Salary : $202,755.00 - $246,683.00 Annually
Location : Carlsbad, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-2
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 07/14/2026
Closing Date: 8/4/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
The Position
The City of Carlsbad is seeking a Finance Director who subscribes to the philosophy of continuous improvement, who will continue leading the Department in reimagining how work is accomplished, integrating best practices to strengthen operations, and demonstrating the highest-level of character and ethical standards.
Why Carlsbad?
In Carlsbad, you will find the many benefits of working for a city large enough to make a difference and small enough to get things done. Specifically, you will:
- Support a full-service city, with over 1,200 employees who serve 115,000 residents, as well as a thriving business community that includes corporate headquarters for leading technology, life sciences, and action sports companies.
- Serve in a leadership role. Answer questions, offer advice, moderate discussions, provide training to staff, assist in policy setting at the department and city level, and serve as an advocate for the city's mission, vision, and values.
- Be part of a winning team that is considered a leader in municipal finance. We've received the GFOA award for excellence in financial reporting and budgeting for the past 28 years straight. But who's counting?
What's more, in Carlsbad you will enjoy a culture focused on excellence that rewards managers with:
- Flexibility: You want to come in late to watch your kid get an award for being awesome? Flex time can make that possible. Enjoy three-day weekends? Optional 9/80 schedules provide every other Friday off and we offer the ability to telecommute. We understand the importance of flexibility and will work with you to balance life and a career in a way that benefits us both.
- Development Support: Thinking of getting that MBA? Done. Looking to develop your leadership abilities and work on stretch assignments? Done and done. We give you the opportunity to grow and develop because engaged successful employees make the city better too.
- Feedback: Want to know how you're doing? We'll tell you. Curious about your career options? Let's talk. The City of Carlsbad invests in our employees and places a high priority on ongoing feedback and coaching, so you can do your best work.
This job is for you if...
- You are a creative, collaborative leader able to build a culture of innovation and continual process improvement
- You enjoy being a hands-on strategic leader, who builds and maintains high performing, team-oriented working environments
- You are a creative critical thinker and problem solver who is not constrained by tradition or structure. You are open to discovering new ways to solve old problems
- You hold staff accountable while cultivating mutual respect and demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion
- You love public service and exemplify personal integrity, political savvy, and excellent customer service
- You are personable, approachable, and are effective at guiding and motivating others
- You provide highly responsible and complex support and can think on your feet
- You enjoy giving presentations and have an ability to make the complex simple
- When things change, chances are, you were a key contributor
- You are highly motivated and take initiative
- You want to make a difference
- You will make your time with us matter
What does a typical day as Finance Director Look like?
Trick question. There is no typical day, but here are some of the things likely to fill yours:
- Reviewing staff reports and recommending ways to improve the fiscal analysis
- Overseeing the year-end audit process and the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report
- Collaborating with other departments to consolidate the city's annual budget
- Working on the 10-year financial forecast or other budget report. Networking with other directors throughout the city
- Chatting about a stretch assignment with your staff to help them advance their career
- Brainstorming ideas with the Deputy City Manager of Administrative Services on how to address new financial policies
- Reviewing a cost of services study on water and wastewater rates, and providing critical fiscal analysis input
- Watching webinars, attending conferences and participating in training on new accounting standards
- Preparing and presenting a staff presentation to the City Council
- Listening to a department's budget request and collaborating ways to strengthen the business case
- Participating in a quarterly Investment Review Board meeting
- Overseeing the Implementation of new software systems and major upgrades
- Overseeing required city debt payments are made, required disclosure documents and arbitrage calculations are being prepared in accordance with requirements and law
- Meeting with developers in the city to provide input on infrastructure financing
- Participating in meetings with the operators of the city's golf course and providing financial guidance
- Leading a team that is upgrading an existing or implementing a new system
- Partnering and collaborating to develop a top-notch team
- Putting on the Deputy City Manager of Administrative Services' hat once in a while (hey, everyone needs a vacation) to serve on the city leadership team and direct branch operations
What you'll need:
To be considered for this position, you need to have experience with building and leading successful teams, budgeting and financial forecasting, and robust communication skills. The full list of job requirements is included in this link to the job classification. Please review it carefully before applying.
You belong in Carlsbad:
The City of Carlsbad embraces and recognizes the vital relationship of an inclusive, engaged work environment and innovative excellence. An equitable and inclusive work climate comprises personal experiences, values, and views shaped from differences of culture and circumstance. Our organization appreciates belonging, creativity, recognition and retention of its employees and is committed to hiring and developing motivated, productive and talented employees who provide services and enhance our quality of life. We work to embrace open and equitable access to opportunities for learning and development as our responsibility and goal.
