Director of Finance & Purchasing

OMNI is honored to be retained by Jackson County, Missouri in the search for a highly skilled and strategic Director of Finance & Purchasing. This important leadership role will guide the County’s financial operations and purchasing functions while ensuring fiscal integrity, long-term sustainability, and alignment with executive and legislative priorities.

Jackson County serves as a dynamic hub in the Kansas City metropolitan area, providing essential services including public safety, infrastructure, parks and recreation, property assessment and tax administration, and legislative operations. The County is committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and responsive service delivery, working collaboratively to meet evolving community needs while maintaining strong stewardship of public resources.

Jackson County is one of 114 counties in Missouri. It includes most of Kansas City, Missouri, and 17 other cities and towns. The County population is about 654,000 people living within 607 square miles.

Position Summary

The Director of Finance & Purchasing serves as a key member of the County’s leadership team, providing strategic direction and operational oversight for the Finance and Purchasing Department, while maintaining administrative oversight of the Budget Office. Reporting to the Chief Administrative Officer, this position is responsible for developing and implementing policies, procedures, and systems that ensure effective management of financial resources, accurate budgeting, and strong internal controls.

The Director oversees a departmental budget exceeding $1.7 million and plays a central role in managing and guiding the County’s annual budget of more than $300 million. This role ensures sound financial practices related to accounting, payroll, purchasing, investments, debt administration, and auditing, while fostering collaboration across departments and supporting informed decision-making at the executive level. This role is ideally suited for a decisive and forward-thinking leader who can balance strategic financial priorities with day-to-day operational demands in a complex public environment.

Responsibilities:

Purchasing & Contracts

• Serve as the County’s chief purchasing officer and oversee procurement functions.
• Approve all purchase orders prior to issuance.
• Administer competitive bidding processes and maintain vendor records and bid files in accordance with procurement requirements.
• Maintain the official contract register and review, approve, or reject contracts and contract modifications for fiscal impact and compliance.
• Enforce contracting procedures and controls and develop and implement purchasing policies and procedures.
• Oversee the disposition of surplus County property in accordance with established policies and regulations.

Financial & Budget Controls

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for finance, accounting, payroll, purchasing, and budget administration functions.
• Direct and support staff through goal setting, performance management, training, and organizational planning.
• Develop, implement, and monitor financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard County assets and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
• Oversee the development, review, and administration of the County’s annual budget in collaboration with the Budget Officer and executive leadership.
• Analyze and project revenues and expenditures to ensure accurate financial forecasts and reliable assumptions.
• Recommend and present a balanced budget to executive leadership, aligning financial resources with strategic priorities.
• Monitor budget performance and approve or recommend adjustments, including supplemental funding requests and expenditure changes.
• Provide financial guidance on legislative actions, including verification of funding availability and assistance with financial components of proposed legislation.
• Maintain central accounting and budget records, certify availability of funds, and enforce budgetary controls across all departments to ensure fiscal integrity and compliance.
• Approve or audit claims against the County.
• Monitor revenue performance and recommend corrective actions in response to shortfalls or variances.
• Coordinate the County’s annual external audit, ensuring compliance, transparency, and timely implementation of recommendations.
• Provide consultation on financial, legal, and policy implications of County programs and initiatives.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll and vendor disbursements.
• Support pension plan administration and provide financial guidance to local government partners as needed.

Treasury & Cash Management

• Administer and oversee investment and debt management programs, ensuring optimal use of funds and favorable financing terms.
• Supervise the receipt and deposit of County funds and maintain official fund accounts.
• Reconcile County fund balances and cash accounts and ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
• Approve or authorize disbursements from County funds in accordance with established financial controls and policies.
• Enforce cash-handling and treasury controls across departments and prepare required treasury and fund reports.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, or a related field required.
• Master’s degree in finance, public administration or related field is strongly preferred.
• 8-10 plus years of progressively responsible supervisory experience in finance, accounting, or a related field is required.
• GFOA's Certified Public Finance Officers (CPFO) credentialing is a plus.
• Proven experience successfully leading financial operations in a public sector is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of public sector budgeting, accounting principles, and financial management practices.
• Experience with governmental financial operations, including budgeting, payroll, purchasing, and auditing.
• Strong understanding of investment strategies, debt management, and cash flow planning.
• Knowledge of applicable County, State, and Federal laws and regulations governing public finance.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and inspire a high-performing team through effective supervision, coaching, and performance evaluation.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking abilities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex financial information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with executive leadership, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to submit to/pass pre-employment background and drug screen.

Salary and Benefits

Hiring salary commensurate with qualifications and experience. A competitive benefits program, including health, dental, life insurance, paid vacation and sick leave are provided in addition to a pension plan.

This position is onsite in downtown Kansas City, MO. Jackson County residency is not a requirement.

First application review will be July 10, 2026.

We appreciate your referrals to professionals who may have an interest in this outstanding opportunity.

Formal interest accepted through the OMNI Executive Career Portal.

Please direct all inquiries to:

OMNI Human Resource Solutions

Stacey Cowan, Senior Search Consultant, Practice Leader – Local Government Services scowan@omnihrm.com | 913.653.8085

OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers.