What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Financial Officer position at City of Dublin, CA?
Class Concept
Primary Focus
As the Chief Financial Officer, you’ll join a premier executive leadership team that is dedicated to providing high-quality services and infrastructure, a community hallmark of Dublin. This role ensures the City maintains its strong fiscal health and aligns financial strategies with the City’s long-term goals. The CFO will provide executive leadership, strategic direction, guidance, and management of the Department of Finance, comprised of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, budgeting, taxation, procurement, financial reporting, auditing, investment, and debt functions. As CFO, you will establish the strategic plan for the Department, including developing, planning, organizing and directing all financial functions, operations, programs, services, activities, and resources. Your leadership and guidance regarding financial considerations will inform the decisions of the City Manager, City Council, and members of the executive leadership team.
For the seventh consecutive year since first seeking a rating from S&P in 2017, Dublin earned the organization’s highest AAA rating. Moody’s assigned a AAA rating, which Dublin has held since 2004, and Fitch assigned a AAA rating, which Dublin has held since 2000. KBRA assigned an inaugural long-term rating of AAA in 2024. That rating makes Dublin the first and only city in the United States to earn four AAA ratings.
Benefits
Working at the City of Dublin is more than just a job. In addition to a competitive pay plan, the City offers a comprehensive benefits program for our permanent full-time employees that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Supervisory Responsibilities
Supervises Director of Finance Operations, and the Director of Taxation.
Examples of Duties
Essential Functions
Provides strategic guidance regarding financial matters to the City Manager, City Council, and executive leadership team.
Partners with the City Manager in the preparation of the recommended annual operating budget and the five-year Capital Improvements Program based on requests submitted by Department/Division Directors.
Provides monthly and quarterly financial reporting to City Council and the public.
Ensures compliance with Federal and State rules and regulations, as well as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles/Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GAAP/GASB) requirements, including ensuring the City’s financial transactions are maintained in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations to ensure a clean audit opinion.
Manages the financial component of all development incentives including Tax Increment Financing, Community Reinvestment Areas, New Community Authorities, etc.; ensures compliance with State and county reporting requirements which include conducting the annual Tax Incentive Review Council meeting.
Collaborates with Department Directors on financial implications to any process and program; partners with the Director of Development and/or Director of Strategic Initiatives/Special Projects on potential development opportunities, revenue potential, and anticipated costs and explores various financing sources to accomplish the development objectives.
Manages the debt of the City, including the issuance of new debt, refinancing of existing debt, preparation of all documents related to such transactions, presenting to the rating agencies, and collaborating with Municipal Advisors to determine a plan of finance based on project needs and market conditions; ensures compliance with all Federal and State laws including continuing disclosure reporting.
Oversees activities of all Finance Department personnel, including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, audit, financial reporting, and income tax administration.
Communicates with Department/Division Directors on budgetary issues; communicates with City Manager on an ongoing basis regarding the financial position of the City.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Typical Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or other relevant field (Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or other relevant field preferred) and extensive accounting/financial management experience (considerable accounting/financial management experience in the public sector and considerable supervisory experience preferred).
Extensive knowledge of governmental finance including budgeting, investments, debt, payroll, and auditing standards.
Extensive knowledge of the public policy aspects of local government.
Extensive knowledge of management principles, concepts, practices, and methods.
Extensive knowledge of supervisory principles, concepts, practices, and methods.
Extensive knowledge of municipal government structure and processes.
Extensive knowledge of team-oriented, collaborative, participatory leadership concepts, principles, practices, and methods.
Extensive knowledge of strategic planning principles, practices, and techniques.
Excellent leadership skills.
Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills.
Excellent organizational skills.
Excellent problem solving skills.
Excellent presentation skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to assess overall Department effectiveness in carrying out its mission and recommend improvements.
Ability to present complicated financial concepts to a wide-variety of individuals, including City Council, State Legislators, and the general public.
Skill in the use of Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
Ability to research and resolve accounting issues that are identified though budgetary reviews and regular reconciliations.
Ability to make decisions based on limited information in a timely manner.
Physical Requirements
Ability to move about the inside of an office space to access file cabinets and office equipment.
Constantly operate a computer and other office machinery, such as a copier, fax machine, mobile device, shredder, scanner, etc.
