Chief Financial Officer
State of Washington
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
The Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA) seeks a Chief Financial Officer to lead finance, budgeting, and financial controls in Olympia.
The CFO will ensure compliance with state/federal laws, develop strategic financial initiatives, and safeguard agency assets and expenditures.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required or substantial relevant experience substituted year-for-year.
- Experience developing and managing budgets in a Washington State agency.
- Experience applying accounting or financial management principles.
- Experience with management, strategic planning, and project management.
Responsibilities
- Leadership/Management: oversee an eight-person team and supervise five staff.
- Budget: develop biennial and supplemental budgets and allocations (~$56 million per biennium).
- Accounting: manage all agency financial operations, including reporting, payables, payroll, purchasing, contracting.
- Public Records: supervise the agency's Public Records Officer and program.
- Risk Management: act as Risk Manager and liaison with DES/OFM on risk activities.
- Performance Management: oversee performance management aligned to Governor's Results Washington.
Skills
Education
Job description
The Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA) is offering a challenging and rewarding opportunity for the right individual to make a difference through serving the state of Washington. Our employees are our most valuable resource: diverse, energetic, innovative thinkers who care equally about producing quality work and serving the public. We are committed to preserving our culture of diversity and inclusion and to providing a work environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. You can read the BIIA's Pro-Equity Anti-Racism statement
The Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals (BIIA) is offering a challenging and rewarding opportunity for the right individual to make a difference through serving the state of Washington. Our employees are our most valuable resource: diverse, energetic, innovative thinkers who care equally about producing quality work and serving the public. We are committed to preserving our culture of diversity and inclusion and to providing a work environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. You can read the BIIA's Pro-Equity Anti-Racism statement here
The BIIA's mission is to serve the public by resolving appeals in a consistent, impartial, timely, and efficient manner. The BIIA rules on approximately 14,000 annual appeals related to orders, decisions, and awards of the Department of Labor and Industries. The BIIA plays a significant role in the state's multi-billion dollar industrial insurance economic sector. Key stakeholders include the Office of the Attorney General, the Department of Labor and Industries, and business and labor groups representing over 179,000 employers and over 3,000,000 workers. The agency's jurisdiction includes disputes involving workers' compensation, premium assessment, industrial safety and health, and crime victims' compensation, among others. The agency is also the final authority on all proposed structured settlements.
We offer flexibility and mobility in the workplace to enhance work/life balance, to improve wellness, and to support a productive work environment, increased job satisfaction and engagement. You can read employee testimonials on our website at http://www.biia.wa.gov/Jobs.html.
This position includes medical, dental, life insurance, long-term disability, retirement, deferred compensation, flexible spending account, dependent care assistance, paid time off (sick leave, vacation leave, personal holiday, personal leave day), 11 paid holidays, and an Employee Assistance Program. Tuition Reimbursement is available for eligible employees subject to guidelines and funding. You can find more information about benefits at Benefits - careers.wa.gov.
Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is the highest-level financial position in the agency. The position develops strategic initiatives and ensures the agency's financial viability and integrity in support of the BIIA's mission. The CFO develops, interprets, implements, administers, and controls financial policies and procedures that support the agency's goals and strategic plan, ensures compliance with state and federal laws and regulations, and ensures control over agency assets and expenditures.
- Leadership/Management - Serves as a member of the agency's Extended Management Team and the Administrative Services Management team. Manages a team of eight with direct supervision of five employees.
- Budget - Develops the agency's biennial and supplemental budgets and allotments ($56 million per biennium). Make decisions and recommendations to the CAO on budget proposals that allow the agency to carry out mission-critical operations, including supporting the agency's strategic plan activities. In collaboration with the CAO, develops, reviews, and submits biennial and supplemental budget requests to ensure the agency has the resources necessary to achieve desired outcomes.
- Accounting – Manages all agency financial operations, including financial reporting, accounting, payables, payroll, purchasing, and contracting. Delegated authority to approve all agency expenditures.
- Public Records – Oversees the program and supervises the agency's Public Records Officer.
- Risk Management - Serves as agency Risk Manager and primary liaison with the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) and the Office of Financial Management (OFM) regarding agency risk management activities.
- Performance Management - Manages and administers the agency's performance management functions related to the Governor's Results Washington.
- A bachelor's degree in public administration, business, accounting, or a related field (relevant experience may be substituted, year for year, for education).
- Substantial experience developing and managing budgets in a Washington State agency.
- A minimum of four (4) years of experience applying and providing general accounting or financial management services.
- Substantial experience applying principles of management, strategic planning, and project management.
- Strong customer service commitment and philosophy,
- Ability to effectively communicate with a multitude of professional and managerial levels, including state agencies and private organizations.
- Strong analytical, problem solving, decision making, and consultative skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Ability to manage competing priorities.
- Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
- Ability to interpret correctly and apply Office of Financial Management (OFM) guidelines relating to financial management, purchasing, and accounting.
- Ability to interpret correctly and apply various Department of Enterprise Services (DES) policies and guidelines as they relate to purchasing and contracting.
- Ability to understand public records retention guidelines and public records management best practices.
- Accountability: Takes responsibility for own actions and can be relied upon to achieve excellent results with little oversight.
- Adaptability to Changing Needs/Flexibility: Embraces changing business needs and adapts approach, goals, and methods to achieve success.
- Customer Focus: Builds and maintains internal and external customer satisfaction with the services offered by the organization.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Recognizes the value of cultural, ethnic, gender and other individual differences. Understands differences in and responds appropriately to others.
- Effective Respectful Communications: In a respectful manner, conveys clear messages that are effective in communicating information and ideas with others.
- Ethics and Integrity: Earns trust, respect, and confidence of coworkers and customers through honesty, candor, and professionalism in all interactions.
- Relationship Building: Builds constructive working relationships characterized by a high level of teamwork, cooperation and mutual regard.
- Safety Focus: Adheres to all workplace safety laws, regulations, standards and practices.
- Leadership, Performance and Accountability: Serves as an effective leader consistent with the agency's mission and values.
- People Management: Effectively manages human resources in a consistent and equitable manner.
- Decision Making: Uses knowledge and understanding of the organization to make sound and logical decisions and takes actions that contribute effectively to organizational goals.
- Knowledge and Learning: Develops and maintains a knowledge base, including a deep understanding of agency programs, authorities and resources and a commitment to learning.
- Strategic Thinking: Develops innovative ideas that provide solutions to all types of workplace challenges.
- Conflict Management: Effectively works with others to understand interests and actively strive to achieve agreements or resolve differences in a timely manner.
- The ability to take action to learn and grow: Takes responsibility for knowing their own strengths and weaknesses and uses their learning to make government programs and processes more efficient and effective to serve all in Washington.
- The ability to take action to meet the needs of others: Flexible, adaptable, customer-service focused, and willing and able to empathetically respond to the unique needs of the people they work with and serve.
- This position is in Washington Management Service (WMS) Band 3.
- This is a hybrid position. In-person work in the Olympia Office is required 1-2 days per week. The successful candidate must reside in Washington state upon hire.
- Minimal travel is required to attend in-person meetings and training within Washington State.
If you have any questions about the position or application process, please contact Christy Sterling, Human Resources Manager, at (360) 753-6823, ext. 1123 or christy.sterling@biia.wa.gov.
The Washington State Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender identity/expression, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, honorably discharged veteran or military status, or the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. Persons requiring reasonable accommodation in the application process or requiring this announcement in an alternative format may contact the Human Resources Office at HROffice@biia.wa.gov or call 360-753-9639.
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.
We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.
Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.
To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.
Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.
Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.
The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.
Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.
Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 non-overtime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.
Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.
Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave, and paid holiday.
As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.
Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.
- Leave Sharing
- Parental Leave
- Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
- Leave Without Pay
Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.
Updated 01-07-2026
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