The City of Clearlake is seeking a highly experienced, tech-savvy candidate for this position who has the strength of character and depth of knowledge to inspire and lead the Finance Division talented, dedicated staff. The Finance Director must have the technical and analytical skills to ensure the City’s continuing financial stability and the management ability to ensure the continued effectiveness of Finance staff. The chosen candidate will exhibit the ability to tactfully and diplomatically address issues and challenges, providing citywide leadership by example in tackling difficult or controversial matters head-on and encouraging open discussion that is respectful of others’ roles, responsibilities, and points of view. Candidates should have governmental accounting experience. The City is in the beginning phases of transitioning to a new enterprise resource planning system beginning with Finance and Human Resources. Candidates ideally should possess an innovative mindset and ability to critically evaluate existing systems for potential improvements.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional interpersonal skills and a commitment to developing strong, positive working relationships not only with the City manager but with Finance staff, and entirety of the management team. A candidate who exhibits patience, transparency, and a commitment to teamwork will be valued, as will one who is able to work both collaboratively and assertively. Candidates must exhibit excellent communication and presentation skills, as well as political acumen.

Candidates for this position will be expected to have knowledge operational characteristics, services and activities of a comprehensive municipal finance planning and development program; financial management and public financing techniques; organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and operational needs; modern and complex principles and practices of fiscal management program development and administration; theory and practices of modern governmental accounting; principles and practices of treasury management; internal audit procedures and practices; data processing systems and practices; advanced principles and practices of municipal budget preparation; principles and practices of purchasing, principles and practices of risk management; principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation; and pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes and regulations.

Qualified candidates will possess equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration or a related field; five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in governmental accounting, financial planning and administration, including two (2) years of administrative and supervisory responsibility. Applicants with a Certified Public Accountant certification are preferred.