The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Board of Directors (BOD) calls for nominations for the position of chief financial officer (CFO) of the LCMS, housed at the International Center in St. Louis.
Position profile
The CFO of the Synod oversees all financial-related areas, including accounts receivable, cash receipts, general and cost accounting, internal audit, budgeting and corporate insurance. The CFO is an officer of the Synod and must abide by the rights and duties of the LCMS Constitution, Article XI A.
Essential job functions
Bylaws 3.4.1–3.4.1.2 provide the general requirements and expectations of the office. The CFO shall:
- Administer the financial affairs of the Synod, excluding the Synodwide corporate entities, the districts, the Concordia Plans and Concordia Plan Services.
- Be an officer of the Synod and a layperson appointed by the BOD with the consultation and concurrence of the president of the Synod.
- Serve a three-year renewable and unlimited number of terms of office during which he/she shall serve at the direction of the BOD. Each reappointment by the BOD shall be with the consultation and concurrence of the Synod president.
Specific responsibilities
The CFO also serves as the treasurer of the corporation and shall:
- Carry out the duties of the office in accordance with the rules and regulations adopted by the Synod and as directed by the BOD.
- Receive and disburse the monies of corporate Synod and keep accurate account of them under the instruction of the BOD.
- Act as the depository for all funds in the hands of corporate Synod’s boards (excluding the Concordia Plans and Concordia Plan Services), commissions, officers and employees who, by virtue of their office, act as custodians or trustees of such funds.
- Serve, if the board’s representation is not otherwise designated, as a non-voting member of the governing boards of the Concordia University System, the LCMS Foundation, Lutheran Church Extension Fund, the Concordia Plans, Concordia Plan Services and Concordia Publishing House, and on the investment committee of the Concordia Plans and Concordia Plan Services.
- Keep on file a correct list of all devises and bequests that directly or indirectly have been given to corporate Synod. Legacies and bequests made to other agencies of the Synod shall be reported annually to the CFO as part of the audit process.
- Be authorized to borrow in the name of the Synod, provided its BOD has first determined the amounts and conditions under which such monies shall be borrowed.
- At any time, submit to an audit of official books and accounts when so ordered by the Synod or its BOD.
- Perform other work as the Synod in convention, the president or the BOD may assign.
- The CFO shall work closely with the chief administrative officer and the chief mission officer in carrying out the programmatic, administrative and financial functions of the national Synod.
Other bylaws provide additional criteria and responsibilities for the CFO as outlined in Bylaw 3.5.1, 3.5.2 and 3.6.4.
Position requirements
- A member of the LCMS, faithful to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions and supportive of the Synod’s Constitution, bylaws, practices and policies.
- Bachelor’s degree is required., master’s degree preferred. Professional designations, i.e., CPA, CFA, CMA, CIA, are highly desirable.
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in a financial leadership position, ideally as a CFO, comptroller, senior accountant, treasury manager.
- Previous management of director-level staff is a plus.
- Proven integrity, discretion and judgment in confidential matters.
- Previous experience working in a board of directors’ governance model is preferred.
- An understanding of the Synod’s structure is highly desirable.
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 30 percent. Includes international and domestic travel.
A detailed position description is available upon request. Qualified applicants are welcome to apply online via lcms.org/careers. Nominations are welcomed and may be submitted to Val Rhoden-Kimbrough at val.rhoden-kimbrough@lcms.org. The deadline to apply or submit nominations is Dec. 31. For more information on the LCMS, please visit lcms.org.
Posted Oct. 15, 2019
