Clackamas County Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Clackamas County employees work to serve the public and enrich our community. Clackamas County is committed to building a community where people thrive, have a sense of safety, connection, and belonging, so that everyone is honored and celebrated for the richness in diversity they bring. We encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.
Clackamas County is in a prime location in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area and is recognized nationally as one of the most livable areas in the United States. Located on the southern edge of the City of Portland and extending to the top of Mt. Hood, Clackamas County is part of a thriving region in the Northwest. It has a population of about 420,000 residents.

• SPIRIT: Our Core Values
• Explore Clackamas County
• Recreation, Arts & Heritage

CLOSE DATE
This position will remain open until filled. The first application review will be on Monday, June 8, 2026. We reserve the right to close this recruitment at any time on or after that date.
COMPENSATION
The salary range for this position is $ 172,080 - $ 232,306 annually (plus 6.27% deferred compensation and 6% retirement contribution). The actual salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The position is employed "at will" under an employment contract with the County Administrator.
JOB DETAILS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Clackamas County seeks a strategic finance executive to serve as Director of the Department of Finance, a pivotal leadership role that ensures the county's financial integrity, transparency, and long-term fiscal health.
As a key member of the County's Executive Management Team, the Director provides enterprise-wide leadership for all financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, payroll, financial reporting, grants administration, debt management, procurement, and audit coordination. This role is both deeply technical and highly strategic, balancing rigorous financial stewardship with the ability to guide policy, inform executive decision-making, and support the county's mission to provide effective local government services that support safe, healthy, and thriving communities.
The Opportunity
The Department of Finance plays a central role in ensuring county government operates with integrity, efficiency, and accountability. Its mission is to provide financial management services that enable county departments to deliver services effectively and promote transparency and responsible stewardship of public funds. The department manages the county's fiscal information and helps procure essential goods and services to ensure operations run smoothly. Responsibilities include core accounting, payroll, procurement systems, capital financing, and audit coordination. The Finance Director ensures financial practices comply with laws and professional standards and reinforces public confidence in government.
The Ideal Candidate
Successful candidates bring a strong foundation in public-sector finance and accounting. They also demonstrate executive leadership experience. They possess a strong command of governmental budgeting, auditing, financial reporting standards, and public finance law. Just as important, they lead with credibility, clarity, and collaboration in a complex public environment. They balance fiscal discipline with responsiveness to community needs and policy direction.
Why Clackamas County?
Clackamas County is driven by service, stewardship, and innovation. Serving one of Oregon's most dynamic and diverse communities, the county is committed to delivering high-quality public services while maintaining transparency, accountability, and responsible management of public resources. County leadership values collaboration, forward-thinking problem-solving, and continuous improvement, creating an environment where executive leaders are empowered to make meaningful, lasting impacts.
As our next Finance Director, you will have the opportunity to help shape the financial future of a growing, complex organization whose work directly affects residents' lives every day. This is more than a traditional finance leadership role. This is an opportunity to influence county-wide strategy, support critical public services, and strengthen public trust through sound fiscal management and transparent decision-making.
If you are a collaborative and strategic executive who believes financial stewardship is key to effective government, we invite you to bring your expertise and leadership to Clackamas County.
Required Minimum Qualifications/Transferrable Skills:*

• At least nine (9) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in local government finance, accounting, budgeting, and auditing that would provide the required knowledge and skills to perform the responsibilities of this position
  • At least three (3) years of that experience must have been in a leadership or program management role with full supervisory responsibilities
• Experience overseeing large, complex public-sector financial operations, including budgeting, financial reporting, audit coordination, and fiscal policy development
• Experience presenting complex financial information to executive leadership, governing bodies, and public stakeholders
• Experience demonstrating strong verbal and written communication skills in a leadership role, including the ability to convey information effectively through presentations to individuals, small groups, and large audiences, including elected officials
• Experience working in a unionized environment, including knowledge of labor relations procedures

Preferred Qualifications/Transferrable Skills:*

• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or other relevant fields of study
• Five (5) or more years of demonstrated experience in all areas of finance, including budget, payroll, general accounting (including accounts payable and receivable), grants administration, contract management, debt management, cost allocation, and financial reporting in a local government
• Executive-level leadership experience in a large county or municipal government finance operations

Pre-Employment Requirements:

• Must pass a criminal history check, which may include national or state fingerprint records check
• Driving is required for county business on a regular basis or to accomplish work. Incumbents must possess a valid driver's license, and possess and maintain an acceptable driving record throughout the course of employment.

