Division Director, Finance

State of Utah; Salt Lake City (UT); Hybrid; USD 69,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Job stability

Career growth

Meaningful work

Supportive work environment

Job summary

State of Utah, through the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS), seeks a Division Director, Finance in Salt Lake City. The role combines leadership of budgeting, accounting, and fiscal policy with strategic oversight of all financial operations.

This hybrid position reports to the Deputy Commissioner of Finance & Administration and requires guiding GASB-based practices, internal controls, and state-finance systems. A CPA is preferred; salary aligns with hourly wage expectations.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years of progressively responsible financial management, budgeting, or accounting experience.
• 3+ years of supervisory or management experience directing finance/accounting teams.
• Experience with financial statement prep, internal controls, and auditing standards.
• Background check required and 21+ years of age.

Responsibilities

• Advises executive leadership on financial strategy, profitability, cash flow, and compliance.
• Manages and reviews department appropriation requests, enterprise funds, and budgets.
• Analyzes revenue projections, inventory valuations, and funding streams; prepares fiscal notes.
• Prepares and defends budget recommendations to state offices and legislative bodies.
• Supervises accounting staff, upholding GASB and internal control standards.
• Audits and improves financial systems and procurement to ensure compliance.

Skills

Financial management

Budgeting

Supervisory experience

GASB principles

FINET system

Auditing standards

Legislative fiscal notes

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance/Public Administration or related field

Active CPA license

Tools

FINET

Job description

FT / PT Status – Full-Time

Benefits Eligibility – This position is eligible for a full benefits package.

Salary – $50 - $62 Hourly Wage

Remote Work / In-Office – Hybrid

Application Deadline – 11/4/2026*

• This job posting may close at any time after the minimum advertising period of three (3) business days has passed, should a sufficient applicant pool be received.

The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Services (DABS) is seeking a skilled and strategic Division Director, Finance.

This is a career service exempt job with a direct reporting relationship to the Deputy Commissioner of Finance & Administration. In this role, you serve as the Department's principal fiscal officer and direct, plan, and manage all fiscal operations, accounting functions, and budgeting processes for the Department.

• After an in-office training period, this is a hybrid remote position that allows for up to 3 days of telework, if eligibility requirements are met.

Key Responsibilities

Day-to-day Responsibilities Of This Position

• Advises executive leadership, the Alcoholic Beverage Services Commission, and agency division directors on financial strategy, profitability, margin management, operational cash flow, and fiscal compliance.
• Manages and reviews the formulation of the department's appropriation requests, enterprise funds, and operational budget requests.
• Estimates and analyzes retail revenue projections, inventory valuations, federal/state funding streams, and legislative fiscal notes.
• Prepares and defends complex budget recommendations, enterprise fund projections, legislative requests, and fiscal impact statements to the Governor’s Office, Utah State Legislature, Office of Planning and Budget (GOPB), and the Office of the Legislative Fiscal Analyst (LFA).
• Supervises and mentors professional accounting and budget staff, driving technical excellence in Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) principles, internal controls, and state financial systems (FINET).
• Audits, reviews, and continuously improves financial systems, internal controls, and procurement practices to ensure compliance with State of Utah statutes, administrative rules, and GASB pronouncements.
• Reviews proposed and enacted legislation to determine financial, operational, and structural impacts on Department operations, and provides implementation strategies for fiscal policy changes.
• Responds directly to fiscal inquiries and requests from legislative committees, individual legislators, the Legislative Auditor General, and external audit entities.

Qualifications

Minimum or "day-one" qualifications

• 5+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial management, full-cycle accounting, or complex corporate/government budgeting.
• 3+ years of supervisory or management experience directing and developing professional finance or accounting teams.
• Demonstrated experience with financial statement preparation, internal controls, and auditing standards.
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Able to successfully pass a criminal background check.

Preferred Or Trainable/on-the-job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related quantitative field; OR 4+ years of equivalent professional experience directing financial strategy, overseeing complex corporate or government accounting, and managing strategic budgeting.
• Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
• GASB Expertise: Deep knowledge and practical experience applying Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements (specifically enterprise fund accounting) and the ability to train/mentor staff on GASB application.
• Retail Financial Operations: Practical experience in retail enterprise financial management, point-of-sale (POS) audit integration, inventory accounting/valuation, and margin analysis.
• State of Utah Experience: Familiarity with State of Utah government fiscal operations, the FINET accounting system, state budget processes, and Utah Code (Title 32B & Title 63J).

About The Role

Location – 1625 S 900 W Salt Lake City, Utah, 84104 United States

Background Check Required – You must successfully pass a criminal history check.

Drug Test Required – No

Schedule Code – AD - Employees Reporting to Dept. Head, Commissioners, or Dept. Director

Why You Should Join Our Team

In Utah, we believe hard work is important, but balance is essential. Finding work/life balance is a vital element to our culture. To find out more about WHY Utah.

Benefits

• Job Stability: Enjoy the security and reliability of employment within a well-established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.

The Agency

The DABS is a public enterprise, generating over $500 million in annual revenue. The DABS’s mission is multifold: conduct, license, and regulate the sale of alcoholic products in a manner and at prices that reasonably satisfy the public demand, while also reducing the harmful effects of over consumption of alcoholic products and eliminating underage drinking.

Supplemental Information

• This position is Job ID: 22378, Division Director, DABS.
• Please note, a position's eligibility for remote work is established by agency management and is subject to change at their discretion at any time and for any reason.
• Effective July 1, 2021, in-state work rules require all work to be performed while physically within the state’s borders.
• We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
• Risks found in a typical office setting, which is adequately lighted, heated, and ventilated (e.g., safe use of office equipment, observing fire regulations).
• Sedentary work. Typically, the employee sits comfortably to perform the work; however, there may be walking, standing, bending, carrying light items, or driving an automobile. Special physical demands are not required.

EEO Statement

The State of Utah is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. For accommodations, please contact [phone].