The Chief Financial Officer serves as the senior financial leader for the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development, overseeing all financial operations supporting the Department's multi-billion-dollar housing, community development, business lending, broadband, and neighborhood revitalization programs. Reporting directly to the Secretary, the CFO leads financial strategy, portfolio management, capital planning, compliance, forecasting, and risk management efforts that ensure the Department's long-term financial stability and mission success.
The CFO oversees more than $6 billion in bond, mortgage, and investment portfolios while providing strategic financial guidance to executive leadership, supporting bond financing activities, maintaining strong credit ratings, and ensuring compliance with federal and state requirements. This executive plays a critical role in securing the capital and financial resources necessary to support Maryland communities. The CFO is accountable for all budgeting and accounting functions for the Agency.
Must-Haves:
Housing Finance, Public Finance & Capital Markets Leadership:
Brings significant experience in housing finance, public finance, bond programs, capital markets, structured finance, or related financial environments. Demonstrates a strong understanding of affordable housing finance, municipal finance, debt issuance, portfolio management, and the strategic use of capital to advance organizational goals; 10+ years of progressive financial leadership experience, including budget oversight for large public-sector or complex organizations, GAAP/GASB financial reporting, and audit coordination
Strategic Financial Leadership & Enterprise Perspective:
A strategic and forward-thinking financial executive who can balance operational excellence with long-term planning. Demonstrates the ability to assess financial performance, evaluate risk, support policy and programmatic priorities, and serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership
Executive Presence, Communication & Financial Storytelling:
An exceptional communicator who can translate complex financial concepts into clear, actionable information for executive leadership, board members, policymakers, rating agencies, and non-financial stakeholders. Able to build confidence, influence decisions, and drive alignment across the organization
Organizational Leadership, Change Management & Team Development:
A proven leader who can assess organizational capabilities, develop talent, address performance issues, lead through change, and strengthen finance operations. Demonstrates the ability to build high-performing teams while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Collaborative Relationship Builder & Cross-Functional Leader:
Demonstrates the ability to work effectively across complex organizations, build trust among diverse stakeholders, and break down organizational silos. Skilled at partnering across finance, operations, housing programs, policy teams, and external constituencies to advance enterprise-wide goals
Decisive, Adaptive & Results-Oriented Leadership:
A confident leader who is comfortable operating in complex and evolving environments. Demonstrates sound judgment, makes informed decisions with imperfect information, and effectively balances competing priorities while driving execution and results
GAAP Accounting Controls, Federal Compliance & Systems:
Ability to ensure accurate reporting in accordance with GAAP. Ability to design controls and workflows to prevent fraud and unauthorized transactions; Annual Single Audit (for entities that expend $1 million or more in federal awards annually), and CMIA (Cash Management Improvement Act). Experience with Federal Audits /Reviews for HUD, Treasury, and/or other Federal Agencies; knowledge of Federal payment and reporting systems
Who We Are
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is made up of dedicated employees passionate about serving the people and communities across Maryland. From loan underwriters and community planners to economic developers, asset managers, housing finance professionals, bond specialists, and executives, every member of the DHCD team can see the impact of their work in communities across the state.
What We Do
DHCD serves as the lead place-making entity and Housing Finance Agency for the State of Maryland. By partnering with local governments, nonprofits, developers, businesses, and other private-sector stakeholders, the Department invests in community-led placemaking, housing and small-business development, and infrastructure and broadband deployment to elevate Maryland’s communities into the thriving, revenue-generating centers we know they can and should be.
