Chief Financial Officer (Houston)

Chief Financial Officer

Location: Houston, Texas. H‑GAC is a regional council of governments serving a 13‑county region with a population of over 7 million residents. The organization supports intergovernmental coordination, regional planning, and program execution across a variety of public service areas.

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.

Role Overview

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reports directly to the Executive Director and is responsible for financial stewardship, strategic financial planning, enterprise systems, and leadership of the finance and administration function. The CFO must balance rigorous financial controls with operational efficiency, and lead the organization through continued growth and increasing complexity.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior financial advisor to the Executive Director, leadership team, board members, 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 the financial implications of organizational growth, program expansion, technology investments, staffing needs, facilities, and major policy decisions.
• Help align financial strategy with H‑GAC’s mission, regional priorities, and enterprise goals.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
• Certified Public Accountant.
• Executive financial leadership experience in a Council of Governments, Metropolitan Planning Organization, local government, state agency, regional agency, public authority, or similarly complex governmental entity.
• Experience with federal and state grants, restricted funds, indirect cost allocation, pass‑through funding, intergovernmental agreements, public‑sector audits, and compliance monitoring.
• Experience leading or supporting ERP implementation, finance system modernization, administrative technology initiatives, or enterprise process redesign.
• Demonstrated experience leading long‑range financial planning, multi‑year forecasting, team development, and organizational change.

About H‑GAC

H‑GAC is one of the largest Councils of Governments in the United States, serving a 13‑county region of over 7 million residents. Established in 1966, it 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.