Finance Director

City of San Rafael; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 207,000 - 251,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of San Rafael invites applications for the Finance Director to lead the Finance Department and guide fiscal strategy for Marin County’s urban hub. The role requires advanced municipal finance expertise, strong leadership, and the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to elected officials and staff.

The Director will oversee budgeting, reporting, debt management, and tax administration, while mentoring a growing finance team and ensuring transparent stewardship of

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, accounting, or public administration and seven years of increasingly responsible accounting experience, including at least two years of management/supervisory experience.
• Master's degree and CPA certification are desirable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee full Finance Department services: financial reporting, general accounting, payroll, budget prep, debt administration, treasury, revenue management, licensing and purchasing.
• Lead budget development, forecasting, and capital project financing.
• Oversee annual financial audit and liaise with external auditors.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Municipal finance expertise

Relationship building

Oral and written communication

Change management

Staff leadership

Analytical decision making

Ethical judgment

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration/finance/public administration

Master's degree desirable

CPA certification desirable

Job description

Finance Director

Application deadline: Apply by Friday, December 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Salary: $206,760 - $251,316 annually plus excellent benefits!

THE CITY

is focused on enhancing our community members’ quality of life through well-designed services and a positive workplace culture. San Rafael is the economic and cultural heart of Marin County, and its high quality of life is centered on its commercial districts, engaged neighborhoods, active lifestyle, and natural environment. San Rafael, with a population of approximately 60,000, is a full-service city with a City Council/City Manager form of government with 12 departments, more than 400 employees, and a fiscal year 2026-2027 annual budget of approximately $208 million. The City’s vision is to be a vibrant economic and cultural center reflective of its diversity. The City Council is engaged and seeks to strengthen the urban and commercial areas as well as sustain the beautiful natural environment.

THE DEPARTMENT

The City of San Rafael's Finance Department manages the City's financial resources with transparency and accountability, supports strategic decision-making, and ensures regulatory compliance.

Led by the Finance Director, the department serves as a central advisor to the City Manager, City Council, and department heads on the City's fiscal health and long-term financial strategy. Key areas of focus include financial planning, forecasting, and analysis; financial support for labor negotiations; debt and financing strategies; tax administration; fee studies and cost recovery; development impact fees; and capital project development and financing. The department also oversees budgeting, financial reporting, general accounting, payroll, purchasing, and business licensing.

The Finance Director leads a team that includes a Finance Manager and an Accounting Manager, supported by a Senior Management Analyst, an Accountant, a Payroll Administrator, a Senior Accounting Assistant, and an Accounting Assistant. Together, this team ensures efficient financial operations, rigorous internal controls, and the reliable delivery of financial information and services to the City and its residents.

The Finance Director safeguards the City of San Rafael's fiscal health by providing strategic, transparent, and responsible stewardship of public resources. Through sound financial planning, analysis, and leadership, the Director supports the City Council and City Manager in advancing the City's goals, builds a skilled and collaborative finance team, and helps ensure that the City's financial systems deliver efficient, equitable, high-quality service to the San Rafael community.

IDEAL CANDIDATE

The City of San Rafael is seeking a strategic, innovative, solutions-driven leader to serve as its next Finance Director. This is an exceptional opportunity for a seasoned municipal finance professional to strengthen a core civic function and help shape the City's long-term fiscal health. The next Director will have the chance to lead a department that is central to the City’s strategic goals related to fiscal stewardship and sustaining a high-quality of services San Rafael residents. The Finance Director will be expected to build on the foundation established through implementation of the City’s new Financial ERP system, as well as continue process improvements in financial planning, budgeting and reporting.

A firm grasp of municipal finance is essential, including budget development, tax administration, cost recovery, capital projects, development impact fees, labor costing, and financial planning and forecasting. The ideal candidate is technically astute and detail-oriented, yet able to see the bigger picture: developing creative, practical solutions that advance the City's goals and priorities, and making recommendations to the City Manager and City Council, exercising sound professional and ethical judgment. While the City is generally fiscally sound, significant resource challenges have been identified related to capital infrastructure needs as well as growing public safety demands and risks associated with climate change and sea-level rise.

In addition to technical, subject matter expertise, exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are critical to this position. The Director will build strong working relationships throughout the organization and earn the full confidence of the City Council, City Manager, and Executive Management team. They will translate complex financial information into clear, accessible terms for elected officials, staff, and the community. A commitment to transparency is essential, ensuring that financial systems and practices support fair outcomes and inclusive access to City resources.

The Director will also be a leader and motivator who invests in people. This includes mentoring and developing staff, building an effective team, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and high-quality, customer-focused service.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This list is meant to be representative, not exhaustive. CLICK HERE for the full job spec.

• Assume full management responsibility for all Finance Department services and activities including financial reporting, general accounting, payroll, budget preparation, debt administration, treasury function, revenue management, business licensing and purchasing.
• Manage the development and implementation of Finance Department goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for each assigned serve area; establish, within City policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; allocate resources accordingly.
• Continuously monitor and evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery methods and procedures; assess and monitor workload, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships; identify opportunities for improvement; direct the implementation of changes.
• Oversee the annual fiscal year audit and participate in the review of the results of the annual audit with external auditors.
• Represent the Finance Department to other City departments, elected officials, and outside agencies; explain and interpret Finance Department programs, policies, and activities; negotiate and resolve sensitive, significant, and controversial issues.
• Select, train, motivate, and evaluate Finance Department personnel; provide or coordinate staff training; work with employees to correct deficiencies and motivate staff to excel.
• Plan, direct, and coordinate the Finance Department’s work plan; meet with management staff to identify and resolve problems; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods and procedures.
• Manage and participate in the development and administration of the Finance Department and City budgets; direct the forecast of additional funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; direct the monitoring of and approve expenditures; direct the preparation of and implement budgetary adjustments as necessary.
• Coordinate Finance Department activities with those of other departments and outside agencies and organizations.
• Provide staff assistance to the City Manager and City Council prepare and present staff reports and other necessary correspondence.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic and innovative leadership
• Advanced municipal finance and technical expertise
• Collaborative relationship‑building and political acumen
• Effective oral and written communication
• Change management and continuous improvement
• Staff leadership, development, and team building
• Analytical problem‑solving and sound decision‑making
• Ethical judgment and commitment to public service

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

Any combination of education and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical background includes a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in business administration, finance, accounting, or public administration, and seven years of increasingly responsible accounting experience, including at least two years of management or supervisory experience. A master's degree and CPA certification are desirable.