- Salary
- $209k – $254k/yr
- Location
- CA, CA, CA, US
- Department
- Finance
- Seniority
- Director
- Education
- Master
- Source
- GovernmentJobs
Description
Lead with Integrity.
Drive Financial Excellence.
Shape the Future of Fountain Valley.
Drive Financial Excellence.
Shape the Future of Fountain Valley.
Click Here to Learn About the City of Fountain Valley
First Application Review Date: September 3, 2026
This is more than a finance position. It is an opportunity to influence policy, partner with executive leadership, advise elected officials, and lead an exceptional team dedicated to serving a community of nearly 60,000 residents.
WHY FOUNTAIN VALLEY?
Known as "A Nice Place to Live," Fountain Valley is a financially sound, full-service city nestled in the heart of Orange County, California. The City of Fountain Valley is only a few miles from the beach with a variety of premier restaurants, entertainment venues, shopping centers, and Disneyland within a 15-mile radius of the City. The City is recognized for its outstanding quality of life, beautiful parks, excellent public safety services, and strong sense of community. Our organization values innovation, transparency, and customer service. We empower leaders who are willing to think strategically, build relationships, solve complex challenges, and continuously improve how we serve our residents and businesses.
THE OPPORTUNITY
As Finance Director, you will serve as one of the City's key executive leaders, providing strategic financial leadership across the organization and helping position Fountain Valley for continued fiscal strength and long-term sustainability. This is an especially exciting time to join the City. Fountain Valley is investing in its future through significant capital improvement projects, including the development of a new fire station. The Finance Director will play a critical leadership role in evaluating financing strategies, developing long-term financial plans, and helping the City successfully navigate the complexities of funding major capital investments.
The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated experience with municipal debt financing and the issuance of bonds to support capital improvement projects. The ability to evaluate financing alternatives, work effectively with financial advisors and bond professionals, communicate complex financial concepts to decision-makers, and ensure that debt strategies align with the City's long-term financial objectives will be highly valued.
You'll oversee a talented department of twelve professionals, including an Accounting Manager and Finance Manager, while guiding every aspect of the City's financial operations, including:
- Financial planning and financial strategy
- Budget development and administration
- Accounting and financial reporting
- Payroll administration
- Purchasing and procurement
- Revenue collection and utility billing
- Annual audits and internal controls
- Business licensing
- Investment and cash management
- Financial policy development and implementation
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:
We're seeking a leader who combines financial expertise with exceptional interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate is:
- A strategic thinker who sees the big picture while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
- An approachable and collaborative leader who builds trust throughout the organization.
- An innovative problem solver who embraces continuous improvement and modern business practices.
- A confident communicator who can translate complex financial information into meaningful guidance for diverse audiences.
- A mentor who develops employees, builds high-performing teams, and promotes accountability through positive leadership.
- A professional with unquestioned integrity, sound judgment, and a commitment to ethical public service
EXCELLENT BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- 4/10 schedule (off Fridays)
- CalPERS retirement (2%@60 for Classic or 2%@62 for PEPRA)
- Choice of CalPERS medical HMO and PPO plans. Choice of DHMO or DPPO dental plans. Medical and dental premiums for employee and eligible dependents are paid by the City.
- Other benefits include $100,000 life insurance policy (mandatory), vision and optional AFLAC insurance.
- Matching deferred compensation 457(b) or 401(a) contribution up to $500 per month.
- City-paid long-term disability insurance
- Generous leave accruals, including 108 hours for administrative leave (prorated upon hire)
- Annual wellness/fitness reimbursement of $500 per fiscal year
- Retiree Health Savings Account: Mandatory 2% employee contribution
- 11 paid holidays, including one floating holiday
- Tuition reimbursement
Please click on the following link to access the full classification specification, including required knowledge, skills and abilities, physical tasks and environmental conditions: Finance DirectorEDUCATION:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in finance, accounting, business, public administration, or a related field. A master's degree in a related field is highly desirable.
EXPERIENCE:
At least seven (7) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in governmental finance including at least four (4) years in a management/supervisory capacity. Previous experience developing and administering a City-wide budget is highly desirable.
CERTIFICATION:
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure is highly desirable.
To be considered for this excellent opportunity, please complete and submit the online employment application and supplemental questionnaire. Please also attach a cover letter addressed to the City Manager. The cover letter should provide an opportunity for candidates to introduce themselves beyond the application and highlight the experience, leadership qualities, and perspective they would bring to the role. Candidates are encouraged to address their experience with municipal finance, strategic financial planning, capital improvement projects and bond financing, collaboration with finance or advisory committees, and building trust with elected officials, executive leadership, employees, and community stakeholders. Applications submitted without a cover letter addressed to the City Manager may not be considered.
Please ensure that all required documents are attached to the application. After documents are scanned and saved as a file on your computer, click on the "Add Attachments" link in the Job Application step of the employment application in order to upload the files. Documents must be entirely legible. Faxes, postmarks and hand delivery will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of the application and/or supplemental questionnaire. Incomplete applications will be disqualified.
To ensure timely and successful submission of your online application, please allow ample time to complete your application and consider having your profile created and/or updated before applying for the position. Once your application has been successfully submitted, you will receive an onscreen confirmation and an email. If you require technical assistance, please review the Government Jobs Online Employment Application Guide or contact their toll-free Applicant Support line at (855) 524-5627. Please note that Human Resources is not responsible for any issues or delays caused by the internet connection, computer, or browser used to submit the application.
QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS RECRUITMENT SHOULD BE SENT TO HR MANAGER TAMARYN ROBERTS at [email protected].
SELECTION PROCESS:
The selection process will include an application and cover letter review, as well as a panel interview. The employment application and supplemental questions will be evaluated based on the employment standards and minimum qualifications listed above.
IMPORTANT RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:
All employment offers made by the City are contingent upon establishing proof of a prospective candidate's legal authorization to work in the United States and successfully completing all components of the pre-employment process which may include but is not limited to: reference checks, background investigation, credit check, California Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal history check (Live Scan fingerprinting), and pre-employment medical examination.
The City of Fountain Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Candidates with a disability who may need accommodations during the selection process must notify the Human Resources Department at least 72 hours in advance of the test date.
SELECTION PROCESS:
The selection process will include an application and cover letter review, as well as a panel interview. The employment application and supplemental questions will be evaluated based on the employment standards and minimum qualifications listed above.
IMPORTANT RECRUITMENT INFORMATION:
All employment offers made by the City are contingent upon establishing proof of a prospective candidate's legal authorization to work in the United States and successfully completing all components of the pre-employment process which may include but is not limited to: reference checks, background investigation, credit check, California Department of Justice (DOJ) criminal history check (Live Scan fingerprinting), and pre-employment medical examination.
The City of Fountain Valley is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Candidates with a disability who may need accommodations during the selection process must notify the Human Resources Department at least 72 hours in advance of the test date.
Skills
ComplianceCustomer ServiceProcurementCPA
