Finance Director

City of Sierra Madre-posted 22 days ago
Full-time • Manager
Sierra Madre, CA
Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
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The City of Sierra Madre is seeking an experienced, hands-on financial leader to serve as its next Finance Director. Reporting directly to the City Manager and serving as a member of the Executive Management Team, the Director provides strategic leadership for the City's financial planning, reporting, and long-term fiscal sustainability. This role oversees the daily and long-range financial operations of the City and supports the implementation of City Council priorities through clear, data-driven analysis. The Finance Director leads and mentors a dedicated team, ensuring the timely and accurate completion of accounting functions, payroll, purchasing, utility billing, and the preparation of required financial reports. The Director plays a central role in developing the annual operating and capital budgets, preparing midyear and year-end updates, managing audit compliance, and maintaining strong internal controls. This hands-on position requires balancing daily operational oversight with long-range forecasting, risk management, and the ability to meet tight, cyclical deadlines.

  • Develops and implements goals, objectives, and priorities, working closely with the City Manager, related to the City's finances; provides general supervision over staff engaged in finance and accounting related work; assists the City Manager in the administration of the citywide budget.
  • Assists the City Manager in the coordination and preparation of the City's annual operating and capital budget; prepares City revenue estimates; checks revenue and expenditure estimates and forecasts; participates in budget meetings with City staff; compiles proposed and adopted budgets for publication.
  • Manages the City's finances, utility billing, accounting, accounts payable, investments, payroll, and purchasing.
  • Monitors and participates in the City's accounting activities, including accounts payable, receivable, purchasing and payroll; reviews purchases and contracts for compliance with City ordinances, rules and procedures, and to determine that expenditures are made in accordance with the terms of the contract.
  • Serves as the fiscal officer for the City's successor agency.
  • Plans and develops accounting procedures for bookkeeping and processing of claims, expenditures, purchases, budget data, salary warrants, receipts and subventions, journal entries, and the general ledger.
  • Supervises assigned staff; reviews employees' work; performs staff evaluations; instructs staff in policies and procedures.
  • Assists managers and supervisors in financial matters pertaining to City operations.
  • Compiles and prepares required state and federal reports for various government agencies; reviews, analyzes, evaluates, and implements improvements to fiscal control systems and procedures; works with independent auditors on annual audit compliance.
  • Reviews, evaluates, and recommends improvements to the City's administrative and financial internal control systems and procedures and ensures audit compliance.
  • Prepares monthly financial reports for the City Council, City Manager, and staff.
  • Checks fund balances and recommends transfer of funds as necessary.
  • Conducts internal training sessions in the areas of Finance.
  • Performs special studies and duties as assigned by the City Manager.
  • Represents the City administration's financial services to citizens, organizations, auditors, and other City agencies and governmental organizations; informs, answers inquiries, interprets policies, procedures, and actions; responds to problems by analyzing and developing recommendations for resolutions by instituting programs, procedures or systems.
  • Participates in cross training and provides back up to other staff; assists other office personnel in performing related administrative support functions; serves as a backup to other Finance functions.
  • Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field is required.
  • The position requires a minimum of six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, or public sector financial management, including at least two (2) years in a supervisory, administrative, or management capacity.
  • A valid Class C California driver's license.
  • Principles and practices of governmental accounting, GAAP, and GASB standards
  • Budget development, monitoring, and administration (operating and capital budgets)
  • Fund accounting and cost allocation principles for municipal operations
  • Financial reporting and audit preparation, including the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
  • Revenue sources for California cities (property tax, sales tax, user fees, enterprise funds, etc.)
  • Treasury, investments, and cash management practices
  • Debt financing, bonds, and long-term capital planning
  • Procurement and purchasing laws and policies
  • Payroll, benefits accounting, and internal controls
  • CalPERS and other pension accounting standards (GASB 68)
  • Applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the California Government Code, Brown Act (as applicable to finance), and Prop 218/26
  • Analyze complex financial and operational data and make sound, data-driven recommendations
  • Develop and implement policies that enhance transparency and accountability
  • Manage multiple projects, deadlines, and competing priorities
  • Maintain confidentiality and professional integrity
  • Build trust and effective relationships with elected officials, department heads, auditors, and the public
  • Adapt to changing fiscal, regulatory, and technological environments
  • Exercise independent judgment within established policy frameworks
  • Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
  • Ensure the timely reporting of all monthly financial information
  • Research and prepare complex reports and analysis on a variety of subjects
  • Recruit, retain, supervise, motivate and evaluate employees
  • Understand, explain and apply policies and procedures
  • Respond to emergency and problem situations in an effective, efficient, and appropriate manner
  • Deal constructively with conflict and resolve situations accordingly and effectively
  • Analyze and interpret department policies and procedures
  • A master's degree in a related field and/or possession of a valid California Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is highly desirable.
  • Experience with municipal finance, budgeting, and financial reporting is strongly preferred.
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