County Chief Financial Officer

Holidays: 13 paid days per year, including 1 floating holiday to use at your discretion. Auto Allowance: $575 per month. Deferred Compensation: You may elect to contribute to one or both of the County's deferred compensation plans (established under Internal Revenue Code sections 401(k) and 457). If you participate in the County-sponsored 401(k) plan, the County will match a part of your contribution up to 3% of your salary, on a per-pay-period basis. Following 5 years of continuous County service, an additional 2% non-elective contribution will be made to the 401(k) plan. Other benefits include: Disability Plans; Employee Assistance Program; County-paid Life Insurance; County-paid membership in professional organizations (related to position); Tuition Reimbursement; Benefit Reimbursement Program; Wellness Program; and WorkLife Program, which includes child care and elder care referrals.

The Position: The County Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is an executive-level leader who assumes overall fiduciary responsibility for the County’s financial operations and directs the countywide budget architecture. Working in close partnership with the County Executive Officer (CEO), the CFO leads the compilation, balancing, and issuance of the Preliminary Recommended Budget for annual public hearings, reviews all department and agency submittals, and presents formal budget recommendations to the Board of Supervisors. Serving as the principal architect of the County’s fiscal sustainability, the CFO oversees long-term and short-term debt management—including borrowing evaluations, bond issuances, debt service administration, and direct engagement with credit rating agencies, institutional investors, and the public. In addition, the CFO directs the development of multi-year financial forecasts, fiscal impact analyses, and General Fund General Purpose Revenue modeling to project the downstream effects of policy decisions. Beyond core accounting and budgeting, the CFO coordinates countywide cost allocation schedules, rates, and user fees, ensures rigorous regulatory and grant compliance, and represents the CEO on key interagency committees and regional financing authorities.

The Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate is a politically astute, forward-thinking public finance executive with a proven record of managing complex multi-fund operations, overseeing effective asset management, and championing long-term fiscal sustainability within a high-functioning budget and finance team. Serving as a trusted fiduciary advisor to the County Executive Officer and the Board of Supervisors, the CFO brings deep technical mastery in balancing major operating and capital budgets, conducting multi-year expense and revenue forecasting, strengthening fiscal sustainability, and directing debt portfolios and rating agency engagements. Adept at navigating state and federal mandates, this strategic problem-solver translates intricate fiscal impact analyses and General Fund projections into clear, data-driven policies that protect the County’s financial resilience. Beyond technical expertise, the successful candidate is an exceptional communicator with demonstrated leadership skills who thrives under public scrutiny and during important, sensitive actions related to budgets, operations, and strategic pursuits. The candidate should possess the collaborative skills to build trusted partnerships across diverse county departments, elected bodies, and community stakeholders. As an empowering leader committed to operational excellence, the ideal CFO leverages current technologies, modern fiscal systems, a seasoned and dynamic staff, and sound change management practices to foster continuous improvement, inspire high-performing teams, and uphold the highest standards of public stewardship.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: County Executive Office

PAYROLL TITLE: Assistant County Executive Officer. This position is at-will and excluded from the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance. Incumbents in this classification are eligible for benefits at the MB2 level. Recruitment Schedule This position is open on a continuous basis; applicants are encouraged to apply promptly for immediate consideration. This position may close without notice. Review of Application Materials The first review of application materials will occur the week of November 2, 2026. Application materials submitted after that date will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The County reserves the right to advance exceptionally qualified candidates forward in the process at any time, regardless of the review schedule. To receive prompt consideration, please submit your materials by the first review date. All relevant experience, training, and education must be included to determine eligibility. Any combination of education, training, and experience that results in the required knowledge, skills, and abilities qualifies. Typical combinations include: A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, Economics, or a closely related field. Seven (7) years of progressively responsible executive or senior-level financial management experience in a complex public-sector agency (or comparable large-scale, multi-funded organization).Scope of Experience: Qualifying background must include: Direct oversight of operational and capital budget development and analysis, fiscal forecasting, cost accounting, workload metrics, reimbursement streams, and enterprise financial systems. At least three (3) or more years of experience supervising professional-level finance/accounting staff and managing cross-functional teams. Demonstrated experience reporting to, or working regularly and closely with, a principal executive officer (e.g., County Executive/Administrator, Assistant Director, or elected governing board).Desirable QualificationsA Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline. Active credentialing as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO).Extensive, qualifying senior-level financial leadership, education, and professional training that clearly demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills, and executive competencies may be considered on a year-for-year basis in lieu of education.

Interview Process: Well-qualified candidates, as evidenced by their résumés, may be invited to an initial screening interview, which may be conducted by phone, one-way video, or another format at the County's discretion. Candidates who advance will be invited to an in-person panel interview, and top finalists will then meet with the County Executive Officer for a final interview. The interview process may be consolidated or expanded based on the size and quality of the candidate pool. Background Investigation The selected candidate may be subject to a thorough background investigation, which may include inquiries into past employment, education, criminal history, and driving record. In addition, the successful candidate will undergo DOJ/FBI Live Scan fingerprinting. Equal Employment Opportunity The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, family or medical leave status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy-related conditions), or sexual orientation. For more information about this position, please contact Bill Friedel at (805) 654-2419 or at Bill.Friedel@venturacounty.gov.