Must be able to remain in stationary position at workstation throughout scheduled workday.
Ability to exchange information with co-workers and citizens through use of email system, the telephone, and in-person interactions.
Ability to occasionally lift and move objects weighing up to 20 lbs.
Ability to move objects weighing over 20 lbs. with the help of equipment/devices, on an infrequent basis.
Ability to enter data into computer system in a sustained manner.
Special Requirements
Valid driver’s license.
Other Requirements
Regular attendance, as governed by and in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, procedures and laws, is regarded as an essential requirement of this classification.
Compliance with training directives established by supervisory/managerial personnel.
Adherence to all applicable Federal and State safety laws, rules and regulations and City safety policies/procedures.
Core Competencies
Decision Quality: Makes good decisions (without considering how much time it takes) based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of his/her solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time; sought out by others for advice and solutions.
Dealing with Ambiguity: Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
Strategic Agility: Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
Priority Setting: Spends his/her time and the time of others on what’s important; quickly zeros in on the critical few and puts the trivial many aside; can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; eliminates roadblocks; creates focus.
Directing Others: Is good at stabling clear directions; sets stretching objectives; distributes the workload appropriately; lays out work in a well-planned and organized manner; maintains two-way dialogue with others on work and results; brings out the best in people; is a clear communicator.
Command Skills: Relishes leading; takes unpopular stands if necessary; encourages direct and tough debate but isn’t afraid to end it and move on; is looked to for direction in a crisis; faces adversity head-on; energized by tough challenges.
Managerial Courage: Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary.
Drive for Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
Political Savvy: Can maneuver through complex political situations effectively and quietly; is sensitive to how people and organizations function; anticipates where the land mines are and plans his/her approach accordingly; views corporate politics as a necessary part of organizational life and works to adjust to that reality; is a maze-bright person.
Organizational Agility: Knowledgeable about how organizations work; knows how to get things done both through formal channels and the informal network; understands the origin and reasoning behind key policies, practices, and procedures; understands the cultures of organizations.
Interpersonal Savvy: Relates well to all kinds of people – up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
Motivating Others: Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; can motivate many kinds of direct reports and team or project members; can assess each person’s hot button and use it to get the best out of him/her; pushes tasks and decisions down; empowers others; invites input from each person and shares ownership and visibility; makes each individual feel his/her work is important; is someone people like working for and with.
Composure: Is cool under pressure; does not become defensive or irritated when times are tough; is considered mature; can be counted on to hold things together during tough times; can handle stress; is not knocked off balance by the unexpected; doesn’t show frustration when resisted or blocked; is a settling influence in a crisis.
Managing Vision and Purpose: Communicates a compelling and inspired vision or sense of core purpose; talks beyond today; talks about possibilities; is optimistic; creates mileposts and symbols to rally support behind the vision; makes the vision sharable by everyone; can inspire and motivate entire units or organizations.
Understanding Others: Understands why groups do what they do; picks up the sense of the group in terms of positions, intentions, and needs; what they value and how to motivate them; can predict what groups will do across different situations.
The City of Dublin is committed to establishing and maintaining an inclusive and equitable community. We work to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We actively celebrate colleagues’ differences, support them through their careers with us, and prohibit discrimination and harassment. We strive to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities that allow individuals and groups to feel safe, respected, motivated, and valued. Creating a culture of equity and belonging helps to ensure we meet the needs of all residents, visitors, and City of Dublin employees.
Primary Focus
As the Chief Financial Officer, you’ll join a premier executive leadership team that is dedicated to providing high-quality services and infrastructure, a community hallmark of Dublin. This role ensures the City maintains its strong fiscal health and aligns financial strategies with the City’s long-term goals. The CFO will provide executive leadership, strategic direction, guidance, and management of the Department of Finance, comprised of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, budgeting, taxation, procurement, financial reporting, auditing, investment, and debt functions. As CFO, you will establish the strategic plan for the Department, including developing, planning, organizing and directing all financial functions, operations, programs, services, activities, and resources. Your leadership and guidance regarding financial considerations will inform the decisions of the City Manager, City Council, and members of the executive leadership team.
