Director, Utilities Finance

POSITION TITLE: INTERNAL ONLY - Director, Utilities Finance (Full-Time Regular) (Unclassified Management)
REQUISITION #: req7941
DEPARTMENT: Utility Financial Operations
LOCATION: 222 LAPORTE
BENEFIT CATEGORY: Unclassified Management View Classifications & Benefits
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full-Time Regular
ANNUAL SALARY RANGE: $104,973.00 - 174,956.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
ANNUAL ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: $132,000.00 - 160,000.00 (Salaries are paid biweekly)
SELECTION PROCESS: Application deadline is 3:00 p.m. MT on 1/7/2025.

You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile.

Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?

• Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, domestic partner, children) - eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
• Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional one-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new, full-time, Classified and Unclassified Management hires
• Retirement + company contributions - after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
• Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
• Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
• Wellness program, workout facilities
• Employee/family onsite health clinic
• Learning and development opportunities at all levels in the organization with opportunities for career mobility
• Collaborative work environment

To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure

Job Summary

The Director of Utility Finance is responsible for the overall financial health and resiliency of the City's four utility enterprise funds (electric, water, wastewater, and stormwater) and internal service fund (customer service and administration). This position plays a critical role in ensuring the long-term sustainability and financial viability of these essential services.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

• Responsible for the overall financial health and resiliency of the four utility enterprise funds (electric, water, wastewater and stormwater) and internal service fund (customer service and administration).
• Responsible for preparation, compilation, and implementation of operating and capital budgets for the Utility Enterprise and Internal Service Funds
• Provides strategic direction around the complexities of rates, long-term planning, federal and state grants, and other funding opportunities to remain fiscally responsible to Utilities rate payers.
• Supports the Utility Enterprises and presents financials to Boards and Commission, City Council, financial advisors, and the community
• Develops long-term strategic financial models, capital plans, and operating and capital budgets.
• Responsible for long-term strategic financial modeling and planning for each utility consistent with City strategic objectives and industry best practices. Collaborates with Utilities leadership teams on expectations, deliverables, workload, and sophistication of work product for financial and analytical support.
• Provides direction and oversight to Utilities rate analysts responsible for developing and maintaining cost of service models for monthly utility charges, development / redevelopment fees collected through plant investment fees, and outward facing application of development fees within the community.
• Provides direction and oversight to financial analysts responsible for the accuracy, integrity and analysis of periodic, internal and external financial reporting on operating and capital budgets for the utility funds, including oversight of the utility accounts payable processes.
• Coordinates with other Financial Services leadership staff to provide synthesized analysis of utility finances, allowing for informed decision making by the Chief Financial Officer and Executive Leadership Team.
• Leads and collaborates well with regional partners including Platte River Power Authority and its owners, Northern Water and surrounding water districts.
• Provides direction and oversight for the development of fiscally sound asset life-cycle management plans for all major utility assets.
• Provide direction and oversight to utility rate analysts responsible for developing and maintaining cost of service models ensuring that monthly utility charges accurately reflect the cost of providing such services to the various rate classes equitably and adequately
• Provide direction and oversight of professional teams responsible for developing and maintaining cost of service models to ensure that the incremental cost of development / redevelopment is collected through plant investment fees in a manner consistent with City Council direction.

Management Responsibilities

Yes

City Competencies

• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.
• Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
• Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
• A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
• A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.
• Experience building teams and implementing practices to lead others well in an inclusive, high- performance organization. Skill in integrating and synthesizing others' viewpoints to build alignment of diverse perspectives to achieve results.
• Capable of creating conditions of emotional safety and demonstrates self-awareness and regulation in responding to others.
• Capable of systems thinking to see interdependent relationships and recognize multiple causes and effects of community issues, to predict or anticipate the consequences of policy decisions, and to community and organizational resources.
• Strong ability to assess alternatives in terms of their financial, revenue, social, environmental, and strategic advantages and disadvantages and propose solutions.

Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of general accounting and fund accounting principles, Governmental Accounting Standard Board (GASB) pronouncements and interpretations.
• Master knowledge of finance concepts and application experience in a variety of environments including ROI, NPV, EVA, financial statement analysis, WACC, time value of money, etc.
• Exceptional business acumen and critical thinking skills gained from a broad spectrum of experiences
• Effectively manage diverse personnel organization (10+), large complex projects, and competing / changing priorities.
• Expert skill level in Excel, Microsoft Office software, query, extraction, normalizing and data mining.
• System and organization implementation and management.
• Ability to communicate at executive level and influence effectively both up / down the chain of command, and cross functionally.
• Strategic critical thinking in approach to problem solving, issue resolution and solution development drawing upon acute business acumen and perspective gained from a wide range of experience.
• Proficiency and experience in network management and influence (i.e. without hierarchical control) is required.

Required Qualifications

MinimumPreferred

College degree or equivalent work experience. Some positions may require functionally related certification or advanced degrees.
Bachelor's degree in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration or related field from an accredited college or university.

Master of Business Administration (MBA) or Master's degree in Finance or related field preferred.

Experience Requirements

• Eight years of progressively responsible senior management level experience in finance, accounting, budgeting or business management, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. The City may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.

Certifications/Licenses/Specialized Training

• CPA Preferred

The content in this posting was created for recruitment purposes. To view the full job description click the link below.

Director, Utilities Finance
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call ([redacted] for assistance.

Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use:
Because the possession and use of marijuana,whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.

The City of Fort Collins is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants are considered for positions for which they have applied without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender identity and expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, genetic information, and, in certain specific circumstances, marriage to a coworker or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.