Chief Financial Officer - Department of Social Services

Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Department of Social Services, Santa Barbara, California.

Salary: $138,322 – $176,542 Annually DOE/DOQ*

The County of Santa Barbara is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Department of Social Services. We are seeking a finance and accounting professional who has strong organizational leadership skills, financial acumen, strategic business thinking, and experience with complex financial systems and programs in a governmental agency, preferably a California health and human services organization.

As CFO, you will be an integral part of the Department’s leadership team, helping navigate the Department through changing fiscal and policy mandates, priority-setting, and funding decisions that best support the Department’s mission to help vulnerable members of our community become safe, supported, and self‑sufficient.

The Department

Joining the Social Services Department is an opportunity to positively affect the lives and futures of children, families, and seniors in our community. The Department of Social Services has over 800 employees and provides a broad range of services and programs critical to delivering a countywide safety net for children, the elderly, and dependent adults. The department also provides eligibility determination for access to healthcare benefits and supports individuals and families in achieving economic self‑sufficiency through CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi‑Cal, General Relief, and employment training and placement assistance.

The Position

THIS IS A KEY LEADERSHIP POSITION within the Department of Social Services overseeing the Fiscal Division. The position is part of a leadership team of 35 managers and executives and supports over 750 positions in 7 locations. It reports to the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and oversees a budget of $238 million. The CFO oversees four direct reports, including an Assistant Chief Financial Officer, and 28 indirect staff primarily in Santa Barbara/Goleta, Lompoc, and Santa Maria. This position is fully in‑office, without regular hybrid schedule.

• Financial Systems and Data Management
• Procurement and Contracts
• Specialized Accounting
• Grants Finance
• Budget and Resource Planning
• Financial Accounting and Reporting
• General Accounting

The incumbent will understand and have a passion for public finance and budgeting and be able to effectively communicate complex concepts to both technical and lay audiences. The ideal candidate is a transparent and collaborative leader with unquestionable ethics, experience overseeing complex financial, budgeting, and accounting operations, preferably in a large California public‑sector health and human services organization.

The Ideal Candidate Will

• Have strong analytical skills and use data and financial strategy to manage complex and changing environments.
• Understand complex, interconnected budgets and funding sources.
• Have experience overseeing the budgeting and finances of a large government agency.
• Be a visionary and approachable leader who builds trust, cooperation, and collaboration.
• Be highly organized, able to plan ahead, multitask, and manage time effectively.
• Stay calm under pressure and meet deadlines with a steady leadership style.
• Have experience working in a diverse team, both leading and supporting others to deliver strong results.
• Have experience implementing a large‑scale financial or other IT system in a public agency; experience with the Workday system is highly desirable.
• Have experience forecasting financial outcomes, developing recommendations, and clearly communicating them to leadership, both verbally and in writing.
• Work effectively with the Auditor‑Controller, County finance staff, and the County Executive Office.
• Make recommendations to executive leadership that balance best practices with Department goals, culture, and resources.
• Be committed to continuous improvement, including process redesign, technology upgrades, and organizational change.

These examples are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job and not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

1. Serves as a member of the County’s management team by planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing activities in accounting, budget, accounts receivable/payable, employee benefits, payroll, debt management, public funds and property tax collections, financial analysis, and auditing.
2. Establishes annual or mid‑term priorities, goals, and operational plans for the division or programs.
3. Recommends, establishes, and provides direction for new or revised services, programs, processes, policies, standards, or operational plans, based upon the department’s longer‑term strategies.
4. Recommends division’s strategic plans within department strategic direction to the next level manager or director.
5. Troubleshoots and resolves program or work unit issues and keeps higher‑level management informed of issues/resolution.
6. Develops, administers and evaluates fiscal services and programs to ensure compliance with strategies and performance goals; manages work systems and processes; maintains and updates procedures; researches trends and best practices; recommends and implements changes.
7. Develops and administers work unit budget; reviews and approves budget requests and transactions; negotiates and manages contracts; researches and analyzes financial information; makes resource allocation recommendations and implements decisions.
8. Researches, analyzes, develops, and reviews original fiscal, compliance, and related reports, contracts, plans, grant proposals, materials, presentations, and other documents; develops and makes recommendations to higher‑level staff.
9. Develops, implements, and evaluates services and programs to ensure adherence to strategic and performance goals; manages work systems and processes; maintains and updates procedures; researches trends and best practices; recommends and implements operational and/or program changes.
10. Develops and administers budgetary and procurement processes; manages contracts; researches and analyzes financial information; makes resource allocation recommendations; implements decisions.
11. Supervises management, professional, paraprofessional, and support staff; conducts performance evaluations, employee development, hiring, discipline, and termination procedures.
12. Coordinates work with the general public, County staff, external agencies; represents the County on professional committees; prepares and makes presentations to the public, elected officials, boards, and other stakeholders.
13. Performs other related duties as required.

