What are the responsibilities and job description for the Waste Prevention Environmental Services (WPES) Finance Manager position at Oregon Metro?
Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.
The Finance Department provides Metro with the financial, administrative, regulatory, and operational services that support sound stewardship of public resources. As the Waste Prevention & Environmental Services (WPES) Finance Manager, you will serve as a key member of Metro's financial leadership team, partnering closely with WPES leaders to provide strategic financial guidance that supports critical environmental, waste prevention, and sustainability programs. In this highly collaborative role, you will help shape financial decisions by leading budget development, financial forecasting, analysis, fee and revenue modeling, labor and unit costing, capital project financial management, and long-term fund balance planning.
As the WPES Finance Manager you will:
- Lead the development and management of the department’s annual operating and capital budgets, working closely with department program managers and Finance staff.
- Serve as a key member of the WPES management team and trusted advisor on financial, operational, and strategic matters.
- Manage the departmental adherence and compliance to procurement and internal accounting policies, Metro agency objectives, and the achievement of departmental goals.
- Provide full supervisory leadership for assigned staff, including hiring, performance management, training, and team development.
- Provide analysis and recommendations related to existing and proposed WPES programs and initiatives, including budget variance reports, financial forecasting, profit/loss evaluations, pro forma statements and legislative proposals.
- Manage various revenue, funding requirements and expenses from waste tonnage activity.
- Develop departmental fees for operational and regional activity cost recovery. This includes Regional System Fee, waste disposal fees charged at Metro stations and others as directed. Presentation of fees to departmental and agency leadership and external stakeholders is required for transparency and annual adoption.
- Ensures accurate and timely financial reporting, including monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, audit schedules, and grant billing.
- Supports operating contracts, the stations’ point of sale system and other departmental systems (grants, PowerBI, etc) as needed.
Attributes for success:
- Strong strategic thinker with the ability to shift between high-level planning and detailed financial analysis as needed.
- Ability to build strong, trust-based relationships by investing time in understanding team members’ roles, strengths, and challenges to foster a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
- Approaches financial leadership with a CFO mindset—applying expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis to guide planning, resource allocation, and data-driven decisions.
- Effectively manages both people and processes, removing obstacles, streamlining workflows, and ensuring operational continuity and clarity across complex financial systems.
- Prioritizes the success of the team and department, demonstrating a service-oriented leadership style that centers collective achievement while stepping into visible leadership when needed.
- Exhibits intellectual curiosity and a strong commitment to understanding the mission, operations, and public impact of the department, ensuring financial leadership is aligned with organizational goals.
- Maintains high standards of accountability, compliance, and accuracy in all financial functions, with knowledge of cost accounting, grants administration, internal controls, contract management, and regulatory requirements.
- Communicates financial and operational information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences—including executive leadership, program staff, oversight bodies, and external stakeholders.
- Collaborates across departments and agencies with professionalism and purpose, contributing to policy development, shared strategic priorities, and long-term planning efforts.
- Embraces challenges as opportunities—proactively identifies issues, develops solutions, and leads change efforts that improve systems, support staff, and enhance organizational effectiveness.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.
Learn more about how Metro is advancing diversity
TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.
Minimum qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or a related field, and
- Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in governmental budgeting and accounting, including at least five (5) years in a supervisory or leadership capacity, or
- Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.
Working Conditions: This role requires working on-site at least three days per week, providing opportunities for in-person collaboration, relationship building, and engagement with your team and department.
If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply
If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.
Hybrid Telework
This position is designated as “hybrid telework.” You will be required to work onsite and at times have the option to work away from your assigned work location. The specific schedule and balance of onsite and telework will be discussed with the hiring manager at the time of offer. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro. Please note, the designation of hybrid telework may be subject to change at a future time.
Like to have qualifications
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.
- Previous experience working in a union an environment.
- Previous experience working with Peoplesoft and NEOGOV.
- Experience in cost accounting, microeconomics modeling and cost analysis.
- Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., Workday, PeopleSoft) and grant-funded programs.
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and/or Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
- Certification or additional training in financial management or public sector finance (e.g., CGFM, CPFO, or similar).
SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.
- A completed online application
- Complete responses to supplemental questions
The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.
- Initial review of minimum qualifications
- In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
- Consideration of top candidates/interviews
- Testing/assessments (if applicable)
- Reference check
- Background records check for finalist candidate
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON
The full-salary range for this position for is step 1: $134,836.98 annually to step 6: $172,089.69 annually. However, unless a candidate’s qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro’s internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between step 1: $134,836.98 annually to the equity range step 4: $156,091.17 annually.
This position is not eligible for overtime and is not represented by a union . It is classified as a Finance Manager.
Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.
Questions?
Recruiter: Megan Warneke
Email: megan.warneke@oregonmetro.gov
Equal employment opportunity
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.
Non-discrimination in hiring decisions
Metro is committed to equal employment opportunity and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws. Metro employment decisions – including recruitment, screening, interviewing, selection, promotion, compensation, and separation – must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected class.
Accommodation
Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.
Veterans' preference
Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.
Pay equity at Metro
No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.
Online applications
Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.
How to Apply
For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro’s “How to apply” page.
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Metro
Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area’s garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.
Salary : $134,837 - $172,090