Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Diocese of St. Augustine
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the Diocese of St. Augustine is the principal advisor to the bishop in matters of finance in cooperation with curia officials, the diocesan finance council, and the college of consultors. The CFO is responsible for developing and implementing financial operations and strategy to fund ministry, operations, and infrastructure needs in accordance with the priorities of the bishop and diocesan needs. This highly skilled and forward-thinking leader is responsible for ensuring that the diocese is prepared for future growth and that its entities operate with financial integrity, transparency, and accountability. The CFO ensures the establishment of sound financial controls, best practices, policies, procedures, financial systems, training, and support throughout the Diocese and its entities. The Chief Financial Officer will be responsible for the development of the Diocese’s $14+ million administrative budget, $30+ million benefit/insurance plan budgets, and will have personal management responsibility for a $2+ million operating budget for his/her own areas of responsibility.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
• Responsible for overseeing the design and operation of overall financial control policies
and procedures in accordance with Canon Law and civil law, within the diocese and its
various entities. Advises the bishop and diocesan leadership in matters of
administration and stewardship of the temporal goods.
• Performs long-range financial planning analysis, sets and reviews benchmarking
metrics, and provides recommendations regarding pertinent financial implications to
diocesan leadership.
• Leads, in accordance with the direction of the bishop, the preparation of the annual
operating and capital expenditures budgets for the curial offices, departments, and
agencies of the diocese for Diocesan Finance Council review and recommendation as
well as the benefit/insurance plan budget. Facilitates the ongoing monitoring of
expenditures in accordance with the approved budgets.
• Arranges the preparation of the annual audited financial statements for the diocese, as
well as quarterly reports for the bishop, diocesan leadership, and Diocesan Finance
Council. Prepares periodic reports on the financial condition of the Diocese for
dissemination to the general diocesan community.
• Monitors the financial status of the parishes, schools, and agencies of the diocese
through a system of periodic reporting and an ongoing internal evaluation program.
Apprises diocesan leadership of problem situations, presents strategies for resolving
them, and carries out follow-up action as directed by the bishop or chancellor for
administrative affairs, and in collegial collaboration with pastors, and other leaders.
Serves as an ambassador and maintains good rapport and open communication
channels with parish, school and entity leadership to ensure support, collaboration,
and accompaniment. Functions as a resource to pastors and provides guidance, advice,
instruction, or referral regarding diocesan policies and procedures.
• Oversees diocesan investments in conjunction with the Diocesan Investment
Committee, including acquisition and disposal of stocks, bonds, and real property,
paying careful attention to the nature and investment objectives of the various
investments managed.
• Proposes investment strategies, secures professional managers, and monitors the
performance of investments, and other designated funds. Communicate regularly with
consultants, portfolio managers, and the Diocesan Investment Committee. Reviews
results and evaluates possible strategy changes with the Investment Committee and
the bishop.
• Secures financing, as required, to support approved diocesan priorities and objectives.
• Secures necessary property, equipment, casualty, and liability insurance coverage for
the diocese, parishes, schools, and other participating entities. Confers with brokers,
third-party administrators, risk managers, and others on all insurance-related matters.
• Maintains compliance with regulatory requirements by approving and filing statements
and reports; filing returns; paying taxes.
• Serves as primary contact person for the diocese in its relationships with commercial
and investment banks, financial services providers, and certain governmental and
regulatory agencies. Works closely with legal counsel on civil law matters, including
litigation, human resources, addresses tax and regulatory questions, estates, and other
issues and concerns affecting the diocese.
• As a member of the Diocesan Curia and senior executive leadership, maintains the
highest level of confidentiality and diplomacy regarding all diocesan matters.
• With the help of the fiscal team (and others), creates regular learning and development
opportunities such as webinars and workshops for entity personnel who carry
financial, business, operational, and/or related responsibilities (in a diverse multicultural leadership setting). Ensures updates and issues bulletins with changes in laws
and regulations.
• Provides direct supervisory responsibility to the following, with indirect oversight for
the entire Fiscal Services cohort (i.e., accounting, audit services, information
technology, shared-accounting services, payroll, risk management, etc.):
o Controller
o Director of Risk Management & Information Technology
o Senior Internal Auditor
o Executive Director, Marywood Retreat & Conference Center
o Executive Director, Catholic Cemeteries
o Executive Assistant to the CFO
• Serves on various boards and committees as an active member or as a resource
person representing the financial interests of the diocese such as:
o Diocesan Finance Council
o Pension Investment Committee (chair)
o Benefits Committee
o Diocesan Savings and Loan
o Catholic Foundation (ex-officio)
o Building Committee
o Real Estate Strategy Committee
• Fosters a ministry-oriented accountable work environment, providing strong
leadership, management, and supervision to her/his team. Holds regular and periodic
meetings with department heads and conducts regular performance evaluations and
goal setting for direct reports and fiscal services departments.
• Implements and promotes the appropriate use of technology and enterprise platforms,
financial management standards, consistent accounting principles and reporting,
governance policies and practices in accordance with the needs and resource
constraints of the Diocese.
• Participates in professional gatherings, roundtables, forums, and other related
activities as a senior executive level leader within the Diocesan curia.
• Participates and represents the Diocese in Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops,
Ecclesiastical Province and Region, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and
national associations pertaining to finance or related areas (e.g., Bishops Insurance
Committee, etc.).
• Performs other related duties as assigned by the Chancellor for Administrative Affairs
or the Bishop.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field is
required. Certified Public Accountant is desirable.
• Practicing Catholic in good standing and registered member of a Catholic parish faith
community. Must have the ability to respect, promote, accommodate, and not be in
conflict with the mission, moral and social teachings, doctrines, and laws of the Roman
Catholic Church. Must possess a sound working knowledge of Church hierarchy and
Church structure.
• Must have at least 10 years of accounting experience; 5 years experience as Director of
Accounting or equivalent, leading others, with a budget of at least $10 million.
• At least five years of nonprofit reporting and accounting experience is preferred.
• Knowledge and training in investments, insurance, human resources, computer
systems and applications, employee benefits, risk management, and operating and
capital budgeting principles are highly desirable.
• Impeccable trust and honesty, and ability to handle confidential information
appropriately. Must be able to maintain confidential information, exercise good
judgment, and work independently as well as in a team environment.
• Strong skills in supervising, conducting effective meetings, time management, problemsolving, delegation and accountability, communication, servant leadership, technology,
and multitasking.
• Strong strategic planning skills and experience in making informed decisions and
actionable plans, being open to new perspectives, and being creative and willing to
innovate. Ability to think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends, and
incorporate them into documented plans.
• Strong financial acumen, business acumen: review financial statements, budgets,
financial metrics, data analytics, etc.
• Ability to produce concise reports, make presentations to varied groups, and be skilled
at articulating financial matters to non-financial audiences.
• Proven project management skills and experience in planning, procurement, execution,
and completion of projects while getting the best out of people and creating
harmonious relationships within an accounting/finance team.
• Must be skilled at articulating mission and inspiring commitment to a shared vision.