Chief Financial Officer

Ventura, City of (CA); Ventura (CA); On-site; USD 192,000 - 258,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Ventura seeks a fiscally responsible Chief Financial Officer to lead the Finance Department, overseeing budget, accounting, forecasting, bond financing, and revenue optimization for a dynamic coastal city.

Requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, five years in municipal finance with supervisory experience; a Master’s degree or CPA is desirable. CA driver’s license required. Salary range is $192,381.07–$257,792.70 DOQ, with a 4% increase beginning July 1, 2027.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, accounting, finance, or related field
• Five years of increasingly responsible experience managing governmental finance, budget, accounting, and treasury operations of a municipality or local government
• Three years of supervisory/management experience
• Master’s degree and/or CPA desirable
• Possession or ability to obtain a California class C driver’s license

Responsibilities

• Serve as Chief Financial Officer and lead the City’s Finance Department
• Oversee budget, accounting, short and long-range forecasting, and bond financing
• Maximize revenue utilization and identify revenue enhancement opportunities

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, accounting, finance, or related field

Five years of governmental finance, budget, accounting, and treasury operations experience

Three years of supervisory/management experience

Job description

Located along California’s stunning coastline, between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, the City of Ventura, officially known as San Buenaventura, offers a distinctive blend of natural beauty, history, and community spirit. Established in 1782 and incorporated in 1866, Ventura is known for its welcoming atmosphere, vibrant culture, and balanced pace of life. The City’s coastal setting provides endless opportunities for outdoor recreation, from surfing and sailing to hiking and biking along scenic trails. Ventura features more than 800 acres of parks and open spaces, a state-of-the-art aquatic center, the largest skate park in the County, and a historic downtown filled with unique shops, restaurants, and local events that bring this community of nearly 110,000 together. Whether enjoying quiet ocean views or lively festivals, residents and visitors alike appreciate Ventura’s inviting, small-town feel with big-city amenities.

The City of Ventura is seeking an innovative and fiscally responsible public finance professional to serve as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO), a key member of the City’s Executive Team and leader of the City’s Finance Department. The City is fiscally healthy, with an aggressive Capital Improvement Plan of $1 billion and is in need of an individual with experience in budget, accounting, short and long range forecasting, bond financing, and skilled at maximizing revenue utilization and recognizing revenue enhancement opportunities.

This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, accounting, finance, or related field, and five years of increasingly responsible experience managing governmental finance, budget, accounting, and treasury operations of a municipality or other local government agency, including three years of responsible experience in a supervisory and management role. A master’s degree and/or certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is desirable. The possession or ability to obtain an appropriate class C California driver’s license is required.

The City is prepared to offer an annual salary in the range of $192,381.07 - $257,792.70 DOQ, and a competitive benefits package. A 4% approved general salary increase will take effect July 1, 2027.