Chief Financial Officer (Indianapolis)

Job Description

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) serves as the senior executive responsible for the financial integrity, long-term financial strategy, and fiscal stewardship of the organization. The CFO provides strategic leadership over accounting, treasury, budgeting, forecasting, rate and regulatory finance, risk management, and financial reporting. The CFO ensures financial decisions support reliability, affordability, compliance with regulatory requirements, and long-term system sustainability.

The CFO acts as a key advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors, translating complex financial, regulatory, and market considerations into clear, decision-ready insights.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Strategy & Leadership

• Lead development and execution of the organization’s long-range financial strategy aligned with resource planning, capital investment, and system reliability objectives.
• Provide strategic financial guidance to the CEO and Board on power supply decisions, capital programs, financing strategies, and enterprise risk.
• Support integrated planning by aligning financial forecasts with load, fuel, power supply, and transmission assumptions.

Accounting & Financial Reporting

• Oversight of all accounting functions, including general ledger, fixed assets, and financial close.
• Ensure accurate, timely, and transparent financial statements prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards (e.g., GAAP, utility-specific guidance and regulation).
• Establish and maintain strong internal controls and financial governance.

Treasury, Capital Structure & Financing

• Manage liquidity, cash flow forecasting, and banking relationships.
• Lead financing activities including debt issuance, credit facilities, hedging instruments, and compliance with loan covenants.
• Oversee relationships with lenders, bondholders, rating agencies, and governmental financing entities.

Rates, Regulatory & Member Rates

• Provide financial leadership for rate design and rate stability mechanisms.
• Support regulatory filings and proceedings by developing financial testimony, analyses, and exhibits.
• Ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulatory requirements affecting utility finance.
• Partner with power supply, engineering, and regulatory teams to evaluate financial impacts of resource decisions.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Performance Management

• Oversight of the annual budgeting process and multi-year financial forecasts.
• Monitor financial performance against budget, identify variances, and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop financial metrics and dashboards to support executive management and Board oversight.
• Support scenario analysis and stress testing related to fuel volatility, load changes, capital programs, and market risk.

Risk Management

• Oversee enterprise risk management (ERM) reporting and mitigation planning.
• Direct enterprise financial risk management, including fuel price risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, and liquidity risk.

Leadership & Organization Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop finance and accounting staff, fostering a culture of accountability, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
• Promote strong cross-functional collaboration with operations, power supply, IT, and member services.
• Champion process improvement, automation, and effective use of financial systems and data.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required.
• Master’s degree (MBA or MS) or professional certification (CPA, CMA, CFA) strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 15–20 years of progressive financial leadership experience.
• Significant experience in an electric utility, public power organization, cooperative, or energy related entity strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with debt financing, rates, and capital-intensive operations.
• Proven leadership experience managing teams and presenting to executive leadership and boards.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Deep understanding of utility accounting and rate-making principles.
• Strong strategic thinking and ability to synthesize financial and operational considerations.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to clearly explain complex financial concepts to non-financial audiences.
• High ethical standards, sound judgment, and commitment to public service and cooperative principles where applicable.
• Advanced proficiency with financial systems, forecasting tools, and data analysis.

Working Relationships

• Regular interaction with the CEO, executive leadership team, and Board of Directors.
• Frequent coordination with external auditors, lenders, regulators, legal counsel, and financial advisors.