DIRECTOR-FINANCE

DESCRIPTION

THE COMMUNITY
Ideally located on the Pacific Ocean south of Los Angeles, adjacent to Orange County, the City of Long Beach, California (population 470,000) is frequently described as a series of strong, diverse interwoven smaller communities within a large city. Enjoying an ideal Southern California climate, Long Beach is home to an abundance of cultural and recreational options. The Long Beach Convention Center, Aquarium of the Pacific, Queen Mary, and the annual Penske Grand Prix of Long Beach, plus a wide variety of other attractions (two historic ranchos, three marinas, and five golf courses), serve to draw 6.5 million visitors a year. The City is also home to California State University, Long Beach, and Long Beach City College. Cal State Long Beach is the second largest university in the state and was recently ranked the No. 3 best-value public college in the nation. Covering approximately 50 square miles, Long Beach is supported by a wide mix of industries with education, health and social services, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional services comprising the highest representation. Known for its livable and desirable neighborhoods, Long Beach was named by America’s Promise Alliance as one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People two years in a row. While it offers all the amenities of a large metropolis, many say Long Beach offers the added benefit of having maintained a strong sense of community and cohesiveness despite its growth. A superb climate, quality schools, a vibrant downtown, and a wide variety of neighborhoods help make Long Beach one of the most livable communities in the country.

CITY GOVERNMENT
Long Beach, a charter city formed in 1897, is governed by nine City Council members elected by district and a city-wide elected Mayor. Other elected officials include the City Attorney, City Auditor, and City Prosecutor. The elected officials are elected to staggered four-year terms. The City Council appoints the City Manager, City Clerk, and Director of Police Oversight. The City Manager is responsible for the efficient administration of all City departments, excluding those under direction of a separately elected official, Board, or Commission. Long Beach is one of only three cities in California with its own Health Department and one of the very few municipalities with its own Utilities (Water and Gas) and Energy Resources Departments. The City is supported by a FY 2025 total budget of $3.6 billion with a General Fund budget of $752 million. More than 6,000 full- and part-time employees support municipal operations with the majority being represented by eleven recognized employee associations. To learn more about the City of Long Beach, go to: www.longbeach.gov .

THE DEPARTMENT
Long Beach Utilities provides safe, clean, reliable and affordable water, gas, and sewer services to the Long Beach community. The service area supports 500,000 customers, represented by 90,000 water accounts, 145,000 gas accounts and 90,000 sewer accounts in 52 square miles. This service area includes Long Beach’s downtown core, waterfront accounts, suburban areas and dense multifamily portions of the region. The department also provides natural gas service to residents and businesses in the City of Signal Hill.

Water. Every day, Long Beach Utilities treats 32 million gallons of drinking water at the Long Beach Groundwater Treatment Plant (GWTP) and distributes this water after blending with imported water, to 90,000 households and businesses throughout the City of Long Beach. The GWTP also hosts a California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation as a Certified Water Quality Laboratory, which performs 60,000 to 70,000 water quality testing to ensure the high quality of the drinking water.

Gas. As a municipal utility, Long Beach Utilities’ natural gas rates and policies are established by the Board of Utilities Commission, consisting of five residents of Long Beach. The City Charter requires Long Beach rates to be comparable to the rates charged by surrounding gas utilities for similar types of service. In the region, the Southern California Gas Company is the only other natural gas utility providing similar service and serves as the market benchmark. The City of Long Beach natural gas service territory includes the cities of Long Beach and Signal Hill, and sections of surrounding communities including Lakewood, Bellflower, Compton, Seal Beach, Paramount, and Los Alamitos.

Sewer. Long Beach Utilities owns, operates and maintains over 700 miles of sanitary sewer lines, safely collecting and delivering over 40 million gallons of wastewater per day to the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County for treatment.

To learn more, visit LBUtilities.org .

