Chief Financial Officer

Position Summary

At NRECA, we power more than just communities—we power progress. As the national trade association representing over 900 consumer-owned electric cooperatives, we shape the future of energy with a culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and service excellence. We are known as a best place to work and foster an environment where ideas are valued and careers can thrive.

NRECA seeks a strategic CFO to lead the continued transformation of the finance function as a collaborative member of the senior leadership team. This leader will optimize people, processes, and technology to support enterprise decision-making and sustain a high-performing Finance and Accounting Department. The CFO will oversee the association, its subsidiaries and affiliated entities, three multi-employer pension and welfare plans, and the Homestead Mutual Funds. This executive leads a team of approximately 64 across Finance and Accounting and stewardship of a $290 million budget.

The CFO candidate will be a seasoned financial executive with a track record of leadership in complex organizations across private and/or nonprofit sectors. This role requires business-driven leadership with experience building scalable finance teams and organizations of similar complexity.

NRECA has engaged executive search firm Russell Reynolds to assist. If you are interested and qualified, please email View email address on click.appcast.io.

Salary Range: $500,000 - $615,000 annual salary with a 20% incentive opportunity. Final compensation determined by qualifications, experience, and internal equity.

Highlights of Key Responsibilities

• Leads the development and execution of strategic planning to enhance NRECA’s ability to deliver on its mission and goals through the optimization of its financial position.
• Leads the finance department to engage across the enterprise, aligning capabilities and capacity to optimize performance.
• Drives technological innovation in a complex, highly regulated service environment.
• Ensures strong financial functions including internal controls, planning, forecasting and analysis, balance sheet and cash flow management, audit, and taxes.
• Responsible for Strategic, Sourcing and Procurement (SS&P) strategies and operations to support all NRECA business operations.
• Leads a data-driven budgeting and financial forecasting process to support organization-wide decision making and strategic planning.
• Ensures accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls align with high standards of integrity, transparency and compliance.
• Oversees cash management and Treasury functions.
• Collaborates with building operations on leasing space to maximize long-term occupancy and minimize vacancy risk.
• Oversees the optimization and integration of Workday ERP accounting and budget systems to improve efficiencies and automation across the organization.
• Keeps informed on applicable accounting concepts, SEC rules, GAAP, tax laws, and NRECA policies to ensure compliance.

Qualifications

Formal Education Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Master’s degree preferred, with additional training in finance-related information systems and procedures.

Experience and Certifications Required:

• 10+ years of progressively senior management experience in finance and accounting.
• Broad finance background with strength in accounting and FP&A.
• Prior public accounting experience; nonprofit, government contracting, and ERISA experience a plus.

Performance and Personal Competencies

Strategic Thinking & Setting Financial Strategy

• Develop and lead a finance strategy that drives transformation of a complex organization.
• Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO, senior leadership, and Boards.
• Analyze data to support decisions and create strategic alignment.
• Be entrepreneurial and creative, developing innovative ideas and driving continued innovation.

People Leadership

• Attract, recruit, motivate and develop top talent while fostering a strong organizational culture.
• Align resources, talent, processes, and technology.
• Model self-reflection, lead by example, and drive continuous improvement.

Relationships and Influence

• Build strong relationships, advise others, and communicate clearly and persuasively.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, practical guidance.
• Exercise sound judgment and diplomacy; challenge assumptions constructively.
• Create a sense of purpose and mission for the team.

Executing for Results

• Lead with technical depth to devise and delegate decision-making processes.
• Set clear, challenging goals and drive results.
• Develop strong implementation plans and execute strategies effectively.
• Strengthen finance systems, processes, teams, and organizational design.

Essential Physical Requirements

• The worker should have close visual acuity for data analysis, reading, and computer work.
• Light physical activity such as occasional lifting up to 20 pounds may be required.

Disclaimer

The preceding job description reflects essential functions and does not prescribe or restrict tasks that may be assigned. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other protected status.

NRECA is committed to reasonable accommodation. For assistance, please email View email address on click.appcast.io or call View phone number on click.appcast.io. For Lincoln, NE opportunities, call View phone number on click.appcast.io. A case-by-case determination will be made for accommodation requests.

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