Executive Finance Leader - Public Library

Mecklenburg County; North Carolina; On-site; USD 122,000 - 183,000; Full time

Job summary

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library seeks a Chief Financial Officer to lead the system's financial operations, budgeting, reporting, and internal controls. You will serve on the Executive Team, partnering with the CEO and Board to ensure fiscal sustainability and transparent stewardship of public funds.

Responsibilities include directing accounting, treasury, procurement, payroll, and grant compliance, mentoring the Finance team, and aligning resources with strategic priorities across the library

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in public financial management, auditing or business management.
• Two years of senior-level or executive management experience leading complex projects.
• Three years of supervisory experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Economics, Finance or Business Administration, or related field.
• Combination of relevant education and relevant experience accepted.

Responsibilities

• Serve as an active member of the Library Executive Team, contributing financial expertise and enterprise perspective to organizational strategy, priorities, performance, risk management, and major decisions.
• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for the Library’s financial operations, ensuring alignment of financial resources with organizational priorities and long-term sustainability.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and Board of Trustees on financial performance, budget development, financial risk, resource allocation, and long-term financial planning.
• Lead, coach, and develop Finance Department staff; establish clear expectations and accountability; build individual and team capability; foster a culture of collaboration, service, professional growth, and continuous improvement.
• Partner with leaders across the Library to strengthen financial understanding, evaluate priorities and tradeoffs, align resources with organizational goals, and support sound decision-making through influence and collaboration.
• Monitor financial, economic, legislative, and operational trends to anticipate future budgetary, capital, and resource needs and recommend appropriate strategies.
• Lead the development, monitoring, forecasting, and administration of the Library’s annual operating budget, ensuring resources are aligned with strategic priorities and expenditures remain within approved appropriations.
• Direct accounting, financial reporting, treasury management, procurement, payroll, contract and grant compliance, financial activities of the CML Foundation, and other related financial functions, ensuring timely and accurate financial information to support organizational decision-making.
• Ensure the integrity of the Library’s financial operations through effective policies and internal controls, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, responsible stewardship of public and private resources, and achievement of a clean annual audit opinion.
• Serve as the Library’s primary financial liaison with Mecklenburg County and other external stakeholders regarding funding, budgeting, financial reporting, and related fiscal matters.

Skills

Public financial management

Budgeting

Financial reporting

GAAP knowledge

Strategic leadership

Team leadership

Risk management

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Economics, Finance or Business Administration

CPA/CIA/CGFM preferred

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Enterprise financial systems

Job description

The Charlotte Mecklenburg Library seeks a Chief Financial Officer to lead the system's financial operations, budgeting, reporting, and internal controls. You will serve on the Executive Team, partnering with the CEO and Board to ensure fiscal sustainability and transparent stewardship of public funds.

Responsibilities include directing accounting, treasury, procurement, payroll, and grant compliance, mentoring the Finance team, and aligning resources with strategic priorities across the library