Deputy Finance Director

Position Overview

Join the Cumberland County Finance Department and play a key leadership role in guiding the County's financial operations and long-term fiscal success. This position oversees critical financial services including accounting, payroll, purchasing, cash forecasting, investments, debt management, and fixed asset control while ensuring compliance with North Carolina statutes, federal regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles. The selected candidate will lead financial services units, supervising professional accountants and departmental managers while fostering a collaborative, high-performing team environment. This role drives innovation by developing strategic goals, policies, and operational improvements that strengthen financial processes and organizational effectiveness. The position plans, directs, and evaluates accounting and risk management activities, ensuring accurate reporting and sound financial stewardship. Serving as a trusted partner to leadership, this role also represents the Finance Director when needed and helps shape the County's financial vision for the future.

*Salary will be determined by applicants qualifying education and experience*

Examples of Duties

Develops and implements departmental goals and objectives while leading cross-functional teams to support County and Finance Department priorities

Supervises professional, technical, and support staff, including hiring, training, employee development, performance management, and evaluation

Provides leadership and oversight for purchasing and contracts, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, risk management, and collections operations, ensuring strong internal controls and accurate financial recordkeeping

Reviews and approves timesheets, administrative documents, financial transactions, and staff work products while identifying staffing and resource needs

Serves as backup to the Chief Financial Officer (upon appointment by the Board of County Commissioners), performing pre-audit functions to ensure expenditures comply with the adopted budget ordinance and applicable regulations

Monitors daily banking activity, including cash balances, check runs, payroll funding, and incoming/outgoing wire transfers; administers the County's banking portal and user access controls

Oversees investment activities in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes and County policy, including obtaining competitive bids, executing trades, transferring funds, verifying transactions, and maintaining investment records

Manages financial system administration by maintaining the chart of accounts, establishing account codes, troubleshooting system issues, coordinating with Information Services and vendors, and maximizing software utilization

Leads month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring financial accuracy, system integrity, and balanced accounts prior to closing periods

Trains staff, responds to financial system inquiries, and recommends process improvements that enhance operational efficiency and strengthen financial management practices

Minimum Qualifications

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a major in accounting, business administration or finance and four (4) years of progressively responsible professional level accounting and supervisory experience in a governmental fiscal operation; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Management Preference: Experience in municipal/county government or auditor of public finance organization; Certified Public Accountant (CPA); NC Certified Local Government Finance Officer; High level of proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); Experience with financial operating systems such as Tyler Munis, or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of governmental accounting, including financial reporting and the performance of complex accounting activities

• Knowledge of the County's financial system, including chart of accounts management and preparation of daily and monthly financial entries

• Knowledge of financial systems sufficient to analyze operations and recommend modifications or process improvements

• Knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, standards, and regulations governing financial operations and assigned program responsibilities

• Knowledge of state and federal laws, terminology, and professional standards relevant to departmental financial functions

• Skill in communicating financial information clearly and effectively to executive leadership and stakeholders

• Skill in leadership, supervision, and team development, including directing professional accountants and paraprofessional staff

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with internal departments, external agencies, and community partners

• Ability to manage and direct complex financial management systems and analyze financial data, trends, and reports

• Ability to interpret and apply complex federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations related to financial and program operations

Conditions of Employment:

A formal transcript will be required. College transcripts may be submitted on-line via the attachment feature or mailed to Cumberland County Human Resources, 117 Dick St. Fayetteville, NC 28301.

Successful candidates who receive a conditional offer of employment with Cumberland County must pass pre-employment screenings, including criminal history checks and drug screenings, as required by Cumberland County Policies and Procedures, prior to beginning work or receiving a final offer of employment. Refusal to submit to testing or testing positive for prohibited substances will result in the withdrawal of the conditional employment offer.

Cumberland County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind. All employment decisions at Cumberland County are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or any other status protected by applicable laws and regulations. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.