Chief Financial Officer (CFO) - Department of Social Services

Salary: $138,322 – $152,493 Annually DOE/DOQ*

This salary range reflects the negotiable range for hire, however the top of the range for future career and salary advancement tops at $176,542

A starting salary higher than the negotiable range is possible with department head and CEO approval.

Benefits: Explore the Benefits Summary

The County of Santa Barbara is seeking a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Department of Social Services in Santa Barbara, California. We are seeking a finance and accounting professional who has strong organizational leadership skills, financial acumen, strategic business thinking, and experience with complex financial systems and programs in a governmental agency, preferably a California health and human services organization. This position is categorized as a Financial Services Manager III classification within the County’s leadership series.

The ideal candidate is a public accounting and budgeting expert, with the ability to see the bigger picture and make decisions based on a commitment to long-term financial integrity. As CFO, you will be an integral part of the Department’s leadership team, helping navigate the Department through changing fiscal and policy mandates, priority-setting, and funding decisions that best support the Department’s mission to help vulnerable members of our community become safe, supported, and self-sufficient.

THE DEPARTMENT: Joining the Social Services Department is an opportunity to positively affect the lives and futures of children, families, and seniors in our community. The Department of Social Services has over 800 employees and provides a broad range of services and programs critical to delivering a countywide safety net for children, the elderly, and dependent adults. The department also provides eligibility determination to access healthcare benefits and supports individuals and families in achieving economic self-sufficiency through various services including CalWORKs, CalFresh, Medi-Cal, General Relief, and employment training and placement assistance.

The Department is an efficient and professionally managed organization able to anticipate and effectively respond to the needs of the community, and our work helps build a safe and healthy community in which to live, work, and visit. For more information about the Department of Social Services, click HERE.

THE POSITION: THIS IS A KEY LEADERSHIP POSITION within the Department of Social Services overseeing the Fiscal Division. This position is part of a leadership team of 35 managers and executives and supports over 750 positions in 7 locations. This is a civil service leadership position that reports to the Chief Financial and Administrative Officer and oversees a department budget of $238 million. The CFO oversees four direct reports, including an Assistant Chief Financial Officer, and 28 indirect staff located primarily in three locations across the County (Santa Barbara/Goleta, Lompoc, and Santa Maria).

The Fiscal Division is divided into the following areas of responsibility:

Financial Systems and Data Management
Procurement and Contracts
Specialized Accounting
Grants Finance
Budget and Resource Planning
Financial Accounting and Reporting
General Accounting

The incumbent will understand and have a passion for public finance and budgeting and be able to effectively communicate complex concepts to both technical and lay audiences. Our ideal candidate is a transparent and collaborative leader with unquestionable ethics, and experience overseeing complex financial, budgeting, and accounting operations, preferably in a large California public sector health and human services organization. The next CFO for the Department of Social Services will demonstrate emotional intelligence, question the status quo, and seek out innovative solutions to complex problems to improve how we do business and better serve the community.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL:

Have strong analytical skills and use data and financial strategy to manage complex and changing environments.
Understand complex, interconnected budgets and funding sources.
Have experience overseeing the budgeting and finances of a large government agency.
Be a visionary and approachable leader who builds trust, cooperation, and collaboration.
Be highly organized, able to plan ahead, multitask, and manage time effectively.
Stay calm under pressure and meet deadlines with a steady leadership style.
Have experience working in a diverse team, both leading and supporting others to deliver strong results.
Have experience implementing a large-scale financial or other IT system in a public agency. Experience implementing or using the Workday system is highly desirable.
Have experience forecasting financial outcomes, developing recommendations, and clearly communicating them to leadership, both verbally and in writing.
Work effectively with the Auditor-Controller, County finance staff, and the County Executive Office.
Make recommendations to executive leadership that balance the upholding of financial best practices with Department goals, culture, and available resources.
Be committed to continuous improvement, including process redesign, technology upgrades, and organizational change.

Examples of Duties

These examples are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job and not all duties listed are necessarily performed by each individual.

Serves as a member of the County’s management team by planning, organizing, coordinating, and directing the activities in areas such as: accounting, budget, accounts receivable/payable, employee benefits, payroll, debt management, public funds and property tax collections, financial analysis, and auditing.
Establishes annual or mid-term priorities, goals and operational plans for the division or programs.
Recommends, establishes, and provides direction for new or revised services, programs, processes, policies, standards, or operational plans, based upon the department’s longer-term strategies.
Recommends division’s strategic plans within department strategic direction to next level manager or director.
Troubleshoots and resolves program or work unit issues and keeps higher-level management informed of issues/resolution.
Develops, administers and evaluates fiscal services and programs to ensure compliance with strategies and performance goals; manages work systems and processes; maintains and updates procedures, and ensures compliance; researches trends and best practices; and recommends and implements changes.
Develops and administers work unit budget; reviews and approves budget requests and transactions; negotiates and manages contracts; researches and analyzes financial information; makes resource allocation recommendations; and implements resource allocation decisions.
Researches, analyzes, develops, and reviews original fiscal, compliance, and related reports, contracts, plans, grant proposals, materials, presentations, and other documents; and develops and makes recommendations to higher-level staff.
Develops, implements, and evaluates services and programs to ensure adherence to strategic and performance goals; manages work systems and processes; maintains and updates procedures; researches trends and best practices in area of assignment; and recommends and implements operational and /or program changes.
Develops and administers budgetary and procurement processes; manages contracts; researches and analyzes financial information; makes resource allocation recommendations; and implements resource allocation decisions.
Troubleshoots and resolves program or work unit issues and keeps higher-level management informed of issues/resolution.
Oversees the preparation of (and/or prepares) contracts, reports, records, plans, and other documents involved in managing the area of assignment; oversees (and participates in) the research and analysis of policy and related information; and/or makes recommendations to higher-level management staff.
Supervises management, professional, paraprofessional, and support staff; and is responsible for conducting performance evaluations, employee development, hiring, discipline, and termination procedures.
Coordinates work with the general public, County staff, external agencies, etc.; may represent the County on various professional committees; and may prepare and make presentations to the public, elected officials, boards, and/or other stakeholders.
Performs other related duties as required.

Employment Standards

Education and Experience
The knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below may be acquired through various types of training, education, and experience. A typical way to acquire the required knowledge and abilities would be:

Equivalent of a bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field and,
Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting or finance, including at least three (3) years as a supervisor or manager.

Additional Requirements

For specific positions, possession and maintenance of a valid California driver’s license and the ability to meet automobile insurability requirements of the County or the ability to provide suitable transportation needs as a condition of continued employment.

Desirable Qualifications:

The following licenses or certifications are desirable but not required: Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA).

Knowledge of:

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
Principles and practices of accounting, tax, auditing, and collections.
Principles and practices of budget development and management.
Principles and practices of financial planning and analysis, investment portfolio management, cost and revenue management, and cash management.
Principles and practices of payroll and benefits.
Principles and practices of public administration and program management, including strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Management principles, practices, and techniques.
Principles and practices of governmental accounting, fiscal management, budgeting, and auditing.
Principles and practices of program planning and administration.
Personnel management principles and practices, including employee supervision, training, and evaluation.
Principles and practices of group facilitation, conflict resolution, and consensus building.
Principles and practices of procurement and contract administration.
Principles and techniques of effective oral presentations.
Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
Business systems, equipment, and applications relevant to the area of assignment.

Ability to:

Manage large operations related to accounting, tax, auditing, and collections programs and services.
Manage budget development and management programs and projects.
Manage programs and projects related to financial planning and analysis, investment portfolio management, cost and revenue management, and cash management.
Manage assigned operations/programs; ensure ongoing compliance with strategic objectives and performance measures.
Develop and implement policies and procedures.
Manage and evaluate assigned staff, including training, coaching, participating in the development of goals and strategic objectives, coordinating deadlines, prioritizing work demands, and assigning/monitoring work.
Analyze and evaluate operational programs, projects, and procedures.
Plan, organize, coordinate, and supervise changes and improvements in public agency projects and studies.
Manage budgets, contracts, grants, and resource allocation.
Interpret, monitor, and report financial information and statistics.
Oversee the implementation of, and adherence to, quality assurance activities and standards.
Research, recommend, and implement industry trends, solutions, and best practices.
Resolve complex problems within the area of assignment.
Prepare and oversee the preparation of reports, grant proposals, documents, and presentations.
Make presentations to stakeholders, elected officials, County leadership, and the public.
Collaborate with program stakeholders, elected and appointed boards, the public, and internal leadership.
Interpret and apply applicable laws, codes, regulations, and standards.
Communicate effectively, clearly, and concisely.
Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse range of individuals, including but not limited to coworkers, subordinate staff, supervisors, other managers, professional agencies, and the general public.

