2025 Port of Seattle Chief Financial Officer (Seattle)

Overview

The position supports the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Leadership Team, and Port Commission with financial strategies and resources to achieve the Port's mission and objectives. It represents the highest level of financial leadership at the Port, overseeing all financial management activities and serving a critical fiduciary role in safeguarding public funds, as well as ensuring responsible, prudent, and effective management of internal resources and assets. The position also provides executive leadership over Risk Management.

Responsibilities

Essential Responsibilities

These are high-level descriptions of the main responsibilities of this job. They are overall responsibilities, not detailed tasks, and represent the most important elements of the job, not an exhaustive list.

1. Port-wide Executive Leadership - Participate as a member of the Port's Executive team, supporting overall management and the formulation and adoption of goals, objectives, strategies, policies, and procedures. Provide leadership over the development and implementation of effective accounting policies, controls, processes, and procedures to ensure complete, timely, and accurate financial reporting for internal and external stakeholders. Monitor industry trends and external factors impacting Port business lines, including emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence and digital transformation, to assess opportunities and risks. Lead Port projects and initiatives, including special projects and sponsorship on Port-wide teams and boards.
2. Budget Oversight - Oversee the planning, preparation, review, and presentation of the Port’s annual budget, including revenue sources and expenditures, major capital projects. Recommend budget strategies, targets, and policies. Ensure effective monitoring of financial and operational performance during the year, and make timely recommendations for corrective actions if revenues or expenses deviate from the budget.
3. Department Leadership - Provide oversight and accountability for multiple functional departments to ensure effective day-to-day operations across the organization. Lead and mentor department directors and managers, providing coaching, performance feedback, and development planning. Facilitate integration and alignment of departmental work with overall Port strategies and goals.
4. Financial Planning - Lead long-term financial planning and develop strategic funding plans supporting the Port's five-year and ten-year capital investment programs.
5. Port Treasurer Role - Serve as Port Treasurer, overseeing banking activities and management of the Port’s pooled investment portfolio.
6. Risk Management - Lead the Risk Management function to ensure effective and cost-efficient insurance, risk mitigation, claims management, and support for Enterprise Risk Management initiatives.
7. Capital Financing - Oversee advanced capital financing activities, including strategies, bond issuance, rating agency relationships, investor communications, legal compliance, and management of debt portfolio over $3 billion.
8. Commitment to Equity - Apply and exemplify equity and shared values in all work aspects, recognizing equity as a daily responsibility and foundational expectation.
9. Other Duties - Perform additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of corporate finance, general management practices, and principles, especially in large, complex organizations. Experience with Public/Private financing arrangements and partnerships.
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles applicable in both business and government contexts.
• Expertise in enterprise budget development, municipal debt management, and federal regulations affecting tax-exempt debt.
• Understanding of treasury, investment management, and risk management principles and practices in large enterprises.
• Knowledge of public sector organizational attributes and dynamics.

Skills

• Strong leadership skills to manage diverse teams, including coaching, mentoring, performance evaluation, and development planning. High ethical standards and integrity aligned with public organizational expectations and stewardship of public funds.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills, with effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities. Ability to anticipate challenges and opportunities.
• Navigate Politics - Experience working with political bodies and elected officials, understanding political dynamics in public organizations. Skilled in working within matrixed organizations and collaborating across business lines, including joint ventures like the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
• Risk identification and mitigation skills, familiarity with auditing principles, and effective collaboration with auditors.
• Communication Skills - Ability to clearly and effectively communicate complex topics across all organizational levels and in various settings, including public presentations and interactions with officials.

See Link in Recruitment Brochure for Complete Job Description.

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