CU CFO Always 'Makes Sure to Say Thank You for a Job Well Done'

Name: James Moe

Credit union: Western Cooperative Credit Union ($450 million, Williston, N.D.)

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Number of years at current credit union: Six months

Educational background: Bachelor’s degree from the University of Jamestown in Jamestown, N.D.

CU Times: What are your key responsibilities in your current role?

Moe: As the CFO, I work with our accounting department and president/CEO to oversee financial operations, which includes managing our investment portfolio.

CU Times: What drew you to the credit union industry?

Moe: My entire professional career has been focused on serving our community. This opportunity allows me to continue that focus while growing in new ways and building on previous experiences.

CU Times: What unique skills, experience and attributes do you bring to your role?

Moe: I have 15 years of leadership experience in the health care industry. The last five years of my career were spent working as a regional director. I was responsible for the budgets and financial operations for three separate laboratories serving western North Dakota. Lastly, I have participated in lots of training including leadership, customer service, creating a positive culture and creating impactful change. I believe these skills can contribute to an organization regardless of the setting.

CU Times: Which person (or people) do you credit the most for helping and supporting you along your career journey?

Moe: I credit all my co-workers at Western Cooperative Credit Union for making my transition an amazing experience. Everyone has been so helpful with training and making me feel comfortable enough to ask questions and learn.

CU Times: What are some of the biggest differences between working in your current executive level role and your previous, non-executive roles?

Moe: My previous experience was in a very large corporation where decisions were made at a much higher level and my role was to follow through with those decisions. My current position allows me to be more included in the decision-making process. I enjoy collaborating with other leaders here to help continue the success of this organization.

CU Times: What’s a challenge you faced when you first joined your executive team, and how did you overcome it?

Moe: I didn’t have much experience with managing investment portfolios. Our president/CEO was aware of this and made sure there was plenty of opportunity for education to help me succeed in this role.

CU Times: How would you describe your current leadership style?

Moe: I believe honesty, good communication skills and follow-through are all important attributes of a good leader. I try to focus on these as much as I can and make sure to say thank you for a job well done. Feedback is very important.

CU Times: What are some lessons you’ve learned over your career concerning how to communicate well with others? And, do you approach communication differently depending on the generation of the recipient (boomer, Gen X, millennial and Gen Z)?

Moe: Being a good listener is imperative to good communication. I also think picking up on verbal and non-verbal cues can really help improve the quality of conversations.

CU Times: What are some ways in which you achieve work/life balance, set boundaries and/or avoid burnout at work?

Moe: It has taken me years to learn to take things in stride. Whatever happens throughout the day can’t be controlled. Things just happen for one reason or another and the only thing I can control is how to respond to that. I try not to focus on the negatives, which lead to more stress and burnout.

CU Times: What’s next for you on your executive career journey? Do you have any specific career goals you’re working toward?

Moe: I am really enjoying my new journey now and haven’t thought too much ahead yet. I think continuing to learn about our operations and contributing to the success of the organization is what I plan to focus on.

CU Times: What big-picture impact do you hope to make within your credit union, as well as for your members and community?

Moe: I don’t have a specific big picture impact to share just yet, but I do believe more of the story will be written soon. We have a new president/CEO and several other leadership positions within our credit union. I get excited thinking about the opportunities and challenges we will face and how we will work together to serve our wonderful community.

CU Times: What career advice would you give your younger self?

Moe: I would tell myself or anyone else to not be afraid to take a chance. The world is full of opportunity and sometimes we can get in our own way. Put yourself out there and if the opportunity doesn’t work out it doesn’t mean you have failed. Likely, there is another opportunity just around the corner that is destined for you.

Would you or someone you know like to share your journey to credit union leadership? Please reach out to Natasha Chilingerian at nchilingerian@cutimes.com. To qualify, the individual must be a part of a credit union’s leadership team or C-suite, and have a compelling story to share about their rise to their current leadership role.