Chief Financial Officer- Houston-Galveston Area Council (Houston)

Mackenzie Eason & Associates has been retained by the Houston‑Galveston Area Council (H‑GAC) to recruit its next Chief Financial Officer. H‑GAC is a mature, multi‑program regional enterprise operating at the intersection of regional governance, public service delivery, grant administration, financial stewardship, and intergovernmental coordination across one of the nation’s fastest‑growing and most demanding regions. Over the last five years, the organization has doubled in both employees and budget and is now one of the largest Councils of Governments in the United States.

The next Chief Financial Officer will join the organization at a pivotal point in its evolution. H‑GAC has expanded in size, scope, funding complexity, staffing, and regional impact. The organization’s financial and administrative systems must continue maturing to support a larger enterprise, a more complex operating environment, and the long‑range needs of an agency that continues to grow and change.

CANDIDATE VISION STATEMENT

The ideal candidate will bring the technical depth, executive judgment, communication ability, and strategic mindset required to serve as H‑GAC’s senior financial executive. This individual will be a trusted advisor to the Executive Director, leadership team, board members, and external partners, translating complex financial, budgetary, grant, compliance, audit, and risk issues into clear recommendations that support sound decision‑making.

The role requires a leader who understands that financial stewardship in a large regional agency is not simply about maintaining accurate books, producing an annual budget, and achieving a clean audit. H‑GAC’s next CFO must help the organization understand where it is financially, where it is headed, and what decisions are required to remain strong over the next three to five years. The right candidate will connect financial strategy to staffing, systems, grants, compliance, procurement, program delivery, facilities, technology, and regional service obligations.

ABOUT H‑GAC

The Houston‑Galveston Area Council is one of the largest Councils of Governments in the United States, serving a 13‑county region of more than 7 million residents. Established in 1966, H‑GAC operates as a voluntary association of local governments and a regional service platform that supports intergovernmental coordination, regional planning, and program execution across issues that affect the region’s economy, infrastructure, workforce, environment, mobility, resilience, and quality of life.

H‑GAC’S CORE VALUES

• Service: Provide excellent service to clients, meeting their needs and exceeding expectations.
• Collaborative: Encourage teamwork and believe collaboration leads to better outcomes.
• Accountable: Take responsibility for actions and meet commitments to clients, colleagues, and the community.
• Leadership: Strive to be a leader in public service, setting standards for excellence.
• Innovative: Seek new and creative ways to improve services and processes.
• Integrity: Act with honesty, transparency, and ethical behavior in interactions.
• Community: Recognize responsibility to the community and commit to making a positive impact.

CULTURE AND LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENT

H‑GAC has an established culture where employees have a voice and access to leadership. The next Chief Financial Officer must lead within that culture while helping the organization mature for its next stage of growth, ensuring strong financial leadership, clarity, transparency, responsiveness, and a practical understanding of how policies and processes affect work.

SCALE, FUNDING MODEL, AND HOW RESOURCES MOVE

H‑GAC operates at a significant financial and operational scale. The funding model is primarily restricted, program‑driven, and connected to federal, state, and local priorities. About 59% of the FY2026 unified budget is restricted revenue, 1% is unrestricted, with approximately $479.5 million in pass‑through funds and $71.3 million in non‑pass‑through operating costs. Workforce represents 86.85% of the FY2026 program expense profile.

STAFFING FOOTPRINT AND INTERNAL STRUCTURE

The FY2026 plan reflects 502 total positions and 4,447 total FTEs. The organization is structured to support multiple program disciplines through dedicated departments and divisions, enabled by shared services such as finance, procurement, human resources, communications, and technology.

CORE PROGRAM PLATFORMS AND OPERATIONS

H‑GAC is organized across multiple program and service areas that function as distinct operating platforms. Major platforms include transportation and regional planning, workforce system stewardship, aging services, community and environmental planning, disaster recovery and emergency preparedness, data services, and shared enterprise support.

TECHNOLOGY, SYSTEMS, AND ENTERPRISE MODERNIZATION

H‑GAC has taken steps to modernize its finance function, including the use of MIP financial software. The organization now requires a broader integrated enterprise system that supports finance, budgeting, reporting, procurement coordination, internal controls, risk management, and administrative workflows.

THE ROLE: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

The CFO reports to the Executive Director and serves as H‑GAC’s senior executive for financial and administrative leadership. The role is responsible for advanced policy administration and managerial work across a division that may include multiple departments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Leadership and Financial Direction

• Serve as senior financial advisor to the Executive Director, leadership team, board, and department directors.
• Lead long‑range financial planning, forecasting, fiscal policy development, and resource strategy.
• Translate complex financial, grant, compliance, audit, and risk issues into clear recommendations for non‑financial decision makers.
• Evaluate financial implications of organizational growth, program expansion, technology investments, staffing, facilities, and major policy decisions.
• Align financial strategy with H‑GAC’s mission, regional priorities, and enterprise goals.

Financial Management, Compliance, and Reporting

• Oversee budgeting, accounting, cash management, financial reporting, audit preparation, grant financial management, internal controls, and compliance.
• Ensure adherence to applicable accounting standards, grant requirements, federal and state regulations, and internal policies.
• Maintain a strong audit‑ready posture and support transparent, accurate, and timely financial reporting.
• Safeguard restricted and unrestricted resources and ensure sound stewardship of public funds.
• Advise departments on financial matters, spending decisions, budget management, compliance requirements, and allowable uses of funds.

Administrative and Enterprise Leadership

• Manage and coordinate assigned administrative functions, departments, and division operations.
• Establish and implement policies, goals, objectives, and procedures that support agency strategy and operational effectiveness.
• Strengthen enterprise workflows, reporting tools, approval processes, and administrative systems.
• Support ERP planning and broader technology modernization efforts that improve finance and administrative operations.
• Provide information and advice to state agencies, internal stakeholders, and the public regarding division activities and responsibilities.

Team and Organizational Leadership

• Build, develop, and retain a high‑performing finance and administrative team.
• Review and support the performance of key management positions within the division.
• Clarify roles, strengthen accountability, and develop internal leadership capacity.
• Foster a culture of service, collaboration, integrity, transparency, and continuous improvement.
• Lead change with emotional intelligence, practical judgment, and respect for the organization’s culture.

Board, Stakeholder, and External Engagement

• Prepare and present reports and recommendations that support timely, well‑informed decision making.
• Communicate effectively with board members, elected officials, executive leaders, funding agencies, auditors, department directors, staff, and external partners.
• Respond to legislative inquiries and requests, and provide testimony when required.
• Represent H‑GAC with professionalism, credibility, and sound judgment in public and governmental settings.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
• Significant progressively responsible experience in governmental finance, public administration, policy administration, or a similarly complex public‑sector, grant‑funded, or intergovernmental environment.
• Experience leading financial operations, budgeting, accounting, internal controls, reporting, compliance, audit preparation, and fiscal policy.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations, and the principles and practices of public administration and management.
• Demonstrated ability to direct and organize program or division activities, establish goals and objectives, evaluate alternatives, implement effective solutions, and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to prepare concise reports, make presentations, communicate effectively, and advise executive leadership on complex financial and administrative matters.

Preferred