Director of Finance & Administrative Services

Salary : $252,180.00 - $306,528.00 Annually
Location : Lakewood, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2027-14
Department: Finance & Administrative Services
Division: Finance
Opening Date: 10/14/2026
Closing Date: 10/22/2026 2:00 PM Pacific

Description
Under general direction of the City Manager, plans, directs, manages and oversees the activities and operations of the City's Finance & Administrative Services Department, including responsibilities for the fiscal management program that includes budgeting and finance, utility billing, parking control, risk management and information technology programs; and performs related work as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
In addition to the duties and responsibilities of the position, the Director of Finance & Administrative Services shall serve as City Treasurer. The qualifications, requirements, rights, responsibilities, duties and powers of the position shall include, but are not limited to, the qualifications, requirements, rights, responsibilities, duties and powers of the position of Director of Finance & Administrative Services and City Treasurer, as set forth in the Lakewood Municipal Code and in any other applicable City policy or regulation.

Examples of Duties
Plans, directs, manages and oversees all aspects of the Finance & Administrative Services Department, including:
Budgeting

• Directing and participating in the development of the City's operating and capital improvements budgets and overseeing the administration of the budget
• Recording and assisting in reviewing proposed budget allocations and submitting data for use in evaluating operating departments' proposals
• Directing and participating in the development of long-range financing plans and forecasts
• Presenting the budget to the City Council, Committees and the public
• Providing financial analysis and support for the City's employee relations committee and the collective bargaining process
• Providing financial analysis and support for departmental programs and projects;
• Providing information on fund revenue and appropriation balances and preparing financial statements and periodic reports
• Checking appropriation balances and recommending and approving the transfer of funds to other appropriation accounts as necessary
• Reviewing and approving budget transfer requests from departments

Finance

• Directing the development and maintenance of an effective general accounting system, including procedures and controls over municipal revenues and expenditures
• Recommending improvements in financial management and accounting methods
• Directing the administration and collection of taxes, business and other licenses and permit fees levied by the City in accordance with the Lakewood Municipal Code
• Overseeing general billing and the collection of administrative citation fines
• Reporting and providing documents to the License and Permit Hearing Board
• Overseeing and supervising cash management, treasurer and investment functions of the City
• Directing the preparation, audit, reporting, recordkeeping and disbursement of payroll and other claims and demands against the City
• Reviewing, approving, and auditing payments, invoices, payrolls and demands
• Directing the City's purchasing, procurement and warehousing and delivery operations
• Directing and participating in the preparation of required financial reports
• Assisting the City Manager with administrative details relating to the City's finances

Parking Control

• Directing the City's parking control operations and administrative adjudication of parking violations
• Developing and updating the City's bail schedule for parking enforcement

Utility billing

• Establishing procedures for and directing the billing and collecting of payments for water and refuse collection services
• Managing and administering the City's utility billing services contract
• Developing a water and trash rate-setting analysis, calculate necessary rate structure to cover costs in compliance with laws and regulations, presenting this information to the City Council and Committees

Risk Management

• Overseeing the City's self-insurance program and serve as the City's Finance Officer representative at the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (CJPIA)
• Serving as the City's delegate for CJPIA contractual review and Risk Management Evaluations
• Acting as the City's Risk Manager and directing the management of liability claims against the City
• Serving as the City's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/504 Coordinator administering the ADA/504 Grievance Procedure as per policy and Barrier Removal Transition Plan
• Directing the administration of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Information Technology (IT)

• Managing and administering the City's information technology services contract to support the City's technological, security camera, and communication needs
• Serving as a technical resource for City departments and committees, to facilitate the identification and evaluation of technology needs, and to act as the liaison between IT vendors and the City to review proposals and negotiate hardware, software and service contracts
• Directing the provision of training programs for City personnel in the use of City hardware and software
• Providing management oversight in the selection and/or development, design, implementation and maintenance of hardware and software systems to meet the needs of the community and City departments

Qualifications
Education and Experience: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major work in accounting, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field, and five years of progressively responsible professional experience in financial administration, including three years in a managerial and supervisory position. Governmental agency experience preferred (preferably a California municipality). A Master's degree in a related field is desirable.
Licenses: Possession of a valid Class "C" Operator's license issued by the California State Department of Motor Vehicles and a good driving record.
Knowledge of: Modern accounting principles, practices, methods and record keeping systems; ordinances, resolutions, and laws affecting municipal financial operations; principles and practices of municipal finance administration (including treasury functions) and reporting functions as well as Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements, public administration (including budgetary practices and procurement), risk management, supervision, and training; knowledge of the methods, principles, and practices of management information systems and technology, and their applicability to accounting and a full range of municipal operations.
Skills and Abilities to: Plan, organize, direct and supervise the overall operations of the Finance & Administrative Services Department; analyze and interpret fiscal and accounting records and data; devise and implement new and improved accounting and record keeping procedures and systems; prepare and control departmental budget and assist with the preparation and control of the city budget; prepare accurate financial and statistical reports; develop and implement state of the art information technology systems for municipal management programs, processes and activities; communicate effectively (orally and in writing) and make presentations before the City Council and other groups; supervise, develop and evaluate subordinate personnel; establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
Physical and Mental Demands: Ability to see and hear within normal ranges; dexterity to read, write, type, and operate office equipment such as a computer, telephone, pencils, pens; ability to communicate orally, in writing and over the telephone, and drive a vehicle.

Supplemental Information
The benefits package associated with regular full-time positions includes:

• Retirement Formula- The City participates in the CalPERS retirement system 2% at 55 for "classic" CalPERS members and 2% at 62 for "new" CalPERS members 2. The City does not participate in Social Security
• Generous Leave Programs- 13 paid holidays; sick leave; and two weeks annual vacation (three weeks after three years, four weeks after 15 years)
• Health Insurance - Cafeteria benefit plan includes medical and dental options (City participates in the CalPERS medical insurance plans). Employee cafeteria allowance for single employee only coverage is $1,359.02 per month; for employee +1 eligible dependent coverage is $1,640.00; and for employee + 2 or more eligible dependents coverage is $1,900.00. City paid life insurance, long-term disability and vision insurance for the employee.
• Other Benefits: Longevity pay beginning at the completion of 9 years of qualified service; career medical retiree benefit programs

1. Benefits package information is based on current benefit information and subject to change, based on labor agreements; federal, state and/or local laws or resolutions;.

2.For qualified public employees who are "classic" CalPERS members and City employees with membership into CalPERS prior to 1/1/2013 enrollment will be into the 2% at 55 formula. Pension benefits for employees hired on or after 1/1/2013 and are "new" CalPERS members are subject to the Public Employees Pension Reform Act provisions and will be enrolled into the 2% at 62 formula.
Selection Procedure: All properly submitted applications will be reviewed and evaluated. Those candidates appearing to have the best qualifications for the position will be invited to participate in the examination process which may require any combination of the following: a written examination, a performance examination, and one or more oral interviews. Not all applicants may be tested or interviewed.
Important Information

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an expressed or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice.

APPLICATION PROCESS: Applications should be completed fully and clearly demonstrate how the minimum qualifications are met. All information provided is subject to verification. False or misleading statements may result in disqualification, removal from the eligible list, or termination of employment. Resumes may be included as a supplement but will not be accepted in place of the City's application form. All application materials become the property of the City of Lakewood and will not be returned.

COMPENSATION: City employees are paid on a bi-weekly basis, therefore, published monthly salary is for illustration purposes only, rounded to whole dollars. Actual salary is based on hourly rate rounded to four decimal places.