CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

City of Huntington Beach, CA
Huntington Beach, California United States  View Map
Posted: Sep 19, 2025
  • Salary: $14,397.07 - $20,257.47 Monthly USD
  • Full Time
  • Accounting and Finance
  • Administration and Management
  • Job Description

    Description

    In Huntington Beach, we believe passionately that the key to becoming the best beach City in the world starts and ends with finding the right people to join our team. At this time, we have an outstanding career opportunity available, as we're looking for the "right person" to serve as Chief Financial Officer.

    Finance Department
    The Finance Department currently has 27 full-time and 1 part-time team members organized across four divisions: Administration, Accounting Services, Budget Management, and Business License. The department is responsible for providing financial management, oversight, monitoring and reporting functions for the City's complex financial resources. The department accomplishes this objective by providing budgetary oversight, monitoring and preparation; purchasing and procurement expertise; accounting and financial report services; cashiering, accounts receivable and collections services; payroll and accounts payable services; utility billing; and business license customer service.

    The Position
    The City of Huntington Beach is seeking an exceptional leader with demonstrated expertise in public sector financial management principles. This finance professional will report to the Assistant City Manager and join a cohesive Executive Leadership Team that is aligned to serve the public interest through good governance, dedicated to Huntington Beach’s quality of life, and committed to City Council policy. The ideal candidate will excel in problem solving and critical thinking, making use of these skills to identify solutions to complex organizational and budget challenges while continuing to meet project deadlines and policy goals.

    View Brochure for more detailed information

    Please note: This recruitment may close at any time, and will close when the hiring manager determines that a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

    Examples of Essential Duties

    • Assists in directing the fiscal management of the City, including budget preparation and monitoring, revenue forecasting, general accounting, financial reporting, pre-auditing and internal controls, debt issuance and administration, capital financing, financial systems design, implementation and control; recommends and administers policies and procedures
    • Plans, directs and coordinates the administration of the City’s finance, purchasing, utility billing, business licensing, reprographic and mail services
    • Recommends policies and implements procedures to conduct activities; ensures that all activities are conducted in accordance with related laws, ordinances, rules and regulations
    • Manages the development and implementation of the goals, objectives, policies and priorities for each assigned service area; establishes, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; allocates resources accordingly
    • Assists in ensuring that the financial needs of the City are met; raises funds through creative financing, bond issues, certificates of participation and lease purchase financing; evaluates alternative financing methods for all major acquisitions
    • Supervises and controls capital financing projects; assists in negotiating major financial transactions; directs and coordinates revenue collection, disbursement activities, purchasing, and inventory control functions
    • Advises department heads and the City Administrator in the review of estimates and proposed budget allocations for the City and the Redevelopment Agency; estimates anticipated revenues; conducts fiscal analyses and submits data and reports for use in evaluating operating department proposals
    • Provides the City Administrator and department heads with timely and informative financial reports and statements; manages and participates in the development and administration of the Finance budget; directs the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies
    • Determines, with the advice of the City Attorney when necessary, the regularity, legality, and correctness of claims, demands and charges; draws warrants upon the City Treasurer for all claims and demands that are approved; specifies the purpose for which drawn and the fund from which payment is made
    • Supervises and is responsible for the proper accounting, collecting, management and record keeping of all revenues and expenditures; conducts studies or oversees the conduct of complex studies relating to the development of rates, fees and user charges
    • Prepares and supervises the preparation of reports to the State Controller, County Auditor Controller and other Federal, State or County agencies
    • May serve on the City’s negotiation team for labor contracts; calculates costs of proposals and various scenarios and may present information in sessions with the City Council; serves as the liaison to the Finance Board
    • Selects, trains, motivates and evaluates Finance personnel; provides or coordinates staff training; works with employees to correct performance deficiencies; implements discipline and termination procedures
    • Plans, directs and coordinates work plans through subordinate level managers; meets with staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns projects and program areas of responsibility; reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures
    • Performs other related duties
    The preceding duties have been provided as examples of the essential types of work performed by positions within this job classification. The City, at its discretion, may add, modify, change or rescind work assignments as needed.

