Note:This position will remain open until filled. First review of applications is scheduled to occur for applications received before 5:00 PM on April 4, 2025. This recruitment may close at any time after that date, once a sufficiently strong candidate pool has been established. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible!

The City of Huntington Beach is seeking a future-focused Finance professional with a passion for excellence. The ideal candidate will be excited about the opportunity to take a key leadership role in a multi-faceted department in one of the nation's most desirable, premier coastal communities.

An inspiring and hardworking leader who has mastered the art of helping others see what's possible, the ideal candidate will be of the highest integrity and considered a role model in the profession. This person will have the ability to approach day-to-day operations with an optimistic can-do attitude and a constant eye toward results and continuous improvement. Familiarity with technology and tools that support contemporary business practices and maximum efficiency, coupled with a track record that reflects data-driven decision making and the delivery of exceptional outcomes, will be expected. Proven success with modernizing systems and processes and other significant change efforts will also be considered favorably.

The ideal candidate will convey a sophisticated understanding of external as well as internal customer needs and concerns. This individual will exhibit tremendous initiative and have a history that demonstrates the ability to address challenges with courage and confidence.

The Position

The Assistant Chief Financial Officer is designated as “at-will” and is excluded from the competitive service of the City and the City’s Classification Plan.

Assistant Chief Financial Officer differs from the Chief Financial Officer in that the Assistant Chief Financial Officer assists with the overall management of the department while the Chief Financial Officer is responsible for the overall administration of the department as well as planning, organizing and directing all City financial services.

The Community

The City of Huntington Beach is located in northwestern Orange County 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 90 miles northwest of San Diego. The City encompasses 28 square miles of land and 26 square miles of water, making it the 24th largest city in California. With a population of about 202,265 residents, Huntington Beach is the fourth largest populous city in Orange County.

Known as “Surf City USA,” Huntington Beach features nearly 8.5 miles of spacious beaches and hosts an annual visitor population of over 11 million people, especially during the summer, and features numerous large-scale special events, surf competitions and festivals. Even with its swell of visitors, Huntington Beach has been listed for decades as among the FBI’s safest cities in the nation. In 2022, WalletHub ranked the City of Huntington Beach #1 in the nation for quality of services to residents. Huntington Beach consistently ranks near the top of WalletHub’s annual rankings of the happiest cities in the country.

Huntington Beach has one of the largest recreational piers in the world and has the longest concrete pier in California. The City is home to a thriving beach community and is consistently named as one of the top ten beaches in California. Running parallel to Pacific Coast Highway and just steps from the ocean is a ten-mile strand perfect for biking, inline skating, jogging, or a leisurely stroll.

Huntington Beach boasts a wide variety of municipal amenities. It has a world-class Central Library with four branch libraries. The City’s Park system includes 79 public parks (including a dog park), riding stables, and the largest city-owned and operated regional park in Orange County — the 356-acre Huntington Central Park. Residents enjoy 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.

Huntington Beach draws some of the largest crowds in the world for its popular events, including the U.S. Open of Surfing, AVP Pro Beach Volleyball, the Surf City Marathon, and the Pacific Air Show. It’s also home to the International Surfing Museum, the Surfing Walk of Fame, the Surfing Hall of Fame, the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, and the Huntington Beach Art Center.

Examples of Essential Duties

Assists the Chief Financial Officer in managing and directing the activities and operations of the Finance Department
Acts on behalf of the Chief Financial Officer in his/her absence
Plans, organizes and directs the activities of the accounting, budget, purchasing, municipal billing, accounts payable, payroll, and business license divisions; develops and implements work plans, assigns work activities
Assists in developing and implementing department goals, objectives, processes and procedures
Develops performance standards and negotiates contracts and service agreements
Performs financial planning and analysis associated with capital replacement plans, including debt capacity analysis, bond issuance and posts issuance compliance of bonded debt
Conducts cost/benefit analyses
Oversees and directs the reconciliation of City bank accounts to the general ledger
Coordinates the annual City-wide indirect cost allocation plan
Prepares or directs the preparation of actuarial reports; directs and/or prepares deficit funding plans and annual credit and disposition reports

Please click here to review the full job description.

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 six (6) years increasingly responsible professional-level financial experience including four (4) years as a supervisor or manager of professional-level personnel (current or recent experience working for a California municipality is preferred) and a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or other closely related field. A Master’s degree is preferred.

Application & Selection Process

The position will remain open until filled. The first review of applications is scheduled to occur for applications received before 5:00 p.m. on April 4, 2025. To be considered for this opportunity, submit an application, cover letter, resume, and list of professional references using the "Apply" feature.

Application packets will be screened and the best qualified candidates will be invited to participate in interviews, which may be conducted virtually or in-person. An interview date will be scheduled when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

City of Huntington Beach, CA

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ASSISTANT CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER