Chief Financial Officer

Job Description

Summary

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) manages the financial operations of the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. The CFO formulates, implements, and ensures compliance with agency and Federal fiscal policies, internal controls, and audits; oversees budget formulation, interagency agreements, and agency acquisitions, including contracts; monitors, forecasts, and reports on agency fiscal positions; and contributes financial expertise to agency operations and strategic planning.

Duties

Leads the Udall Foundation's Finance unit, overseeing all aspects from day-to-day operations to strategic planning. Applies proven project and program management techniques to ensure financial services are efficient and effective. Maintains expert knowledge of Federal rules, regulations, and policies in order to plan, direct, review, and approve all agency financial operations and actions. Works with the Accountant to establish and maintain appropriate accounting structures, budget formats, and expenditure and obligation tracking mechanisms. Follows up on undelivered orders, accrued payables and receivables, and other obligations and implements corrective actions when necessary. Oversees fund receipts and distribution of funds, including payroll expenditures. Works with the Senior Accounting Officer to maintain the agency's trial balance (General Ledger), which reflects a double-entry accounting system maintained on an accrual basis, and oversee reconciliation, compliance, and certification of the accuracy of the trial balance. Prepares accounting and cost reports, financial statements, and other necessary information reflecting the agency's financial position. Oversees agency agreements and acquisitions activities, including contracting actions performed by the Contracting Officer and Contracting Officer's Representative. Works with the Contracting Officer to ensure agency acquisition processes comply with the Federal Acquisition Regulation and are supported by internal controls and standard operating procedures. Works with the Contracting Officer and General Counsel to ensure interagency agreements for program-specific and agency-level operations comply with appropriate administrative, regulatory, and procedural requirements. Establishes, develops, and maintains manual and automated internal controls to manage organizational financial risk, including through oversight of the agency's annual external financial audit. Corrects identified financial errors and recommends actions to improve the accounting or financial posture of the agency and identify and prevent waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement. Oversees development of agency financial policies, plans, and procedures, as needed, and negotiates and resolves financial issues of considerable significance including by determining alternative ways to resolve conflicting objectives among competing agency goals or priorities. Works with the Senior Accounting Officer to facilitate the formulation, tracking, and reporting of annual agency budgets at the unit level. Meets with unit leadership on a regular basis to review assigned budgets and actual expenditures, and to proactively identify and resolve issues. Provides technical assistance, including supportive financial expertise, to agency units and analyzes, advises on, and recommends solutions to budgetary problems in all phases of budgetary and financial process administration. Serves as the primary agency liaison with the White House Office of Management and Budget regarding annual budget submissions and passbacks, apportionments, and budget data requests. Supports the Executive Director with additional mandatory financial reporting and data calls from the Administration, Congress, and Federal agencies such as the Department of the Treasury and the General Services Administration. Serves as the primary agency liaison to the General Services Administration regarding financial services, including financial accounting, management, and investments within the agency's Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Trust Fund and Environmental Dispute Resolution Fund. Supervises Finance team employees. Directs and evaluates subordinate work to ensure the agency's timely and accurate delivery of financial operations. Leads team meetings, monitors progress on team projects, and provides guidance, assistance, and mentorship to Finance team members. Serves as a backup on subordinate employee functions to ensure continuity of agency operations. Performs other duties as assigned. This position is telework eligible subject to relevant agency policy. Occasional travel may be required.

Conditions of Employment

You must be a United States citizen to apply for this position. This position requires that you obtain and maintain a background/suitability investigation with favorable results. A trial (probationary) period may be required. All Udall Foundation employees are required to have payments made by direct deposit.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Application materials received in full by the announcement closing date will be given full consideration. Your application will be evaluated on the basis of: (1) your resume, which should reflect the quality and extent of your accomplishments, experience, and/or education relevant to the major duties and general qualifications of the position; (2) your cover letter, which should summarize your interest in and qualifications for the position; and (3) your references, for those candidates advancing to the interview stage. Preference will be given to candidates with prior experience as a Federal employee in an Executive, Legislative, or Judicial branch agency.

Education

A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field.

Additional Information

EEO Policy Statement: The Udall Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit with no discrimination for non-merit reasons such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, reprisal, genetic information, political affiliation, or other non-merit factor, as defined by law or regulation and governed by applicable case law. Reasonable Accommodation: The Udall Foundation provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities on a case-by-case basis. Applicants should notify the point of contact on this vacancy announcement if a reasonable accommodation is needed for any part of the application and hiring process. Privacy Act: Privacy Act Notice (PL 93-579): The information requested here is used to determine qualifications for employment and is authorized under Title 5 U.S.C. 3302 and 3361. Signature: Before you are hired, you will be required to sign and certify the accuracy of the information in your application. If you make a false statement in any part of your application, you may not be hired; you may be fired after you begin work; or you may be subject to fine, imprisonment, or other disciplinary action. Selective Service: If you are a male applicant born after December 31, 1959, you must certify that you have registered with the Selective Service System, or that you are exempt from doing so under the Selective Service Law. Financial Disclosure: All employees of the Federal Government are subject to the conflict of interest statutes and regulations, including the Standards of Ethical Conduct. This position requires the filing of an OGE 278, Public Financial Disclosure form.

