Description

THE POSTING WILL BE OPEN UNTIL FILLED. This recruitment will be opened until filled but is subject to close at any time without notice. Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.

Salary and vacation accrual are negotiable depending on years of finance experience. **

~ First round of interviews will be the week of January 13, 2025. ~

The City of San Ramon is seeking a confident leader and skilled administrator to serve as the Finance Director. The City of approximately 84,929 residents is dedicated to continuous improvement of the quality of life which makes its citizens proud. This is an outstanding opportunity for a Director with a breadth of financial services experience and skill in strategic planning.

Under administrative direction, plans, organizes, provides administrative direction and oversight for, and participates in, the activities and functions of a City department, which includes developing departmental goals and objectives, developing, implementing and enforcing policies, procedures, and standards; planning and organizing the delivery of programs and services; developing departmental budgets; approving expenditures and monitoring revenue and expenditures; providing expert professional assistance to City management staff in areas of expertise; fostering cooperative working relationships with other departments, outside agencies and the public served; and performs related work as required.

The successful candidate will be a “hands-on” working Finance Director with proven technical expertise in the areas of accounts payable and receivable, payroll, investment of city funds, procurement and, most importantly, preparation of the annual budget. Applicants who exhibit political acumen, possess a balance of technical and soft skills, thrive in a dynamic, fast-moving environment, work well with small teams, are creative thinkers who thrive at transforming core functions to make them more efficient, understandable, and accessible will make the strongest candidates.

The Ideal Candidate

Is a visionary and strategic thinker
Has Integrity and accountability
Is empathetic and emotionally Intelligent
Is collaborative and builds relationships
Is a results-oriented leader
Is adaptable and innovative
Actively develops staff to be future City leaders
Is adept at conflict management and decision-making
Owns the successes and failures of the department
Actively seeks out feedback to improve and regularly provides emphatic feedback to others

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives administrative direction from the City Manager or Assistant City Manager. The work provides for a wide variety of independent decision-making, within legal and general policy and regulatory guidelines. Exercises general direction and supervision over management, supervisory, professional, technical, and administrative support staff through subordinate levels of supervision.

Class Characteristics

This is a Department Director classification that oversees, directs, and participates in all activities of an assigned department. Responsibilities include coordinating the activities of the department with those of other elected and appointed City officials and managers and accomplishing the complex and varied functions of the department. The incumbent is accountable for achieving departmental planning and operational goals and objectives and for furthering City goals and objectives within general policy guidelines. The classification of Director is distinguished from the next lower class of Division Manager in that the latter has either oversight of multiple areas in large operational departments or is the manager of professional services with City-wide internal or external impact. Employees appointed to the Department Director classification on or after November 26, 2024, are excluded from the City’s “competitive service” under Section 105 of the City’s Personnel Rules & Regulations and thereby designated as at-will appointments serving at the will of the Appointing Authority. To review the Unrepresented Executive Employees Salary & Benefits Agreement, please click here.

Typical Duties

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

Develops and directs the implementation of goals, objectives, policies, procedures and work standards for the department; prepares and administers the department's budget, including determining staffing and operational needs; approves and monitors departmental expenditures.
Plans, organizes, administers, reviews and evaluates the work of professional, technical, office support and operational staff through subordinate levels of supervision; provides for the selection, training, development and work evaluation of department staff; authorizes discipline as required; provides policy guidance and evaluation to staff.
Contributes to the overall quality of the department's service by developing, reviewing and implementing policies and procedures to meet legal requirements, City needs and departmental mission.
Prioritizes and allocates available resources; reviews and evaluates program and service delivery; makes recommendations for improvement and ensures maximum effective service delivery.
Monitors the day-to-day operations to ensure that the department is meeting goals and objectives, is following policies and procedures, and is providing services effectively and efficiently; takes corrective action as appropriate.
Handles administrative responsibilities for the department, including conferring with and representing the department and the City in meetings with the City Council, members of boards and commissions, various government agencies and the public; oversees the preparation of periodic and special reports, providing financial approval on documents, and preparing and delivering presentations.
Serves on the executive team and attends meetings and conferences ensuring departmental needs and concerns are represented.
Prepares and directs the preparation of a variety of written correspondence, reports, procedures, ordinances and other materials; maintains and directs the maintenance of working and official departmental files.
Monitors changes in laws, regulations and technology that may affect departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes as required.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge Of

