Deputy Director of Finance

Join Our Team as Deputy Director of Finance! Are you a forward-thinking finance professional ready to make a meaningful impact in local government? The City is seeking a talented and motivated Deputy Director of Finance to help lead financial operations, support strategic decision-making, and ensure responsible stewardship of public resources. This is an exciting opportunity to bring your expertise, leadership, and innovative ideas to a team dedicated to serving the community!

Under the general direction of the Finance Director, the Deputy Director of Finance serves as second-in-command of the Finance Department and assists in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating the City's comprehensive financial operations. The Deputy Director provides executive-level leadership over accounting, budgeting, treasury, investments, debt administration, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, utility billing, purchasing, grants, audits, and financial reporting for the City, Successor Agency, and special districts. The position exercises substantial independent judgment, advises executive management and the City Council on complex fiscal matters, and serves as Acting Finance Director in the Director's absence or as assigned.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, DUTIES, AND TASKS

The following list of functions, duties, and tasks is typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform other closely related or department-specific functions, duties, and tasks from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Assists the Finance Director in providing departmentwide leadership and assumes management responsibility for assigned Finance Department programs, services, and activities; serves as second-in-command and acts as Finance Director in the Director's absence or as assigned.
• Develops, implements, and evaluates financial policies, procedures, internal controls, and performance measures that promote operational efficiency, fiscal accountability, transparency, and the safeguarding of City assets.
• Plans, organizes, directs, and reviews the work of assigned divisions and staff; establishes priorities, allocates resources, and ensures the effective delivery of financial and customer-service functions.
• Selects, trains, supervises, coaches, and evaluates assigned personnel; establishes performance expectations; addresses performance and conduct issues; and implements or recommends corrective and disciplinary action in accordance with City policies and applicable labor agreements.
• Leads and participates in development, administration, monitoring, and long-range forecasting of the Citywide operating and capital budgets; prepares revenue and expenditure projections, reconciliations, variance analyses, and recommendations for budget adjustments.
• Oversees procurement and purchasing activities, including policies, competitive processes, contracts, purchase orders, vendor compliance, and related internal controls, in accordance with applicable laws and City requirements.
• Directs financial forecasting and multi-year fiscal planning, including evaluation of staffing, capital, equipment, materials, supplies, and service needs; analyzes the fiscal impact of proposed programs, agreements, and policy decisions.
• Reviews and approves expenditures and financial transactions within delegated authority; recommends and implements budget amendments and corrective actions as appropriate.
• Oversees accounting operations, including the general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, cash receipts, utility billing, fixed assets, and reconciliations; ensures timely and accurate processing and reporting.
• Coordinates preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and other required financial statements and reports; manages annual and special audits, prepares high-level reconciliations, responds to audit findings, and ensures implementation of corrective actions.
• Oversees Citywide grant financial management, including budgeting, reimbursement, reporting, compliance, closeout, and audit support, in collaboration with operating departments and funding agencies.
• Ensures compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, Governmental Accounting Standards Board pronouncements, federal and state requirements, bond covenants, grant conditions, City policies, and other applicable financial and employment-related regulations.
• Prepares and presents complex financial analyses, budget recommendations, staff reports, policies, and presentations for the City Council, City Manager, executive management, boards, commissions, and other stakeholders.
• Represents the Finance Department in meetings with elected officials, departments, auditors, financial institutions, bond professionals, regulatory agencies, consultants, community organizations, and the public; explains City financial policies and conditions clearly and accurately.
• Monitors legislative, regulatory, economic, and professional developments affecting municipal finance; recommends changes to policies, systems, and practices and participates in professional organizations and training.
• Provides technical and strategic direction regarding treasury and cash management, investments, debt administration, revenue collection, rate and fee analysis, financial systems, and enterprise resource planning improvements.
• Leads or supports departmentwide and Citywide financial-system implementations, process improvements, emergency financial operations, and special projects assigned by the Finance Director or City Manager.
• Evaluates financial policies, fees, rates, cost-allocation plans, and long-term liabilities and recommends strategies that support the City's financial sustainability.
• Assists with the administration of the City's investment portfolio and debt obligations; coordinates with trustees, fiscal agents, underwriters, financial advisors, and bond counsel as assigned.

OTHER DUTIES

• Performs other related duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

(At time of application)

Knowledge of

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, and governmental fund accounting
• Principles and practices of municipal budgeting, financial forecasting, treasury and cash management, investments, debt administration, and revenue management
• Financial statement preparation, audit coordination, internal controls, fraud prevention, and risk assessment
• Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and reporting requirements applicable to municipal finance, grants, payroll, purchasing, and public agencies
• Modern financial management systems, enterprise resource planning systems, data analysis, and technology used in public-sector finance
• Principles and practices of public administration, organizational management, strategic planning, policy development, and performance measurement
• Public purchasing, contracting, grant management, records management, and debt and investment administration
• Advanced research, financial analysis, forecasting, problem solving, and presentation methods
• Principles of leadership, supervision, training, employee development, performance evaluation, and progressive discipline
• City organization, interdepartmental relationships, and the roles of elected and appointed officials
• Modern office practices and computer applications, including advanced spreadsheet, financial-reporting, and accounting software.

Skills and Abilities to

• Analyze complex fiscal, accounting, operational, and organizational issues; evaluate alternatives; quantify financial impacts; and develop sound, defensible recommendations
• Prepare and present clear, concise, and comprehensive budgets, financial statements, staff reports, policies, forecasts, studies, and other written and oral materials
• Interpret and apply laws, regulations, accounting standards, contracts, policies, and procedures accurately and consistently
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, executive management, employees, auditors, financial professionals, regulatory agencies, labor representatives, vendors, and the public
• Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate multiple finance programs, projects, and service priorities; coordinate effectively across departments and agencies
• Exercise independent judgment, maintain confidentiality, communicate effectively, and represent the City professionally in sensitive or high-level settings
• Use complex financial and accounting systems, spreadsheets, reporting tools, and other technology to improve accuracy, controls, analysis, and customer service
• Perform the essential functions of the classification with or without reasonable accommodation

(At time of application and in addition to the Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities listed above.)

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience that would provide the required knowledge, abilities and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the qualifications would be:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field, and six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in governmental finance, accounting, budgeting, auditing, or a related field, including at least three (3) years of supervisory or management experience. A master's degree and/or certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), or Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) is highly desirable.

LICENSE(S) REQUIRED

• Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain, a valid California Driver's License may be required.

(Must be performed with or without reasonable accommodations)

Work is performed primarily in an indoor office environment and may include attendance at evening meetings, travel to off-site locations, and occasional work outside normal business hours during budget preparation, audits, emergencies, or other critical deadlines.

Positions in this classification typically require sitting for extended periods, standing, walking, reaching, bending, lifting, grasping, repetitive hand movement, speaking, hearing, and seeing, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Light Work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position primarily involves office work but may require transporting financial records, reports, or equipment.