Sr. Strategic Financial Advisor

The Sr. Strategic Financial Advisor provides senior-level internal financial consulting services in support of key agency-wide strategic priorities. Provides direct oversight of three strategic enterprise-wide programs: 1) the grants program and 2) the insurance/finance risk management program 3) internal financial consulting. In addition, the role will serve as a critical partner in advising leadership on the financial aspects of Commission-wide strategic initiatives and high-level projects. Supports the alignment and achievement of the Commission’s annual and multi-year goals through financial research and analysis, performance measurement, and process reviews to enable cost savings/efficiencies and improved financial services and stronger internal controls.

Essential Functions

Grants Program –

- Researches and identifies grant opportunities; assures applications are correct and filled timely

- Coordinates with department managers to submit contracts for Board of Public Works or other grantor agencies’ approval

- Leads regular cross-departmental team to follow-up on grant issues

- Monitors contracting progress, change orders and relevant communication with grantors to increase budget authority

- Coordinates discussions with cross-department managers to ensure timely recording and reconciliation of grants receivable, timely filing, and receipt of the reimbursement requests

- Serve as a point of contact with state and Federal agencies on grant and loan opportunities and administration of existing grant and loan programs

Insurance/Finance Risk Management Program –

- Plans, develops and reviews the WSSC Water risk administration and loss control programs and policies

- Administers and ensures state compliance of WSSC Water’s insurance program with applicable laws and regulations

- Solicits bids from brokers for insurance coverage and respond to questions and provide input for evaluation of responses

- Develops solicitations for actuarial services and respond to questions from bidders and prospective bidders and develop criteria and process for evaluating proposals

- Gains knowledge about operational structure to enable contact with team members to complete insurance applications

- Advises on the filing of property and casualty claims with the General Counsel’s Office

- Coordinates policies, bids, and renewals related to WSSC Water’s insurance programs

- Makes recommendations for insurance coverage, purchase, and cost

- Provides advice related to requirements for certificates of insurance on contracts and agreements

- Evaluates appropriateness of alternative financing mechanisms such as partial or full self-funding and recommend retention levels and stop loss limits, etc.

- Monitors claims activity and reviews claims reserves for appropriateness

- Works with WSSC Water team to determine best way to generate reports of claims information from two systems to enable actuarial review to establish appropriate reserve levels

- Provides advice on other risk/insurance issues that arise

Internal Financial Consulting –

- Provides financial management advisory services including research, analysis, and the development of options/recommendations to CFO on major technical financial matters of Commission-wide significance

- Engages in financial strategic planning and tactical day-to-day actions with emphasis on strategic business management policy making changes to improve financial services provided to operating departments and other stakeholders

- Delivers work involving complex and sensitive policy, labor relations, and personnel matters referred by the CFO

- Collaborates with senior leadership and management within the Commission and other external senior financial manager stakeholders related to the programs or high-level special projects

- Works closely with consultants on fee analyses and rate studies

- Advises the CFO on finance-related issues involving new system implementations/enhancements

- Develops, monitors and analyzes performance metrics

- Performs cost saving/efficiency reviews to identify opportunities for improvements and lead teams in implementing recommendations

- Supervises internal control reviews, collaborates with teams on implementation plans and monitor progress

Other Functions

- Plans, coordinates, and supervises the work of external consultants and staff engaged in special projects/strategic initiatives

- Supervises employees including selecting or recommending selection, training,

assigning and evaluating work, counseling, disciplining, and/or termination or recommending termination

- Performs other related duties, as assigned

Work Environment And Physical Demands

Business casual office setting.

Required Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

- Comprehensive knowledge of research techniques, methods and procedures

- Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, methods and practices of public finance and public administration

- Thorough knowledge of modern management principles and practices

- Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of analytical review, including problem definition, setting evaluation criteria and analysis of alternatives

- Ability to analyze financial information and prepare complex financial and administrative reports

- Ability to analyze, interpret and report research findings and make recommendations

- Knowledge of current best practices in financial planning, research and analysis

- Strong organizational, problem solving and multi-tasking skills

- Strong financial skills including quantitative and qualitative analytical skills

- Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills

- Excellent relationship building and internal financial consulting skills

- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills

- Exceptional skills in leadership

- Ability to make effective group presentations

- Ability to perform financial assessments and translate issues into appropriate recommendations

- Ability to manage external consultants and evaluate their performance against contract requirements

- Ability to communicate and work collaboratively with staff and internal and external stakeholders at all organizational levels in a fast-paced environment

- Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality, discretion and professionalism

Minimum Education, Experience Requirements

- Bachelor’s degree

- 7+ years’ experience in government or corporate budgeting, accounting, and/or financial analysis