SAVE THE DATE:
If selected to move forward, there will be an oral board interview panel the week of August 17. (Date subject to change)
Key Responsibilities
Plan, organize and direct the financial programs and activities including but not limited to: general accounting, budget, financial information processing, accounts payable, payroll, billing and collection of service charges for the city.
Assist in planning, organizing and directing the general accounting activities of the city's redevelopment agency, water and sewer district and other agencies of the city.
Develop and recommend department policies and procedures and direct their implementation upon approval.
Plan and develop the city's accounting information system.
Review contracts and determine that expenditures are made in accordance with the terms of the contract.
Establish procedures and systems for the billing and collecting of payments for water and refuse services.
Prepare and supervise the preparation of reports to the State Controller
Coordinate citywide budget preparation and administration including the estimation of anticipated revenues; collection, assimilation and analysis or departmental expenditure requests; preparation of fund balance projections; and other budget related functions as assigned.
Prepare and supervise the preparation of the city's long-term financial planning and forecasting.
Supervise and participate in preparation of financial statements and reports such as monthly expenditure reports.
Prepare and supervise the preparation of the city's master fee schedule.
Direct the preparation and administration of the recommended departmental work program and annual budget.
Coordinate finance-related activities with other city departments and divisions, and with outside agencies.
Prepare and supervise the preparation of the city's monthly investment report and work collaboratively in support of the City Treasurer.
Manage employees through other supervisors; set goals and objectives; select train, motivate staff; assess performance and make salary recommendations.
May serve as Acting Deputy City Manager, Administrative Services, as assigned.
Qualifications
Knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of organization, administration, budget and personnel management.
- Accounting principles, practices, and methods and the applicability or financial information processing procedures.
- Federal, state, local and governmental agency legal requirements affecting municipal financial administration.
- Strategic management techniques and methodology.
- Financial planning.
- Research methods and techniques and methods of report presentation.
Ability to:
- Plan, organize and direct a citywide program of financial activities.
- Provide administrative and professional leadership for the department.
- Develop and administer annual and long-range programs and budgets.
- Analyze and interpret fiscal and accounting records and data.
- Prepare accurate financial and statistical reports.
- Make accurate revenue and expenditure forecasts
- Supervise, train and evaluate staff.
- Establish and maintain cooperative relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.
- Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
- Properly interpret and make decisions in accordance with laws, regulations and policies.
- Exercise good judgment, flexibility, creativity, and sensitivity in response to changing situations and needs.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
- Work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
Experience & Education
Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, public or business administration or a closely related course of study, and
- Five years of increasingly responsible administrative experience involving municipal accounting management with at least three years of supervisory experience.
- Master's degree in Public or Business Administration, highly desirable
- Certified Public Finance Officer, highly desirable
- Certified Public Accountant Certification, highly desirable
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), highly desirable
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA), highly desirable
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Flexible Spending Account
- Life Insurance
- Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
- Retirement under the CalPERS program, 2% @ 62 formula, Classic Members (those who are enrolled in CalPERS at another local agency) have the 2% @ 60 formula
- Holidays- 11 scheduled
- Floating Holiday- 2
- Paid vacation
- Executive Leave
- Computer purchase loan
- Tuition reimbursement
A detailed list of our benefits can be found here:
Additional CalPERS information can be found here:
01
Please enter your initials below acknowledging that "see resume" or "see application" or short, one-word answers are not valid responses to the following questions.
02
Please indicate your highest level of education:
- None
- High School/GED
- Associate's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree
- Master's Degree
03
If you indicated a bachelor's degree or higher, please list your field(s) of study below:
04
Do you have experience working in a public agency (city, county, water district, etc).?
05
How many years of professional accounting experience do you possess?
- None
- Internship or Volunteer Experience only
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year but less than 2
- 2 years but less than 3
- 3 years but less than 4
- 4 years but less than 5
- 5 or more years
- 10 or more years
06
How many years of supervisory experience do you have?
- None
- Less than 1 year
- 1 year but less than 2
- 2 years but less than 3
- 3 years but less than 4
- 4 years but less than 5
- 5 or more years
- 10 or more years
07
What was the largest team you have supervised?
- None
- 1-4 people
- 5-9 people
- 10 or more people
08
Please indicate all (if any) accounting certifications that you possess.
- Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO)
- Certified Financial Analyst (CFA)
- Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
- Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
- Other Relevant Certificate
- None
09
Indicate all (if any) accounting certifications that you are currently in the process of obtaining or any other relevant certificate(s):
10
What size budgets have you worked with, and what do you find challenging about budgeti
