Deputy Finance Director

About the City of Riverside and Finance Department

The City of Riverside, governed by a seven-member City Council and City Manager, is a full-service municipality serving more than 319,000 residents with a budget of $1.4 billion and a workforce exceeding 2,700 employees. The city offers diverse community, public safety, and utility services and presents an advantageous environment for education, entrepreneurship, career development, family life, or retirement.

The Finance Department comprises over 77 full-time employees and oversees the city’s financial and treasury operations, including purchasing, risk management, budget, payroll, business tax, debt and treasury, central stores, and general accounting. It manages revenues, expenditures, investments, accounting, budgeting, and debt portfolio to provide reliable and effective fiscal services aligned with legal and industry standards.

Role Overview

The Deputy Finance Director reports directly to the Finance Director and plays a crucial role in directing financial operations such as the management of city funds, investment, and disbursement activities. This role involves supervising division managers, ensuring accurate financial reporting, and supporting the development and implementation of comprehensive financial strategies. Collaboration with senior leadership is vital to fostering financial sustainability and enhancing long-term fiscal outcomes.

This position holds a non-classified status, is exempt from classified service, and the incumbent serves at the City Manager’s discretion on an at-will basis.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, mentor, and evaluate both office and field personnel including division managers within the Finance Department.
• Oversee daily operations in accounting, purchasing, treasury, and business tax divisions to ensure financial accuracy and exemplary customer service.
• Manage the department’s budget, debt, and treasury functions, focusing on strategic financial planning, analysis, transparent reporting, and revenue optimization.
• Direct risk management efforts by developing risk identification and mitigation strategies, monitoring citywide risk profiles, and fostering collaboration across departments.
• Supervise preparation of financial statements and reports in compliance with accounting standards and mandates for strategic decision support.
• Oversee the annual budget and capital improvement program preparations and maintain financial forecasting, modeling, and reporting tools sensitive to regional economic conditions.
• Engage in strategic planning and financial feasibility analysis for projects and revenue-generating initiatives.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and automation within the department to enhance efficiency and service quality.
• Assist in policy development, internal controls, and compliance with relevant laws, accounting standards, debt covenants, and municipal codes.
• Manage staffing, staff development, cross-training, and succession planning to maintain a capable work force.
• Develop, implement, and track department operational goals and performance metrics.
• Oversee the administration and maintenance of financial management systems and reporting.
• Prepare, present, and approve reports to departments, City Council, Committees, and Boards.
• Serve as Acting Finance Director in the Director’s absence.

Educational and Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with major coursework in accounting, business, public administration, finance, economics, or a related discipline.
• A minimum of seven years professional experience in governmental accounting, budget management, debt administration, or finance.
• At least five years of experience in a supervisory capacity.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with financial audits.
• Licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in California.
• Master’s degree in Accounting, Business, Finance, or Public Administration.

Additional Information

There is one vacancy for this position. The role is full-time and requires onsite presence in Riverside County, CA. The appointment is at-will, serving at the City Manager’s discretion.

Salary Range: $168,240 to $235,116 per year.

Applications must be submitted by August 23, 2026.