Mesa Water District Chief Financial Officer

Thank you for your interest in the Chief Financial Officer position at Mesa Water District. The date for first review of applications has passed and the District is currently considering an initial group of highly qualified applicants. It is possible that we may return to the general candidate pool should this initial group not yield a successful candidate.

If you are interested in submitting your application for us to keep on file we are happy to review your materials. Thank you again for your interest.

Mesa Water District is seeking a strategic service-oriented finance professional to be its next Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Reporting directly to the General Manager the CFO is a key member of the executive team and plays a critical role in maintaining the Districts strong financial position while supporting the delivery of clean safe and reliable water to the community.

The CFO leads a team of 10 full-time employees and oversees two departments Financial and Customer Services. The position is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight of the Districts financial planning and operations as well as customer service functions including water billing and collections. The CFO is ultimately accountable for transparent and accurate billing and collections and the efficient and timely resolution of any errors or disputes.

Leading the Financial Services department includes oversight of accounting payroll financial audits property and liability insurance programs purchasing and management of the Districts financial systems. The CFO is also responsible for debt management and capital financing including compliance with debt covenants and liaising with rating agencies. The CFO is responsible for developing and managing the annual operating and capital budgets in alignment with the Districts operational goals and capital improvement priorities. The CFO leads the monitoring and continuous improvement of robust financial planning and expense control programs and will spearhead selection and implementation of a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system for the District.

This is a rare opportunity for a seasoned finance professional to join a high-performing water agency and contribute to the modernization of systems processes and procedures in a collegial stable and forward-looking environment. The ideal candidate will bring sound judgment strategic vision and a collaborative leadership approach that fosters accountability continuous improvement and commitment to excellent customer service.

Priorities

• Lead an ongoing effort to maintain the Districts AAA credit rating ensuring continued financial responsibility and transparency
• Drive selection and implementation of a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system for the District
• Prioritize and implement business process improvement recommendations from a recently completed third-party audit; foster a culture of continuous improvement across the Financial and Customer Services departments
• Build collaborative positive working relationships with the General Manager Board of Directors executive leadership team and District staff
• Complement the existing collegial and collaborative environment within the Financial and Customer Services Departments; support the teams ongoing efforts to embrace change and leverage new technology to enhance the service provided to the Districts customers

The Successful Candidate

Mesa Water Districts next CFO is a forward-thinking strategic leader who will bring deep financial expertise and a commitment to continuous improvement to the organization. The ideal candidate will have experience managing the complexities of public agency finance and demonstrate skill in applying sound financial principles across the Districts operations.

The successful candidate will have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills as well as the ability to build trust with key stakeholders and represent the District with credibility and professionalism. As a visible and engaged member of the executive leadership team the CFO will serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor helping to shape financial policy manage risk and align the Districts resources with its organizational priorities.

The next CFO will demonstrate commitment to building and nurturing high-functioning teams and supporting the professional development and growth of staff. They will delegate work effectively regularly assess performance and provide constructive feedback and ensure their teams have the resources needed to work effectively. This tenured finance professional will embrace challenges view changes as opportunities and effectively execute strategic goals across the team and the broader organization.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate a commitment to public service uphold the highest standards of integrity and ensure the District has the right processes and procedures to continue operating as a financially resilient and future-ready organization.

Qualifications

Minimum qualificationsinclude at least eight (8) years of increasingly responsible financial management experience including at least five (5) years of supervisory and management responsibility. A bachelors degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in accounting finance or a closely related field and possession of an active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is also required.

Preferred qualifications include a masters in business administration (MBA) degree from an accredited college or university financial management experience in a utility setting experience as an auditor and/or management consultant with an emphasis on designing and implementing business process improvement or change management initiatives and experience leading implementation of organization-wide technology modernization projects particularly ERP implementations.

Inside The District

Mesa Water District provides 16000 acre-feet per year (AFY) of domestic water and 1100 AFY of recycled water to 110000 customers in an 18-square mile area covering the City of Costa Mesa parts of the City of Newport Beach and John Wayne Airport. The District is governed by a publicly elected five-member Board of Directors responsible for setting policy establishing rates and overseeing District operations. Directors serve four-year terms are elected by division and represent the District on both internal committees and external agencies. The District employs a total of 61 full-time staff.

Mesa Waters vision is to be a top-performing public water agency. Its mission emphasizes managing finances and water infrastructure advocating for sound water policy and reliably delivering an abundance of clean safe water to enhance the publics quality of life. Core values include prioritizing the health and safety of the public and staff commitment to excellence a philosophy of abundance and a perpetual agency mindset.

For Fiscal Year 2026 the Districts adopted operating budget includes $60.3 million in projected revenues and $41.1 million in operating expenses. The capital budget for the same fiscal year totals $13.8 million. Mesa Water maintains a strong financial position holding AAA credit ratings from both Fitch and Standard & Poors. The District also pursues grant funding and low-interest loans to support capital improvements.

Mesa Water District recently received the ACWA Certificate of Excellence (A.C.E.) award for outstanding achievements in water management recognizing leadership innovation and excellence in stewarding Californias water resources. The District relies entirely on local groundwater supplies with imported water serving as a fully reliable backup. Major infrastructure investments are underway including a multi-year $70 million Capital Improvement Program Renewal (CIPR) aimed at enhancing system reliability and efficiency. Mesa Water also conducts regular internal audits and employee engagement surveys to support continuous improvement efforts.

The Community

Nestled in the vibrant heart of Orange County California Mesa Water District proudly serves a dynamic region encompassing the City of Costa Mesa parts of beautiful Newport Beach and the bustling John Wayne Airport. This highly desirable area combines the quintessential Southern California lifestyle with a thriving economic and cultural landscape.

Residents of Mesa Water Districts service area enjoy a diverse and welcoming community benefiting from an exceptional quality of life. The region is renowned for its outstanding schools creating a family-friendly environment within its well-maintained neighborhoods. With sun-drenched beaches just moments away the area offers unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation including surfing paddleboarding and an abundance of parks and green spaces perfect for hiking biking and leisurely strolls under the California sun.

Culture and the arts flourish here with Costa Mesa celebrated as the City of the Arts and home to the Segerstrom Center for the Arts offering world-class performances. Throughout the year the community enjoys a rich calendar of events festivals and diverse culinary experiences that reflect its lively spirit.

Economically the region is a powerhouse within Southern California. Key economic drivers include tourism retail real estate technology and healthcare with John Wayne Airport (JWA) serving as a major transportation and business hub. This robust and stable economy provides ample opportunities and a high standard of living.

Compensation and Benefits

The expected hiring range is $189654 - $261497 depending on qualifications with excellent benefits. Relocation assistance may be considered for the selected candidate.

For a complete overview of Mesa Waters extensive benefits review the Employee Benefits Summary here. Highlights include comprehensive health coverage for employees and their dependents (including $2400/month for benefits expenses) life and disability insurance membership in CalPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) a voluntary deferred compensation plan that includes a District match of up to 3.5% and generous vacation sick and holiday leave.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position will remain open until filled with a first review of applications beginning September 12 2025.

Questions

Please direct questions to Sarah Slegers at and Kelsey Batt at .

Download the Recruitment Brochure

Required Experience:

Chief