THE OPPORTUNITY

The beautifully rugged and historic City of Durango, Colorado is offering an exciting opportunity for a municipal finance executive to serve as its next Chief Financial Officer (CFO). The successful candidate will lead a solid team of professionals and join a high performing City organization that is laser focused on customer service and delivering results to its residents and visitors.

ABOUT DURANGO

Durango is home to 19,500 residents and is located along the Animas River in southwestern Colorado at the foot of the San Juan Mountains and east of Mesa Verde National Park. Durango is in the four corners region of the United States; a region consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado, northwestern corner of New Mexico, northeastern corner of Arizona, and southeastern corner of Utah. As the county seat for La Plata County and a regional hub for commerce, Durango is easily accessible by land and air. Durango offers modern city amenities with stunning natural surroundings, rugged geography, and world class recreational opportunities. Durango is a cultural hotspot and offers ample opportunities to indulge in theatre or music venues, art galleries, museums, as well as dining at Durango’s many restaurants.

CITY GOVERNMENT

The City provides a full range of services to its residents, including general government, public safety, streets and highways, culture and recreation, transportation, sustainability, community development, public works and public utilities. City services are provided by 445 FTE employees and a proposed 2025 general fund budget of $56.1 million and an all-funds budget of $223.5 million.

THE DEPARTMENT

The City of Durango’s Financial Services Department is responsible for providing accurate and relevant financial information to all City departments, the City Manager, City Council, and the citizens regarding the financial status of Durango. This information enables management and the City Council to make sound financial decisions that help to ensure the long-term financial health of the City.

The Financial Services Department is comprised of three divisions; Finance/Accounting, Customer Service, and Grants/Contracts. Services are provided through 32 FTE positions, and a FY 2024 operating budget of $10.3 million. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer are a Fleet/Facilities Manager, Purchasing Manager, Budget Manager, Compliance and Reporting Manager, Accounting and Finance Manager, and Customer Service Manager.

THE POSITION

Appointed by the City Manager, the Chief Financial Officer plans, directs, and oversees the activities and operations of the Financial Services Department, which includes information systems, purchasing, accounting, utility billing, revenue collections, sales tax collection, and finance and budget control. The CFO works collaboratively with other City departments, along with providing complex administrative support to the City Manager’s office. Essential job duties include overseeing and participating in the development and administration of the City’s annual budget; monitoring and approving expenditures and implementing budgetary adjustments; preparing the City’s comprehensive financial report; developing and implementing the City’s investment policy and coordinating with investment bankers and the bond counsel on debt issuances; providing staff assistance to the City Manager and City Council; and presenting staff reports and other necessary correspondence.

The ideal candidate will provide high levels of customer service and responsiveness to both internal and external customers; be a relationship builder who sees the Finance Department’s role in providing service to others as critically important; have proven experience in managing complex municipal budgets and resource allocation; and have strong strategic planning abilities to align department goals with the City’s vision.

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of related education, experience, certifications, and licenses that will result in a candidate successfully performing the essential functions of the job is qualifying. The most attractive candidates will possess the following:

Education: Bachelor’s degree with major coursework in finance and accounting, or a closely related field.

Experience: Six (6) years of increasingly responsible experience in finance and accounting including three (3) years of administrative and supervisory responsibility to include an understanding of information and computer network infrastructure systems, municipal court processes/laws and an understanding of Human Resources law including payroll and benefits management.

Certification: Possession of, or the ability to obtain current certification as a Certified Municipal Finance Officer or Certified Public Accountant is preferred.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The anticipated hiring range for the Chief Financial Officer is $165,000 to $190,000, with placement in the range dependent on qualifications. An excellent executive benefit package is provided including retirement provided through a 401(a) plan, with employee contributions set at 9% and a City match of 11.2%. Employees are fully vested after five years. The City also offers health, dental, and vision insurance options for its employees; PTO accruals from 23 to 31 days per year, depending upon years of service; paid Family and Medical Leave (FMLA); and the selected candidate will have use of a city-provided condominium for up to six months in order to provide time to secure housing.

For a complete listing of benefits please view the City’s 2024 Benefits Enrollment Guide.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

To be considered for this position, candidates are encouraged to apply immediately, as this recruitment will close once a sufficiently strong pool of stellar candidates has been established. Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and résumé online at:

www.mosaicpublic.com/careers

Confidential inquiries are welcomed to: