses and a documented plan for any management letter comments. Produce a balanced, mission-aligned conference budget developed collaboratively with the senior leadership team and CF&A, and successfully interpret it to the Annual Conference session. Issue accurate month-end financial reports on a published calendar, with a dashboard that leadership and boards can use for decision-making. Complete a documented review of internal controls, restricted-fund compliance, and investment and reserve policies, with recommendations to CF&A and Trustees. Confirm the health and compliance of benefit and insurance programs, including renewal strategy and participant communication. Establish a stable, well-supported Stewardship Team with clear roles, cross-training, and no single points of failure. Primary Responsibilities Serve as the chief financial advisor to the Resident Bishop, the senior leadership team, CF&A, and the Cabinet, translating financial information into clear strategic options and recommendations. Develop multi-year financial forecasts, scenario models, and reserve strategies that connect resources to the conference’s mission and priorities. Anticipate emerging trends and assess internal strengths and weaknesses alongside external opportunities and threats, then lead the implementation of practical solutions. Design and continuously improve streamlined administrative and financial systems that increase operating efficiency, control cost, and free capacity for ministry. Communicate financial information effectively to widely varied audiences — clergy, lay leaders, boards, agencies, donors, and the public — in plain, non-technical language. Participate and provide leadership on various conference boards and committees, including CF&A, Board of Trustees, Investment Management Committee, and Board of Pension and Health Benefits. Oversee all accounting operations, ensuring professional application of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and appropriate fund accounting practice for a nonprofit religious organization. Direct all treasury functions, including banking relationships, cash management, liquidity planning, investment administration in coordination with Trustees, and payment controls. Perform the duties of the Conference Treasurer under p 619, including receiving and disbursing remittances from local churches and remitting general, jurisdictional, conference, and district funds on the required schedule. Maintain a documented system of internal controls with appropriate segregation of duties, approval thresholds, and fraud-risk safeguards; oversee the security and integrity of financial data and systems. Oversee management of all restricted, designated, and endowed funds in compliance with GAAP, donor intent, the Discipline, and federal and state law. Manage the annual audit process with the third-party audit firm, including preparation of schedules, workpapers, and financial statements, and lead timely remediation of any findings. Ensure timely and accurate filing of all required returns and reports, including Forms 990 or applicable religious-organization filings, 1099s, payroll tax returns, and state filings. Prepare, develop, and manage the approval of the conference budget in timely consultation with the senior leadership team, CF&A, and other relevant committees. Recommend and administer the mission share (apportionment) formula, monitor collection performance, and advise leadership on trends and interventions. Interpret the budget and apportionment methodology to districts, congregations, and the Annual Conference session in a way that builds trust and participation. Ensure the distribution of accurate and timely month-end and year-end reports to conference senior staff, boards, agencies, and other required parties, together with periodic funding and cost-management reporting. Serve as Conference Benefits Officer, overseeing all matters relating to pension, health, disability, and life insurance for clergy and lay employees. Administer direct billing of pension and health costs to local churches and other employing units, and resolve participant and church-level questions. Partner with Wespath, the Board of Pension and Health Benefits, brokers, and third-party administrators on plan design, renewals, funding strategy, and compliance. Monitor plan funding levels and long-term liabilities, and advise leadership on sustainability and cost-sharing decisions. Serve as Treasurer of the Conference Board of Trustees and support Trustee investment and property activity in compliance with federal, state, church, and conference requirements. Provide financial administration for church closures and discontinuations, property acquisitions and dispositions, and the handling of resulting proceeds in accordance with the Discipline. Maintain a working knowledge of enterprise risk across the conference and recommend mitigation strategies to leadership, CF&A, and Trustees. Serve as Conference Statistician, producing annual reports and data from the remittance system and local church year-end reports, and ensuring all statistical reports are submitted to GCFA accurately and on time. Support local churches in completing statistical and financial reports, and use the resulting data to inform conference planning. Lead, supervise, coach, and develop the staff and contractors of the Stewardship Team engaged in accounting, benefits, and financial administration. Set clear goals and performance expectations, conduct regular reviews, build cross-training and succession depth, and cultivate a service-oriented culture. Recommend and administer financial and administrative policies, and oversee office management, payroll, and related administrative services assigned under p 619. Serve on CF&A and provide analysis, reporting, and interpretation that enables the council to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities. Establish and maintain constructive, trust-building relationships with key stakeholders across the conference and with denominational partners including GCFA and Wespath. Provide counsel, training, and guidance to district superintendents, local church treasurers, financial secretaries, and committees on finance. Oversee the conference payroll process for employee compensation, ensuring compliance with pay schedules and quarterly and annual reporting to the IRS and other regulatory agencies, including proper treatment of clergy compensation, housing allowance, and related tax matters. Qualifications: Required Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field. At least seven years of progressively responsible financial management experience, including a minimum of five years in fund or nonprofit accounting. At least five years of supervisory experience leading professional staff, including hiring, performance management, and development. Demonstrated command of nonprofit accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, internal controls, audit management, and restricted-fund compliance. Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to the mission, and values of The United Methodist Church, including knowledge of its organizational structure, polity, and financial provisions outlined in The Book of Discipline. Experience presenting financial information to boards, committees, or governing bodies composed largely of non-financial volunteers. Proficiency with accounting or ERP software and strong working skill in spreadsheets, databases, and reporting tools; comfort adopting and improving financial systems. Excellent written and verbal communication skills and proven ability to build trust with a wide range of stakeholders. Demonstrated experience in strategic planning — setting goals, building actionable plans, and measuring performance against objectives. Sound judgment, discretion with confidential information, and unimpeachable personal and professional integrity. Alignment with the mission, values, and inclusive commitments of the Horizon Texas Conference. Preferred Advanced degree in a relevant field, and CPA, CMA, or Certified Church Administrator (or comparable) credential. Working knowledge of employee benefits administration and group health and welfare plans. Experience with clergy compensation and housing allowances, church tax matters, and multi-entity or multi-site financial administration. Experience leading a financial systems conversion, merger integration, or comparable organizational change. Conversational or professional Spanish. Core Competencies Strategic thinking and sound business judgment Analytical rigor and creative problem-solving Clear, plain-language communication and skilled interpretation of complex information Collaborative leadership and the ability to influence without direct authority Cultural competence and the ability to lead and serve across diverse communities Organizational discipline, accuracy, and follow-through under deadline Employment Parameters and Benefits Work arrangement: Hybrid, based out of the Horizon Texas Conference office in the DFW area; on-site at least 2 days per week. Schedule: Full-time, exempt. Occasional evening and weekend work is required for Annual Conference, board meetings, and district events. Compensation: $145,000 - $155,000 Health and welfare: Generous health, dental, vision, life, and disability benefits Retirement: Generous retirement plan; for lay employees, 6% employer match with 3% minimum contribution by employee Paid time off: 22 vacation days and 12 paid holidays Other: Funds available for continuing education; relocation assistance considered Closing date: November 13, 2026 Search process: Virtual interviews by search team - November 30 - December 4; Final in-person interviews by Bishop and search team - December 14-16. Finalists: All offers of employment are subject to the candidate successfully completing background, reference and other applicable checks. Questions: Send to View email address on click.appcast.io No staffing agencies or recruitment firms. Equal Employment Opportunity The Horizon Texas Conference is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. As a religious organization, the conference may consider religious criteria where permitted by law for positions that carry religious duties. Reasonable accommodations are available at any stage of the application and interview process. To request one, contact Human Resources at View email address on click.appcast.io. #J-18808-Ljbffr