Salary : $6,585.00 - $12,920.00 Monthly
Location : New Orleans, LA
Job Type: Classified
Job Number: 226580
Department: SE LA Flood Protection Auth-East
Opening Date: 09/24/2026
Closing Date: 10/9/2026 11:59 PM Central

OVERVIEW OF THE ROLE
The Director of Finance serves as the Chief Financial Officer and principal financial advisor to the Regional Director, executive leadership, Board of Commissioners, and the Authority's constituent levee districts. This executive-level position provides strategic leadership over the Authority's financial operations, including budgeting, long-range financial planning, forecasting, treasury and investments, revenue and funding strategy, financial governance, and compliance. The role focuses on maintaining the Authority's long-term financial sustainability while providing leadership with clear financial analysis and recommendations to support major operational and capital decisions.

Success in this position requires strategic financial leadership, strong analytical and forecasting abilities, sound judgment, and executive-level communication skills. The ideal candidate should have expertise in public-sector budgeting and financial management, revenue and cash-flow planning, internal controls, regulatory compliance, and financial reporting. Strong leadership and organizational-development skills are also important, as the Director oversees senior Finance leaders and must effectively collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, Procurement, executive leadership, the Board, auditors, and governmental partners.

This position offers the opportunity to serve in a high-impact executive financial leadership role supporting one of the region's most critical public-service missions. Rather than focusing solely on day-to-day accounting operations, the Director operates at a strategic level, helping shape long-term financial strategy, major capital planning, funding decisions, reserve management, and organizational priorities. The position is especially unique because it provides financial leadership across multiple constituent levee districts while directly supporting decisions that affect the Authority's long-term fiscal strength and ability to fulfill its flood protection mission.

AN IDEAL CANDIDATE SHOULD POSSESS THE FOLLOWING COMPETENCIES:

• Acting Decisively: The ability to make timely, confident decisions using sound reason.
• Acting with Ethics and Integrity: The ability to make choices that reflect ethical standards, integrity and honesty, regardless of circumstances or personal benefit.
• Building and Supporting Teams: The ability to combine one's actions and efforts with others to work toward achieving a common goal.
• Communicating Effectively: The ability to convey information, ideas, and emotions using structured communication methods that promote understanding and engagement.
• Demonstrating Accountability: The ability to take ownership of actions, behaviors, performance, decisions, and outcomes.
• Following Policies and Procedures: The ability to follow, reinforce, adapt, or develop policies and procedures to maintain compliance with federal and state legal requirements, State Civil Service rules, and organizational policies.
• Making Accurate Judgments: The ability to assess options, weigh risks, and make sound decisions using available information and logical reasoning.
• Managing Budgets: The ability to plan, monitor, and adjust budgets to meet goals, ensure compliance, and promote financial transparency.
• Managing Resources: The ability to manage financial, physical, and contractual resources to ensure compliance and maximize business value.
• Working with Financial Information: The ability to interpret financial data, manage financial approvals, and ensure compliance to support informed decisions and promote transparency.

Minimum Qualifications
Two years of the required experience for the following minimum qualifications must have been at the supervisory level or above:

Eight years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking; OR

Six years of full-time experience in any field plus twenty-four semester hours in accounting plus five years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking; OR

A bachelor's degree with twenty-four semester hours in accounting plus five years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking; OR

A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, or statistics plus five years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking; OR

An advanced degree in accounting, finance, business administration, management, economics, quantitative methods, or statistics plus four years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking; OR

Possession of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license plus three years of experience in accounting, auditing, financial operations, payroll, or banking.

EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTION:
Every 30 semester hours earned from an accredited college or university will be credited as one year of experience towards the six years of full-time work experience in any field. The maximum substitution allowed is 120 semester hours which substitutes for a maximum of four years of experience in any field.
Job Specification

The official job specifications for this role, as defined by the State Civil Service, can be found here.
Job Duties and Other Information

Job Duties:

• Serves as the principal financial advisor to the Regional Director and provides financial guidance and recommendations to the President, Board of Commissioners, Finance Committee, executive leadership, and constituent levee districts.
• Translates complex financial information into clear analysis, alternatives, recommendations, and decision-support information for executive and Board consideration.
• Evaluates the short- and long-term financial implications of proposed policies, programs, projects, organizational initiatives, and major operational decisions.
• Develops financial scenarios and sensitivity analyses addressing changes in revenues, expenditures, inflation, project timing, funding availability, and other material assumptions
• Identifies emerging financial issues, constraints, risks, and opportunities and proactively advises executive leadership concerning potential organizational impact.
• Provides executive-level financial analysis concerning millages, revenue capacity, reserve requirements, financing alternatives, legislative proposals, governmental funding opportunities, and other matters affecting the Authority's financial position.
• Represents the Finance function in executive management discussions and, as directed, before the Board, governmental partners, auditors, financial institutions, and other external stakeholders.
• Works with executive leadership, Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, and other departments to evaluate current and future resource requirements and establish financially sustainable priorities.
• Ensures financial operations comply with applicable federal and State law, GAAP, GASB requirements, Louisiana accounting and reporting requirements, Authority policies, and other applicable standards.
• Provides executive oversight of the annual financial audit, Single Audit, Annual Financial Report, and other required financial reports and serves as the senior management liaison with external auditors and oversight entities.

Position-Specific Details:
Appointment Type: This appointment type can be filled as Probational, Promotional, Lateral Transfer, Detail to Special Duty or Job Appointment.

Career Progression: This position does not participate in a Career Progression Group.

Compensation: The salary offered will be determined based on qualifications and experience.

NOTE: The Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority - East (SLFPA-E) is an emergency-oriented agency. Part of the SLFPA-E's mission is to protect the residents of the east-bank of Jefferson Parish, St. Bernard and the east-bank of Orleans from tidal surge, wind-driven water and river flooding. In emergencies during Mississippi River flooding and Hurricane/ Tropical storm events, the incumbent will be on call and must report for duty if required and remain on duty in such situations until released from duty by the Appointing Authority.

How To Apply:
No Civil Service test score or assessment is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.
To apply for this vacancy, click on the "Apply" link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.
*Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. *
For further information about this vacancy contact:

Sage Celestin

SE LA Flood Protection Authority-East
504-286-3112
01

Have you completed twenty-four (24) semester hours in accounting from an accredited college or university?

• Yes
• No

02

If you indicated that you have completed 24 semester hours in accounting, please list each course using the format below:Course acronym and number - Course title - Credit hours - InstitutionExample:ACCT 2001 - Introductory Financial Accounting - 3 credit hours - LSUIf not applicable, enter "N/A."
03

Do you have a current Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license?

• Yes
• No

04

If you selected the option above indicating the possession of a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, please provide the following details:Certification numberIssue dateExpiration date
05

AD: Acting Decisively - How well do you make timely, confident decisions using sound reasoning?

• I avoid making decisions, rely on others, and struggle to stay confident under pressure.
• I make decisions with help, second-guess myself, and tend to stick with familiar methods.
• I make timely decisions, take responsibility for the outcome, and explain my reasoning clearly.
• I make bold decisions, adapt quickly, and help lead others through uncertainty.

06

AD: Acting Decisively - Explain your selection by providing specific examples from your experience. Tip: Use the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) to explain how you have demonstrated this competency. Examples from work, military service, volunteering, education, or other life experiences are all valid.
07

AEI: Acting with Ethics and Integrity - How well do you make choices that reflect ethical standards, integrity, and honesty-even when it's difficult or inconvenient?

• I ignore ethical standards, withhold information, or show bias or poor judgment.
• I follow rules, share information, and try to avoid ethical missteps.
• I act with integrity, respect confidentiality, and treat people fairly.
• I promote ethics, model transparency, and help others act with fairness across teams.

08

AEI: Acting with Ethics and Integrity - Explain your selection by providing specific