Chief Financial Officer bei King County, WA
King County, WA · Seattle, Vereinigte Staaten Von Amerika · Hybrid
- Senior
- Optionales Büro in Seattle
About the Department
The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention values diverse perspectives and life experiences. The Department encourages people of all backgrounds to apply, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ, people with disabilities, veterans, and those with lived experiences.
This recruitment will stay open until the position is filled; however, applications submitted by 11:59 p.m. on September 7, 2025, will be given priority consideration.
The Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention (DAJD) is excited to announce an opportunity to join our leadership team as Chief Financial Officer. We’re looking for a strategic financial leader, collaborative team player, and dedicated public servant to guide and manage the department’s financial and compliance operations.
This is a key leadership role supporting a forward-thinking, human-centered department with a biennial budget of over $400M. If you're passionate about public service and ready to make a meaningful impact, we invite you to bring your expertise to DAJD and help us advance our mission.
DAJD provides in-custody and community-based services that are data-informed, advance safety, lead system change, and promote equitable outcomes for the people we serve.
DAJD is part of the Executive branch and includes five divisions with more than 900 budgeted employees. The department operates two adult detention facilities—the King County Correctional Facility (KCCF) in Seattle and the Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) in Kent—as well as the Juvenile Division’s secure detention at the Clark Children and Family Justice Center (CCFJC) in Seattle.
During the first half of 2025:
• Our adult facilities combined average daily population was over 1,400 residents
• The juvenile facility average daily population was over 60 residents
• The Community Corrections Division supervised more than 600 individuals through electronic home monitoring and day reporting programs each day
[Click here] to find out more about the Department of Adult & Juvenile Detention.
The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) reports to the Chief of Administration and is a member of the DAJD Senior Management Team. The CFO leads and supervises DAJD's Finance Section, which includes accounts payable and receivable, procurement, and payroll services, with a combined team of approximately 19 professionals. The CFO is the department’s principal fiscal strategist, overseeing the planning, development, and management of the department’s biennial budget. As the chief advisor to the Department Director, Deputy, and Chief of Administration, the CFO provides strategic analysis and advice on a broad portfolio of programs that support secure detention facilities, community corrections, and administrative operations.
This position ensures regulatory compliance; leads and responds to financial audits; and oversees budget preparation, financial strategy internal controls, and accounting practices. It also directs asset management, contracting for services to support the complex operations across DAJD’s five divisions, and the development and re-basing of King County rates charged to cities and other jurisdictions for jail services. This position collaborates closely with department leadership on strategic long-range financial planning and develops a robust system to monitor, analyze, and manage departmental spending while identifying opportunities for cost efficiency and fiscal optimization.
The CFO directly supervises a small team of managers and supervisors and plays a critical role in cultivating leadership across the Finance Section. The desired candidate has deep expertise in public sector finance, technical expertise in a variety of financial data systems, a proven track record of mentoring and developing high-performing teams, a strong commitment to equity, racial and social justice in decision-making, and a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation to support DAJD’s evolving operational needs.
Position Duties
Financial Management and Compliance.
Oversee the department’s financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, payroll, contracting, and asset management, ensuring DAJD's overall financial health and resources to support its mission.
Direct, review, and ensure accuracy and integrity of DAJD’s fiscal and compliance analyses and reporting.
Lead the development, proposal, and management of DAJD’s biennial budgets.
Lead internal and external audits and ensure timely completion of year-end financial processes.
Create, maintain, and improve systems and processes that forecast, monitor, and communicate financial risks and opportunities. Drive continuous improvement in Finance Section operations.
Ensure development, and implementation of long-range financial plans for each of the department's funds.
Promote early and consistent integration and compliance teams into all aspects of DAJD operations.
Ensure the finance team leads financial impact analysis of new or changing operating and capital programs.
Leadership and Strategic Planning.
Partner with division leadership to remove financial and resource barriers and align programs and assets.
Develop strategies to address emerging departmental pressures and promote a culture of continuous improvement and risk awareness.
Formulate, implement, and oversee department-specific improvements to financial operations with highly visible community implications, including, management of department investigatory and compliance actions.
Serve as a member of the department's senior management team providing guidance on leadership development, staffing, strategic direction setting, and decision making.
Act as a primary strategic advisor to department and division directors, helping to lead the planning and implementation of department wide strategies, goals, and objectives.
Ensure that financial and contracting implications are incorporated into all department decision making processes.
Collaborate with department and division leadership to develop and implement long-term budget strategies.
Building a High-Performing Finance Team.
Organize the work of the Finance Section to ensure efficient workflow, clear roles, high quality deliverables, and compliance (e.g., GAAP, GAAS, GFOA, federal/state regulations and grant requirements, fiscal contracts, and King County standards and policies).
Supervise and mentor staff to foster a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement and to create a work environment where all team members feel empowered to contribute and thrive.
Ensure staff development and effective performance through training, coaching, and performance management.
Identify opportunities for standardization and process improvement; plan and implement the section’s continuous improvement efforts.
Champion equity and inspire a culture of excellence.
External Relations, Collaboration, and Representation.
Serve as DAJD's primary financial liaison to the Executive’s budget office, County Council, other King County departments (KCIT, Department of Executive Services), and external stakeholders.
Prepare and coordinate DAJD’s responses to King County Council inquiries during budget development, approval processes and other operational review processes.
Partner with the Executive’s budget office to ensure continued understanding and support of DAJD’s budget priorities.
Present strategic fiscal and compliance updates on behalf of DAJD to diverse audiences including, providers, advisory boards, community groups, other jurisdictions, and media.
Minimum Qualifications
Master's degree in business, public administration, or accounting AND five years of progressively responsible experience serving as a leader in public sector accounting, financial management, and/or budgeting, OR any equivalent combination that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the job.
Comprehensive understanding of GAAS, GAAP and GFOA best practices; experience in public sector budgeting and governmental fund accounting and reporting.
Experience with internal controls, risk management, and procurement.
A strong understanding of, and commitment to, Equity, Racial and Social Justice (ERSJ) principles, with demonstrated skill in working effectively with diverse individuals and populations.
Knowledge and recent experience with federal grants, restricted local funds, pass-through funding, and audit requirements at the federal, state and local levels.
Strong management and supervisory experience, including hiring, staff development, performance management, delegation and oversight to ensure timely and high-quality performance by staff.