    Minimum Qualifications

    Any combination of education, training, and experience that would likely provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform in the position is qualifying. A typical combination includes:

    Knowledge of:
    - Principles and practices of public administration, including budget preparation, purchasing, program analysis, and revenue forecasting
    - Accounting principles, practices and methods
    - Public revenue resources; principles of municipal debt financing; ordinances, resolutions and laws affecting municipal financial operations
    - Methods and techniques of public administration research, analysis and report preparation
    - Legislation related to public agency finance, including grant accounting and bond issuances
    - Financial planning; research methods and techniques and methods of report presentation
    - Principles of personnel administration, supervision and training
    - Concepts of automated financial management information systems
    - Principles and practices of cash collection and cash management

    Ability to:
    - Plan, organize, direct and coordinate the work of management, supervisory, professional and technical personnel; delegate authority and responsibility
    - Select, supervise, train and evaluate staff
    - Provide administrative and professional leadership and direction for activities related to finance and central services
    - Identify and respond to community and City Council issues, concerns and needs
    - Develop, implement and administer goals, objectives and procedures for providing effective finance and purchasing services
    - Prepare and administer large and complex budgets; allocate limited resources in a cost effective manner
    - Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals
    - Research, analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques
    - Prepare clear and concise reports
    - Interpret and apply Federal, State and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations
    - Interpret financial statements and cost accounting reports
    - Administer contracts and ensure compliance with contract provisions
    - Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
    - Establish effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work
    - Develop and utilize a data processing system for processing City records including general ledger, revenue and expenditure ledgers and other pertinent City records, data, information and statistics

    Education: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from a college or university with a major in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or closely related field, and including courses in advanced accounting, auditing, cost accounting, and business law. A master’s degree or equivalent coursework in a related field is preferred.

    Experience: Six (6) years of responsible financial experience including at least four (4) years as a supervisor.

    Licenses/Certifications: A valid Certified Public Accountant credential is preferred.

    SPECIAL CONDITIONS

    Public Employee Disaster Service Worker: In accordance with Government Code Section 3100, all Huntington Beach city employees are required to perform assigned disaster service worker duties in the event of an emergency or a disaster.

    Supplemental Information

    Work is primarily performed in an office environment and requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, bending, and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination to operate a personal computer in order to prepare statistical reports and data. Additionally, the position requires near vision in reading correspondence and statistical data on the computer.
    Reasonable accommodation(s) for an individual with a qualified disability will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

    The City of Huntington Beach offers a comprehensive benefit package for Non-Associated employees including:

    SALARY RANGE for Executive Management consist of a "starting point", "control point" and "high point". Salary increases up to 5% may be awarded based on performance at annual review and market data.

    TEN-TWELVE PAID HOLIDAYS provided per year (see MOU).

    GENERAL LEAVE with pay of 176 hours is granted to regular employees. After four years' service additional general leave hours are earned, up to 256 hours after fifteen years' service.

    EXECUTIVE LEAVE with pay is granted in the amount of 80 hours per calendar year

    GROUP INSURANCE PROGRAMS are available to eligible City employees. These programs include medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, life and accidental death and dismemberment insurances.

    FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS are available where employees use pre-tax salary to pay for regular child care, adult dependent care and/or medical expenses.

    RETIREMENT BENEFITS are provided by the California Public Employee's Retirement System. Every regular employee becomes a member immediately upon employment. Effective January 1, 2013, the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act will apply to new members of CalPERS. A new member is defined as a new hire who is brought into CalPERS membership for the first time on or after 1/1/13 and has no prior membership in a California public retirement system; is not eligible for reciprocity with another California public retirement system; or is rehired by a different CalPERS employer after a break in service of greater than six (6) months. All employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 will be subject to CalPERS membership review for applicability of PEPRA. Employees enrolled in CalPERS prior to January 1, 2013 are considered classic members.

    The benefit formula, final compensation period, and member contribution rate is as represented below:

    Classic Miscellaneous Members:
    Benefit Formula Miscellaneous: 2.5% at age 55
    Final Compensation Period: 1-year Final Compensation
    Member Contribution Rate: 8.0% of Reportable Compensation

    New Miscellaneous Members under PEPRA:
    Benefit FormulaMiscellaneous: 2% at age 62
    Final Compensation Period: 3-year Final Compensation
    Member Contribution Rate: 7.25% of Reportable Compensation (eff. 7/1/23)

    Classic Safety Members:
    Benefit FormulaSafety: 3.0% at age 50
    Final Compensation Period: 1-year Final Compensation
    Member Contribution Rate: 9.0% of Reportable Compensation

    New Safety Members under PEPRA:
    Benefit FormulaSafety: 2.7% at age 57
    Final Compensation Period: 3-year Final Compensation
    Member Contribution Rate: 12.50% of Reportable Compensation (eff, 7/1/23)

    DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Two voluntary deferred compensation 457 plans are available.

