About the Position
Under general supervision and the direction of the Director of Business Administration, this position provides District-wide leadership and strategic oversight of all areas of financial operations: (a) revenue management; (b) forecasting and planning; (c) budget development and monitoring; (d) accounting transactions; (e) procurement; (f) reporting; (g) financial metrics and program evaluation; (h) audits and compliance; and (i) fiscal risk management.?
The position’s role is to ensure cohesive financial strategies, policies, and procedures, robust internal controls, and efficient operations across functions. This requires a comprehensive understanding of public sector financial management, strategic planning capabilities, and strong leadership skills to guide a diverse team of financial professionals.
This position supervises the comptroller, budget officer, and procurement and contracts agent. The position also coordinates closely with: (a) planning and engineering staff on capital finance matters; (b) collection system staff on service charges rate-setting, quarterly monitoring, and customer community billing; and (c) hauled waste staff on hauled waste rate-setting and billing.
The position serves as the primary liaison with internal and external stakeholders, providing guidance on comprehensive financial matters, including staff and elected officials from the District's owner communities and Commission. This role frequently leads cross-departmental initiatives and provides strategic direction to ensure effective financial stewardship and operational excellence. The successful candidate must demonstrate a growth mindset in navigating a dynamic, mission-driven operation, while remaining committed to fostering a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
Who We Are
Established in 1930 to protect the lakes and streams of the upper Yahara watershed, the District is a wastewater collection and treatment utility serving about 435,000 people in 24 Madison-area owner communities covering about 190 square miles.
The District owns and operates 150 miles of pipe and 18 regional pumping stations that convey approximately 37 million gallons of wastewater to the Nine Springs Wastewater Treatment Plant daily. Through the treatment process, we recover valuable resources before returning clean water to the environment.
Our mission is to protect public health and the environment. We are dedicated to service, reliability, and sustainability, and our tradition of innovation has positioned us as a leader among clean water utilities.
Working at the District is more than just a paycheck—it is about taking care of our community and protecting one of our most valuable resources: water.
When you think about your career and what you want to accomplish in your lifetime, choose to do Work Worth Doing!
Please include a cover letter with your application that highlights your fit for the position and references your relevant experience. A cover letter and resume are required for consideration.
Applications will be reviewed beginning November 21, 2025. Applications received after this date may not be considered if enough qualified candidates have been identified during the first review period.
Duties
The successful Finance Manager has the following qualities:
- Agility: Demonstrates the ability to adapt quickly and effectively to changing circumstances, priorities, and environments while maintaining high performance and a positive attitude allowing for a culture of continuous improvement and decision-making that drives results.
- Financial Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of government-specific budget, accounting and procurement challenges. Success requires understanding of utility-specific challenges, including rate structure development, capital improvement planning, debt financing, and regulatory compliance.
- Integrity: Maintains high ethical standards and confidentiality. Success requires sound judgement in handling sensitive financial information.
- Stakeholder Partnerships: Excellence in managing relationships across diverse groups including elected officials, community representatives, regulatory agencies, external auditors, and internal department heads. Success requires communicating financial concepts clearly to non-financial audiences and building consensus.
- Strategic Financial Leadership: Ability to translate complex government operations into clear financial strategies that support immediate operational needs and long-term financial capacity and resilience. Success requires understanding how financial decisions impact service delivery and community relationships.
- Team Leadership and Development: Proven ability to lead and develop a diverse finance team with varying specializations. Success requires fostering collaboration, providing mentorship, and maintaining high performance standards while supporting professional growth.
25% — Strategic Financial Planning, Policy, and Budget
- Develop financial strategies that support District strategies and objectives.
- Ensure financial policies support District objectives and meet external requirements.
- Ensure District revenue approaches are sufficient, reliable, and efficient. Oversee revenue programs and work collaboratively with relevant staff from other departments.
- Ensure District budgeting processes are effective and efficient. Oversee budget development, implementation, and performance monitoring.
- Ensure cash management strategies are effective, efficient, and balance risks appropriately. Oversee cash management.
- Evaluate and recommend financing options for major capital projects and infrastructure improvements. Work with planning and engineering staff to make capital financing decisions that meet project delivery, finance, and efficiency objectives.
- Conduct financial analysis and modeling for strategic decision-making and planning.
- Analyze financial performance against strategic plans and recommend improvements.
25% — Financial Operations and Improvements
- Oversee implementation and continued effectiveness of Workday ERP Financials, Adaptive Planning, and Strategic Sourcing.
- Lead adoption of best practices and innovative approaches to financial management.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensure data integrity and system integration across all financial functions.
- Oversee accounting functions for effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance.