For the seventh consecutive year since first seeking a rating from S&P in 2017, Dublin earned the organization’s highest AAA rating. Moody’s assigned a AAA rating, which Dublin has held since 2004, and Fitch assigned a AAA rating, which Dublin has held since 2000. KBRA assigned an inaugural long-term rating of AAA in 2024. That rating makes Dublin the first and only city in the United States to earn four AAA ratings.
Benefits
Working at the City of Dublin is more than just a job. In addition to a competitive pay plan, the City offers a comprehensive benefits program for our permanent full-time employees that includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Opportunity to earn premium-free medical, dental, and vision benefits
- Employer-provided contributions to Health Savings or Health Reimbursement Account
- Healthy By Choice Wellness Program
- Generous Vacation, Sick, and Personal Leave
- Longevity Pay
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Employee Assistance Program
- Dublin Community Recreation Center Membership
- Employer-provided Short-term Disability (Non-Union Employees)
- Employer-provided Life Insurance
Supervisory Responsibilities
Supervises Director of Finance Operations, and the Director of Taxation.
Examples of Duties
Essential Functions
Provides strategic guidance regarding financial matters to the City Manager, City Council, and executive leadership team.
Partners with the City Manager in the preparation of the recommended annual operating budget and the five-year Capital Improvements Program based on requests submitted by Department/Division Directors.
Provides monthly and quarterly financial reporting to City Council and the public.
Ensures compliance with Federal and State rules and regulations, as well as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles/Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GAAP/GASB) requirements, including ensuring the City’s financial transactions are maintained in accordance with the applicable rules and regulations to ensure a clean audit opinion.
Manages the financial component of all development incentives including Tax Increment Financing, Community Reinvestment Areas, New Community Authorities, etc.; ensures compliance with State and county reporting requirements which include conducting the annual Tax Incentive Review Council meeting.
Collaborates with Department Directors on financial implications to any process and program; partners with the Director of Development and/or Director of Strategic Initiatives/Special Projects on potential development opportunities, revenue potential, and anticipated costs and explores various financing sources to accomplish the development objectives.
Manages the debt of the City, including the issuance of new debt, refinancing of existing debt, preparation of all documents related to such transactions, presenting to the rating agencies, and collaborating with Municipal Advisors to determine a plan of finance based on project needs and market conditions; ensures compliance with all Federal and State laws including continuing disclosure reporting.
Oversees activities of all Finance Department personnel, including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, audit, financial reporting, and income tax administration.
Communicates with Department/Division Directors on budgetary issues; communicates with City Manager on an ongoing basis regarding the financial position of the City.
Performs other related duties as assigned.
Typical Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or other relevant field (Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or other relevant field preferred) and extensive accounting/financial management experience (considerable accounting/financial management experience in the public sector and considerable supervisory experience preferred).
Extensive knowledge of governmental finance including budgeting, investments, debt, payroll, and auditing standards.
Extensive knowledge of the public policy aspects of local government.
Extensive knowledge of management principles, concepts, practices, and methods.
Extensive knowledge of supervisory principles, concepts, practices, and methods.
Extensive knowledge of municipal government structure and processes.
Extensive knowledge of team-oriented, collaborative, participatory leadership concepts, principles, practices, and methods.
Extensive knowledge of strategic planning principles, practices, and techniques.
Excellent leadership skills.
Excellent teamwork and collaboration skills.
Excellent organizational skills.
Excellent problem solving skills.
Excellent presentation skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to assess overall Department effectiveness in carrying out its mission and recommend improvements.
Ability to present complicated financial concepts to a wide-variety of individuals, including City Council, State Legislators, and the general public.
Skill in the use of Microsoft Office, especially Excel and PowerPoint.
Ability to research and resolve accounting issues that are identified though budgetary reviews and regular reconciliations.
Ability to make decisions based on limited information in a timely manner.
Physical Requirements
Ability to move about the inside of an office space to access file cabinets and office equipment.
Constantly operate a computer and other office machinery, such as a copier, fax machine, mobile device, shredder, scanner, etc.
Must be able to remain in stationary position at workstation throughout scheduled workday.
Ability to exchange information with co-workers and citizens through use of email system, the telephone, and in-person interactions.
