At La Plata Electric Association, our mission is to provide our members safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost while being environmentally responsible. We are Member Powered, Future Focused and a National Leader. It is our strategic goal to ensure our members, on average, pay less for electric service than 70% of Colorado cooperatives and that by 2030 we reduce our carbon emissions by more than 80% of our 2005 levels, surpassing the state climate goals.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a senior executive responsible for the financial stewardship, sustainability, and integrity of the electric cooperative’s transmission and distribution operations. As a key member of the executive leadership team, the CFO ensures the cooperative’s financial resources are managed in a manner consistent with cooperative principles, regulatory requirements, and the long-term interests of the member-owners.

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CFO serves as the primary financial advisor to executive leadership and the Board of Directors, providing transparent, accurate, and strategic financial guidance to support reliable electric service, infrastructure investment, and member affordability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Cooperative Financial Stewardship

Lead financial strategy in alignment with the cooperative’s mission to provide safe, reliable, and affordable electric service to its member-owners.
Ensure financial decisions reflect not-for-profit cooperative principles, long-term system sustainability, and equitable treatment of members.
Support capital credit planning, multi-year capital planning, margins management, and patronage allocation strategies.

Financial Management & Accounting

Direct all accounting, financial reporting, and internal control functions in accordance with GAAP and cooperative finance standards.
Ensure timely preparation of financial statements, management reports, and board materials that clearly communicate financial performance and risks.
Coordinate annual financial audits and manage relationships with external auditors and financial advisors.
Optimize energy and transmission market settlement processes and ongoing evaluation of energy and transmission market opportunities and PPAs.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Rate Support

Lead development and oversight of the cooperative’s annual operating and capital budgets for transmission and distribution systems.
Lead development and oversight of the cooperative's long-term financial forecasts.
Monitor financial performance and recommend adjustments to maintain financial stability and board-established financial metrics.
Support cost-of-service studies, rate design, and financial modeling to ensure rates are fair, equitable, and sufficient to support system operations and capital needs.

Capital Planning, Debt & Treasury

Oversee long-range financial planning to support system maintenance, modernization, resilience, and growth.
Manage debt portfolios, including financing structures.
Oversee cash management, investments, and banking relationships in accordance with board policy and cooperative best practices.

Regulatory, Compliance & Risk Management

Ensure compliance with financial, tax, and reporting requirements applicable to electric cooperatives.
Support financial aspects of regulatory filings, power supply agreements, and contractual obligations.
Identify and manage financial risks, including interest rate exposure, load variability, and capital funding constraints.
Support the ongoing development of LPEA’s Energy Risk Management Policy (ERMP) and participate on the Energy Risk Management Committee (ERMC) providing continual evaluation to achieve optimal market exposure and hedging strategies.

Board & Executive Leadership

Serve as a trusted financial advisor to the CEO and Board of Directors, presenting complex financial information in a clear, transparent, and member-focused manner.
Serve as a member of the Financial Audit Committee.
Support board education on cooperative finance, rates, margins, and long-term financial planning.
Lead, mentor, and develop finance and accounting staff, fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and service.

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible financial leadership experience, preferably in an electric cooperative, public power utility or a similarly regulated, capital intensive organization.
Demonstrated experience with utility budgeting, financial reporting, capital planning, and debt management.
Strong understanding of electric transmission and distribution cost structures and cooperative finance.

Preferred

Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), Finance, or related discipline.
CPA, CMA, CFA, or similar professional certification.
Experience with public power utilities, electric cooperatives, or municipal utilities.
Experience working directly with a cooperative Board of Directors.
Familiarity with utility rate design, cost-of-service studies, and regulatory processes.
Familiarity with RUS, CFC, CoBank, and other cooperative financing mechanisms.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Deep understanding of cooperative principles and member-owner governance.
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
Ability to communicate complex financial concepts to technical staff, executives, and board members.
Proven leadership and team-development capabilities.
High ethical standards and commitment to public service or member-owner principles.
Ability to balance financial discipline with operational and community priorities.

BENEFITS:

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Paid Time Off
401(k) with employer contribution and match
Health Club Reimbursement
Education Assistance

La Plata Electric Association

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Chief Financial Officer