Chief Financial Officer

Seattle Housing Authority (SHA)

The Seattle Housing Authority is an original Moving to Work (MTW) agency, beginning in 1998, which provided the framework and foundational support for enabling much of the innovation the agency has introduced to the PHA industry that SHA is universally known for. SHA was among the first PHA agencies to complete HOPE VI projects, completing 5 HOPE VI projects in all. SHA also was among the early participants awarded a Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant award which it is now in the process of completing. 

In a variety of housing program types, SHA provides long-term, low income rental housing and rental assistance to approximately 37,000 people, representing almost 18,000 households, in the city of Seattle. SHA owns and operates more than 8,000 apartments and single-family homes at nearly 400 sites throughout the city.  This reflects SHA’s real estate portfolio of 6.300 public housing units and over 2,000 affordable units.

Additionally, SHA manages and administers more than 11,000 Housing Choice Vouchers, including over 3,000 project-based vouchers in partnership with non-profit housing providers and more than 8,000 tenant-based vouchers that enable low-income tenants to receive rental assistance with other landlords in Seattle. Of the more than 37,000 people SHA serves with vouchers and SHA owned/managed units, nearly 80 percent are children, elderly or disabled. One in 10 students enrolled in Seattle Public Schools lives in SHA-supported housing.

SHA prioritizes serving households below 30% of area median income or that are homeless. The agency believes in providing more than housing for their tenants, and they partner with many organizations to offer an array of services and community activities to improve the lives of those they serve.

SHA delivers its programs through its staff of over 600 professionals, all of whom are trained and developed to be customer focused delivering their services from a value orientation of assuring clients are considered equitably from a perspective of race, social justice, and environmental stewardship. Standard & Poor’s credit rating for SHA is AA with Stable Outlook and the agency’s budget for 2023 is over $4165M.

SHA is an independent public corporation. The majority of SHA's funding is federal, through the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Other income includes rent revenue and non-HUD public and private grants. 

SHA operates within the city of Seattle, with a population of over 775+,000.  The economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic ended the longest period of economic growth in the nation’s history, which had lasted almost 11 years. Despite these shifts nationally, Seattle’s economy was and continues to be one of the fastest growing in the world. But this growth has led to a significant loss of affordable housing, which has left thousands homeless throughout Seattle and King County. SHA provides nearly all of the housing and subsidies that make it possible for Seattleites on fixed incomes or making the minimum wage to continue to live indoors in the city. SHA’s homeless admissions preference and its partnership with non-profit housing providers make it a key player in tackling these homelessness challenges.

Position Summary

Under the direction of the Executive Director oversee financial matters for the agency.  This position is a key member of the executive senior leadership team that supports the overall financial health and well-being of the organization, managing the agency’s finances and all aspects of its financial success. Oversee all finance, accounting, internal controls, forecasting, budgeting, treasury, tax, contract administration and procurement functions. Provide strategic guidance and financial focus in support of the agency’s mission and strategic direction.  Ensure all the agency’s financial actions are fiscally responsible and compliant with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

Characteristics

• Adept at balancing fiscally responsible decision-making (focused on the ‘bottom line”) and the need for collaboration with colleagues to find creative ways to leverage resources to move initiatives forward.
• Encourages the sharing of information cross departmentally.
• Has strong leadership and management skills.  Understands the importance of creating a positive workplace culture that is committed to respect, creativity, innovation, and gathering input from staff at all levels to create and support a high morale within the department.
• Interested in growing talent to support career development, retention, and succession planning.
• Committed to individual learning and growth, and supporting organizational and departmental growth, for race and social justice equity.
• Sense of humor.

