Agency Information
The Railroad Commission of Texas is a state agency with primary regulatory jurisdiction over the oil and natural gas industry; pipeline transport and pipeline safety; natural gas utilities; the LP-gas industry, and surface mining operations. You can find more details about us on the Railroad Commission of Texas website here: rrc.texas.gov/about-us/.
To support our mission to serve Texas, we need great people to join our team. We provide a great working environment along with outstanding benefits, including:
- Generous paid time off including vacation, sick time, and at least 12 paid holidays per year
- Telework options for eligible positions
- Flexible work schedules
- Retirement pension with a 150% agency match - you can watch this YouTube video that describes this amazing benefit
- 401(k), 457(b) and Roth
- Health premiums 100% paid for full-time employees
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Wellness and Exercise Leave
- Career development programs/opportunities for advancement
For a complete list of our total compensation package please visit our website at rrc.texas.gov/about-us/jobs/. To view benefits available to all State of Texas employees visit the Employee Retirement Systems website at ers.texas.gov/benefits-at-a-glance.
Job Description
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provides executive direction for the Commission's financial and administrative operations, advises executive leadership, safeguards public resources, and aligns fiscal management with Commission priorities. The CFO directs accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, payroll, revenue and cash management, grants financial management, appropriations, forecasting, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and legislative fiscal affairs. The CFO directs and develops managers and professional staff, advances enterprise-wide financial transformation, and partners with Commission leadership, legislative offices, oversight bodies, and other governmental entities to assess financial risks and opportunities, strengthen accountability, and improve operations.
Essential Job Duties
Financial Leadership
- Advises the Executive Director on Commission finances, resource allocation, fiscal priorities, and long-term planning.
- Directly manages Budget, Accounting, Grants Management, and Payroll departments.
- Sets financial strategy, policies, priorities, and performance objectives aligned with the Commission's mission and strategic plan.
- Assesses the fiscal implications of strategic initiatives, operational changes, and emerging needs, and recommends sustainable allocation of Commission resources.
- Monitors appropriations, expenditures, revenue, cash flow, and commitments; identifies financial trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Directs improvements to financial management, internal controls, processes, and operational efficiency.
Budget Strategy, Development, and Legislative Affairs
- Directs and is responsible for the development, submission, execution, and administration of the Legislative Appropriations Request, Annual Financial Report, commission operating budget, and other required documents and submissions.
- Establishes budget strategies, financial forecasts, revenue estimates, and resource allocation recommendations aligned with Commission priorities and long-term objectives.
- Partners with Commission leadership and divisions to evaluate budget requests, operational needs, funding priorities, and the fiscal implications of proposed initiatives.
- Monitors budget execution and legislative appropriations, identifies emerging funding issues, and recommends actions to address fiscal constraints and changing priorities.
- Represents the Commission on budget and fiscal matters before the Legislative Budget Board, Governor's Office, Comptroller of Public Accounts, legislative committees, and other governmental entities; evaluates proposed legislation and rules and directs the preparation of fiscal notes, impact analyses, testimony, and related responses.
Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Internal Controls
- Directs accounting and financial reporting, ensuring accurate, complete, and timely transactions, records, reconciliations, and reports.
- Directs the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, including the Annual Financial Report and required disclosures.
- Ensures reconciliation and oversight of records in state financial systems.
- Maintains policies, procedures, and internal controls that safeguard public funds and ensure legal, regulatory, accounting, and reporting compliance.
- Provides executive oversight of audit activities and directs responses to findings, recommendations, and requests from the State Auditor's Office and other oversight entities.
- Directs the development of indirect cost rate proposals and other applicable cost allocation methodologies.
Financial Operations and Resource Management
- Provides executive direction for agency-wide budget administration, accounting, payroll, revenue, purchasing, accounts payable and receivable, travel management, and related financial operations.
- Ensures financial and administrative processes are consistent, effective, and compliant with state and federal requirements.
- Provides executive oversight of grant financial management, internal controls, expenditure monitoring, reporting, and compliance.
- Improves financial systems, processes, and reporting to strengthen accuracy, accountability, transparency, and efficiency.
- Coordinates financial and administrative functions to support agency-wide resource management.
- Responsible for and direct monthly and annual financial closes and the production of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports and other an-hoc financial analysis.
Organizational Leadership
- Directs and holds accountable managers and professional staff; sets expectations, develops leaders, and promotes continuous improvement.
- Guides Commission leaders and staff on financial policy, budgeting, accounting, and fiscal management.
- Builds productive and collaborative relationships with Commission divisions, state agencies, legislative offices, auditors, and other stakeholders.
- Represents the Commission in forums on governmental accounting, budgeting, and financial management.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
For Military Crosswalk information, please visit: hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf
Minimum Qualifications
- Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field. Relevant professional experience may substitute for the required education on a year-for-year basis, as permitted by applicable state guidelines.
- At least ten (10) years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial management, accounting, budgeting, governmental finance, or a closely related field.
- Within the required ten (10) years of professional experience, at least five (5) years must be in a senior management or executive leadership capacity directing complex, organization-wide financial operations; leading managers and professional staff; establishing strategic priorities; and exercising significant independent judgment and decision-making authority.
