Deputy Director of Finance at City of Novato, CA
City of Novato, CA · Novato, United States Of America · Hybrid
- Senior
- Office in Novato
About the Department
THE CITY OF NOVATO IS RECRUITING
FOR
The City of Novato is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and technically strong Deputy Finance Director to join our Finance Department. This executive-level opportunity is ideal for a seasoned public finance professional with a passion for innovation, team development, and operational excellence.
This is an especially exciting time to join Novato’s leadership team as we embark on a major initiative to modernize our financial systems. The Deputy Finance Director will serve as the lead for the City’s transition to a new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, overseeing project planning, cross-departmental coordination, and successful implementation of this transformative effort. Candidates with prior ERP implementation experience, or those eager to take on this type of high-impact project, are strongly encouraged to apply.
In addition to leading the ERP conversion, the Deputy Finance Director will oversee a wide portfolio of financial operations, including accounting, payroll, purchasing, treasury, audit coordination, and budget development. This position plays a critical role in developing internal controls, enhancing fiscal procedures, mentoring staff, and ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting. The Deputy will work closely with the Finance Director to manage special projects, support department-wide strategic goals, and may represent the department in City Council and committee meetings.
If you are a forward-thinking finance professional who thrives in a leadership role, values cross-functional teamwork, and is ready to guide a high-performing team through a new era of financial innovation and service delivery, we invite you to apply and help shape Novato’s fiscal future.
Additional Benefits
- Flexible work hours with potential for scheduled telecommute days
- 9/80 work schedule, every other Friday off
- City monthly contribution up to $2,893.54 toward health premium
- Accrue vacation at a rate of 80 hours per year, to start (Previous Municipal experience considered)
- Provided with 40 hours of sick leave upon hire
- 14 paid holidays per year
- 90 hours of Executive Leave per year, with an additional 90 hours awarded at the City Manager's discretion
- Deferred Compensation match of $2,000 annually, must be enrolled
- Performance Pay up to $2,000 annually after the first year, with City Manager's approval
- Free parking on site
- Office is within walking distance of terrific restaurants, shopping, and the downtown SMART station
THE CITY OF NOVATO
Novato residents enjoy a thriving and family-oriented community with abundant educational, recreational, retail, and business opportunities. Residents are actively involved in important local quality of life decisions and the future direction of their City. The City Council encourages a high level of interaction between its citizenry and city government so that important issues are collaboratively explored and ideas are shared to develop the best possible outcomes. With a population of nearly 56,000, the community continues to foster a small-town atmosphere due to its low population density, large open space areas and parks, vibrant downtown, and inclusive community. With an abundance of natural beauty, a rich history, comfortable neighborhoods, a diversified economy, a promising life sciences industry, and passage of Measure M, the City is well-positioned to continue to thrive into the 21st century!
Under direction from the Finance Director, lead and manage while performing management, administrative and technical duties, manages special projects and studies, supervises all work units of the department on a day-to-day basis, to provide complex and administrative and management support to the Finance Director, and to represent the Department head in the absence of the Director; and does related work as required.
Distinguishing Characteristics
This classification is distinguished from the Finance Manager and all other professional accountant classes by its responsibility for managing departmental operations across multiple divisions and work units.
- Receives general direction from the Finance Director.
- Exercises direct supervision over assigned division and its technical staff; and functional supervision over certain other divisions as assigned.
- Leads and manages the day-to-day accounting and financial management activities in coordination with the work units within the Department and across other departments, when applicable.
- Coordinates projects and activities as assigned.
Position Duties
Direct and participate in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and priorities related to the assigned divisions.
Coordinate with assigned divisions for day-to-day follow through; and coordinate with other divisions to maximize service effectiveness and quality.
- Assists in the development and implementation of departmental policies, goals, procedures and objectives.
- Plans, directs, and coordinates work performed by multiple work units, including, general accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivables, purchasing, treasury, audit, and financial reporting.
- Oversees accounting operations, including year-end closing of the general ledger and preparation of the annual financial report.
- Oversees budget operations, including budget development, coordination of the Capital Improvement Program, and various budget reports.
- Lead high-level Finance projects such as implementation of a new financial system.
- Reviews, evaluates, and recommends improvements to Citywide financial internal controls and systems and procedures; coordinates audit activities for all City departments with external auditors.
- Supervises staff assigned, including scheduling, assigning, prioritizing, delegating and reviewing work; training and evaluating staff; developing effective recommendations on all employee actions such as goal setting, mentoring, performance management, discipline and other issues involving personnel.
- Provide administrative and management support to the Director; assist with the management of special projects as assigned; prepare complex reports and analyses; and may oversee the work of consultants engaged in project delivery.
- Serves as department head in the absence of the director, including attending and participating in City Council, citizen committee, and department head meetings.
- Serves on City and inter-agency committees.
- Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Principles, methods and practices of municipal finance.
- Budgeting, accounting, purchasing and fiscal record keeping.
- Principles of management, supervision, training, and employee development.
- Principles of financial administration, including budgeting and reporting.
- Applicable laws and regulations.
- Computer systems and their applications to fiscal analysis and record keeping.
- Identify, coordinate, and resolve a variety of accounting and financial functions and activities.
- Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
- Select, supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff. Supervise and coordinate the work of subordinate employees and project teams.
- Prepare complex financial statements, reports, and analyses.
- Prepare and administer a department and City-wide budget.
- Develop and implement accounting procedures and systems.
- Interpret and accurately apply rules and regulations regarding accounting, purchasing and auditing practices.
- Prepare clear and effective financial, statistical, and narrative reports, correspondence, informational materials, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
- Communicate effectively in writing, orally, and with others to assimilate, understand, and convey information, in a manner consistent with job functions.
- Represent the City and the department effectively in contacts with elected representatives of other agencies, City departments, and the public.
- Establish and maintain collaborative and cooperative working relationships through discussion and persuasion with those contacted in the course of the work.
- Take a proactive and positive approach to customer services issues.
- Make process improvement changes to streamline procedures when applicable and necessary.
- Interpret and apply City policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
- Work in a safe manner modeling correct City safety practices and procedures; coach others and enforce adherence to safety policies and procedures.
- Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of making sound judgment and decisions and demonstrating intellectual capabilities.
- Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:
- Making observations
- Communicating with others
- Reading and writing
- Operating assigned office equipment
Other Qualifications
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Special Requirements Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:
Physical Skills: Able to use standard office equipment, including a computer; sit, stand, walk, kneel, crouch, stoop, squat, twist, and maintain sustained posture in a seated or standing position for prolonged periods of time; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; hearing and speech to communicate in person, over the telephone, and to make public presentations; lift and carry up to 5lbs of files, and materials.
Work Environment: Mobility to work in a typical office and/or field setting.
Ability to: Travel to different sites and locations; drive safely to different sites and locations; maintain a safe driving record; work protracted and irregular hours and evening meetings or off shift work for meeting attendance or participation in specific projects or programs; available for evening meetings.
The City of Novato is an Equal Opportunity Employer
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