Education and Experience

• Equivalent of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting or finance, including at least three (3) years as a supervisor or manager.

Additional Requirements

• Possession and maintenance of a valid California driver’s license and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County, or provide suitable transportation as a condition of continued employment.

Desirable Qualifications

• Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)
• Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

Knowledge of

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
• Principles and practices of accounting, tax, auditing, and collections
• Principles and practices of budget development and management
• Financial planning and analysis, investment portfolio management, cost and revenue management, and cash management
• Payroll and benefits
• Public administration and program management, including strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation
• Management principles, practices, and techniques
• Governmental accounting, fiscal management, budgeting, and auditing
• Program planning and administration
• Personnel management, employee supervision, training, and evaluation
• Group facilitation, conflict resolution, and consensus building
• Procurement and contract administration
• Effective oral presentations
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and standards
• Business systems, equipment, and applications relevant to the area of assignment

Ability to

• Manage large operations related to accounting, tax, auditing, and collections programs and services
• Manage budget development and management programs and projects
• Manage programs and projects related to financial planning and analysis, investment portfolio management, cost and revenue management, and cash management
• Ensure ongoing compliance with strategic objectives and performance measures
• Develop and implement policies and procedures
• Manage and evaluate assigned staff, including training, coaching, setting goals and strategic objectives, coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and monitoring performance
• Analyze and evaluate operational programs, projects, and procedures
• Plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise changes and improvements in public agency projects and studies
• Manage budgets, contracts, grants, and resource allocation
• Interpret, monitor, and report financial information and statistics
• Oversee the implementation of, and adherence to, quality assurance activities and standards
• Research, recommend, and implement industry trends, solutions, and best practices
• Resolve complex problems within the area of assignment
• Prepare and oversee the preparation of reports, grant proposals, documents, and presentations
• Make presentations to stakeholders, elected officials, County leadership, and the public
• Collaborate with program stakeholders, elected and appointed boards, the public, and internal leadership
• Interpret and apply applicable laws, codes, regulations, and standards
• Communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of individuals, including coworkers, subordinate staff, supervisors, other managers, professional agencies, and the general public

Selection Process

1. Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine which applicants meet the employment standards.
2. Rank applications that meet the standards; candidates are scored based on information provided and the Ideal Candidate section. A minimum score of 70 is required to be placed on the employment list. The list remains in effect for a minimum of three months.

The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one‑year probationary period.

Reasonable Accommodations

The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities. Qualified individuals needing accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. Verification is required from a professional source.

Conditional Job Offer

Once a conditional offer is made, acceptance is contingent upon successful completion of a background check (including conviction history), satisfactory reference checks, and a post‑offer medical evaluation or examination.

Benefits

The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. Additional benefits for employees from other public sector employers include retirement reciprocity and time and service credit toward an advanced vacation accrual.

Disaster Service Worker

All County employees are declared disaster service workers under Governmental Code section 3100 and may be assigned to disaster service activities by their supervisors or by law.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by federal, state, or local law. The County is committed to a merit‑based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining qualified candidates, and values the contributions of all employees.

Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Deadline

Open until filled. Applications and job bulletins are available 24 hours a day at