Assistant to the Director of Finance - City of San Jose

Assistant To The Director Of Finance

The City of San Jos is a full-service Charter City and operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Council consists of ten (10) council members elected by district and a mayor elected at large. The City Manager, who reports to the Council, and his executive team provide strategic leadership that supports the policy-making role of the Mayor and the City Council, and motivates and challenges the organization to deliver high quality services that meet the community's needs. Department heads, including the Director of Finance, are appointed by the City Manager with confirmation by the City Council. The City actively engages with members of the community through Council-appointed boards and commissions. In addition to providing a full range of municipal services including police and fire, San Jos operates an airport, a municipal water system, a regional wastewater treatment facility, some 200 neighborhood and regional parks, and a library system with 24 branches. The City also oversees convention, cultural, and hospitality facilities that include the San Jos McEnery Convention Center, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theater, Mexican Heritage Plaza, and the SAP Center San Jos home of the National Hockey League San Jos Sharks. City operations are supported by 6,647 positions and a total operating and capital budget of $5.12 billion (for the 2022-23 fiscal year). San Jos is dedicated to maintaining the highest fiscal integrity and maintaining its consistently high credit ratings to ensure the consistent delivery of quality services to the community. Extensive information regarding San Jos can be found on the City website at

The Finance Department mission is to manage, protect and report on the City of San Jos's financial resources to enhance the City's financial condition for residents, businesses and investors. The Finance Department has four core divisions:

• Accounting
• Debt & Treasury Management
• Purchasing & Risk Management
• Revenue Management

The Finance Department works in partnership with the departments of Human Resources, Information Technology, and Public Works as the Strategic Support City Service Area to effectively develop, manage and safeguard City fiscal, physical, technological and human resources to enable and enhance the delivery of City services and projects. The Finance Department has 134 authorized positions, with 134 positions proposed in the 2022-23 operating budget.

Reporting to and directly supporting the Director of Finance, this high-level Assistant coordinates, implements, evaluates and, as appropriate leads, special and administrative projects and initiatives, systems, policies, and procedures to ensure that sound management and organizational practices are followed. Typical duties include:

• Coordinate projects and special studies
• Review department policies, procedures, and operations
• Confer with department managers on administrative issues
• Make recommendations to improve department operations
• Develop appropriate modifications to the department's policies and procedures manual
• Negotiate and develop contracts, grants, and special funds
• Prepare reports, position papers and dynamic presentations
• Monitor and analyze pending legislation affecting departmental operations
• Identify and implement departmental training needs

The City of San Jose's Finance Department is a tight-knit, hard-working and energetic team. The Department is looking forward to refreshing its department culture and team building initiatives as the City emerges from the intense COVID-19 pandemic era. The ideal candidate is an accomplished project manager with excellent analytical and communication skills. They have extensive experience with contracts, negotiations, and liability requirements. They are adept at managing fiscal systems and controls. They have an in-depth understanding of financial management, government financing, budgeting, and accounting theory and practices. They understand and keep up-to-speed with federal, State, and local rules and regulations that affect department operations. They conduct thorough research and provide sound recommendations to maintain effective and efficient operations within the department. The successful candidate will be highly organized and fluent in Microsoft Operations. They will be a skilled writer and editor with advanced spreadsheet proficiency. Finally, they will thrive in a fun and fast-paced environment.

The ideal candidate will possess the following competencies, as demonstrated in past and current employment history. Desirable competencies for this position include:

• Job Expertise - Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
• Analytical Thinking - Approaching a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.
• Change Management - Demonstrates support for innovation and for organizational changes needed to improve the organization's effectiveness; facilitates the implementation and acceptance of change within the workplace.
• Communication Skills - Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Computer Skills - Experienced with common business computer applications including but not limited to: MS Outlook, MS Word, MS PowerPoint, MS Access, and MS Excel.
• Customer Service - Demonstrates the ability to anticipate customers' needs and deliver services effectively and efficiently using professional demeanor.
• Decision Making - Identifies and understands issues, problems, and opportunities; uses effective approaches for choosing a course of action or developing appropriate solutions.
• Initiative - Exhibits resourceful behaviors toward meeting job objectives; anticipates problems, is proactive, and avoids difficulties by planning ahead; displays willingness to assume extra responsibility and challenges; pursues continuing education opportunities that promotes job performance.
• Project Management - Ensures support for projects and implements department goals and strategic objectives. Reliability - Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.
• Social Awareness - Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other people's emotions and how they influence the situation of interest or concern; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness.

Requires a Bachelor's degree in business or public administration or a related field AND five years of increasingly responsible experience in business management and/or administration, including at least one year of experience at the level of Senior Analyst or higher.

Employment Eligibility: Federal law requires all employees to provide verification of their eligibility to work in this country. Please be informed that the City of San Jose will NOT sponsor, represent or sign any documents related to visa applications/transfers for H1-B or any other type of visa which requires an employer application.

Per the City's COVID19 Mandatory Vaccination Policy, the City requires all employees starting on or after February 11, 2022, to provide proof of vaccination as a condition of employment absent a documented medical and/or religious exemption. Proof of vaccination means that employees are required to be "up-to-date" with regards to the COVID-19 vaccine. Consistent with the Santa Clara County Public Health Order issued on December 28, 2021, "up-to-date" means that an employee is not only "fully vaccinated," but has also obtained any booster doses of a COVID-19 vaccination for which they are eligible, within 15 days of first becoming eligible.

The salary range for Assistant to the Director is $102,668.80 to $ 125,132.80 . In addition to the starting salary, employees in the Assistant to the Director classification shall also receive an approximate five percent (5%) ongoing non-pensionable compensation pay. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidate's qualifications and experience.

The City also provides an attractive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to:

• Retirement Competitive defined benefit retirement plan with full reciprocity with CalPERS.
• Health Insurance The City contributes 85% towards the premium for the lowest-priced non-deductible plan. Several plan options are available.
• Dental Insurance The City contributes 100% of the premium of the lowest-priced plan for dental coverage.
• Personal Time Vacation is accrued initially at the rate of three weeks per year with amounts increasing up to five weeks after 15 years of service. Vacation accrual may be adjusted for successful candidates with prior public service to reflect a vacation accrual rate commensurate with total years of public service. Executive Leave of 40 hours is granted annually and, depending upon success in the Management Performance Program, could increase to up to 80 hours. Sick Leave is accrued at the rate of approximately 8 hours per month.
• Holidays The City observes 15 paid days annually.
• Deferred Compensation The City offers an optional 457(b) plan.
• Flexible Spending Accounts The City participates in Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Reimbursement Programs.
• Insurance The City provides a term life insurance policy equal to two times annual salary. Long-term disability and AD&D plans are optional. Employee