Chief Trust Finance Officer

About the role

The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) is seeking an experienced leader to serve as Administrator of the Division of Finance and ETF's Chief Trust Finance Officer. The position serves as the primary contact for external parties such as the Legislative Audit Bureau and consulting actuaries and is a member of the Department's Strategic Council, guiding strategic transformation and technology modernization. The CTFO also serves on the Department's Portfolio Committee, helping prioritize resources toward the Department's highest operational and strategic priorities.

As Chief Trust Finance Officer, the position is responsible for the planning and direction of financial activities related to public sector multi-employer benefit programs, policies, objectives, and initiatives including the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) and other programs impacting over 700,000 individual members, and over 1,600 state and local units of government in Wisconsin. The CTFO provides vision and leadership to the Division of over 30 staff, providing general direction to managers and staff as well as collaborating with other key stakeholders within the Department.

Qualifications

Minimally Qualified candidates will have experience in all of the following:

• At least 5 years of formal supervisory experience, in a financial environment, performing duties such as recruitment, evaluating staff performance, assigning workload/setting priorities, coaching/developing staff, etc.
• Driving organization-wide strategic and operational financial vision, strategy, policy, and compliance.
• Implementing, monitoring, or auditing internal controls in a financial environment.
• Applying generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), rules, and theories (e.g., implementation of accounting standards, preparing or auditing financial statements or annual comprehensive financial report).
• Experience using an Enterprise Resource Planning system or other large accounting system to record, analyze, or audit financial transactions.
• Developing and implementing financial policies and procedures.
• Collecting, analyzing, and presenting data to inform and support decision-making.
• Advancing continuous improvement, and shepherding change in an organization.

Highly Qualified candidates will also have a Certified Public Accountant license as well as experience with some of the following:

• Preparing and presenting financial data to the highest level of leadership or governing boards to inform and support decision-making.
• Collaborating with internal business partners to identify and assess organizational risks and the effectiveness of internal controls within a risk management framework.
• Experience with actuarial valuations and studies of pension funds or insurance plans (e.g., developing or reviewing financial models used in actuarial valuations, providing or reviewing data that are inputs into valuation, involvement in producing or reviewing reports, communicating results).
• Experience applying Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) principles.
• Experience with government pension or other employee benefit plans.

Preferred: A current Certified Public Accountant license and ten or more years of experience in professional accounting, auditing, economics or financial analysis.

Pay

This position has a starting annual salary up to $162,240, plus excellent benefits. In addition, there is $1.00 per hour (or $2,080 annually) added to your salary if you hold a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license. Pay for current and new state employees will be set in accordance with the Wisconsin State Compensation Plan in effect at the time of appointment.

Schedule

ETF offers hybrid remote/office work. If interested in hybrid remote/office work, this can be discussed in more detail during the interview process. The selected employee(s) must report to ETF's office on the first day of employment. In addition, the employee may need to report to ETF on short notice as operational needs require. All employees are expected to be headquartered and work within the state of Wisconsin. A 2-year Career Executive trial period or 1-year probationary period may be required.

Benefits

ETF offers an excellent comprehensive benefit and compensation package, including generous paid time off to support work/life balance. Employees with student loans who work full time in a public service job (like this one) may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

About the organization

The Department of Employee Trust Funds (ETF) manages retirement, insurance, and other benefit programs for 650,000+ state and local government employees and retirees of the WRS. ETF's members are at the center of everything they do, and the Department is committed to enhancing their well-being by delivering expert guidance, strong, sustainable benefit programs, and an exceptional customer experience.

ETF is located in the award-winning city of Madison at 4822 Madison Yards Way, just off University and Sheboygan Avenues, within walking distance to several parks, restaurants, and Hilldale Shopping Center.