Finance Manager

Town of Woodside; Woodside (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

The Town of Woodside, a scenic California community, seeks an experienced Finance Manager to lead the Administrative Services Department’s accounting and financial operations. You’ll handle complex governmental accounting, budgeting, audits, and financial analysis, collaborating with auditors and Town staff.

Ideal candidates bring strong GAAP/GASB knowledge, budgeting expertise, and proficiency with financial systems (Springbrook) and advanced Excel. CPA is desirable.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required; master's desirable.
• Minimum four years in governmental accounting, municipal finance, or related fields with financial analysis.

Responsibilities

• Oversee complex governmental accounting and general ledger activity.
• Prepare financial statements and reports in accordance with GAAP and GASB.
• Support and lead annual budget development, monitoring, forecasting, and fund balance analysis.
• Assist and coordinate annual financial audit, providing schedules and docs.
• Analyze financial transactions, resolve discrepancies, and provide actionable insights.
• Monitor investments, revenues, expenditures, grants, contracts and other financial activity.
• Prepare investment summaries and review Treasurer’s Reports.
• Support year-end close and other critical financial processes.
• Collaborate with Town departments on budget availability and accounting procedures.
• Assist with accounts payable/receivable, payroll, assets, and grant accounting.
• Help improve financial systems and reporting controls.

Skills

Governmental accounting

GAAP / GASB

Budgeting

Advanced Excel

Financial systems: Springbrook

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

Master's degree desirable

Tools

Springbrook

Excel

Job description

Put your municipal finance expertise to work in one of California’s most unique and scenic communities!

The Town of Woodside is seeking an experienced Finance Manager to join our Administrative Services Department.

Under the direction of the Administrative Services Director, this position serves as a key technical resource for the Town’s accounting and financial operations, with responsibility for complex governmental accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, auditing, reconciliations, investments, and financial analysis.

This is a hands‑on finance role for someone who enjoys working with the numbers, solving complex accounting issues, and making sure the Town’s financial information is accurate, timely, and meaningful. The Finance Manager will work closely with the Administrative Services Director, Town departments, auditors, and staff across the organization.

What You’ll Do

You will have the opportunity to work across every area of municipal finance, including:

• Perform and oversee complex governmental accounting, including general ledger activity, journal entries, account reconciliations, bank reconciliations, and maintenance of accurate financial records.
• Prepare and analyze financial statements and reports in accordance with GAAP, GASB, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Play a key role in the Town’s annual budget, including budget development support, monitoring, forecasting, fund balance projections, expenditure analysis, and identifying available resources.
• Support and lead the annual financial audit, working directly with the Town’s independent auditors and preparing financial statements, schedules, and supporting documentation.
• Analyze financial transactions and resolve discrepancies, researching and developing practical solutions to complex accounting and budget questions.
• Monitor the Town’s investments, revenues, expenditures, grants, contracts, and other financial activity, providing analysis and reporting as needed.
• Prepare investment activity summaries and review or assist with Treasurer’s Reports.
• Support year-end close and other critical financial processes, ensuring financial records are complete and accurate.
• Work with departments throughout the Town on budget availability, expenditure coding, purchasing, accounting procedures, and financial questions.
• Support accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, capital assets, and grant accounting as needed.
• Use and help improve the Town’s financial systems, including identifying opportunities to improve accounting processes, reporting, controls, and efficiency.
• Serve as a technical resource on municipal accounting and the Town’s financial system, helping staff understand and apply appropriate financial practices.

What We’re Looking For

We are looking for someone who is technically strong, analytical, detail-oriented, and comfortable with complex financial work.

Experience in municipal finance or a related field. You should enjoy digging into a reconciliation, understanding the story behind the financial data, and turning that information into clear and useful recommendations.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, financial management, or a related field; a Master’s degree is desirable.
• At least four years of governmental accounting, municipal finance, auditing, or closely related experience, including financial analysis and problem-solving. Management experience is desirable but not required.
• Strong knowledge of governmental accounting, GAAP, GASB, budgeting, financial reporting, and audit practices.
• Experience with financial management systems (the Town utilizes Springbrook) and advanced Excel functions and formulas.
• The ability to independently organize work, manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and exercise sound professional judgment.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial information clearly to both financial and non‑financial staff.
• A collaborative and service‑oriented approach to working with Town departments, auditors, and other partners.

CPA certification is desirable, but not required.

A California Driver’s License and the ability to obtain required ISS certifications required.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to become a key technical member of a small, highly visible municipal finance operation, where your work directly supports the Town’s financial health and day‑to‑day operations. The position offers variety—from detailed accounting and reconciliations to financial reporting, budgeting, audits, investments, and analysis—and the opportunity to work closely with the Administrative Services Director and Town leadership.

Review our recruitment brochure

here!