Chief Financial Officer - Deputy Director

The Chief Financial Officer serves as the principal financial executive and strategic financial advisor for Houston Public Works. Reporting directly to the Director, the CFO provides executive leadership over financial strategy, budgeting, accounting and financial reporting, treasury and debt management, capital financing, revenue planning, procurement, grants administration, enterprise risk management, and related financial support functions.

The CFO position provides financial oversight for an approximately $3.8 billion FY2027 departmental budget, a $12 billion five-year capital improvement program for FY2027–2031, and an approximately $11 billion debt portfolio. Oversight spans the Combined Utility System, the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund (DDSRF), the Storm Water Fund, and other funds supporting water, wastewater, streets, bridges, traffic systems, stormwater drainage, permitting, infrastructure delivery, solid waste, emergency response, and other essential public services.

The CFO works closely with the City of Houston Finance Department, Legal Department, other City departments, governmental and regulatory agencies, rating agencies, investors, financial institutions, auditors, consultants, contractors, regional partners, and the public.

• Serve as the principal financial advisor to the Director and a senior member of the Houston Public Works executive leadership team.
• Advise the Director on fiscal strategy, financial policy, infrastructure investment, organizational risk, revenue requirements, affordability, and long-term sustainability.
• Participate in the development and execution of departmental strategies, priorities, policies, performance expectations, and major business decisions.
• Evaluate complex financial, operational, regulatory, contractual, and organizational matters and communicate well-supported recommendations through executive presentations, reports, memoranda, and briefings for executive leaders, elected officials, employees, external stakeholders, and the public.
• Act on behalf of the Director on financial, administrative, or departmental matters as assigned.

• Direct the development, submission, administration, and monitoring of Houston Public Works’ annual operating and capital budgets.
  Establish financial planning processes that integrate operational requirements, staffing, capital investment, regulatory mandates, debt capacity, revenue projections, and departmental priorities.
• Lead short- and long-range financial forecasting, scenario analysis, cash-flow planning, financial modeling, and resource-allocation decisions, and monitor revenue expenditures, reserves, liquidity, debt-service requirements, and other key financial indicators
• Develop strategies to address revenue volatility, inflation, deferred maintenance, operational risks, infrastructure needs, and changes in federal, state, or local requirements.
• Maintain effective budget governance and performance-reporting processes that promote accountability, transparency, informed decision-making, and responsible prioritization of resources.

• Provide executive financial oversight of the Combined Utility System and other enterprise, special-revenue, capital, and restricted funds administered by Houston Public Works.
• Direct water and wastewater revenue planning, cost-of-service studies, rate analyses, revenue-sufficiency evaluations, affordability considerations, and related financial policies.

• Provide executive financial oversight of Transportation and Drainage Operations, the Dedicated Drainage and Street Renewal Fund, the Storm Water Fund, and related operating and capital funding.
• Direct financial planning and resource allocation for street, bridge, traffic, mobility, stormwater, and drainage maintenance, rehabilitation, and capital programs, balancing service levels, state-of-good-repair needs, flood-risk reduction, public safety, and long-term infrastructure investment.
• Monitor and forecast dedicated revenues, including drainage utility charges, ad valorem tax allocations, METRO mobility payments, intergovernmental revenues, grants, and reimbursements, and ensure their use complies with the City Charter, ordinances, legal commitments, fund restrictions, the adopted budget, and financial policies.