Director of Finance

At the City of Placentia, we strive to make a difference by continually developing our progressive and innovative workforce. Our team works together to foster an environment that promotes diversity, creativity, and respect for everyone’s opinions to ensure a better result for the community we serve. The City believes in a philosophy of continuous improvement and seeks to provide employees with a number of professional development opportunities, including citywide leadership academies and more. If you are interested in a public sector career with an established agency dedicated to improving the way its employees work, develop, and thrive, this position would be an excellent opportunity for you. The City of Placentia continues to have positive and upward progress in all of its operations and is uniquely positioned for success in the years ahead. The City seeks a proven leader that desires to be a part of our dynamic management team in taking Placentia to the next level!

The Finance Department currently has nine full-time team members, including the Director, and is responsible for budget management, accounting, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, purchasing and oversight and reporting of the City’s complex financial resources.

The Director of Finance is responsible for exercising independent judgment in establishing efficient and effective financial operations consistent with City Council priorities and administrative guidelines established by the City Administrator. Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration including budget preparation and analysis, grant accounting and bond issuances. financial planning, internal controls and concepts of automated financial management information systems will be paramount to the new Director’s success in this role.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, finance, accounting, or other area of study relevant to the position.
• Experience: Minimum eight (8) years of progressively responsible management experience in finance, accounting and budgeting in a comparable size organization, including three (3) years of responsible supervisory or management experience.

The ideal candidate should possess strong technical skills, leadership and strategic thinking abilities. They should demonstrate expertise in financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning, while also showcasing the ability to lead and inspire a finance team and collaborate with other departments. They should be adept at communicating complex financial information clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences. The ideal candidate subscribes to the philosophy of continuous improvement, has tremendous initiative and demonstrates the highest-level character and ethical standards.