United by a shared mission of grace, inclusion, and service, the Mountain Sky Conference connects more than 310 local churches and ministries across the Mountain West. As a regional body of The United Methodist Church, the Conference supports churches and communities across Colorado, Montana, Utah, Wyoming, and a small portion of Idaho. The Conference is deeply committed to sharing the life-changing spirit of love and grace with all people and creating communities where individuals feel welcomed, valued, and empowered to serve.
With an annual budget of approximately $5 million and a team of 30, the Conference supports nearly 45,000 members and approximately 350 clergy across its 460,000-square-mile footprint. Led by Bishop Kristin G. Stoneking, the Conference serves as a bridge between local churches and the broader United Methodist Church, providing the infrastructure, guidance, and shared resources that help congregations strengthen their ministries and respond to the needs of their communities.
The Conference carries out this work as part of the UMC’s broader connectional structure. The UMC is organized globally through the General Church and supported by general agencies responsible for specialized areas of ministry. In the United States, five jurisdictions are made up of regional annual conferences like Mountain Sky, which are further organized into districts that support local churches. Within the UMC, “Annual Conference” refers both to the regional organization and to the annual gathering of clergy and lay members for worship, governance, and decision-making.
This connectional model also shapes how the Conference is funded and serves its churches. Through Mission Shares, local congregations collectively support clergy leadership and benefits, Conference ministries, disaster response, denominational agencies, and other shared priorities. This approach enables churches of different sizes and communities to participate in a broader mission and access resources and support they could not provide independently. Mountain Sky’s work is shaped by inclusivity, collaboration, transparency, honoring diverse voices and ideas, breaking barriers, and building bridges.
Position Summary:
The Mountain Sky Conference is seeking an experienced Chief Financial Officer, internally known as Conference Treasurer, to provide strategic financial leadership and stewardship across the Conference. The CFO reports to the Council on Finance and Administration (CFA), the clergy- and lay-led body charged by The United Methodist Church’s Book of Discipline with oversight of Conference finances, while working closely with Bishop Kristin Stoneking and her Cabinet.
The successful candidate will bring a deep foundation in fund and nonprofit accounting, coupled with the ability to look beyond the numbers and help the Conference plan for the future. The Treasurer’s Office supports the financial connection between the Conference and its local churches by stewarding Mission Shares that sustain shared ministry and administering pension and benefits that support clergy across the region. The CFO will bring transparency and strong financial stewardship to these relationships while leading a four-person finance team and guiding strategy, forecasting, budgeting, reporting, audits, investments, and controls.
What makes this role particularly distinctive is its breadth and highly relational nature. The CFO sits within a complex network of churches, clergy, lay leaders, boards, committees, and Conference staff, each relying on the finance function for different information, analysis, guidance, and support. On any given day, the CFO may help a local church leader understand a payroll or Mission Share question, work with a committee on pension or benefits, advise the Bishop and her cabinet on a strategic decision, or prepare to present the Conference budget before hundreds of clergy and lay members at the Annual Conference. Success requires someone who can move comfortably between the highly technical and the highly practical, and make complex financial information understandable and useful to people with very different levels of financial knowledge.
For a highly skilled financial leader who is energized by mission and inspired by the opportunity to work in a faith-based environment, this is an opportunity to bring their expertise to work that supports churches and communities across the Mountain Sky region.
Key responsibilities
- Financial Strategy & Stewardship: Lead financial strategy, forecasting, cash flow and working capital management, and resource allocation to support sound decision-making and long-term financial sustainability.
- Budget Development & Management: Lead development of the Annual Conference budget in partnership with CFA, the Episcopal and District Offices, boards, and other stakeholders; monitor performance and communicate results, variances, and financial implications.
- Accounting, Reporting & Fund Management: Oversee accounting and financial reporting, including the receipt, accounting, and disbursement of apportioned, board-designated, subsidiary-designated, donor-designated, and restricted funds, ensuring compliance with GAAP and applicable fiduciary requirements.
- Mission Shares & Local Church Partnership: Oversee the collection and administration of Mission Shares, providing local churches with clear reporting and transparency around these shared resources, while guiding church treasurers, financial secretaries, and committees on sound and consistent financial recording and reporting practices.
- Pension & Benefits Administration: Oversee pension, health, disability, and life insurance programs and related church reimbursements; partner with the Board of Pensions and Benefits and outsourced benefits firm.
- Investments & Asset Stewardship: Oversee investments and portfolio management, working with boards and advisors to safeguard assets, monitor performance, and ensure resources are managed in accordance with their intended purposes.
- Audit, Controls & Compliance: Lead the annual audit, maintain strong internal controls, identify and mitigate financial risk, and ensure compliance with regulatory, tax, fiduciary, and denominational reporting requirements, including GCFA submissions.
- Property & Insurance: Provide financial oversight of property and assets and oversee the Conference-wide property and liability insurance program.
- Financial Partnership & Decision Support: Provide financial analysis, modeling, and recommendations to inform resource allocation and key decisions; develop financial recommendations and legislation for Annual Conference consideration.
- Team & Operational Leadership: Lead and strengthen the Treasurer’s Office by developing existing staff, and improving systems, processes, and workflows to build a responsive, high-performing finance function.
Leadership & Competency Expectations
Deep Accounting & Financial Expertise
A technically strong financial leader with deep experience in fund and nonprofit accounting and the confidence to operate within a complex financial environment. They understand restricted and unrestricted funds, allocations, and the movement of resources across an extensive chart of accounts, with additional experience in pensions and benefits, insurance, and property or asset management highly valued. While supported by a Controller and finance team, the CFO must understand the mechanics behind the numbers, ask the right questions, and ensure the integrity and consistency of the Conference’s financial reporting.
Steady, Responsive and Relational
Brings a calm, level-headed presence while balancing multiple priorities, requests, and perspectives. Builds trust across different personalities and levels of financial knowledge, listens before responding, and knows how to bring clarity and confidence to complex or sensitive conversations.
Grace-Filled & Mission-Aligned
Leads with kindness, empathy, humility, and grace, recognizing that how the work gets done matters as much as the work itself. The Conference welcomes people of all backgrounds and faith traditions; the CFO does not need to come from a United Methodist background but should be comfortable working in a faith-based environment, respectful of its language and traditions, and inspired by a culture grounded in service, belonging, and joyful connection.
Collaborative Team Builder
Brings out the best in people through clear expectations, thoughtful coaching, and opportunities for staff to grow and take ownership of their work. Builds the skills and capabilities of the finance team while fostering accountability, collaboration, and strong service to the Conference. Partners closely with the Chief of Staff and Council on personnel decisions and takes an active role in recruiting, onboarding, training, and developing team members as needed.
Location, Compensation and Benefits
The Mountain Sky Conference office is located in Centennial, Colorado, in the Denver metropolitan area. The CFO will work in a hybrid environment, with an expected presence in the office approximately two days per week to collaborate with colleagues and support the work of the Conference. Candidates outside the region who are open to relocating to the Denver area are encouraged to apply, with flexibility around the timing of relocation. The role also includes periodic travel throughout the Conference’s five-state region and in-person participation in key meetings, events, and the Annual Conference.
The anticipated salary range is $120,000 - $150,000, commensurate with the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications.
Interest in the Role?
All inquiries and discussions will be handled with the utmost confidentiality. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, with an anticipated application deadline of September 30, 2026.
We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly and look forward to connecting with you!