- Demonstrated experience directing multiple financial functions within a large, complex, or highly regulated organization, including accounting and financial reporting, budget development and administration, internal controls, and at least two of the following: revenue management, payroll, procurement, grants financial management, or related financial operations.
- Demonstrated experience directing the development and administration of organizational budgets and long-range financial plans, analyzing complex financial information, and advising executive leadership on resource allocation and fiscal priorities.
- Demonstrated experience developing and implementing financial policies, procedures, and internal controls that safeguard resources, strengthen accountability, and support compliance with applicable legal, regulatory, accounting, and reporting requirements.
- Demonstrated experience communicating complex financial information, risks, analyses, and recommendations clearly to executive leadership, governing or oversight bodies, and other stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related field, and/or a current Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) certification, or another relevant professional financial management credential.
- Graduation from the Texas Fiscal Officers' Academy (TFOA).
- Executive-level financial leadership experience in government or a similarly complex, highly regulated organization, preferably within state government, including experience with State of Texas financial systems and processes such as USAS, CAPPS, and ABEST or comparable enterprise financial, payroll, and budget systems.
- Experience directing the preparation and submission of a state agency Legislative Appropriations Request, operating budget, Annual Financial Report, and other required financial reports and submissions.
- Experience representing an organization before or coordinating complex financial matters with the Texas Legislative Budget Board, Governor's Office, Comptroller of Public Accounts, State Auditor's Office, or comparable governmental oversight entities.
- Experience directing state and federal grants financial management, including compliance, expenditure monitoring, reporting, indirect cost rate proposals, and cost allocation methodologies.
- Experience directing financial audit activities, coordinating responses to findings, developing corrective action plans, and strengthening internal controls and financial operations.
- Experience leading enterprise-wide financial transformation, implementing or modernizing financial systems, redesigning business processes, and strengthening financial reporting and analytical capabilities.
Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of governmental financial management, accounting principles, budgeting practices, financial reporting standards, and applicable state and federal fiscal requirements.
- Knowledge of Texas state government budget development, appropriations, expenditure controls, and financial reporting processes.
- Knowledge of internal control frameworks, financial risk management, audit requirements, and practices for safeguarding public funds and assets.
- Knowledge of financial planning, forecasting, revenue management, cash flow analysis, and resource allocation.
- Skill in interpreting complex financial information, identifying financial trends and risks, evaluating alternatives, and developing sound recommendations for executive decision-making.
- Skill in developing and implementing financial policies, procedures, controls, and performance measures.
- Skill in leading, developing, and managing professional teams, including establishing expectations, managing performance, resolving complex issues, and promoting accountability.
- Skill in communicating complex financial and budgetary matters clearly and effectively to executive leadership, employees, legislative representatives, auditors, and external stakeholders.
- Ability to exercise sound independent judgment and make strategic decisions involving significant financial and organizational considerations.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, complex projects, and time-sensitive financial and budgetary deadlines.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with executive leadership, Commission divisions, state agencies, legislative offices, and other stakeholders.
- Ability to lead organizational changes, identify opportunities for operational improvement, and implement solutions that strengthen financial management and accountability.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when handling sensitive financial, personnel, and organizational information.
Additional Information
Work Hours: Standard office hours for Commission employees are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Our agency offers alternate schedules for employees, as long as it does not adversely affect operations and service levels, and standard hours of operation are maintained. The Commission may also offer telework based on the agency's approved Telework Plan. Alternate work schedules may be discussed with the hiring manager during the interview process.
APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED THROUGH WORK IN TEXAS: Work In Texas (WIT) applicants must complete the CAPPS Prescreening Questionnaire to be considered for the posting. To complete the Prescreening Questionnaire, go to CAPPS to register or login: erphcmprd.cpa.texas.gov/psc/candidateportal/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?FOCUS=Applicant.
Remarks:
- There is one available position.
- Official transcripts, DD214 or DD1300, copies of license/certifications, or other minimum requirement validations will be requested at the time of the job offer.
- Criminal background checks will be conducted on all final candidates. An applicant who has been convicted of a criminal offense relevant to the position may be disqualified from employment.
Important Information For All Applicants
The Railroad Commission of Texas does not sponsor employment visas or participate in employer-sponsored immigration programs. The agency does not provide employer support for applications to extend or obtain employment authorization, including employer attestations, training plans, or other documentation required for participation in programs such as STEM Optional Practical Training (STEM OPT). Applicants should consider this policy when determining whether the position meets their employment authorization requirements.
The agency will complete employment eligibility verification and other documentation required by applicable law. The agency does not provide discretionary immigration sponsorship or program-specific employer documentation beyond those legal obligations.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS ONLY ACCEPTS ONLINE APPLICATIONS FOR THIS POSTING.
Due to the high volume of applications we do not accept telephone calls. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Notifications to applicants are sent electronically to the email address you provide.
The Railroad Commission of Texas is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not
discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age
or disability in employment or in the provision of services.
The Railroad Commission of Texas is a tobacco-free workplace.