Administrative principles and practices, including goal setting, program development, implementation, and evaluation, and supervision of staff, either directly or through subordinate levels of supervision; public agency budget development, contract administration, City-wide administrative practices, and general principles of risk management related to the functions of the assigned area; organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of projects, programs, policies, procedures, and operational needs; principles and practices of municipal government administration; applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility; principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures; methods and techniques for the development of presentations, contract negotiations, business correspondence, and information distribution; research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures; record keeping principles and procedures; modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and computer applications; English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation; techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations; and techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability To

Develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls for the department and assigned program areas; provide administrative and professional leadership and direction for the department and the City; prepare and administer complex budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost-effective manner; interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations; plan, organize, direct, and coordinate the work of management, supervisory, professional, and technical personnel; delegate authority and responsibility; select, train, motivate, and evaluate the work of staff and train staff in work procedures; research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques; effectively administer special projects with contractual agreements and ensure compliance with stipulations; effectively administer a variety of finance programs and administrative activities; conduct effective negotiations and effectively represent the City and the department in meetings with governmental agencies, contractors, vendors, and various businesses, professional, regulatory, and legislative organizations; prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials; conduct complex research projects, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical staff reports; establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems; organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines; operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs; use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing; use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines; and establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Minimum Qualifications

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

Education

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration or a field related to the area of assignment.

AND

Experience

Five (5) years of supervisory or administrative experience in the area of assignment.

Licenses and Certifications

Specified positions may require possession and maintenance of a valid California driver's license and a satisfactory driving record.
At the option of the appointing authority or the City, persons hired into this class may be required to either possess at entry or obtain within specified time limits designated licenses, professional registration, certification or specialized education and training relevant to the area of assignment.

Recruitment Process

Resumes cannot be substituted for a completed application.

The Recruitment Process Is As Follows

The most qualified candidates, as determined by initial screening of applications, will be invited to participate in an oral and/or department panel interview.

The first round of interviews is tentatively scheduled for late-January, 2025.

The eligibility list will be established from the interview process. Individuals on the eligibility list may be asked to participate in a second round of interviews based on specific individual qualifications and the City's needs. The eligibility list will remain in effect for one (1) year for potential future vacancies.

The City of San Ramon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex origin, sexual orientation or disability. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, should special accommodations be necessary at any stage of the selection process, please contact the Human Resources Division at hr@sanramon.ca.gov.

Information contained herein, including the recruitment process, is subject to change without notice.

The City's excellent benefit package includes: CalPERS retirement; medical, dental and vision plans; 12 days of vacation and 12 days of sick leave accrued annually; 10.5 paid holidays; 3 floating holidays; adoption benefits; short and long term disability; employee assistance program; group and supplemental life insurance; and a retiree health savings plan.

Click here for a detailed summary of our benefits by bargaining unit.

01

Please indicate your highest level of education completed.

High School or Equivalent
1 year college (30 semester/45 quarter units)
2 years of college (Associate's Degree or 60 semester/90 quarter units)
3 years of college (90 semester/135 quarter units)
4 years of college (Bachelor's Degree or 120 semester/180 quarter units)
Master's Degree or above

02

How many years of supervisory or administrative experience in the area of assignment do you possess?

None
Less than 1 year
1 year but less than 2 years
2 years but less than 3 years
3 years but less than 4 years
4 years but less than 5 years
5 years but less than 6 years
6 years but less than 7 years
7 years but less than 8 years
8 years or more

03

Please list relevant major coursework or fields(s) of study.

04

Please describe your approach to creating a long-term financial plan that ensures the city's fiscal stability while meeting the needs of an engaged, well-educated community.

05

What strategies would you implement to ensure San Ramon is financially prepared for economic downturns or unexpected revenue shortfalls?

06

What measures would you put in place to ensure timely and accurate financial oversight and reporting to both internal and external stakeholders?

07

Please describe your experience establishing or improving internal controls to prevent over-budgeting of city funds.

08

How do you leverage financial software and other technologies to improve efficiency in financial management and reporting?

09

What strategies have you used to manage the marginal employee? What about the shooting star employee?

Required Question

City of San Ramon jobs

Finance Director