THE POSITION

The City of Long Beach Utilities Department is seeking a talented Director of Finance to lead and direct all Long Beach Utilities Department accounting and reporting activities. Reporting to the Senior Director of Finance and Information Services, the Director of Finance will oversee the Accounting Manager and Manager of Budget and Rates who provide support to their respective sections.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Directs, manages, and coordinates accounting and financial activities for the Water, Gas, and Sewer Funds, including cash management, debt administration, revenue collection, billing, fund disbursements, and transaction recording.
• Develops and ensures compliance with departmental financial policies, internal controls, City administrative regulations, and the City Charter.
• Establishes and maintains all Finance Division accounting processes and internal control systems to safeguard Utilities’ assets and identify industry opportunities for potential revenue generation.
• Directs and provides work guidance to Finance Division staff.
• Directly supervises the Manager of Budget and Rates and Accounting Manager; indirectly supervises staff within their respective sections, including Administrative Analysts, Senior Accountants, Accountants, Accounting Technicians, and other support personnel.
• Supports rate analysis, fee studies, and department-wide budget development.
• Directs and reviews accounting staff accounting preparation of fiscal year-end financial statements and manages annual financial audit.
• Supports development of annual budgets for LBUD and LBER.
• Develops, prepares, and presents financial reports; makes recommendations to the Senior Director of Finance regarding financial issues.
• Oversees the preparation of the Department budget; manages the Department’s budget after adoption; approves expenditures; approves budgetary adjustments as appropriate.
• Oversees the resolution of escalated customer issues including those from other staff or the Board of Utilities Commissioners; communicates the results of analysis and the decision reached.
• Ensures that the organization’s policies and procedures are maintained by developing and updating Finance Polices on a regular basis.
• Supervises all issues related to outstanding Utilities’ debt, which incorporates revenue bond issuance and maintenance, commercial paper program implementation, bond covenant compliance, and account management in coordination with fiscal agents.
• Makes presentations to stakeholders such as Executive Management and the Board of Utilities Commissioners.
• Approves Timesheets, Vacation Requests, Personnel Authorizations, Procurement, Board Letter Fiscal Impact, and Financial System Access
• Select, train, mentor, motivate, and evaluate personnel; plan, direct, coordinate, and evaluate quality of work, projects, and procedures; meet with staff to identify and resolve problems; set and evaluate performance standards for staff.
• Travel to the Water, Treatment Plant, and Gas campuses to attend and participate in professional group meetings.
• Interacts, advises and provides responses to inquiries from managers and supervisors.
• Communicates with internal personnel, and outside organizations to coordinate activities and programs, resolve issues and conflicts, and exchange information.
• Responds to and handles inquiries of Utilities management team.
• Oversees development of Utilities’ annual budget.
• Preparation of Prop 218 and coordinate cost of service study.
• Keeps the Senior Director and other staff informed regularly on the status of open issues.
• Works closely with City Financial Management Department.
• Interacts with the Board of Utilities Commissioners, City Financial Management, Budget Office, City and City Auditor.
• Interacts and advises managers and supervisors.
• Interacts extensively with employees at all levels.
• Perform related duties as required.

IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will demonstrate the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Knowled g e of:

• Principals of financial management and budgeting.
• Principals of accounting.
• Principals of procurement and contract management.
• Treasury functions, finance and investment policy and procedures, debt financing instruments.
• Principles and practices of contract administration and negotiation.
• Principles of sound financial risk management.
• Long-term financial planning, cost-of-service based utility rate-setting, budgeting.
• Written and verbal communication skills with all levels of Department and City management and board.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Principles of leadership supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Relevant Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Generally accepted accounting principles and practices.
• Finance and governmental accounting theory, concepts, procedures, and techniques.
• Principles and practices of planning and managing the Utilities Department’s financial reporting, budgeting, and long-range strategic planning.
• Office procedures, methods, and equipment including computers and applicable software applications such as Microsoft Office (i.e. Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) and financial ERP and reporting systems (e.g. MUNIS, Simpler, and BlueZone).

Skills:

• Advanced principles and practices of public administration, including budgeting, supervision, strategic planning, staff development, organizational planning/analysis, and resource management.
• Advanced principles, practices, and operational characteristics of a comprehensive finance and budget program in a public agency.
• Principles and techniques of working with groups and fostering effective team interaction to ensure teamwork aligns with the organizations work place culture.
• Must possess a collaborative work style that fosters teamwork and high motivation and commitment.
• Interpersonal skills using tact, patience, and courtesy.
• Must have strong leadership skills and be capable of motivating and energizing staff.
• Must have demonstrated leadership skills that include maturity, vision, and an ability to articulate the organization’s vision and mission to others.
• Must have a strong customer service orientation, a background of effective partnerships and problem solving and the ability to fit well within an energetic and dedicated team.
• Must have a collaborative work style that fosters teamwork and high motivation and commitment.
• Must have impeccable integrity with a high commitment to the code of business ethics, willing to make difficult decisions based on what is right, and not just the status quo.
• Must be able to handle confidential information with complete discretion; use a high degree of tact, diplomacy and discretion required.
• Be sought out by others for advice and solutions.
• Calm under pressure, possessing a positive attitude and a good sense of humor.
• An approachable leader who is an active listener and is able to build trust.
• Effective in delegating duties that enhance employee growth and achieve departmental goals.
• Requires excellent oral and written skills, and an ability to effectively communicate ideas in a clear, concise, and professional manner; must follow verbal and written instructions and demonstrate proficiency in English language usage, writing, and grammar.
• Must be able to represent Long Beach Utilities effectively in public settings.

Abilit y to:

• Ability to manage complex and explain financial accounting issues effectively non-accounting audiences in an easy-to-understand manner.
• Must have the ability, when called upon, to organize and articulate presentations to the Board of Utilities Commissioners and/or the public.
• Requires ability to establish, build and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of employees, including top, middle and executive levels of management.
• Ability to make effective oral presentations to the General Manager, Assistant General Managers, managers, and external stakeholders in both small and large groups.

