Chief Financial Officer

The North Dakota Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (DOCR) is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and mission-focused financial leader to serve as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

The CFO is a key member of the agency's executive leadership team and serves as the Director's principal advisor on all financial matters impacting a complex statewide public safety organization. This position is responsible for ensuring the agency remains financially accountable, operationally responsible, and aligned with the DOCR mission of transforming lives, influencing change, strengthening community, and protecting public safety.

This role requires a leader who can balance long-term financial strategy with the operational realities of correctional services across prisons, rehabilitation programs, community supervision, and reentry services. The successful candidate must be able to manage a complex biennial budget, provide clear fiscal guidance to agency leadership, identify conservative and sustainable financial solutions, and ensure continuity of critical services to staff and individuals in our care.

The CFO will lead the agency's accounting, budgeting, procurement, forecasting, financial reporting, compliance, and internal control functions while fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.

What You'll Do

• Lead all agency accounting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting functions
• Develop and oversee biennial budget requests and long-range financial planning efforts
• Advise executive leadership on fiscal strategy, operational efficiencies, and responsible resource allocation
• Work collaboratively with division leaders to ensure budgets are actively monitored and managed across the agency
• Identify fiscally responsible solutions that support operational needs without disrupting services to staff, incarcerated individuals, and community-based clients
• Ensure compliance with state and federal financial regulations, internal controls, audit requirements, and procurement standards
• Oversee procurement and purchasing operations for the agency
• Prepare and present financial reports, budget recommendations, and fiscal analysis to executive leadership and external stakeholders
• Provide legislative testimony and explain agency budget requests, expenditures, and fiscal priorities during legislative sessions and committee hearings
• Supervise and develop Business Office staff while promoting professionalism, accountability, and customer service
• Support data-informed decision-making through financial analysis, forecasting, and performance measurement

Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor's degree in Accounting.
• At least six (6) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, budgeting, financial management, or governmental finance.
• At least three (3) of those years must be in a supervisory or managerial role in accounting, budgeting, or financial management.
• Application materials must demonstrate prior work experience managing complex budgets, financial reporting, and organizational fiscal operations.
• A master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field may substitute for up to two (2) years of the required experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
• Prior work experience in governmental accounting, public sector budgeting, or large complex organizations.
• Prior work experience presenting or explaining and defending budgets before governing bodies, legislative committees, or executive leadership teams.
• Prior work experience with strategic planning, operational analysis, process improvement, or organizational financial forecasting.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a strategic and steady leader who can build strong partnerships across the agency while maintaining a high standard of fiscal accountability. They will be collaborative, solutions-focused, adaptable, and comfortable balancing big-picture strategy with operational detail in a mission-driven environment.

Work Location

This position is based in Bismarck, North Dakota. A hybrid workplace structure may be available, with the expectation that the selected candidate will work in the traditional office setting two to three days per week based on operational needs.

About Team ND

"Far and away the best prize life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Theodore Roosevelt

More than 7,500 talented, hard-working people across sixty-three agencies have come together as Team North Dakota. At Team ND, we are driven to succeed through gratitude, humility, curiosity and courage. Our purpose is to empower people, improve lives, and inspire success. Join us in being legendary.

Total Rewards: The State of North Dakota is committed to providing team members with a strong and competitive rewards package that support you, your health and your family.

Considering a new position on Team ND? How does your current position stack up? Use our Total Rewards Calculator to estimate.

Application Procedures

All applications for open DOCR positions must be made via the Careers site. Paper submissions will not be accepted. Application materials must be received by 11:59 PM Central Standard Time (CST) on the closing date listed above. All potential applicants must attach and/or upload the following documents:

• Cover Letter
• Resume
• Transcripts

Application materials must clearly explain how experience and education are related to the minimum qualifications and job duties.

Applicants who are residents of ND and eligible to claim veteran's preference must upload a Form DD214. Claims for disabled veteran's preference must include a current statement of disabled status from the Veteran's Affairs Office.

Contact Jordan Falcon at 701.934.8376 or ***email_hidden*** or TTY (800) 366-6888 for more information or assistance in the application or interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The State of North Dakota and this hiring agency do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provisions of services and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.

As an employer, the State of North Dakota prohibits smoking in all places of state employment in accordance with N.D.C.C. Sect. 23-12-10.