Ability to occasionally lift and move objects weighing up to 20 lbs.
Ability to move objects weighing over 20 lbs. with the help of equipment/devices, on an infrequent basis.
Ability to enter data into computer system in a sustained manner.
Special Requirements
Valid driver’s license.
Other Requirements
Regular attendance, as governed by and in accordance with applicable rules, regulations, procedures and laws, is regarded as an essential requirement of this classification.
Compliance with training directives established by supervisory/managerial personnel.
Adherence to all applicable Federal and State safety laws, rules and regulations and City safety policies/procedures.
Core Competencies
Decision Quality: Makes good decisions (without considering how much time it takes) based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of his/her solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time; sought out by others for advice and solutions.
Dealing with Ambiguity: Can effectively cope with change; can shift gears comfortably; can decide and act without having the total picture; isn’t upset when things are up in the air; doesn’t have to finish things before moving on; can comfortably handle risk and uncertainty.
Strategic Agility: Sees ahead clearly; can anticipate future consequences and trends accurately; has broad knowledge and perspective; is future oriented; can articulately paint credible pictures and visions of possibilities and likelihoods; can create competitive and breakthrough strategies and plans.
Priority Setting: Spends his/her time and the time of others on what’s important; quickly zeros in on the critical few and puts the trivial many aside; can quickly sense what will help or hinder accomplishing a goal; eliminates roadblocks; creates focus.
Directing Others: Is good at stabling clear directions; sets stretching objectives; distributes the workload appropriately; lays out work in a well-planned and organized manner; maintains two-way dialogue with others on work and results; brings out the best in people; is a clear communicator.
Command Skills: Relishes leading; takes unpopular stands if necessary; encourages direct and tough debate but isn’t afraid to end it and move on; is looked to for direction in a crisis; faces adversity head-on; energized by tough challenges.
Managerial Courage: Doesn’t hold back anything that needs to be said; provides current, direct, complete, and “actionable” positive and corrective feedback to others; lets people know where they stand; faces up to people problems on any person or situation (not including direct reports) quickly and directly; is not afraid to take negative action when necessary.
Drive for Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.
Political Savvy: Can maneuver through complex political situations effectively and quietly; is sensitive to how people and organizations function; anticipates where the land mines are and plans his/her approach accordingly; views corporate politics as a necessary part of organizational life and works to adjust to that reality; is a maze-bright person.
Organizational Agility: Knowledgeable about how organizations work; knows how to get things done both through formal channels and the informal network; understands the origin and reasoning behind key policies, practices, and procedures; understands the cultures of organizations.
Interpersonal Savvy: Relates well to all kinds of people – up, down, and sideways, inside and outside the organization; builds appropriate rapport; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses diplomacy and tact; can diffuse even high-tension situations comfortably.
Motivating Others: Creates a climate in which people want to do their best; can motivate many kinds of direct reports and team or project members; can assess each person’s hot button and use it to get the best out of him/her; pushes tasks and decisions down; empowers others; invites input from each person and shares ownership and visibility; makes each individual feel his/her work is important; is someone people like working for and with.
Composure: Is cool under pressure; does not become defensive or irritated when times are tough; is considered mature; can be counted on to hold things together during tough times; can handle stress; is not knocked off balance by the unexpected; doesn’t show frustration when resisted or blocked; is a settling influence in a crisis.
Managing Vision and Purpose: Communicates a compelling and inspired vision or sense of core purpose; talks beyond today; talks about possibilities; is optimistic; creates mileposts and symbols to rally support behind the vision; makes the vision sharable by everyone; can inspire and motivate entire units or organizations.
Understanding Others: Understands why groups do what they do; picks up the sense of the group in terms of positions, intentions, and needs; what they value and how to motivate them; can predict what groups will do across different situations.
The City of Dublin is committed to establishing and maintaining an inclusive and equitable community. We work to ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or other legally protected characteristics. We actively celebrate colleagues’ differences, support them through their careers with us, and prohibit discrimination and harassment. We strive to ensure equitable access to resources and opportunities that allow individuals and groups to feel safe, respected, motivated, and valued. Creating a culture of equity and belonging helps to ensure we meet the needs of all residents, visitors, and City of Dublin employees.
