Finance Director

Village of River Forest; River Forest (IL); On-site; USD 154,584 - 214,948; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation

Sick leave

Paid holidays

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Defined Benefit Pension Plan

Job summary

The Village of River Forest is seeking a Finance Director to lead its finance department. This role requires a strategic and approachable leader who combines financial expertise with strong interpersonal skills.

As a collaborative executive, you will build relationships across departments and with elected officials while maintaining high standards. The ideal candidate will embrace innovation in financial management and help ensure fiscal responsibility for this vibrant community.

The position offers a salary range of $154,584 to $214,948, along with comprehensive benefits including medical insurance and a defined benefit pension plan.

Qualifications

• Experience in high-performing local government organizations preferred.
• Expertise in capital planning and debt management.
• Ability to translate complex financial information into actionable recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the finance department and ensure fiscal responsibility.
• Mentor and develop staff while maintaining professional standards.
• Work collaboratively with elected officials and across departments.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational leadership

Financial management

Communication

Process improvement

Team collaboration

Job description

Finance Director

The Village of River Forest seeks a strategic and approachable municipal finance leader who combines technical expertise with strong interpersonal and organizational leadership skills.

River Forest is a vibrant, and highly engaged community known for exceptional municipal services, attractive residential neighborhoods and historic homes. The Village was recently named a 2026 All-American City finalist by the National Civic League.

Following a successful tenure, our current Finance Director is retiring in 2026. We are looking for a successor who is ready to build upon a strong foundation. This role provides the rare chance to work alongside a veteran before fully assuming leadership of the Department at the end of the year.

River Forest has built a reputation for fiscal responsibility and transparency, consistently earning the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association (IGFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and Excellence in Financial Reporting Award. The Village maintains a proactive approach to long‑range financial planning, capital investment and operational excellence.

The Village is guided by three core principles:

• Ensuring a safe community
• Strengthening property values and enhancing quality of life
• Minimizing and stabilizing the property tax burden

The ideal candidate will be:

• A collaborative executive who builds strong relationships across departments and with elected officials;
• A confident communicator who translates complex financial information into clear, actionable recommendations;
• A forward‑thinking leader who embraces innovation, process improvement, and operational efficiency;
• A hands‑on manager who mentors and develops staff while maintaining high professional standards;
• A trusted advisor with sound judgment, and a commitment to transparency and ethical public service.

Candidates with experience in high‑performing local government organizations, capital planning, debt management, and long‑range financial forecasting will be especially attractive.

The Village values leaders who are visible, team‑oriented, solutions‑focused, and committed to delivering exceptional service to residents, businesses, and community stakeholders.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary range: $154,584 – $214,948 DOQ
• Vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and supplemental life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan through IMRF