Finance Director

Finance Director

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.

Tentative Recruitment Schedule : Application Deadline : 1 / 5 / 2026; Preliminary Interview : 1 / 15 / 2026; Final Interview : 1 / 22 / 2026.

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.

The following duties are normal for this position and are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.

• 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. A master's degree in a related field and / or possession of a valid California Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is highly desirable. 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. Experience with municipal finance, budgeting, and financial reporting is strongly preferred.

A valid Class C California driver's license.

Knowledge of : 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.

Ability to : 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.

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; and reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, or crouch to access or place records or files; lift and carry records and documents, typically weighing less than 20 pounds. The employee must be able to physically lift, push, pull, and / or carry materials and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this class, the employee is regularly required to use oral and written communication skills; read and interpret data, information and documents; analyze and solve problems; observe and interpret data and situations; use math and mathematical reasoning; perform highly detailed work under changing, intensive deadlines, on multiple concurrent tasks; work with constant interruptions; and interact with City officials, attorneys, union representatives, media, citizens groups, contractors, employees, management, and others encountered in the course of work; occasionally subject to conflicts.

The employee primarily works in an office setting but works in the field in traveling to different City facilities and events. In the office setting, the noise level is frequently quiet or moderately quiet. In field settings, the employee could be exposed to loud noise during sporting and recreational activities and be under variable weather conditions at different sites and events. Driving may be required to visit city facilities, and community and public meetings.

All City of Sierra Madre employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law (California Government Code Section 3100-3109). Employment with the City requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to complete all Disaster Service Worker-related training as assigned, and to return to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.

The City of Sierra Madre is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, the City of Sierra Madre will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.