Assistant Chief Financial Officer

First 5 Alameda County•Alameda, CA

1d•$175,000 - $251,000•Hybrid

About The Position

Under administrative direction, the Assistant Chief Financial Officer assists the Chief Financial Officer and Agency Leadership in guiding the Agency’s financial strategy, fiscal planning, and operations. The role encompasses accounting, budgeting, reporting, compliance, audits, procurement, contract and grants management, treasury functions, and financial systems. It helps ensure sound financial stewardship, supports strategic initiatives, and strengthens internal controls. Depending on organizational needs, the role either directs one or more Finance Department functional areas or serves as chief of staff to the Chief Financial Officer. The position leads agency-wide budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, expenditure monitoring, financial analysis, and reporting. It supports long-range fiscal sustainability through strategic guidance, modeling, cash flow management, investment oversight, revenue maximization, and financial risk assessment. The role also oversees financial operations, systems, controls, audits, procurement, and contracting, and leads cross-functional strategic and operational initiatives. The Assistant Chief Financial Officer provides leadership, supervision, and professional development to departmental managers, supervisors, and staff. The position may act on behalf of the Chief Financial Officer in their absence and represent the Finance Department in Agency leadership forums, with external partners, and before governing bodies as assigned. The position is hybrid, with two days per week in the office; employees may be asked to attend meetings in person on additional days. All First 5 employees must live and work in California.

Requirements

Six years of increasingly responsible experience in public finance, accounting, budgeting, auditing, grants management, or related financial administration.
Three years of experience in a supervisory or management capacity.
A bachelor’s degree with major coursework in finance, accounting, economics, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field may be considered as part of the qualifying background; relevant work experience may substitute for college coursework or degree-based expectations.
Knowledge of governmental accounting, budgeting, auditing, financial reporting, public finance, treasury management, and fiscal management.
Knowledge of public-sector budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, scenario analysis, cash and investment management, and long-range financial planning.
Knowledge of laws, regulations, accounting standards, and compliance requirements governing public agency finance, grants, contracts, and procurement.
Knowledge of internal controls, risk management, audit practices, financial accountability, revenue management, reimbursement strategies, contract and grant administration, and complex public funding streams.
Knowledge of financial and enterprise resource planning systems, financial architecture, coding structures, chart-of-accounts design, and business process improvement.
Knowledge of integration of financial, operational, and programmatic data to support budgeting, performance measurement, strategic planning, and data-informed decision-making.
Knowledge of public policy implementation, fiscal impact analysis, and alignment of financial resources with organizational, strategic, and policy priorities.
Knowledge of management, supervision, employee engagement, coaching, team leadership, change management, continuous improvement, collaboration, stakeholder engagement, diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, culturally responsive practices, and workplace technology.
Ability to assist in directing, managing, and evaluating complex financial operations, programs, and organizational initiatives.
Ability to analyze complex financial, operational, and programmatic information and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate financial policies, procedures, internal controls, systems, and operational improvements.
Ability to interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, accounting standards, and organizational requirements.
Ability to plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the work of professional, technical, and administrative staff.
Ability to prepare, present, and clearly communicate complex financial and operational information verbally and in writing.
Ability to lead organizational change, process improvement, and cross-functional initiatives and build alignment among stakeholders with competing priorities.
Ability to establish collaborative working relationships, facilitate meetings, lead discussions, and support group decision-making.
Ability to exercise sound judgment and independent decision-making while adapting to changing priorities and circumstances.
Ability to organize and manage concurrent priorities, projects, and deadlines on behalf of executive leadership.
Ability to use technology, data, financial systems, and computer applications to support operations, analysis, decision-making, and continuous improvement.
Must live and work in California.
May be required to attend evening meetings, governing body meetings, or other time-sensitive activities related to budget, audit, reporting, or operational deadlines.
Potential employees are subject to reference and background checks.

Nice To Haves

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), or similar professional designation is desirable.
A master’s degree in business administration, public administration, finance, accounting, or a related field may substitute for one year of required experience.

Responsibilities

Lead development and implementation of agency-wide budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, expenditure monitoring, coding oversight, and projection processes.
Provide strategic financial guidance, modeling, forecasting, and analysis on major initiatives, investments, funding opportunities, reimbursement strategies, and resource allocation.
Support long-range financial planning, cash flow management, investment oversight, revenue maximization, and financial risk assessment.
Develop and maintain standardized financial reports, dashboards, forecasts, and decision-support tools.
Prepare and present financial reports, forecasts, analyses, and recommendations to executive leadership, the Commission, committees, auditors, funders, and other stakeholders.
Lead fiscal analysis and performance evaluation of Agency operations and ballot measure initiatives.
Oversee day-to-day financial operations and ensure accurate, timely, and consistent reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and fiscal analysis.
Direct development, implementation, and monitoring of financial policies, procedures, internal controls, and compliance activities.
Oversee annual financial, federal, state, and compliance audits; resolve findings and implement corrective actions and recommendations.
Lead development and implementation of financial systems, processes, controls, and infrastructure for public funding streams, grant-funded programs, and strategic initiatives.
Develop and maintain financial architecture, coding structures, chart-of-accounts design, reporting frameworks, and financial/programmatic data integration with partner teams.
Lead continuous improvement of financial and operational systems, processes, controls, and workflows.
Oversee procurement and contracting, including solicitation, contract development, negotiation, execution, and administration.
Provide strategic oversight and analysis for complex, high-impact, and politically sensitive procurement and contracting activities.
Direct improvement of procurement and contract management policies, workflows, templates, and systems.
Assist the Chief Financial Officer in directing and managing Finance Department operations, including accounting, budgeting, reporting, contracts and grants administration, procurement, compliance, treasury, and revenue management.
Lead cross-functional implementation of major financial, operational, and strategic initiatives.
When assigned functional responsibility, manage one or more department areas, including staffing, work planning, performance management, and service delivery.
When serving as chief of staff, manage the Chief Financial Officer’s priorities and department-wide work plan; coordinate Commission, committee, and executive materials; track deliverables and deadlines; and resolve cross-functional issues on the CFO’s behalf.
Act on behalf of the Chief Financial Officer in their absence and represent the Finance Department as assigned.
Provide leadership, supervision, and professional development to departmental managers, supervisors, and staff; establish priorities and ensure effective departmental performance.