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Talence Group | Executive Search & Consulting · 1 day ago

Chief Financial Officer

Portland, Oregon Metropolitan Area

Full-time

Hybrid

Director/Executive

$300K/yr - $424K/yr

15+ years exp

Talence Group is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Port of Portland, a mission-driven public agency established in 1891. The CFO will shape enterprise decisions, oversee finance and IT functions, and contribute to the Port's long-term financial strategy and operational excellence.

Staffing & Recruiting

Hiring Manager

Lynette Carney

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the Executive Team, contributing to the overall strategic direction, financial sustainability, and long-term performance of the Port

Define and steward the Port’s enterprise financial strategy, shaping capital allocation, investment priorities, and long-term funding commitments in alignment with public accountability

Partner with the Executive Director and Port Commission to develop and execute short- and long-range financial plans that support operational excellence, resilience, and growth across the Port’s business lines

Hold enterprise accountability for all finance functions, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, budgeting, forecasting, treasury, audit, risk management, and enterprise analytics

Oversee the Port’s capital structure and funding strategy, including debt issuance, grants, Passenger Facility Charges (PFCs), Customer Facility Charges (CFCs), and other public financing mechanisms

Provide executive accountability for the integrity, transparency, and timeliness of financial reporting in accordance with GAAP and applicable public-sector requirements

Provide enterprise oversight of the Information Technology function, ensuring technology investments materially improve operational performance, resilience, and long-term capability

Serve as executive sponsor for a multi-year, enterprise-wide ERP implementation, with accountability for governance, financial stewardship, and organizational readiness

Integrate financial leadership, technology, data, and analytics to strengthen decision-making, execution, and enterprise performance

Establish and maintain an enterprise-wide risk management framework addressing financial, operational, environmental, and technology-related risks

Oversee internal audit, insurance, self-insurance, claims management, and business continuity to support sound governance and organizational resilience

Represent the Port with external stakeholders, including regulators, financial institutions, rating agencies, and community partners

Qualification

Financial leadershipCapital planningPublic financing mechanismsEnterprise systems modernizationRisk managementFinancial reporting (GAAP)Stakeholder engagementStrategic directionOrganizational changeBachelor's degreeMBAAdvanced degree

Required

15 or more years of progressive senior financial leadership experience and the enterprise perspective required to lead within a complex, capital-intensive public organization

Experience operating at the enterprise level, partnering closely with executive leadership and governing bodies to inform strategy, investment decisions, and long-term planning

A track record of leading financial strategy and capital planning in environments where decisions carry long-term implications and require disciplined governance

Experience stewarding complex capital structures and public financing mechanisms, with an understanding of affordability, risk, and long-term sustainability

Exposure to or leadership of large-scale transformation initiatives, including enterprise systems modernization and associated organizational change

The ability to navigate environments characterized by multiple stakeholders, shared authority, and public accountability, where influence and judgment are critical

Demonstrated credibility in engaging with external stakeholders, such as regulators, financial institutions, rating agencies, and community partners

A bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field is required