*For veterans qualified for Veterans' Preference: If you believe you have skills that would transfer well to this position and/or special qualifications that relate to this position, please list those skills and/or qualifications in the open-ended question at the end of the application and explain how those skills and/or qualifications relate to this position.
TYPICAL TASKS
The Finance Director combines technical financial management with executive leadership. In this role, you turn financial strategy into daily operations across the county.
The position leads the county's budget and financial planning-developing the annual budget, presenting recommendations publicly, and advising the Budget Committee and Board of County Commissioners. It requires balancing long-term fiscal discipline with changing service demands and policy priorities.
This role oversees the county's financial accountability systems. The Director leads annual audits, ensures accurate financial reporting, and maintains strong internal controls, coordinating closely with the county's Audit Committee and external auditors.
The director advises on financial strategy and capital planning, guiding debt issuance, financing structures, capital leases, and long-term funding for county assets and infrastructure. These choices ensure the county invests in its future while staying fiscally responsible.
Operationally, the director manages accounting, payroll, grants administration, procurement, cost allocation, and financial systems. The role also involves making sure financial technologies are modern and effective. These systems must align with the organization's needs.
This role goes beyond internal operations. The director represents the county in intergovernmental forums, legislative discussions, and public-facing settings. In all these settings, financial transparency, accountability, and public trust are most important.
KEY COMPETENCIES
This role requires deep technical expertise, executive presence, and the ability to navigate complex public-sector environments.
Financial stewardship and technical mastery are central to this role. A strong understanding of governmental accounting, financial reporting, public budgeting, audit requirements, and public finance law, including the Oregon Local Budget Law, is essential. This expertise supports sound decision-making in settings that require compliance, accuracy, and transparency.
Strategic leadership and systems thinking are also critical. The Director must coordinate across departments, align financial systems with organizational goals, and translate long-term fiscal strategies into daily operations.
Responsibilities include major financial initiatives, capital planning, and enterprise system improvements.
Strong communication and public accountability are essential. The Director must clearly explain complex financial issues to officials, stakeholders, and the public, building trust and supporting informed decisions.
Collaborative leadership and influence are vital. Success relies on building strong relationships across departments, working with elected officials and external partners, and fostering shared accountability and continuous improvement.
The Finance Director must demonstrate strong organizational stewardship and talent development by leading high-performing teams, managing change, and promoting a culture of professionalism, service, and ethics.
BENEFITS INFORMATION
Clackamas County proudly offers an attractive compensation and benefits package, including competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, merit increases (for eligible employees), and a robust sick and vacation plan for regular status employees.
We encourage and support employee health and wellness by offering classes and events, as well as alternative care benefits, so you can customize your wellness needs to fit your lifestyle. Employee benefits become effective on the first of the month following an employee's date of hire.
Attractive benefits package and incentives for employees in regular status positions are detailed below.
Generous paid time off package, including:

• 16 hours of vacation accrual per month
  • Eligible newly hired employees will have the one-time option to frontload their first year of vacation accruals! This means you have access to vacation leave at the time of hire.
• 8 hours of sick accrual per month
• 10 paid holidays and 1 personal day per year

Other Benefits:

• Membership in the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP):
  • Employer-paid 6% PERS retirement contribution (The county currently pays the employee's share of the retirement contribution.)
• Executive-level employees receive a county-paid contribution of 6.27% of base salary into 457b Deferred Compensation Plan
• A Choice of Medical Plans that include chiropractic coverage, alternative care, vision, and prescription drug coverage
• A Choice of Dental Plans
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Longevity pay
• Other retirement Savings Options that allow for additional retirement funds savings, including an option to contribute a portion of employee earnings on a pre or post-tax basis to a 457b Deferred Compensation Plan
• A variety of additional optional benefits (see link below for additional information)

This is a full-time Non-Represented Group 1 county position.
Learn More About Benefits
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
The Department of Finance centers its mission on accountability, customer service, and integrity. Our team serves the public and internal customers by providing timely and accurate fiscal information, evaluating financial alternatives, and coordinating among departments to meet the county's public service goals. We manage the efficient acquisition of county goods and services. We also maintain sound, healthy, and accessible county buildings and other facilities, protecting the county's investment in our public spaces.
Accounts Payable
The Accounts Payable (AP) staff processes payment requests weekly for goods and services received by the county and for employee reimbursements. The AP staff also maintains the payable vendor listings and Federal 1099 tax information and reporting. They also manage the county's P-Card program.
Accounts Receivable
The Accounts Receivable staff processes all payments received in the Finance Division, prepares and sends invoices to internal and external customers for services provided by county departments, and monitors and reports Transient Lodging Tax collections.
Audits
The Deputy Director oversees and coordinates production of the county's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR). The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada has awarded certificates of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to Clackamas County for its ACFR for each fiscal year 1991-2020. The Certificate of Achievement is a prestigious national award that recognizes conformance with the highest standards for the preparation of state and local government financial reports.
Budget
The Budget Office coordinates the budget process year-round. The cycle begins with analysis of departmental funding requests. It continues through Budget Committee review and approval, and then goes to the Board of County Commissioners for budget adoption. During the year, the Budget Office monitors revenue, expenditures, and approved budget changes. The office also produces the county cost allocation and indirect cost plans.
<...