Representative Duties

• Serve as the Agency’s expert on all accounting and financial management matters, providing leadership and direction for all accounting, treasury, debt management, federal tax credit, and financial reporting functions. Provide financial analysis, management, and planning in support of SHA capital programs, operations and agency wide initiatives. 
• Develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure that agency-wide financial management and operations are carried out in compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations.
• Plan, manage, and lead the functions of the Finance and Administrative Services Department and its divisions; assure legal and sound accounting practices of the Authority; direct the annual budget development and preparation process including quarterly financial review, analysis, and reporting on all capital and operating programs agency wide. 
• Lead and manage the agency’s financial management and services functions, including internal and external financial reporting, general accounting, investment and treasury management, automated financial management systems and operations, and payroll systems and services. 
• In cooperation with the Audit and Compliance Manager, coordinate and arrange for the completion of the agency’s external audits, including the preparation of the annual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and A-133 single audits, the annual accountability audit by the Washington State Auditor’s Office, annual tax credit partnership audits, and other financial and compliance audits conducted by HUD, Inspector General, GAO, and other federal auditors. 
• Oversee performance and authorize activities of SHA’s multi-million dollar investment portfolio; serve as technical advisor to the Executive Director in treasury and real estate investment matters, maintain awareness of the financial markets and regulatory environment affecting SHA programs and investment assets, facilitate effective working relationships with securities brokers and other investment and treasury officials, and analyze and make short-term and long-term investment decisions in accordance with SHA policies and procedures. 
• Lead and manage the Agency’s systems of internal and fiscal controls to ensure timely, accurate, and reliable processing and reporting of financial and management data, to safeguard the agency’s assets and resources, and to assure full compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies. 
• Oversee the Purchasing Division in the management of agency-wide procurement and contracting functions to ensure adequate and fair competition and compliance with procurement policies.  Oversee approval of requests for proposals, bids and requests for quotations, approval of notice to proceed, and bid protests. 
• Provide effective leadership and supervision to assigned staff. Recruit, select, coach, train and develop managers; monitor and evaluate performance and corrective measures when required.  Work with senior managers to ensure a healthy culture within the department. Monitor staffing decisions, including transfers, reassignments, terminations, and disciplinary actions to ensure equity and consistency of decisions throughout the department.  Work collaboratively, respectfully, and courteously with employees.
• Support agency and department goals in promoting diversity and social justice in keeping with the agency's Race and Social Justice Initiative. 
• Oversee the management of the agency-wide risk management programs and insurance policies. 
• Direct the preparation of timely and accurate financial, programmatic, and regulatory compliance reports, including the maintenance and retention of agency-wide records and files in accordance with local and federal regulations. 
• Monitor federal, state, and local legislative and regulatory developments for assigned business units to determine financial and programmatic impacts on the agency.  Coordinate with the Directors, Cabinet, and external stakeholders to ensure that appropriate responses are undertaken. 
• Delegate authority through the chain of command and hold supervisors and employees accountable for accident prevention and reporting in compliance with State Labor & Industries regulations and the agency’s Safety and Health Program.  Ensure that all safety and health rules, standards and procedures are observed; conduct monthly self-inspections of work areas and practices to eliminate potential hazardous conditions; arrange for, conduct and ensure that accident investigations of all accidents are formally reported on or within the next work day of when the accident occurred; monitor and enforce the agency’s Safety and Health Program, and actively support and participate in the Emergency Preparedness program and tasks. 
• Communicate with the Board, Cabinet, other management staff, and outside organizations to coordinate activities and programs, resolve issues and conflicts, and exchange information. 
• Serve on the Cabinet to the Executive Director.
• Effectively partner with other executive team members for financial oversight and management where there is shared responsibility, overlap or interest.
• Perform related duties as assigned.   

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Planning, organization, directing and leading a major department and/or agency.
• Generally accepted auditing standards.
• Generally accepted accounting principles and practices.
• Principles and practices of municipal and federal administration of budget preparation.
• Federal and state low-income housing and new market tax credit rules and regulations.
• Strategic planning and legislative development.
• Contract administration and project management.
• Purchasing and contracting policies and procedures.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Principles and practices of administration, supervision, and training.
• Applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Effective interpersonal skills, team management, and customer service practices.

Ability to:

• Uphold and represent the values of the executive leadership team.
• Ensure the integrity of a company's financial decisions and information.
• Strategically manage the Finance and Administrative Services business units.
• Govern accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Make strategic executive-level organizational, financial reporting, procurement, and budgeting decisions. Assure legal and sound fiscal practices of the Authority.
• Review, negotiate and analyze complex proposals and contracts.
• Prepare and manage complex budgets.
• Administer insurance programs and risk management policies.
• Direct cash management and investment programs.
• Manage and evaluate the performance of assigned staff.
• Interpret, explain, and apply applicable laws, regulations, agency’s rules, policies, and procedures.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with other departments and directors.
• Operate a computer and assigned office equipment.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Meet schedules and timelines.
• Work independently and exercise sound judgment and decision-making authority, with little or no direction.
• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Coordinate and direct the maintenance of a variety of reports and files related to assigned activities.
• Work respectfully and courteously with staff, residents, and the general public.

Education, Experience and Other Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field is required.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration or a related area, or other relevant professional certifications, such as CPA, CMA, and CGFM are highly desirable.
• Ten years increasingly responsible experience in the field including five years in a management capacity.
• Valid Washington driver's license with insurable driving record.