Finance Director

Salary : $149,808.00 - $192,600.00 Annually
Location : Palos Verdes Estates, CA
Job Type: Full-time
Job Number: 2025-FD
Department: Finance Department
Opening Date: 04/10/2025
Closing Date: 5/29/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

Description
The Finance Director, working under the direction of the City Manager, directs, organizes and reviews activities of the Finance Department; provides highly responsible professional and technical assistance; and coordinates activities with other City departments, outside agencies and the public.
Must attach resume and cover letter with application.
Duties
The Finance Director performs the following, but not limited to:

• Develops and implement goals, objectives, policies and priorities related to Finance Department functions.
• Plans, organizes, and directs financial activities of the City including accounting, business licensing, budgeting, data processing, payroll, purchasing, revenue collection, and treasury.
• Develops, implements, and maintains accounting and budgetary systems; recommends changes to keep systems current and in compliance with accounting and regulations and procedures; prepares journal entries and maintains general and subsidiary accounting ledges, allocates cash investments and interest; reviews and approves accounting transactions.
• Organizes and coordinates the preparation and implementation of the City's operating and capital improvement budgets; monitors status and forecasts City revenues, expenditures, and fund balances; analyzes and responds to changing economic conditions; prepares general and technical reports.
• Oversees and manages City's Information Technology Support Services contract, including evaluating system requirements and recommending appropriate software and hardware to meet City needs.
• Assists the City Treasurer's office in carrying out the duties and responsibilities of monitoring and reviewing fund disbursements and cash balances; authorizing investment transactions as initiated by City Treasurer; preparation of treasury reports; establishing and supervising bank accounts and providing daily review of banking activity reports; monitoring financial institutions and investment portfolio.
• Researches, prepares and presents financial and administrative reports and projects related to City policies, activities and issues to the City Council, the citizens, and outside agencies.
• Prepares the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, interim and public financial statements, related work papers, and various other financial analyses and reports for the City, and for Federal, State or other outside agencies.
• Directs the preparation of financial reports as required by law; direct and coordinate activities with outside financial auditors; provide information and assistance.
• Represent the City at meetings of citizens, elected officials, committees and boards on financial and administrative matters of the City
• Review, evaluate and recommend improvements to the City and Agency's administrative and financial internal control systems and procedures; ensure legal and audit compliance.
• Selects, develops and manages professional, technical, and clerical staff; recommend departmental organizational changes.
• Provides technical expertise and assistance to the City Council and departments; responds to and resolves citizen inquiries as needed.
• Participates in the development and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, policies and priorities.
• Other duties may as assigned.

Qualifications
Knowledge and Abilities:

• Principles and methods of governmental financial and business administration, particularly in the areas of accounting, budgeting, auditing, purchasing, business license, and treasury management.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state and local laws, ordinances and regulations, specifically those regulating financial administration of City government.
• Principles and practices of organizational and personnel management.
• Data processing applications.
• Ability to develop, implement and maintain sound, ethical accounting and financial reporting systems and procedures.
• Effectively coordinate, supervise, evaluate and direct finance personnel and others as needed.
• Advanced understanding of principals, practices and techniques of public program administration.
• Maintain effective working relationships with the public, elected and appointed officials, management and employees.
• Provide clear verbal and written direction and guidance to staff, elected and appointed officials and the public, including effectively to make public presentations.
• High level of attention to detail.
• General office procedures, equipment and software.
• Read, interpret and apply policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Exercise independent judgment and decisiveness
• Ability to assess and evaluate data processing needs, and evaluate technical equipment hardware and software.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Research, communication, analytical and report writing techniques.
• Advanced mathematical ability to include adding, subtracting, multiplying, dividing, and calculating decimals, ratios and percentages.
• Work cooperatively with staff, residents and other entities.
• Exercise confidentiality.
• Problem solve.
• Work under pressure with strict deadlines.
• Effectively communicate both written and verbal.

Experience and Education:

Any equivalent combination of training, education and experience, which provides the individual with the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the job. To include:

• High school diploma/GED (required).
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field (required).
• Master's degree in business or public administration or related field (preferred).
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in accounting and financial work (required) - municipal finance preferred.
• At least three years in a supervisory capacity (required).

Additional Information

• Medical: The City contributes $1,773.00 towards medical and dental insurance. Medical options include Blue Shield PPO and EPO, Kaiser HMO.
• Vision Insurance: 100% paid for employees.
• Administrative Leave: 108 hours per year.
• Annual Certification Bonus: $260 per month for having and maintaining the status of Registered Civil Engineer.
• Retirement: CalPERS enrollment in which classic members receive 2% at age 55 and new members 2% at age 62. Mission Square 401K and 457 Plans.
• Vacation: 96 hours per year and increasing to 160 hours as tenure increases.
• Holiday Leave: 8 paid holidays per year.
• Floating Holidays: 2 floating holidays per year.
• Sick Leave: 96 hours per year.
• Vehicle Allowance: $375 per month
• Other Benefits: City paid Life Insurance, AD&D / Critical Illness, Short Term / Long Term Disability and Employee Assistance Program. Voluntary Flexible Spending Plans and AFLAC insurances.
• Local School District Enrollment: Option to enroll children in #2 ranked District in LA County, even if residing outside of the City.
• Other Benefits: City paid Life Insurance, AD&D / Critical Illness, Short Term / Long Term Disability and Employee Assistance Program. Voluntary Flexible Spending Plans and AFLAC insurances.
• Prior Service Credit: Upon completion of five (5) years of service as Management-Administration employees with the City of Palos Verdes Estates, any service credit earned by the employee in CalPERS or a reciprocal pension system prior to employment at the City of Palos Verdes Estates will be counted as service time in the City of Palos Verdes Estates for the purposes of administering vacation accrual and retiree medical benefits.
• Work Schedule: 4/10 with three-day weekends!

Retirement:

Classic Memebers?

2% @ 55, single highest year formula. Employees shall pay their entire statutory share of required retirement contributions. There shall be no employer paid member contribution on behalf of any employee

New Members

2% @ 62 - "New members", as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), which include employees hired on or after January 1, 2013. Employee contribution of 50% of the normal cost (currently set at 6.25%). Three year average final compensation.

Health: City provides $1,673 toward medical, dental, life, employee vision, AD&D/Life. City provides LTD and STD.
Leave: The City observes 9 holidays, with 3 floating holidays offered; Sick and Vacation is provided at an accrual rate of 1 day per month; Administrative Leave is offered at 12 days per year.
Other: The City provides a comprehensive benefit package that also includes an automobile or automobile allowance (dependent upon position), cell phone allowance, uniform Allowance (sworn only).
01

How many years of experience do you have in government agencies?

• 0-1 years
• 1-2 years
• 2 or more years

02

What is your highest level of education?

• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• High School Diploma

03

Did you attach proof of your education, a resume and cover letter?

• Yes
• No

Required Question