How to Apply

Email the required documents to hiring@udall.gov. Applications that do not adhere to the Required Documents instructions will not be considered.

Required Documents

Cover letter; resume, not to exceed two pages in length; and Contact information for three professional references. Current or former Federal employees should also send a copy of their most recent SF-50. Applicants may also choose to submit responses to the four optional questions included with this announcement. OPTIONAL QUESTIONS: Applicants may choose to answer the following four questions and submit their responses with their application package. The questions give candidates an opportunity to provide additional information about themselves, their background, and their dedication to public service. Responses to these questions will not be used as a means of determining whether the candidate fulfills the qualifications of a position. The questions will also not be used to impose an ideological litmus test on candidates. If an applicant chooses not to submit responses to the questions, they will not be disqualified from consideration. Answers to the four questions should be submitted in a separate document and will be reviewed only by the hiring manager and agency leadership (or a designee). How has your commitment to the Constitution and the founding principles of the United States inspired you to pursue this role within the Federal Government? Provide a concrete example from professional, academic, or personal experience. In this role, how would you use your skills and experience to improve Federal Government efficiency and effectiveness? Provide specific examples where you improved processes, reduced costs, or improved outcomes. In this role, you will be expected to professionally and efficiently implement executive direction. Provide an example where you implemented leadership direction on a strategy or policy decision that differed from your own recommendation. How has a strong work ethic contributed to your professional, academic or personal achievements? Provide one or two specific examples and explain how those qualities would enable you to serve effectively in this position. Responses must not exceed 200 words per question. Applicants who respond to these questions certify that they are responding in their own words and that they did not use a consultant or artificial intelligence (AI) tool (such as a large language model).

What to Expect Next

Evaluation of your application will be based on the information you supply. The materials you submit will not be returned; send only those materials needed to evaluate your application. After preliminary review of applications, the best-qualified candidates may be invited for one or more interviews, which may occur by telephone, video, or in person. Those candidates selected for interviews should expect that performance, suitability, and security information will be verified from reference checks and that information will be taken into account in making employment offers. A decision to fill the vacancy is expected within 45 days after the end of the job announcement period.

About the Agency

The Morris K. Udall Foundation was established by the U.S. Congress in 1992 as an independent executive branch agency to honor Morris K. Udall's lasting impact on this Nation's environment, public lands, and natural resources, and his support of the rights and self-governance of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. In 2009, Congress enacted legislation to also honor Stewart L. Udall, Morris K. Udall's brother, for his more than 50 years of distinguished national leadership in environmental and Native American policy. The agency is known today as the Morris K. Udall and Stewart L. Udall Foundation (Udall Foundation) and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona.

Minimum Qualifications

You must be a United States citizen to apply for this position.

Requirements

General Qualifications: Superior character, good judgment, interpersonal skills, and an ability to work in a supportive, professional, and problem-solving manner with agency employees, outside partners, and stakeholders. Leadership skills as characterized by the ability to develop a common vision with colleagues, superiors, subordinates, and a facilitative management style that emphasizes teamwork, collegiality, and flexibility. Skill in assessing a problem or requirement, organizing an appropriate, solutions-focused response, and engaging others as needed to achieve a desired outcome. An ability to manage multiple requirements simultaneously and effectively while maintaining oversight over areas of responsibility. Flexibility and adaptability to changes in requirements, including Administration and Congressional direction, often with limited lead times. Ability to work independently to plan, organize, and coordinate technical projects, and to monitor and report on progress towards project objectives and milestones. Superior oral and written communications skills, including the ability to communicate clearly, listen effectively, and engage and collaborate with others. Technical Qualifications - Required: A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field. At least ten (10) years of applicable experience in budgeting, accounting, or related financial processes and activities for a Federal agency. At least three (3) years of demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and/or managing Federal accounting or budgeting staff, including at least one (1) year of direct supervisory experience. Knowledge and competency in Federal accounting principles, compliance with Federal financial regulations, and experience with Federal financial reporting requirements as demonstrated through experience, education, or a combination of both. Knowledge and competency in Federal agreements and acquisitions principles, including the Federal Acquisition Regulation, as demonstrated through experience, education, or a combination of both. Demonstrated ability to oversee budget formulation, accounting structures, processes, and/or financial and performance reporting within a Federal agency. Demonstrated experience managing, overseeing, or supporting financial audit processes within a Federal agency. Demonstrated ability to translate technical financial language and topics for non-technical audiences, including preparing materials for or providing briefings to agency leadership. Proficiency with MS Office 365, virtual collaboration tools such as MS Teams, and accounting-specific software as appropriate. Technical Qualifications - Preferred: Appropriate professional-level certifications, e.g., Certified Public Accountant, Certified Government Financial Manager. Experience working with or responding to budget data requests and related directives from the Office of Management and Budget. Proficiency in financial management systems appropriate to the requirements of a small Federal agency.