Southside Electric Cooperative is seeking a highly professional and talented leader to serve as Chief Financial Officer at our Headquarters office in Crewe. SEC’s CFO is an integral member of our five-person executive team reporting directly to the President & CEO and has the overall management responsibility of all aspects of the financial and accounting functions of the Cooperative. The CFO also has overall management responsibility of the information technology, purchasing, warehouse, and buildings and grounds functions.

If you thrive in an environment where you can lead and be part of a dynamic team of professionals, here are just some of the things you’ll do on a day-to-day basis:

• Assist the CEO and Board of Directors in setting strategic direction as it relates to rates, finances and technology.
• Develop and maintain proper cash management programs.
• Responsible for both short term and long-term financial planning and analysis
• Manage overall performance, strategic planning, and processes of the finance and accounting areas, as well as billing, information technology, buildings and grounds, and purchasing.
• Be responsible for the development and implementation of a corporate technology plan
• Coordinate employee training to ensure that all employees can carry out their respective duties and responsibilities.
• Coach and conduct ongoing, one-on-one sessions with each team member.
• Establish annual employee goals, conduct ongoing progress meetings and performance appraisals as per policy guidelines.
• Cooperate with the Human Resources Department during the hiring process.
• Maintain ongoing communications with President/CEO and Senior Management Team to ensure they are informed of all relevant activities, events, and issues.
• Act as a resource to all Cooperative members with respect to financial, billing, and budgeting information.
• Participate as a member of the Cooperative’s management team, serving, as necessary, on internal or external special committees, task forces, and panels.
• Work as a member of a team or in a leadership role on special projects, initiatives, and committees.
• Oversee the Cooperative budget process in accordance with all policies, objectives, plans, and accounting practices.
• Review and monitor all individual department budgets, expenses, and invoices.
• Develop and communicate budget reports to track all budget-related items by cost center, department, and specific category on a monthly basis.
• Monitor all operational expenditures for conformity to annual budget projections and established variances.
• Develop and monitor procedures for processing, handling, and protecting cash receipts.
• Manage all aspects of servicing, researching, and resolving members’ issues related to billing.

What You Bring

• Four-year degree in finance, accounting, economics, or related field. (Required)
• CPA license is desirable.
• Ten years of finance and/or accounting experience with an electric utility is required, with preference in the Cooperative environment.
• Five years of management experience supervising and managing personnel and processes.
• Knowledge of financial concepts in a capital-intensive industry
• Knowledge of financial statements, utility ratios and how to analyze
• Knowledge of utility rates and cost of service
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, internal control concepts, and computerized accounting systems.
• Knowledge of electric utility accounting.
• Knowledge of purchasing requirements, regulations, and reports. (Required)
• Strong knowledge of facilities management regarding buildings and grounds.
• Knowledge of financial requirements, regulations, and reporting requirements as determined by RUS, CFC, SCC, as well as local, state, federal, and other industry agencies.
• Ability to translate financial data and information into easy-to-read materials.
• Knowledge of the Cooperative industry and electric regulations.
• Ability to evaluate investments using various finance methods (Discounted cash flow analysis, payback, IRR, etc.)
• Extensive knowledge of how to develop and maintain a comprehensive financial initiative.
• Strong knowledge of management and human resources skills including experience supervising, coaching, and directing employees.
• Ability to lead, build consensus, and foster teamwork among diverse populations including colleagues, subordinates, industry peers, Cooperative members, and the public.
• Strong knowledge of financial systems.
• Ability to work on multiple tasks, delegate, and deal with ambiguity.
• Ability to work without supervision.
• Excellent people skills.
• Experience developing and maintaining a multi-year financial forecast.
• Exceptional verbal and written communications skills including the ability to make presentations to the Board of Directors and in public settings.

What We Offer

Since 1937 Southside Electric Cooperative has been serving our members and our communities. Our employees live, work, go to church, and volunteer in these same communities. The Cooperative Difference is how we treat our members, how we collaborate, and how we build community. It is what makes us who we are.

We offer a competitive salary and a benefits package that is nearly unmatched in this area. We offer the following:

• SEC funded Retirement Security pension plan after one full year of service.
• SEC funded 401k after one full year of service.
• Health Insurance – We pay 100% of premiums for employees and 95% of the premiums for family members through Anthem HealthKeepers. Our KeyCare plan for a family is less than $200 per month, with most employees well-served by the HealthKeepers plan that is less than $50 per month.
• Anthem Dental and Vision – We pay 100% of the premiums for employees AND their families.
• Annual HSA contribution of $1,750 for those with employee only coverage and $3,000 to those with any employee + health insurance plan.
• Generous Health Reimbursement Arrangement available to assist with health expenses between deductible and maximum out-of-pocket.
• SEC paid employee life insurance (3x annual salary).
• SEC paid employee AD&D insurance (3x annual salary).
• SEC paid employee Business Travel Accident insurance ($100,000).
• Low-cost supplemental insurance for employees and their dependents.
• Generous tuition reimbursement plan with eligibility after just six months.
• Premium access to all LinkedIn Learning programs at no cost to you.
• LifeLock Premier for employees (family coverage available at a nominal charge).

Documents to establish identity and employment eligibility are required. Offers of employment are conditional upon a negative alcohol and controlled substance test. All SEC employees are subject to random drug tests throughout the year.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

WE ARE PROUD TO BE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

In order to be considered for this position, please click the link that directs you to a 3-minute application. Once you have submitted your basic information, you will receive an immediate email with a link to the full application form and resume upload. 

About Southside Electric Cooperative, Inc.

SEC strives to provide safe, reliable electricity and related services at the highest value to our member-owners. We exist to enhance the quality of life of the communities in which we serve and live. We achieve this mission by our actions that demonstrate integrity, fiscal responsibility, member engagement, community involvement, and by living out the cooperative principles. The relationship we have with the member-owners of SEC matters to us, and we work hard every day to prove this through our actions. We recognize that our member-owners expect to receive a quality of service which surpasses that typically associated with simply being a “customer” of an investor-owned utility. Our four district offices are located in the areas where we serve, and our employees live in these areas as well. Our employees are very active in our communities and participate in a number of ways to improve the areas in which they live. SEC employees are active volunteer fire fighters, EMTs, first responders, youth sports coaches, and Sunday school teachers, to name a few. Making Southside Virginia a better place to live and work is very important to us. It is inherent in our mission as a cooperative and it is a commitment we make, not only to our members but to our co-workers and our families.

Connections working at Southside Electric Cooperative, Inc.