Zoo Finance Manager

Note: This position is based onsite at the Oregon Zoo, Monday through Friday.

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow. 

The Finance and Regulatory Services department is seeking a Zoo Finance Manager to serve as a trusted advisor and strategic business partner to the Oregon Zoo's executive leadership. This position offers the unique opportunity to contribute to an organization that brings joy to millions each year while supporting critical work in wildlife conservation, education, and sustainability.

As a key member of the Finance and Regulatory Services department reporting to the Financial Planning Director, you will oversee a talented team of analysts and specialists, manage complex operational and capital budgets, and provide strategic financial insight that helps guide the Oregon Zoo’s mission-driven work. The role spans both the technical and strategic—from contract management and grant compliance to long-range financial planning, project oversight, and cross-department collaboration.

This position is ideal for someone who thrives in both detail-oriented and big-picture work, who values relationships as much as results, and who brings curiosity and care to understanding the people, programs, and purpose behind the numbers.

As the Zoo Finance Manager, you will

• Serve as a key member of the Zoo’s management team and a trusted advisor on financial, operational, and strategic matters.
• Supervise procurement and internal accounting functions, ensuring compliance with Metro policies and achievement of departmental goals.
• Lead the development and management of the department’s annual operating and capital budgets, working closely with program managers and agency finance staff.
• Provide analysis and recommendations related to existing and proposed zoo programs and initiatives, including budget variance reports, financial forecasting, profit/loss evaluations, pro forma statements and legislative proposals.
• Establish and maintain strong internal financial controls, including oversight of contracts, grants, donations, and cash-handling procedures in compliance with Metro requirements and granting agency regulations.
• Supports operating contracts, point of sale systems and other systems as needed for Zoo operations.
• Ensures accurate and timely financial reporting, including monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, audit schedules, and grant billing.
• Support policy development and strategic planning at the department and agency level, including long-range financial planning.
• Maintain grant and bond compliance, oversee financial documentation, and ensure adherence to Metro’s retention requirements.
• Collaborate with external partners such as the Oregon Zoo Foundation and the Metropolitan Exposition and Recreation Commission.
• Provide full supervisory leadership for assigned staff, including hiring, performance management, training, and team development.
  

Attributes for success

• Strong strategic thinker with the ability to shift between high-level planning and detailed financial analysis as needed.
• Ability to build strong, trust-based relationships by investing time in understanding team members’ roles, strengths, and challenges to foster a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
• Approaches financial leadership with a CFO mindset—applying expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis to guide planning, resource allocation, and data-driven decisions.
• Effectively manages both people and processes, removing obstacles, streamlining workflows, and ensuring operational continuity and clarity across complex financial systems.
• Prioritizes the success of the team and department, demonstrating a service-oriented leadership style that centers collective achievement while stepping into visible leadership when needed.
• Exhibits intellectual curiosity and a strong commitment to understanding the mission, operations, and public impact of the Oregon Zoo, ensuring financial leadership is aligned with organizational goals.
• Maintains high standards of accountability, compliance, and accuracy in all financial functions, with deep knowledge of grants administration, internal controls, contract management, and regulatory requirements.
• Communicates financial and operational information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences—including executive leadership, program staff, oversight bodies, and external stakeholders.
• Collaborates across departments and agencies with professionalism and purpose, contributing to policy development, shared strategic priorities, and long-term planning efforts.
• Embraces challenges as opportunities—proactively identifies issues, develops solutions, and leads change efforts that improve systems, support staff, and enhance organizational effectiveness.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION 

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.   

Learn more about Metro’s Diversity Action Plan

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant. 

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or a related field, and
• Five years of experience in financial budgeting and accounting, OR
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Experience managing financial operations for revenue-generating programs or cultural institutions (e.g., zoos, museums, parks).
• Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., Workday, Oracle, PeopleSoft) and grant-funded programs.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
• Certification or additional training in financial management or public sector finance (e.g., CGFM, CPFO, or similar).

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed Resume that includes the details for each employer
  1. Name of employer and working title,
  2. Dates of employment and if the work was full-time or part-time, 
  3. Number of employees supervised; and
  4. Summary of your responsibilities.
• A cover letter that addresses the following:
  1. What aspects of the role and the Oregon Zoo's mission inspire you, and why is this an opportunity you’re excited to pursue?
  2. What aspects of your professional experience make you confident that you would be successful in this role? 

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Reference check 

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON

The full-salary range for this position is Step 1 $127,554.84 to Step 6 $162,795.64. However, unless a candidate’s qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro’s internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between Step 1 $127,554.84 to the equity range Step 4 $147,661.15.

This position is not eligible for overtime and is non-represented. It is classified as a Finance Manager.

Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.

Questions?

Recruiter: Jasmine Cárdenas 

Email: Jasmine.Cardenas@oregonmetro.gov

Equal employment opportunity

All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.

Accommodation

Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Veterans' preference

Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.
 

Pay equity at Metro

No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Online applications

Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance. 

How to Apply

For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro’s “How to apply” page. 

Government Jobs

Salary : $127,555 - $162,796