For the full scope of the job classification, click HERE.

Supplemental Information

SELECTION PROCESS:

Review applications and supplemental questionnaire to determine those applicants who meet the employment standards.
Application Ranking: Applications that meet the employment standards will be evaluated and scored. Candidates' final score and rank on the eligibility list will be determined by the information provided on their application based on your experience and the Ideal Candidate section on the job bulletin. This process may be eliminated if there are fewer than 11 qualified candidates.

Candidates must receive a percentage score of at least 70 on the Application Ranking to be placed on an employment list. An adjustment may be made to raw scores based on factors listed in Civil Service Rule VI. Those candidates who are successful in the selection process will have their names placed on the employment list for a minimum of three months. At the time the employment list is established, all candidates will receive an email notice of their score on the exam(s) and exact duration of the employment list. The appointee must satisfactorily complete a one-year probationary period.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS: The County of Santa Barbara is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants. Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter listed on the job posting. We require verification of needed accommodation from a professional source, such as a Medical Provider or a learning institution.

CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER: Once a conditional offer of employment has been made, the selected candidate's appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check which includes a conviction history check, and satisfactory reference checks. Appointee may be subject to a post-offer medical evaluation or examination.

Recruiters will communicate with applicants by e-mail during each step in the recruitment process. Applicants are reminded to check spam filters continuously during the Recruitment & Selection Process steps listed above to ensure they do not miss required deadlines.

BENEFITS: The County of Santa Barbara offers generous benefits. For information on benefits click here.
In addition, applicants from other public sector employers may qualify for:

Retirement reciprocity
Time and service credit towards an advanced vacation accrual

Disaster Service Worker: Pursuant to Governmental Code section 3100, all employees with the County of Santa Barbara are declared to be disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their supervisors or by law.

Statement of Commitment: The County of Santa Barbara provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type with regard to any characteristic or status protected by any federal law, state law, or Santa Barbara County ordinance. The County continues to be committed to a merit-based selection process and to eliminating barriers to attracting and retaining top qualified candidates. The County has a long-standing practice of providing a work environment that respects the dignity of individual employees and values their contributions to our organization.

APPLICATION AND SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE DEADLINE: Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at 4:59 P.M. PST; Postmarks not accepted. Applications and job bulletins can be obtained 24 hours a day at www.sbcountyjobs.com

Collin Graham, Senior Talent Acquisition Analyst; cgraham@countyofsb.org

BENEFITS: Retirement Plans Generous County Defined Benefit Plan Eligible to participate in 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan Retirement Reciprocity with CalPERS, CalSTRS, and 1937 Act plans For more information on our retirement plans, please visit: https://www.sbcers.org/ and http://www.santabarbara457.comHealth Benefits Choice of dental, vision and medical plans. In addition to the Benefit Allowance noted above, the County contributes toward medical premiums and dental premiums On-Site Employee Health Clinics in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria which provide ongoing and episodic services to eligible employees and their eligible dependents Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers free, confidential assistance with personal and workplace problems to employees and their immediate family members Healthcare Advocacy Program to help employees navigate the complexities of health plan benefits Available Health Care and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Account (HSA), Supplemental Term or Whole Life Insurance, Personal Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Accident Insurance and more! For more information on our health benefits, please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/4012/Health-BenefitsPaid Time Off Vacation Leave 12 to 25 days per year depending on length of public employment Sick Leave 12 days annually with unlimited accumulation, one year of which can be converted to service credit upon retirement Paid Holidays based on bargaining unit (view the compensation summary for this bargaining unit, link below) Alternative Transportation Benefit (TDM) up to 2 days of additional vacation for using alternative methods of commuting For more information on Paid Time Off please view the Compensation Summary for this bargaining unit (available below)Miscellaneous Benefits County Paid Term Life Insurance County Paid Long Term Disability Insurance Childcare and Employee Discounts Relocation Assistance may apply Flexible work schedule may apply For more information on all of these benefits, please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/4013/24636/WorkLife-BenefitsCompensation Summary To view the Compensation Summary specific to the bargaining unit for this position (link to full Memorandum of Understanding also available at bottom of the summary), please visit: https://www.countyofsb.org/3096/Managers-Unrepresented *This benefits list is for convenience only; please refer to the Memorandum of Understanding for complete details of terms and conditions. Amounts are generally prorated for part-time employment.

County of Santa Barbara

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Chief Financial Officer - Department of Social Services