#40 - Odessa, Texas CFO Opportunity PositionCast™

What does it take to lead municipal finance in one of the most economically dynamic regions in the United States?

In this PositionCast™, James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice, is joined by Kelly Kuenstler, Vice President with Clear Career Professionals, and Aaron Smith, City Manager of Odessa, Texas, to discuss the Chief Financial Officer opportunity with the City of Odessa. This conversation goes beyond a job posting and gives candidates a direct look at executive leadership expectations, organizational direction, and the financial complexity facing Odessa’s next CFO.

Odessa operates in the heart of the Permian Basin, where oil and gas economic cycles influence municipal revenue, forecasting, and long term financial strategy. The CFO will oversee a 300 million dollar plus municipal budget environment, enterprise operations, financial planning, internal controls, debt management, audits, grants administration, and serve as a principal financial advisor to the City Manager and City Council. The role combines technical municipal finance expertise with executive level strategic leadership.

Aaron Smith shares his servant leadership philosophy, discusses rebuilding organizational stability, strengthening council and staff trust, expanding grant capacity, and positioning Odessa to become a benchmark community for municipal finance best practices. Kelly Kuenstler provides insight into what the City is seeking in its next financial leader and how this role fits into Odessa’s broader executive team structure.

Aaron also talks about quality of life in Odessa and West Texas, highlighting the strong sense of community, family friendly environment, and access to outdoor recreation. He mentions proximity to Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Big Bend National Park, and destinations in New Mexico, making Odessa appealing for leaders who value both professional impact and lifestyle balance.

Candidates will gain clarity on executive team dynamics, expectations for communication with council, support for professional development, and the opportunity to help shape financial operations during a period of growth and organizational renewal.

This episode is designed for municipal finance leaders, finance directors, assistant city managers, city managers, and public sector executives seeking high impact leadership roles in local government.

Learn more and apply for the Chief Financial Officer position here https://clearcareerpro.com/chief-financial-officer-odessa-texas/

#ClearCareerProfessionals #TheClearVoice #PositionCast #MunicipalFinance #LocalGovernmentCareers #CityFinance #PublicSectorLeadership

00:00 Introduction to the CFO Position in Odessa 04:09 Aaron Smith's Journey to City Manager 05:53 Understanding the CFO Role and Responsibilities 09:25 Current Projects and Future Opportunities 10:38 Challenges Facing the New Finance Director 12:22 Community Engagement and Communication 13:40 Living in Odessa: A Personal Perspective 15:08 Impact of the Permian Basin on Odessa 16:43 Support for Professional Development 17:25 Final Thoughts for Applicants 18:08 Outro

Connect With Clear Career Professionals

Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders. In addition to executive search services, Clear provides local government leadership training, organizational assessments, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, and strategic consulting designed to strengthen city organizations and support effective public service leadership.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes.

Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities

LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro