Job Brief

CFO leads financial strategy, budgeting, reporting, and compliance for municipal operations

Employment Status:

Permanent Full time

Union:

NON-UNION

Open To:

Internal/External Applicant(s)

Closing Date:

12/04/2026

Duration (if temporary):

N/A

The City of Kawartha Lakes invites applications to join our team as a Chief Financial Officer.

When you come to work for the City of Kawartha Lakes, you are joining a community of municipal workers who take pride in knowing that every day you are having a positive impact in the community. Our mission is to deliver the highest standards of municipal services while creating a healthy and sustainable future for all Kawartha Lakes’ residents and businesses. We work to our values of Accountability, Respect and Teamwork and we want you to Jump In with us!!

We are an equal opportunity employer which values equity, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace. We foster a safe and creative work environment, where training and skill development are prioritized, with opportunities and support for career advancement. As a team member at the City of Kawartha Lakes, you may be entitled to the following: OMERS pension (defined benefit), employer paid benefits package including short and long term disability income replacement, education reimbursement and other programs that foster innovation, leadership, and career advancement

Title: Chief Financial Officer

Direct Supervisor: Director, Corporate Services

Department: Corporate Services

Salary: $150,676 - $176,260 (2026)

Location: Lindsay, ON

Hours of Work: Normal working hours are 37.5 hours per week with core hours between 8:00am to 5:00pm

Additional Requirements: Combination of general office environment and occasional off-site travel. Attending meetings, conferences and departmental emergency situations, which may be outside of normal business hours.

Position Summary:

The Chief Financial Officer’s role is to provide vision and leadership in the development and implementation of corporate financial strategy, fiscal policy, and long-term financial sustainability planning. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) leads the Finance Division and directs the planning and execution of enterprise-wide financial operations in support of business objectives, service delivery excellence, and responsible growth.

This position is responsible for the organization’s financial management, including financial planning and analysis, budgeting, treasury, debt management, financial reporting, internal controls, and legislative compliance.

Essential Duties

Specific to this role:

Provide strategic leadership for the City’s financial management framework, including the development and implementation of short- and long-term financial plans aligned with the City’s strategic plan
Lead the development and administration of the City’s annual tax-supported and Water and Wastewater Budgets, ensuring financial plans support service delivery objectives
Formulate corporate financial strategies, policies, and frameworks to support organizational objectives
Align financial planning with service-based budgeting, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and data-driven decision-making
Initiate and sponsor enterprise-wide improvement projects that promote fiscal responsibility and long-term sustainability
Provide expert financial advice and recommendations to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), and the Senior Management Team (SMT) on fiscal policy, long-range financial planning, reserve strategies, and funding models
Present quarterly and annual financial reports to Council and various boards, including analysis of budget-to-actual variances and emerging financial risks
Advise on financial implications of strategic initiatives, growth planning, infrastructure investment, and service changes
Collaborate with the Capital Asset Management division, senior leadership, and department heads to integrate asset management principles into financial frameworks, capital planning, and budget development, ensuring sustainable funding for capital programs and long-term infrastructure renewal
Monitor the financial health of asset-related reserves and funding strategies, providing data-driven insights to Council, SMT, and the public
Design and implement corporate financial policies and business processes governing the City’s financial transactions
Ensure strong financial governance and internal control frameworks, including segregation of duties, documentation standards, and clearly defined system access levels, including appropriate financial delegation authorities
Oversee enterprise risk mitigation related to financial operations and ensure compliance with applicable legislation and regulations
Provide executive oversight of the City’s Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform and financial systems, working collaboratively with Information Technology to support system integration, digital automation of internal controls, and operational effectiveness
Identify opportunities for financial optimization, including cost control, service optimization, and improved financial reporting capabilities to support evidence-based decision-making
Provide strategic oversight of key financial operations, including taxation and utility billing and collections, and purchasing, while also providing expertise on development financing matters such as development charges, front-end agreements, and growth-related revenue forecasting
Support and lead activity-based costing with the Operating Departments and evidence-based decision making

As a member of the leadership team:

Develop and implement strategic goals, priorities, and measurements, consistent with performance management, engaging a continuous improvement mindset and recommend improvements to the Senior Management Team (SMT) and Council
Conduct reviews and analysis of organizational service objectives and ensure standards are achieved
Complete continuous research and analysis of industry trends to recommend programs to Director, CAO, and/or Council
Demonstrate leadership in supporting team members, providing feedback, and/or corrective action as needed
Estimate budget requirements, making recommendations to inform current and future expenditures
Procure services and goods related to areas of responsibility
Authorize time off requests, time worked, and overtime costs
Manage stakeholder interactions in the supply and receipt information, and analysis and resolution of issues
Manage customer service concerns, investigating, problem solving, and responding as appropriate
Administer public relations activities on behalf of the department, identifying and communicating with all necessary audiences
Prepare comprehensive statistical reports to support department reporting requirements and decision making
Ensure collaborative partnerships are formed and maintained inside of the organization
Create and maintain a cohesive team environment to support staff to achieve objectives
Responsible for the hiring, onboarding, performance management, and supervision of staff in a unionized environment, in consultation with People Service

Administer the terms of the applicable Collective Agreements, in collaboration with People Services; act as a supervisor under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA)

Perform other related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

Post-secondary degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field
Canadian Accounting designation
Minimum ten (10) years of related progressive experience, with experience in a municipal or other government organization
Demonstrated leadership and management skills at a level to ensure successful program and employee performance outcomes and management
Demonstrated knowledge and application of financial budget and business planning processes
Possess and demonstrate the knowledge, skills and personal attributes as described in the key performance competencies outlined below
Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of applications, audio/video conferencing, the internet and any other related software
Possess and maintain a valid Ontario Class “G” Driver’s Licence or the ability to frequently attend work related activities at various sites within the municipality or at other sites within Ontario
Upon a conditional offer of employment, an acceptable Criminal Record Check will be required

Key Performance Competencies:

Candidates/job incumbents must perform at the appropriate proficiency level for the organization’s core competencies and leadership competencies as outlined below.

Communication and Collaboration

Effective communication, cooperation, interpersonal relations, teamwork, supportive work environment, demonstrating support (compliance) of established policies and processes, ensuring confidentiality is maintained, in situations where it is expected and policy and procedure require it.

Creativity and Innovation

Thinks beyond the confines of traditional models to recognize opportunities and find new and better ways of doing things, utilizing Lean Six Sigma as appropriate for continuous improvement.

Culture Management

Models the organization’s vision and values and reinforces the desired culture in support of the achievement of organizational strategic goals.

Problem Solving and Decision Making

Uses critical thinking to evaluate problems, gather information, understand causes, and identify best possible solutions. Invests time in planning, discovery and reflection to drive better decisions and continuous improvement.

People Leadership

Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to achieve organizational strategic goals; coaches, mentors, and manages employee experience, and employee performance, through mindful preparation; creates space for others to lead.

Planning and Results Orientation

Invests time in upfront planning to achieve organizational goals and objectives while meeting quality standards, following the appropriate processes, and demonstrating continuous commitment and improvement.

Risk Management

The ability to assess and mitigate the degree of risk in plans or actions; makes contingency plans to limit the magnitude of risk. This includes any risk to the organization such as health and safety, financial, compliance, etc.

Service Excellence

Superior customer focused actions, both internal and external to the organization, demonstrating ethical, transparent behaviours, respect for others, listening to concerns and taking appropriate actions.

Strategic Leadership and Execution

Applies vision to think beyond the immediate situation and explores multiple potential paths; invests time in planning, discovery, and reflection to better drive decisions and more efficient implementation; ensures that corporate goals are met by executing, monitoring, and adjusting the organizational strategic plan.

The City of Kawartha Lakes is an equal opportunity employer committed to building an inclusive and supportive workplace. We welcome applications from qualified candidates of all backgrounds and experiences.

We are dedicated to providing barrier-free and accessible employment practices in compliance with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). If you are contacted regarding a job opportunity, please let us know of any accommodations you may require. We will work with you to ensure your needs are met throughout the recruitment and selection process.

Applicants must be prepared for skill testing.

City of Kawartha Lakes

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