Metropolitan Council

WHO WE ARE

We are the Metropolitan Council, the regional government for the seven-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. We plan 30 years ahead for the future of the metropolitan area and provide regional transportation, wastewater, and housing services. More information about us on our website.

We are committed to supporting a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.

Join an award-winning wastewater industry leader in protecting our environment! The Environmental Services (ES) division operates and maintains the wastewater collection and treatment system in the Twin Cities metropolitan region. It also provides coordinated long-range water resources and supply planning, and air and water quality monitoring to meet future needs. ES water resource recovery facilities consistently earn state and national awards for complete compliance with their environmental permits. ES received a Governor’s Award as a Great Place to Work. To find out more about the Environmental Services division, please click on the link for more information: https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water.aspx.

How your work would contribute to our organization and the Twin Cities region:

The Finance and Revenue Director for the Environmental Services division of the Metropolitan Council ensures the financial health and integrity of the division by leading financial planning and budget management oversight for the regional wastewater collection and treatment system and water planning services for the seven-county metropolitan area. This position is responsible for a $379M Operating Budget 2025, $368M Authorized Capital Program (ACP) 2025, and $1.042B six-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) 2025-2030.

The Director engages our 111 municipal customer communities and other stakeholders – Council Members, Legislators, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, the public, and others – to collaborate on and support financial and management approaches, such as wholesale wastewater rates and charges. The role is that of strategic partner, collaborating as part of the Environmental Services leadership team and with Met Council finance leaders, and serving as an advisor in evaluating new business approaches.

What you would do in this job

• Ensure that division financial practices are transparent, legal, compliant and best practice through cost and controls management.
• Oversee all financial functions, including developing financial plans, forecasts, and budgets.
• Support business planning and reporting with sound and prudent financial and budget practices at programmatic and departmental levels and in compliance with financial reporting and audit requirements.
• Oversee the division's Capital Budget process, sources, and cash flows.
• Oversee division bond and debt strategy and financing. Forecast and plan for future financing needs in partnership with Met Council Treasury and Environmental Services Capital Program staff.
• Oversee and manage quarterly budget forecasts and actuals reporting, producing financial statements and reports.
• Pursue, secure, and maintain revenue while building trust and satisfaction with value delivered.
• Ensure sufficient Metropolitan Wastewater Charges and resource recovery revenue/cost-sharing partnerships, fee structure and design, best practices, and improvements supporting increased demand for regional water resource recovery services.
• Implement and oversee customer-centric billing and collections processes for Metropolitan Wastewater Charges, Industrial Pretreatment Fees and Charges, hauler fees, including outstate, and other fees for services.
• Pursue and attract funding to complement our existing work by benefiting the public through our ongoing infrastructure investment and other statutory roles.
• Engage customers, stakeholders, policymakers, partners, and the public in support of the work of Environmental Services, including legislative reporting, task force participation, customer budget seminars, and presenting financial practices to external financial providers and risk managers.
• Participate in strategic planning and execution, developing financial strategies to support strategic goals
• Manage Finance and Revenue department staff.

What education and experience are required for this job (minimum qualifications)

Education/Experience

Any of the following combinations of progressively responsible experience in finance or accounting, including prior experience in budget preparation/interpretation and financial management, is required and completed education in finance or accounting or a related field:

• Bachelor’s degree with nine (9) or more years of experience, including five (5) years of experience in supervisory/management.
• Master's degree with seven (7) or more years of experience, including five (5) years of experience in supervisory/management.
• Doctorate or higher with six (6) or more years of experience, including five (5) years of experience in supervisory/management.

What additional skills and experience would be helpful in this job (desired qualifications)

• MBA degree
• Bond financing
• Advanced physical infrastructure asset management
• Water or wastewater industry experience
• Industrial or infrastructure experience
• Governmental budgeting and revenue management
• Current or recent experience with Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or Women Business Enterprise (W/MBE), and Targeted Group Business (TGB).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of cash flow analysis and net present value calculation, lifecycle cost management, business law, contract development, and financial management, including budgeting processes, cost, and organizational controls.
• Skilled in objective team-based decision-making and performance management.
• Skilled in math, statistical, analytical, and accounting methods.
• Skilled in customer management – taking a customer-centric viewpoint, listening to understand, empathy, and ability to create win-win outcomes.
• Skilled in communication and persuasion, comfortable and skilled in speaking to large groups making finances simple to understand and support division strategies.
• Skilled in strategic planning and execution.
• Able to lead, mentor, and coach to create a positive team environment for growth/results.
• Able to learn and apply best practices in budgeting, forecasting, funding, and managing uncertainty and risk.
• Able to write reports and business and governmental correspondence.
• Able to speak publicly, testify formally, and communicate proactively and positively, enlisting others in success.
• Able to manage risk using objective and repeatable methods.

Additional information

Union/Grade: NRC/Grade M

FLSA Status: Exempt

Safety Sensitive: No

What your work environment would be:

You would perform your work in a standard office setting. Work may sometimes require travel between your primary work site and other sites.

What steps the recruitment process involves:

1. We review your minimum qualifications.

2. We rate your education and experience.

3. We conduct a structured panel interview.

4. We conduct a selection interview.

5. We may conduct a leadership assessment.

Once you have successfully completed the steps above, then:

If you are new to the Metropolitan Council, you must pass a background check that verifies education, employment, and criminal history. If you have a criminal conviction, you do not automatically fail. The Metropolitan Council considers felony, gross misdemeanor, and misdemeanor convictions on a case-by-case basis, based on whether they relate to the job and whether the candidate has demonstrated adequate rehabilitation.

If you are already an employee of the Metropolitan Councill, you must pass a criminal background check if the job you're applying for is supervisory or management, is in the Finance, Information Services, Audit, or Human Resources departments, or has access to financial records, files/databases, cash, vouchers or transit fare cards.

IMPORTANT: If you make a false statement or withhold information, you may be barred from job consideration.

The Metropolitan Council is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and veteran-friendly employer. The Council is committed to a workforce that reflects the diversity of the region and strongly encourages persons of color, members of the LGBTQ community, individuals with disabilities, women, and veterans to apply.

If you have a disability that requires accommodation during the selection process, please email HR-OCCHealth@metc.state.mn.us.

We believe our employees are a key to our agency's success! In order to attract and retain high quality employees, the Council provides a highly competitive benefits package both in choice and coverage levels. Some highlights about our benefits are listed below:

• Guaranteed monthly retirement income through Minnesota State Retirement System pension fund
• Opportunity to save additional funds for retirement on a tax-deferred basis through a voluntary deferred compensation (457) plan
• Two or more medical plans from which to choose, with employer contribution towards premiums over 80%
• Dental insurance, life insurance and vision insurance

The following benefits are provided to all employees as part of working for the Council. You will have access to free:

• Well@Work clinic
• bus/rail pass valued at over $1200 per year
• parking at many job locations
• fitness centers at many job locations
• Employee Assistance Program
• extensive health and wellness programs and resources

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