Chief Financial Officer.

Description Of Job

This position is located within the Administration Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and serves as part of the Department’s enterprise financial leadership structure. The work unit provides enterprise accounting, budget development and management, fiscal policy oversight, and financial reporting services that support CDPHE’s statewide public health and environmental protection mission.

The unit is responsible for delivering the Department’s core financial operations, including general ledger accounting, accounts payable and receivable, payroll and timekeeping oversight, cost allocation, grants financial management, and the enforcement of applicable fiscal laws, policies, and standards. These functions ensure accurate financial reporting, strong internal controls, and compliant stewardship of state and federal funds.

The work unit also leads the Department’s annual budget development and implementation activities, including coordination with the Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting (OSPB), the Legislative Joint Budget Committee (JBC), and Legislative Council. Responsibilities include managing the Department’s annual budget request process, overseeing budget execution, supporting fiscal decision‑making across divisions, and providing centralized financial services and reporting.

What You Will Be Doing

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) is seeking an experienced Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to provide executive leadership over the department’s financial operations and to serve as a trusted fiscal advisor to the Executive Director and Senior Executive Team. The department’s $887M budget is a complex funding mix of federal grants, fee‑based cash funds, and general fund.

The CFO is responsible for the strategic oversight and integration of departmental financial functions, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, grants management, and internal controls. This role ensures sound stewardship of public funds, compliance with state and federal requirements, and the delivery of accurate, timely, and decision‑ready financial information to support executive leadership and policy decisions.

As a member of the Senior Executive Team, the CFO plays a central role in shaping the department’s fiscal strategy and long‑term sustainability. The position oversees the department’s annual budget development and execution process on behalf of the Executive Director and represents CDPHE on fiscal matters with the Governor’s Office, Office of State Planning and Budgeting, Joint Budget Committee, Office of the State Controller, federal agencies, and auditors.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Providing enterprise‑wide fiscal leadership and financial risk management across all divisions.
• Overseeing accounting, budget, payroll, grants compliance, and financial reporting functions.
• Leading the department’s annual budget request, execution, and legislative support processes.
• Ensuring strong internal controls, audit readiness, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Advising executive leadership on fiscal strategy, risk, and long‑range planning.
• Driving continuous improvement in fiscal processes, systems, and data integrity.
• Supervising senior financial managers and building a cohesive, high‑performing fiscal organization.

Minimum Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or related field.
• Five plus (5) years of progressively responsible experience in executive‑level leadership financial management, budgeting, accounting, or fiscal policy within a large and fiscally complex organization.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, public policy or related field.
• One or more of the following:
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
  • Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM).
  • Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO).
• Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, budgeting, accounting, or fiscal policy within a large and complex organization.
• Five (5) years of executive‑level fiscal leadership, including supervision of professional financial staff and responsibility for enterprise financial operations in state or local government.
• Direct responsibility for large‑scale public sector budgets (e.g., $500M+), including management of General Fund, cash funds, and federal grant funding streams.
• Experience establishing financial policies, internal controls, and audit readiness processes.
• Experience providing executive‑level financial analysis and strategic fiscal advice to senior leadership.
• Experience managing federal grants and compliance with 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance).
• Experience managing Single Audit processes and coordinating federal audit responses.
• Experience working with legislatures, budget committees, or executive budget offices.
• Experience with Colorado statewide fiscal systems (CORE, eProcurement tools, OSA/OSC processes).
• Experience implementing enterprise financial systems or financial process modernization initiatives.
• Experience managing fiscal operations during emergencies or disaster response, including administration of federally funded response programs (e.g., FEMA, CDC).

Conditions Of Employment

Pursuant to CDPHE policy, a background check is required for all positions at CDPHE.

Benefits

• Employee wellness programs and facilities
• Extensive internal professional development opportunities on a wide variety of subjects
• Bike to work programs, including access to storage lockers and bike racks
• Distinctive career advancement opportunities throughout the State system
• Strong, yet flexible retirement benefits including a choice of the PERA Defined Benefit Plan or the PERA Defined Contribution Plan, plus optional 401K and 457 plans
• Medical and dental health plans
• Paid life insurance
• Short‑ and long‑term disability coverage
• 11 paid holidays per year plus generous personal time off
• Mentoring program with opportunities for mentors and mentees
• Tuition assistance for college level courses including Masters degree programs
• Excellent work‑life programs, such as flexible schedules, and
• A variety of employee resource groups

E‑Verify

CDPHE uses E‑Verify, an Internet-based system, to confirm the eligibility of all newly hired employees to work in the United States. Learn more about E‑Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.

ADAAA Accommodations

The State of Colorado believes that equity, diversity, and inclusion drive our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment, including completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre‑employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or to perform essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to our ADAAA Coordinator, Daniel Mckenna at or call 303‑692‑6319 .