- Establish and monitor key performance indicators and implement improvements.
- Direct the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for management and stakeholders.
- Ensure compliance with governmental accounting standards (GASB) and utility-specific regulatory requirements.
20% — Management & Development of Staff
- Supervise the finance team which includes the Budget Officer, Comptroller, and Procurement and Contracts Agent.
- Establish performance standards, conduct evaluations, and provide professional development opportunities.
- Foster collaborative environment promoting knowledge sharing and improvement.
- Ensure cross-training and succession planning within Finance section.
- Foster a culture of high standards, reliability, pride in work, and customer service.
15% — Procurement and Contract Management Operations
- Direct and continuously evaluate the District’s procurement function to ensure efficient, compliant, and customer-service oriented operations.
- Lead procurement centralization initiatives to consolidate purchasing activities, standardize processes, and eliminate redundancies across departments.
- Oversee the implementation of procurement policies, procedures, and best practices that balance efficiency with regulatory compliance requirements.
- Oversee vendor management programs including vendor qualification, performance evaluation, and relationship management.
- Oversee contracts management efforts. Work with District legal counsel to streamline and standardize contracting. Ensure contract terms, policies, and procedures support District objectives and properly manage risks.
- Provide strategic guidance on complex procurements, including capital equipment purchases, professional services contracts, and construction projects.
- Manage procurement compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including prevailing wage requirements and minority business enterprise goals.
10% — Audit, Compliance and Fiscal Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with government financial regulations and reporting requirements.
- Ensure required financial audits are completed accurately and on time.
- Develop and maintain financial policies and procedures ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Implement and maintain financial controls to ensure accuracy and prevent fraud.
- Monitor and assess financial risks, implementing mitigation strategies as needed.
- Manage the District’s insurance portfolio.
5% — External Relations
- Serve as primary financial representative to District, Commission, customer communities, and external stakeholders.
- Build and maintain relationships with external auditors, financial advisors, and regulatory agencies.
- Prepare financial presentations for Commission meetings and public presentations.
- Represent the District at conferences, regulatory meetings, and community forums.
Requirements
Required:
- Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, public administration, or related field.
- Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, demonstrating increasing levels of leadership, strategic oversight, and operational expertise.
- Minimum of four (4) years of supervisory experience, including staff oversight, performance management, and team development.
- Proven experience in public sector financial management, encompassing budgeting, accounting, and procurement processes in compliance with governmental regulations and standards.
Preferred:
- Master's degree, MBA, or equivalent advanced qualification or experience in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, public administration, or related field.
- Professional certifications supportive of the duties of the position, such as Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), or similar.
- Extensive experience serving in a senior financial leadership role within a public utility or government organization, with a strong track record of strategic fiscal oversight and regulatory compliance.
- Hands-on experience managing procurement operations and vendor relationships, including contract negotiation, performance evaluation, and compliance with purchasing policies.
- Training or experience using automated financial or accounting systems (e.g., WorkDay, etc.) to create fiscal reports, process fiscal transactions, prepare financial statements, etc.
- Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and maintaining financial policies to ensure compliance, efficiency, and alignment with organizational goals.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Thorough knowledge of governmental budgeting, accounting principles, and financial reporting standards
- Strong understanding of municipal bond financing, debt management strategies, and investment policy frameworks
- Knowledge and demonstrated experience in budget development, variance analysis, and long-term financial forecasting
- Advanced proficiency in financial or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
- High-level skills in Microsoft Excel, including financial modeling and data analysis tools
- Excellent public speaking and presentation skills, with the ability to communicate complex financial information to diverse audiences
- Strong diplomatic skills and political acumen to navigate sensitive environments and build trust
- Proven ability to build consensus and manage competing priorities in a multi-stakeholder setting
- Experience working effectively with government boards, community representatives, and regulatory agencies
- Demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and support cross-functional teams toward shared goals
- Deep commitment to transparency, ethics, and public service
- High level of integrity and discretion in handling financial matters
- Commitment to continuous learning and staying current with industry best practices
- Knowledge of public procurement processes, including competitive bidding and proposal evaluation
- Knowledge of public procurement processes, including competitive bidding and proposal processes.
- Willingness and ability to travel to various locations for MMSD-related business
- Basic literacy and numeracy skills, including the ability to read and write words and numbers
Physical Demands & Work Environment
Work is primarily performed in a standard office environment with occasional visits to field or plant locations. The position requires one to be able to sit or stand for extended periods of time. This role involves extended use of standard office equipment including computers. Noise levels may vary depending on the work location.
A hybrid schedule, including both remote and in-office work, may be available based on operational needs and job responsibilities.
