Finance Director

Town of Zebulon, NC; Zebulon (NC); On-site; USD 116,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Zebulon, North Carolina, is seeking an experienced Finance Director to guide the financial future of this rapidly growing community. You will serve as the chief financial advisor to the Town Manager, oversee budgeting, reporting, and long-range planning, and lead a dynamic finance team.

Ideal candidates hold a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business or public administration with at least five years in municipal finance and three years of supervisory experience, plus CPA/CGFO/CPFO

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible experience in municipal finance, local government finance, public-sector accounting, auditing, budgeting, or financial management.
• At least three years of supervisory experience.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the Town's chief financial advisor and a member of the executive leadership team.
• Lead development of the annual operating and capital budgets.
• Develop multi-year revenue and expenditure forecasts.
• Strengthen internal controls and financial processes.
• Oversee accounting, payroll, procurement, contracting, grants accounting, financial reporting, cash flow, investments, and debt service.
• Coordinate the annual audit and required financial reports.
• Lead capital planning, debt analysis, and long-range financial strategy.
• Modernize financial systems, workflows, procedures, and reporting.
• Lead, coach, and develop the Finance Department staff.
• Partner with departments to strengthen budget monitoring, purchasing, documentation, and compliance practices.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Leadership

Public sector accounting

Staff development

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Bachelor's degree in business administration

Bachelor's degree in public administration

Job description

The Town of Zebulon, North Carolina, is seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Finance Director to help lead the financial future of one of Wake County’s fastest-growing communities.

Known as the "Town of Friendly People," Zebulon sits on the eastern edge of the Research Triangle Region, just 19 miles from downtown Raleigh. With a population now exceeding 14,000—and more than 3,000 proposed or approved homes in the development pipeline, the Town is navigating significant growth and organizational change.

The Opportunity

The Finance Director will serve as a key member of the Town's executive leadership team and chief financial advisor, providing strategic guidance to the Town Manager, Board of Commissioners, department directors, and senior leadership.

This is an opportunity for a finance professional who enjoys both strategy and problem-solving. Zebulon is looking for a leader who can strengthen financial operations while helping the organization modernize its systems and processes to meet the needs of a rapidly growing community.

Initial priorities will include strengthening internal controls, improving budget monitoring and financial reporting, supporting audit readiness and corrective action, modernizing procurement and payment workflows, improving long-range forecasting and capital planning, and developing a strong, service-oriented Finance Department.

What You’ll Lead

The Finance Director will:

• Serve as the Town's chief financial advisor and a member of the executive leadership team
• Lead development of the annual operating and capital budgets
• Develop multi-year revenue and expenditure forecasts
• Strengthen internal controls and financial processes
• Oversee accounting, payroll, procurement, contracting, grants accounting, financial reporting, cash flow, investments, and debt service
• Coordinate the annual audit and required financial reports
• Lead capital planning, debt analysis, and long-range financial strategy
• Modernize financial systems, workflows, procedures, and reporting
• Lead, coach, and develop the Finance Department staff
• Partner with departments to strengthen budget monitoring, purchasing, documentation, and compliance practices

Qualifications

• Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration, public administration, or a related field, along with at least five years of progressively responsible experience in municipal finance, local government finance, public-sector accounting, auditing, budgeting, or financial management.
• At least three years of supervisory experience is required.
• Preferred qualifications include North Carolina municipal finance experience; experience in a rapidly growing local government; senior-level municipal finance leadership experience; and a CPA, CPFO, CGFO, or similar certification.

Compensation

Salary Range: $116,484 – $174,726

The Town anticipates hiring around the midpoint of the range, with final compensation based on the selected candidate’s experience, certifications, municipal finance background, and ability to meet the Town’s current leadership needs.