REQUIREMENTS TO FILE

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Graduation from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a closely related field. Proof required at time of application. Applicants who possess degrees from colleges or universities from outside the United States must attach proof of educational equivalency. Professional experience beyond the minimum qualifications may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Seven years of increasingly responsible experience in finance, accounting, business or related field including three years in a supervisory role.
• A valid driver’s license, or the ability to arrange necessary and timely transportation for field travel, may be required for some assignments.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a closely related field.
• License as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

SELECTION PROCEDURE

This recruitment will close at 11:59PM PST, on Sunday, November 9, 2025 . To be considered, please submit an online application, including a cover letter, resume, and proof of education in PDF format. Applications that fail to include all necessary documents will be considered incomplete and will not be taken into consideration.

Applications will be reviewed for depth and breadth of experience, and for level and relatedness of education. The most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in further selection procedures. The selected candidate may be required to go through a background check and a physical examination prior to appointment. Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements, including submission of all required attachments, will not be considered. For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact Daisy Flores at Daisy.Flores@lbwater.org or (562) 570-2410 and Melissa Adrover at Melissa.Adrover@lbwater.org or (562) 570-2397.

SAVE THE DATES:

Individuals who are selected will be invited to participate in the selection process, which may include a work-related assessment to further evaluate candidate qualifications.

Two rounds of in-person interviews will tentatively conducted the week of December 1, 2025 through December 12, 2025. Candidates should ensure availability. The successful candidate will be appointed shortly thereafter. References will be completed for finalist candidates; an employment offer is contingent on conducting a comprehensive background check.

The City of Long Beach is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce. The City of Long Beach is committed to creating a workplace where every employee is valued for who they are. Having our workforce reflect the diversity of our community at various levels of the organization is a continuous goal embraced by our departments, management staff, and policymakers. To support efforts of fairness and diversity, City Leadership is committed to incorporating equity and inclusion into our work by supporting staff and community partners. We are committed to promoting transparency by publishing updated demographic information for employees, including workforce diversity data and pay by race and gender.

The City of Long Beach will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You are not required to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until you receive a conditional job offer. If the City of Long Beach has concerns about a conviction that is directly related to the job after making a conditional job offer and conducting a background check, you will have the opportunity to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide evidence to mitigate concerns, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting https://calcivilrights.ca.gov/fair-chance-act

The City of Long Beach intends to provide reasonable accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If a special accommodation is desired, or if you would like to request this information in an alternative format, please call (562) 570-2410.

For technical support with your governmentjobs.com application, please contact (855) 524-5627.

Employee Benefits

The City of Long Beach offers its employees opportunities to grow personally and professionally. As a permanent employee, you are eligible to receive fringe benefits that include:

• Retirement: California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) defined benefit retirement plan, which is coordinated with Social Security. The benefit is 2.5% @55 for "Classic" members and 2%@62 for new members as defined by PEPRA. Subject to employee contribution. Both the City and the employee contributes toward CalPERS retirement contributions. The city also participates in Social Security.
• Health and Dental Insurance: The City offers the choice of HMO and PPO plans. The city pays major portion of the premium for employee and dependents depending on the health/ dental plan selected.
• Life Insurance: City-paid term life insurance policy equal to three (3) times annual salary to a maximum of $500,000.
• Disability Insurance: City-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Management Physical: Annual City-paid physical examination.
• Vacation: Twelve (12) vacation days after the first year of service; 15 days after four years, six months of service; 20 days after 19 years, six months of service.
• Executive Leave: Forty (40) hours Executive Leave per year. The City Manager has discretion to grant an additional 40 hours each year.
• Sick Leave: One day earned per month; unlimited accumulation; conversion upon retirement to cash credit toward health and/or dental insurance premiums, or to pension credits.
• Holidays: Eleven (11) designated holidays per year, plus four personal holidays to be used at the employee's discretion.
• Transportation Allowance: Monthly allowance is allocated by classifications below;
  • Department Head $650.00
  • Deputy Director/Manager $550.00
  • Chief of Staff / Administrator / Principal DCA: $450.00
  • Executive Support Staff: $300.00
• Deferred Compensation Plan: Optional for employee contribution to a supplementary retirement savings program available through Mission Square Retirement formerly ICMA-RC Retirement Corporation). City contributes 1% of employee's base pay to the employee's 401(a) plan; effective September 30, 2022, the City will contribute 2% of employee's base pay to the employee's 401(a) account. Employees may opt to contribute up to the IRS annual limits as well.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Optional election for employees to reduce taxable income for payment of allowable childcare or medical expenses.
• Flexible/Hybrid Work Schedule: Available (subject to City Manager approval).
• Paid Parental Leave: After six (6) months of City employment; up to 30 calendar days (160 hours) of PPL, taken in full-day increments, in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster placement of a child, up to the age of seventeen (17).

Management positions - Refer to the Job Posting brochure included in the job posting.

Closing Date/Time: 11/9/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Long Beach

• 5625707057

Show more