FINANCE DIRECTOR/CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO) (Urbana)

FINANCE DIRECTOR/CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER (CFO) JobID: 536

• Position Type: Administration/Management
• Date Posted: 6/25/2026
• Date Available: When filled

The City of Urbana is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and experienced leader to serve as the next Finance Director/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) . The Finance Director/CFO is the chief fiscal officer of the City. This full‑time, executive management position serves as a key member of the City's executive leadership team and reports directly to the Mayor.

The incumbent performs advanced professional work managing a wide and highly complex array of financial functions within the City's Finance Department. This position is responsible for providing strategic and administrative oversight to the City's finance and accounting functions; the development, implementation, and maintenance of internal control systems and financial policies and procedures; acting as a trusted advisor to the Mayor, City Council, and staff and as a liaison between City departmentS and auditors, outside financial agencies, and the public; and is responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations. An employee in this classification works under limited supervision and broad, general direction; exercises considerable independence; should have advanced knowledge of Government Accounting Standards; and have superior written and oral communication skills.

Successful performance in this position requires effective and supportive leadership and management skills and the ability to foster collaboration; support staff development; and model superior internal and external customer service, ethical standards, and integrity. This position is responsible for the supervision of management, professional, and administrative support staff. The incumbent has considerable interface with all City departments, the City Council, and other elected officials, and community stakeholders.

About Urbana

The City of Urbana, IL (38,336) is located in Champaign County in east central Illinois. It is home to the University of Illinois at Urbana‑Champaign, one of the preeminent research institutions in the world. Boasting a richly diverse population, a Big Ten University, two regional medical centers, and a flourishing arts and entertainment scene, Urbana offers its residents and visitors a wide range of exciting and unique urban amenities in a small, charming, and friendly package.

Urbana was founded in 1833 and is the County Seat of Champaign County. Along with its neighboring municipalities, Urbana is part of the Urbana‑Champaign MSA consisting of over 310,000 people. Urbana is known for its beautiful neighborhoods, excellent educational opportunities, high quality of life, recreational amenities, and responsive local government. It is a hub for shopping, dining, and recreation in east central Illinois. The community is also home to world‑class healthcare provided by two major medical centers: Carle Foundation Hospital and OSF Medical Center. Major regional employers include the University of Illinois and several Fortune 500 companies such as Kraft/Heinz, FedEx, State Farm Insurance, Caterpillar, John Deere, Yahoo!, and Intel.

Urbana also enjoys a beautiful array of historic commercial and residential buildings whose history and architecture illustrate the evolution of the community. Urbana residents and visitors also enjoy a vibrant and eclectic downtown, home to the popular Urbana Market at the Square and a variety of local businesses and venues; a host of parks and recreation resources maintained and supported by the Urbana Park District; and the historic Urbana Free Library, which houses the Champaign County Historical Archives.

Urbana Municipal Government

The City of Urbana is governed by Mayor DeShawn B. Williams and a seven‑member City Council, each elected by wards to four‑year overlapping terms. The Mayor is elected at‑large to a four‑year term. The Mayor is a full‑time position and functions as the City's Chief Executive Officer. With the advice and consent of the Urbana City Council, the Mayor appoints (among other appointees) the City Administrator and the department directors, including the Finance Director/CFO, while the City Administrator oversees the day‑to‑day functions of each operating department.

The City has an annual budget of $93 million and employs 290 full‑and part‑time employees. The municipality provides a full complement of services to the residents via the following operating departments: Police, Fire, Public Works, Community Development, Finance, and an Executive Department that houses City Administration, Human Resources, Legal, Human Rights & Equity, and Information Technology.

Finance Department

The Finance Department has 15 employees and a general fund budget of $2.2 million. The department is comprised of three divisions: Administration; Administrative Services, which houses the Customer Service and Parking Enforcement sections; and Financial Services, which is responsible for the accounts payable and receivable, payroll, and accounting functions.

The Finance Director/CFO is a member of the City's executive management team and functions under the general direction of the Mayor. The major responsibilities of the position include the following:

• Advises the Mayor, City Council, and staff regarding sound financial practices and policies, financial planning, and funding strategies.
• Directs and manages activities related to the City's budget, financial and accounting reporting systems, and audits.
• Develops the annual budget format, coordinates the budget process, and prepares the budget document; reviews all proposed budget amendments and ordinances.
• Manages the development and implementation of departmental operating procedures; approves updates and changes to departmental procedures.
• Reviews key financial operations and activities at regular intervals to ensure standard operating procedures are followed and performance standards are met; recommends and/or implements changes to same.
• Manages investment of City funds including maintaining, updating, and ensuring compliance with investment policy.
• Provides long‑range City financial forecast to establish future revenue needs and updates annually. Recommends strategies for revenue increases or budget reductions, based on the forecast.
• Reviews and approves purchases (approves all purchases above $10,000) and budget transfers pursuant to availability of funds, City Code requirements, and policies; provides guidance to City departments related to the City's decentralized procurement processes.
• Develops and ensures compliance with policies related to all City financial and purchasing functions.
• Attends City Council and other meetings as required and prepares items for Council action.
• Develops systems to monitor the fiscal status of all City functions, prepares reports, and regularly reviews and advises the Mayor on fiscal condition, changes, and trends.
• Manages and monitors financial matters related to risk management, and coordinates with Legal and Human Resources Divisions on worker's compensation and/or liability claims, as needed. Directs procurement of insurance products.
• Reviews and approves long‑range financial plans for automation of financial processes; oversees the implementation of financial technologies including but not limited to those related to financial reporting, customer service, and revenue collection.

Maintains effective relationships with other City departments and governmental officials, community leaders, citizens, news media representatives, etc.

Required and Desirable Qualifications

The City welcomes applicants with any combination of education and experience that will provide the required knowledge and abilities to perform the duties of the Finance Director/CFO as outlined above. Applicants are generally expected to have a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or some other closely related field. A master's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, or another relevant field is desirable but not required. Applicants should also have at least ten (10) years of progressive executive experience in governmental budgeting and financial planning and management, including preparation of governmental comprehensive annual financial reports (CAFR) and extensive experience in all aspects of accounting, general ledger control, financial reporting, debt issuance, investments, banking, accounts payable and revenue billing, and collection, with at least five (5) years at a supervisory level.

The City considers the following skills, abilities, knowledge, and commitments to be essential for the successful candidate:

• Ability to plan, organize, analyze, and direct the comprehensive financial programs of a municipal finance department and communicate complex information effectively regarding the City's finances and financial programs to a wide variety of audiences
• Ability to formulate and implement finance and accounting policies, methods and procedures and ensure that these comply with federal, state, and local law
• Committed to responsible fiscal stewardship
• Ability to provide supportive and collaborative leadership to department staff and among City staff and foster cross‑departmental communication, teamwork, and education related to the City's financial programs and processes
• Committed to staff development and involvement, with an intentional focus on developing future leaders for the department and the City
• Exceptional aptitude to anticipate and solve problems, identify alternative courses of action, and to prepare, pr]]>