    CREDIT UNION membership is available to all City employees and provides access to low interest loans.

    FLEXIBLE WORK SCHEDULES: Employees will have the option of working a 5/40 or 9/80 work schedule with Supervisor and Department Head approval. Employees assigned to the Police Department shall retain the option of working the 4/10 work schedule with Supervisor and Department Head approval. In order to maintain service to the public, departmental effectiveness, productivity and/or efficiency, a Department Head may assign an employee a different work schedule that is in compliance with the requirements of FLSA with City Manager approval.

    NOTE: The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute a contract expressed or implied, and any provisions contained herein may be modified or revoked without notice.

    For a more detailed overview of the benefits, review the Memorandum of Understanding and Side Letters at: MEMORANDA OF UNDERSTANDINGS Click on the links under "Non-Represented (Non-Associated) Employees'".

    Closing Date/Time: Continuous
  • ABOUT THE COMPANY

    • City of Huntington Beach
    • City of Huntington Beach

    THE COMMUNITY

    The City of Huntington Beach is located on the shore of the Pacific Ocean in northwestern Orange County, 40 miles south of Los Angeles and 90 miles north of San Diego. As the fourth largest city in Orange County, with a population near 200,000 residents, Huntington Beach is known as “Surf City USA” due to its abundance of beaches, sunny, warm Mediterranean climate and casual lifestyle. Huntington Beach covers 28 square miles of land, 26 square miles of water, and is the 24th largest city in California. With more than 8 miles of uninterrupted beach along the Pacific Ocean, the City also plays host to an annual visitor population of over 11 million people, especially during the summer, special events and weekends.

    Huntington Beach has one of the largest pleasure piers in the world and has the longest concrete pier in the State. The City’s park system includes 58 public parks (with a dog park), riding stables and the largest city-owned and operated regional park in Orange County — Huntington Central Park. Also within the City’s boundaries are five recreation centers (including a senior center), three miles of equestrian trails, two golf courses, 72 tennis courts, a marina and a protected wildlife preserve. Running parallel to Pacific Coast Highway and just steps from the ocean is an eight-mile strand perfect for biking, inline skating, jogging or a leisurely stroll.

    The City is centrally located to all major attractions in Orange County including the Disney Resorts, the Orange County Performing Arts Center and Repertory Theater, and the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. The City is home to the International Surfing Museum, the Surfing Walk of Fame, Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Harbour and the Huntington Beach Art Center. Huntington Beach draws some of the largest crowds in the world to such professional sporting events as the U.S. Open of Surfing, Van’s World Championship of Skateboarding and AVP Pro Beach Volleyball.

    There are 35 elementary schools, five public high schools and one community college (Golden West College) located within Huntington Beach. The City has a world-class library located within the 365-acre Central Park as well as four additional branch libraries. In addition, Orange Coast College; the University of California, Irvine; and California State Universities at Long Beach and Fullerton are located in close proximity.

    There are over 117,000 households within a five-mile radius of the Huntington Beach Civic Center. The average family household income is $122,851, ranking one of the highest in the nation based on the top 100 largest cities in the country.

    THE CITY GOVERNMENT

    Founded in the late 1880s, Huntington Beach was incorporated as a Charter City in 1909. Huntington Beach has a City Council/ City Manager form of government. The City Council has seven members who are elected at large, on a non-partisan basis, to four-year overlapping terms. City Council members are limited to two consecutive 4-year terms. There are three elected department heads - the City Attorney, City Clerk and City Treasurer. The position of Mayor is filled on a rotating basis.

    The City of Huntington Beach is organized into 13 major departments including City Treasurer, City Clerk, City Attorney, City Manager, Community Development, Community Services, Finance, Fire, Human Resources, Information Services, Library Services, Police, and Public Works.

    The City has approximately 1,600 full and part-time employees and a total budget of approximately $345 Million.

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