Under administrative direction from the City Manager, the Finance Director manages all activities and operations of the Finance Department. As part of the City’s Executive Staff team, the Finance Director is responsible for all financial activities including accounting, auditing, business licensing, budgeting, payroll, purchasing, financial reporting, revenue collection, risk management and workers’ compensation.
This role also provides strategic, professional, and technical assistance to the City Council and staff. As a representative of the City, the Finance Director often interfaces with and presents financial information to the community of Torrance in a public setting. This role involves monitoring status and forecasting City revenues, expenditures, and fund balances as well as identifying opportunities and introducing policy and procedural improvements within the organization, including recommending changes to systems for compliance with accounting regulations and procedures.
The Finance Director is responsible for selecting, developing, and supervising professional staff while providing leadership and overall direction.
QUALIFICATION GUIDELINES
Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would have provided the required knowledge and skills is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and skills would be:
Graduation from a recognized four-year college or university with a major in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field, and eight years of progressively responsible financial experience in accounting, budgeting, or auditing, preferably in a governmental agency which includes at least three years of management experience of a major financial function or division, or in the management of financial audits of local government entities.
Possession of a Master's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or Public Administration or a Certified Public Accountant may be substituted for one year of the required experience.
Licenses and Certificates: Valid California Class C Drivers’ License.
Certification as Certified Public Accountant (CPA); Certified Management Accountant; or Graduate Degree in related field is desirable.
HOW TO APPLY AND SPECIAL NOTES
The application filing period begins Wednesday, November 20, 2024, and closes Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Apply today at www.TorranceCA.Gov/Jobs. Only those candidates who best meet the Department's and City's requirements will be invited to participate in the examination process.
The tentative examination timeline is as follows: First Round of Interviews: December 18, 2024 Final Round of Interviews: January 8, 2025
Interested candidates are required to complete an online application and a resume that clearly demonstrates that qualifications have been met. Resumes must include start and end dates reported by month and year for each position held.
If you have any questions about the application/selection process, please contact Hedieh Khajavi, Human Resources Director, at (310) 618-2959 or HKhajavi@TorranceCA.Gov.
As a condition of employment, candidates must pass a background check.
Applicants with disabilities who require special testing arrangements must contact Human Resources before the examination date(s).
SPECIAL NOTES
Performance of the essential duties of this position includes the following physical demands and/or working conditions:
Requires the ability to exert a small amount of physical effort in sedentary to light work involving moving from one area of the office to another; requires sufficient hand/eye coordination to perform semi-skilled repetitive movements, such as computers and calculators. Tasks require sound and visual perception and discrimination, as well as oral communications ability. Tasks are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.
Work is primarily performed indoors in an office setting. Work involves frequently changing work priorities and the ability to meet deadlines. There will be off-site assignments and attendance at off-site meetings and conferences. Work may be required on evenings and weekends as needed.
City of Torrance Mission Statement
The mission of the City of Torrance is to encourage and respond to community participation as we provide for an attractive, clean, safe, secure and enriching environment that assures a high quality of life.
We evaluate and act on the needs of the community within a complex, changing environment. We provide quality service with integrity, professionalism and accountability in an efficient, cost-effective manner.
Full-time City Employees:
The City has 1,480 employees working in 14 departments.
