Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

"Follow yourcalling, Find your career"


Please apply by 10/24/26

Salary Range $121,947.00 - $182,920.00
This is an exempt (salaried)position. Pay rates are based on education, skill, experience level andinternal equity. Internal equity considerations include an assessment of theapplicant's salary history and qualifications in comparison to the market rateand requirements for the job.

CharlotteMecklenburg Library is one of America's leading urban public libraries,serving one of the country's great emerging metropolitan areas in NorthCarolina. Our library system serves a community of approximately one millioncitizens in the city of Charlotte and the towns of Matthews, Pineville, MintHill, Davidson, Cornelius, and Huntersville - all located in MecklenburgCounty. Accessible and welcoming to all, our library celebrates the joy ofreading, fosters learning and growth, connects people to each other and theworld, and inspires individuals with what they can achieve. Through our 20locations, online, and through targeted outreach, we deliver exceptionallibrary services and programs with a mission to create a community of readersand empower individuals with free access to information and the universe ofideas.


Location:
LibraryAdministration Center (LAC): 510 Stitt Road, Charlotte, NC 28213

Position Summary:
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) provides executive leadership and strategicdirection for the Library's financial operations, ensuring sound fiscalmanagement, compliance, transparency, and alignment of resources with theLibrary's strategic priorities. Serving as the Library's Finance Officer and amember of the Executive Team, the CFO shares responsibility for organizationalstrategy, performance, and long-term sustainability and brings financialinsight and discipline to enterprise-wide decision-making.
The CFO directsbudgeting, financial reporting, accounting, treasury management, procurement,contract and grant compliance, internal controls, and related financialfunctions. The CFO advises the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Team, andBoard of Trustees on financial matters; builds strong partnerships withMecklenburg County and other stakeholders; and works across the organizationthrough partnership and influence to strengthen financial stewardship,planning, and decision-making. The CFO also develops and coaches ahigh-performing Finance team, establishing clear expectations, building staffcapability, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, service,and continuous improvement.

Essential Functions:
• Serve as an activemember of the Library Executive Team, contributing financial expertise andenterprise perspective to organizational strategy, priorities, performance,risk management, and major decisions.
• Provide executiveleadership and strategic direction for the Library's financial operations,ensuring alignment of financial resources with organizational priorities andlong-term sustainability.
• Serve as astrategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees onfinancial performance, budget development, financial risk, resource allocation,and long-term financial planning.
• Lead, coach, anddevelop Finance Department staff; establish clear expectations andaccountability; build individual and team capability; foster a culture ofcollaboration, service, professional growth, and continuous improvement.
• Partner withleaders across the Library to strengthen financial understanding, evaluatepriorities and tradeoffs, align resources with organizational goals, andsupport sound decision-making through influence and collaboration.
• Monitor financial,economic, legislative, and operational trends to anticipate future budgetary,capital, and resource needs and recommend appropriate strategies.
• Lead thedevelopment, monitoring, forecasting, and administration of the Library'sannual operating budget, ensuring resources are aligned with strategicpriorities and expenditures remain within approved appropriations.
• Direct accounting,financial reporting, treasury management, procurement, payroll, contract andgrant compliance, financial activities of the CML Foundation, and other relatedfinancial functions, ensuring timely and accurate financial information to supportorganizational decision-making.
• Ensure theintegrity of the Library's financial operations through effective policies andinternal controls, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, responsiblestewardship of public and private resources, and achievement of a clean annualaudit opinion.
• Serve as theLibrary's primary financial liaison with Mecklenburg County and other externalstakeholders regarding funding, budgeting, financial reporting, and relatedfiscal matters.

MinimumQualifications:
Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in public financial management, auditing or business management; two years of senior-level or executive management experience leading complex projects and assessing organizational issues; three years of supervisory experience.

Education:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Economics, Finance or Business Administration, or related field.
Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted? Yes

Preferred Qualifications:
• Accounting,Auditing, and/or Financial Management certification such as CPA, CIA, or CGFM.
• Master's degree inFinance, Economics, Business, Accounting, Public Administration, or relatedfield.

Knowledge,Skills and Abilities:

Knowledgeof:
• Governmental andnonprofit accounting principles, practices, standards, and financial reportingrequirements, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
• Public-sectorbudgeting, financial planning, forecasting, and resource allocation
• Federal, state,and local laws, regulations, and compliance requirements applicable tofinancial operations
• Internal controls,audit, risk management, and financial governance practices
• Treasury and cashmanagement, procurement, payroll, contracts, and grant financial management
• Financialpolicies, systems, and practices that support effective stewardship,transparency, accountability, and organizational sustainability
• Principles oforganizational leadership, staff development, performance management, andcontinuous improvement

Skills:
• Strategic financialleadership, including translating organizational priorities into sustainablefinancial plans and resource strategies
• Financial analysis,forecasting, modeling, and interpretation of complex financial information tosupport executive decision-making
• Communicating complexfinancial concepts clearly and effectively to varied audiences, including theChief Executive Officer, Executive Team, Board of Trustees, staff, governmentpartners, and other stakeholders
• Building collaborativerelationships and influencing decisions across organizational boundaries andlevels of authority
• Identifying and evaluatingfinancial and organizational risk and developing practical solutions to complexissues
• Leading, coaching, developing,and holding staff accountable while building individual and team capability
• Managing multiple prioritiesand complex financial initiatives in a dynamic organizational environment
• Identifying and implementingopportunities to strengthen financial systems, processes, controls, reporting,and organizational effectiveness

Abilities:
• StrategicThinking: Understand the broader organizational environment, anticipate futureneeds and challenges, and connect financial strategy and resource decisions toorganizational priorities and long-term sustainability
• Executive Judgmentand Decision-Making: Evaluate complex information, competing priorities, risks,and tradeoffs; exercise sound judgment; and make timely, well-reasonedrecommendations and decisions
• EnterpriseLeadership: Operate beyond functional boundaries, contribute anorganization-wide perspective, and share accountability for the Library'soverall strategy, performance, and success
• Influence andCollaboration: Build credibility and productive relationships across functionsand levels; navigate differing perspectives; and influence decisions andoutcomes without relying solely on positional authority
• Communication:Convey complex information and ideas clearly, candidly, and appropriately forvaried audiences and facilitate understanding that supports effectivedecision-making
• Developing Others:Establish clear expectations, provide meaningful coaching and feedback, developstaff capability, and create an environment of accountability, learning, andprofessional growth
• Adaptability andContinuous Improvement: Navigate change and ambiguity effectively, identifyopportunities for improvement, and lead the evolution of systems, processes,and practices as organizational needs change

Computer Skills:
• Advancedproficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel.
• Advancedproficiency with enterprise financial management systems, financial reportingand analytical tools, and related business technology.

Work Environment:
Works in an office setting with moderate noise


ADA CompliantDisclaimer:
This classification has been identified as having a role in the developmentof ADA compliant technologies and for which the incumbent agrees tofollow County policies to the best of their abilities in order to meetthese obligations.

ReasonableAccommodations Statement:
To accomplish this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform,with or without reasonable accommodation, each essential functionsatisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to help enablequalified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
DisclaimerStatement:
This is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of job-relatedresponsibilities, duties, skills, requirements or working conditions.Other duties may be assigned based on business need and the supervisor'srequest. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to revise the jobdescription at any time. Designated positions may be required to assist inemergency and/or disaster situations.