Deputy Finance Director

Salary Range

12,554.00 - 18,831.00

Job Summary

Public finance is about more than numbers. It is about trust. Stewardship. Making thoughtful choices with public resources. Building systems that work. Developing people. And helping an organization make sound decisions today while preparing for what comes next.
The City of Vancouver is seeking a Deputy Finance Director who is ready to take on that responsibility at an executive level. As the principal deputy to our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), you will help lead the City's Financial and Management Services Department and serve as a trusted strategic partner to the CFO, City leadership and departments across the organization.
We are looking for an accomplished public finance professional who brings more than technical expertise. We need an executive who brings sound judgment, perspective and composure to complex situations; communicates with credibility; builds trust across organizational boundaries; and models the leadership expected throughout the organization.
You will be a strategic thought partner to the CFO and other leaders on the financial issues shaping Vancouver's future. We are looking for someone who can evaluate competing considerations, anticipate downstream impacts and offer clear, objective advice—even when the advice is difficult.
You will help leaders understand not only what the numbers say, but what the choices mean.
This is an opportunity to help shape the financial future of a growing city—and to demonstrate what thoughtful, accountable and service- centered executive leadership looks like in public service.

Job Details

The Opportunity

The Financial and Management Services Department provides the financial foundation that supports the work of the City.

Our responsibilities include budget, accounting and financial reporting, accounts payable, treasury, accounts receivable, internal audit, debt management, long-range and strategic financial planning and financial systems. The department operates with approximately 46 positions and a $16.9 million budget .

As Deputy Finance Director, you will work alongside the CFO to lead this broad portfolio while helping connect financial strategy to the larger needs of the organization and community.

You will oversee day-to-day department operations, lead managers and supervisors, resolve issues that cross organizational boundaries and help translate complex financial information into choices leaders can act on.

At times, you will serve as Acting CFO and represent the department with executive leadership, City Council and external partners. You will be expected to operate with the judgment, discretion, presence and organizational perspective that comes with representing the City's chief financial function.

The successful candidate will receive professional and leadership development designed to prepare them to be competitive for the next Chief Financial Officer recruitment.

Essential Functions

Executive Leadership and Department Operations

• Serve as the CFO’s principal deputy and provide leadership for day-to-day department operations, cross-divisional coordination, and execution of department priorities.

• Partner with the CFO to establish departmental priorities, performance expectations, organizational culture, and strategic initiatives.

• Supervise, coach, and develop designated managers and supervisors; support succession planning and leadership development across the department.

• Resolve cross-functional operational issues, remove barriers to effective service delivery, and lead continuous improvement efforts.

• Serve as Acting CFO as delegated and represent the department with executive leadership, City Council, and external partners when needed.

Financial Operations and Compliance

• Provide executive leadership for governmental accounting and financial reporting, including complex accounting issues, year- end close, ACFR preparation, audit coordination, and implementation of GAAP and GASB standards; provide executive oversight for treasury, cash and investment management, internal controls, and related financial administration.

• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and other mandated financial reports.

• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards.

• Promote a strong internal-control environment and coordinate resolution of audit findings, accounting issues, and operational risks.

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Advise the CFO on fiscal issues, emerging trends, organizational impacts, and financial risks and opportunities.

• Support development of financial policy, long-range forecasts, multi-year planning, revenue strategies, reserve analysis, and long-term sustainability strategies.

• Support the development of the City’s biennial operating and capital budget, providing operational and process oversight and support.

• Assist with the development of the City’s debt strategy, bond issuance, credit-rating strategy, and financial risk management.

• Participate in major capital financing, cost-recovery, fee, and enterprise financial-policy initiatives as assigned.

Financial Systems and Enterprise Process Improvement

• Provide executive leadership for financial systems strategy, governance, modernization, and continuous improvement.

• Lead or co-lead enterprise-wide Enterprise Resource Planning software, ( ERP), upgrades and financial-system initiatives in partnership with Information Technology, Finance divisions, operating departments, vendors, and executive sponsors.

• Promote process redesign, automation, data quality, integration, reporting capability, and effective use of technology across financial functions.

• Lead change management, stakeholder engagement, governance, testing, training, and adoption activities necessary for successful system implementations.

Organizational Partnership, Training, and Communication

• Build strong working relationships across City departments and promote a responsive, solutions-oriented partnership model.

• Translate complex financial and systems issues into clear recommendations for executive leaders, elected officials, employees, and other stakeholders.

• Promote financial literacy, sound decision-making, and shared accountability for the City’s financial health.

• Serve as a financial liaison to auditors, financial institutions, municipal advisors, credit rating agencies, regional partners, and other external stakeholders as assigned by the CFO.

• Emulates and demonstrates the City of Vancouver Values of collaborative, inclusive, innovative, compassionate and empowered to their team, colleagues, other leaders and the community.

Qualifications

The Ideal Candidate

A Strategic Partner

Understands organization-wide initiatives, department priorities, regional issues, and how they influence financial needs. Brings strong municipal-finance judgment, asks thoughtful questions, identifies risks and opportunities, and provides candid, objective advice to the CFO and other leaders.

A Financial Operations Leader

Has the technical credibility to work through accounting and reporting issues with professional staff while maintaining an executive perspective. Understands how finance business processes, data, controls, reporting, and technology fit together and can lead cross-functional ERP, budgeting-system, or comparable modernization efforts.

A Collaborative Leader and Problem Solver

Comfortably says “no” when necessary, but never reflexively. Help solve problems rather than protect the status quo, maintains an objective perspective, and balances strategic thinking with the operational detail necessary to execute well. Influences without ego or territoriality and navigates relationships with elected officials, department heads, employees, techni