Role:

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a critical leader responsible for directing the financial strategy and operations of the Credit Union, with a focus on establishing and achieving major economic and financial objectives. This role is pivotal in driving financial performance, safeguarding the Credit Union's financial strength, and shaping its long-term strategic direction.

The CFO determines both short-term and long-term objectives in Accounting, Finance, Treasury, Risk Management, and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A). The role includes overseeing the development, implementation, and execution of strategic initiatives that drive growth and ensure the Credit Union's financial health and stability. The CFO also manages key functions such as budgeting, accounting, purchasing, real estate, and liquidity management, ensuring alignment with the Credit Union's goals.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the CFO collaborates closely with senior leadership and the Board of Directors to steer the organization through a dynamic economic environment. The CFO actively seeks opportunities to optimize operations, mitigate risks, and leverage investments to support the Credit Union's mission. Additionally, this role involves maintaining primary oversight of interest rate risk, liquidity risk, and other critical risk factors to promote balanced and intelligent growth.

Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, the CFO plays a vital role in leading a high-performing team, fostering a culture of financial excellence, and driving the Credit Union's success in an increasingly competitive and regulated environment.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

25% Strategic Financial Leadership:

- Directs and monitors finance and accounting operations to ensure that the credit union meets established goals and objectives.

- Vision & Strategy: Establish and drive financial strategies aligned with the Credit Union’s long-term objectives, collaborating closely with the President/CEO and the Board of Directors.

- Financial Oversight: Direct and monitor finance and accounting operations to meet established goals and ensure the Credit Union’s financial health.

- Risk Management: Maintain oversight of Liquidity and Interest Rate Risk, managing these through robust Asset Liability Management (ALM) practices.

25% Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A):

- Budgeting & Capital Planning: Direct the preparation and evaluation of budgets and capital plans; monitor expenditures and financial performance.

- Reporting: Oversee the preparation of financial reports, including income statements, balance sheets, and reports for regulatory agencies and the Board of Directors.

- Directs the preparation and evaluation of budgets and capital plans; oversees the month-to-month reporting of financial results to ALCO.

- Investment Management: Invest excess funds based on ALM outputs and liquidity needs, ensuring alignment with policies and regulatory guidelines.

- Policy Development: Develop and maintain ALM, Concentrated Risk, Liquidity, and Investment Management policies, ensuring annual review with the Board.

20% Operational Efficiency & Compliance:

- Audit & Compliance: Oversee reporting to regulatory authorities and collaborate with auditors on year-end and comprehensive audits. Ensure compliance with financial regulations and internal policies.

- Writes, reviews, and distributes financial policy and procedure statements to ensure regulatory and policy compliance.

- Vendor Management: Review operational procedures and vendor relationships to optimize efficiency and reduce costs. Evaluate and recommend vendors, maintaining strong relationships.

- Regulatory Adherence: Stay abreast of BSA/OFAC/CIP regulations and ensure organizational compliance through training and policy updates.

20% Team Leadership & Development:

- Team Oversight: Lead and mentor the Accounting & FP&A teams, ensuring alignment with Credit Union goals. Provide vision, set objectives, and ensure necessary tools and training are in place.

- Performance Management: Establish clear directions for direct reports, conduct regular follow-ups, and evaluate performance to ensure departmental success.

- Talent Development: Foster the growth of department staff through strong communication and delegation, ensuring a cross-trained and effective team.

5% Strategic Planning & Innovation:

- Long-Term Planning: Participate in the Credit Union’s strategic planning process, contributing financial expertise to long-term growth strategies.

- Mergers & Acquisitions: Evaluate and recommend strategies for potential mergers and acquisitions.

- Financial Innovation: Develop and implement mechanisms for timely and accurate financial analysis, ensuring sound decision-making and resource allocation.

5% Governance & Reporting:

- Board Collaboration: Prepare financial reports and presentations for Senior Management and the Board of Directors as required. Keep the President/CEO informed of the Credit Union's financial condition.

- External Representation: Represent the Credit Union in civic or non-profit organizations, enhancing the institution's community presence.

- Performs other duties as assigned by the President/CEO and Board of Directors.

Performance Measurements:

1. Ensure financial activities adhere to sound principles and comply with all banking regulations.


2. Achieve total returns at or above peer group benchmarks, including managing the investment portfolio effectively.


3. Improve Return on Assets (ROA) by aligning risk tolerance and strategic initiatives with ALM Committee directives.


4. Represent the Credit Union in external organizations, contributing to its community and industry presence.


5. Complete CEO-assigned projects within prescribed timeframes, keeping leadership informed of critical areas.


6. Maintain the ALM Program, providing accurate financial data to ALCO and informing of financial trends.

Knowledge and Skills:

Experience: 10-15 years of similar or related experience preferably in a banking or credit union environment, in senior-level positions.

Education: (1) A master's degree, or (2) a bachelor's degree plus professional certification (e.g., CPA).

Interpersonal Skills: Work frequently involves exercising advanced conflict resolution, giving material presentations, and resolving issues impacting multiple departments or divisions. Role also requires the ability to motivate or influence others as a material part of the role, with a significant level of diplomacy and trust. Obtaining cooperation (internally and/or externally) is an important part of the role and a high level of interpersonal skills is critical to the success of this position.

• Self-motivated


• Member Focused


• Exhibits steadfast attention to details


• Excellent oral and written skills


• Strong interpersonal skills


• The ability to influence and collaborate with others at all levels of the organization


• Strong business acumen


• Ability to work effectively in a team environment

Other Skills:

1. Proven strategic, operational, and managerial ability in financial-services delivery or credit union/banking setting. Demonstrated understanding and successful track recording of optimizing delivery and cost with a focus on quality of member-experience outcomes.

2. Proven strong ability developing and implementing plans and analyzing financial and quality data. Demonstrated business and financial acumen, including a sophisticated knowledge of major financial, regulatory, compliance, ethical, and legal issues affecting credit unions. Understanding of the levers that impact our success.

3.  Demonstrated track record of building and nurturing diverse, equitable and inclusive teams. Proven ability to naturally connect and build strong relationships with others, demonstrating strong emotional intelligence and an ability to communicate clearly and persuasively.

4. Strong interpersonal, leadership and communication skills, including comfort facilitating cooperation between independent units and programs in pursuit of Credit Union-wide goals.

5. Proven ability to attract and recruit top talent, motivate the team, delegate effectively, celebrate diversity within the team, and manage performance; widely viewed as a strong developer of others.

Physical Requirements: Extended working hours may be required. Periodic travel between branches/locations and travel to conferences and seminars which may be out of town.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit for long periods at a time, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds.

Work Environment: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

This Job Description is not a complete statement of all duties and responsibilities comprising the position.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement: "At Empower, we value and celebrate diversity with commitment to building equitable and inclusive environments for employees and the members we serve. These environments foster connection and belonging, create spaces for all individuals to be empowered, and allow individuals to participate authentically to their full potential. We foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion across race, ethnicity, disability, gender, gender identity or expressions, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, learning style, country of origin, language, political ideology, military status, cultural perspectives, and other characteristics that make our employees and members unique.”

EEO Statement: Empower Federal Credit Union is committed to equal opportunity to qualified persons without regard to basis of race, religion, ethnicity, color, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expressions, transgender status, sexual or other reproductive health decisions, marital status, ancestry, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, genetic information/ predisposition or carrier status, status in the uniformed services of the United States (including veteran status) or any other basis protected by applicable national, federal, state, provincial or local law.