What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Finance position at Superior Court of Santa Cruz?
DEFINITION
The Director of Finance is an executive-level leader responsible for the strategic oversight and effective management of all fiscal operations of the Superior Court. This is a full-time position based on site at the Santa Cruz courthouse, with limited flexibility for occasional remote work subject to CEO approval. Travel to the Watsonville facility may be required.
Under the general direction of the Court Executive Officer, the Director oversees the Court’s budget development, financial reporting, accounting systems, procurement, payroll, capital planning, trust accounting, collections, and contract management. The Director exercises a high degree of independent judgment, strategic thinking, and executive decision-making, serves as the Court’s fiscal liaison with external agencies, and ensures compliance with all applicable laws, rules of court, and professional accounting standards.
CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This executive-level position is responsible for all fiscal activities of the Court through subordinate managers, professional staff, and technical personnel. The Director is a key member of the Court’s leadership team and plays a significant role in strategic planning, fiscal policy development, and organizational decision-making.
- Confers with the Court Executive Officer and executive leadership team on strategic and operational planning and long- and short-term organizational needs.
- Plans, organizes, directs, and manages the Court’s fiscal operations through subordinate managers and professional staff.
- Oversees development and administration of the Court’s operating and capital budgets, trust accounting, revenue collections, procurement, banking operations, contract and grant management, and financial systems.
- Leads the Court’s procurement function, ensuring compliance with procurement laws and internal controls; oversees purchasing, competitive bidding, vendor selection, contract drafting, negotiations, and procurement strategy.
- Develops, implements, and interprets financial policies and procedures in compliance with laws, rules of court, regulations, and accounting standards.
- Monitors the impact of legal, technological, and procedural changes on fiscal operations and implements necessary system or policy improvements.
- Oversees the preparation of fiscal studies, projections, analyses, and reports, including monthly, quarterly, mid-year, and annual submissions.
- Directs external audit activities, serves as the primary liaison with auditors, and ensures implementation of audit recommendations; oversees internal audit procedures and fiscal controls.
- Reviews and interprets fiscal directives from state agencies, Judicial Council committees, and external partners, advising the CEO and executive team on financial impacts.
- Provides executive direction in selecting, developing, training, evaluating, and supervising a team of 4–6 fiscal, accounting, payroll, procurement, and related staff, and sets workload standards and performance expectations.
- Leads organizational improvements to strengthen internal controls, staff competencies, fiscal systems, and financial policies.
- Represents the Court in meetings with local, regional, and state agencies; provides high-level consultation on fiscal policy, budget strategy, regulatory impacts, and procurement operations.
- Works with case management system staff to implement legal and procedural changes and conduct related fiscal testing to ensure accurate financial functionality.
- Prepares and analyzes fiscal projections to forecast trends, financial impacts, and resource needs.
- Establishes and maintains effective, collaborative working relationships across all levels of the Court and with external partners.
- Exercises tact, diplomacy, discretion, and sound judgment in handling sensitive and complex issues.
Experience:
- At least five years of increasingly responsible financial management experience; public-sector experience strongly preferred.
- Experience in procurement, contracts, and collections is desirable.
- Supervisory or managerial experience overseeing professional-level fiscal staff is required.
Education:
One of the following:
- Master’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Public or Judicial Administration, or a related field, and at least three years of financial management experience; or
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Finance, Finance, Accounting, Business or Public Administration, Public Policy, or a related field, and at least five years of financial management experience; or
- Associate’s degree in Business, Public Administration, Public Policy, Public Finance, Finance, Accounting, or a related field, and at least seven years of financial management experience.
Certifications:
- CPA or CMA highly desirable.
- Public-sector finance, accounting, and auditing.
- Governmental accounting principles, internal controls, audit methods, and fiscal regulations.
- Budget development, capital planning, procurement regulations, and contract administration.
- Laws, ordinances, and rules governing fiscal operations in the judicial branch.
- Leadership methods, executive management principles, and organizational planning.
- Enterprise financial systems (e.g., SAP) and Microsoft Office tools.
- Statistical analysis, financial modeling, report development, and data interpretation.
ABILITY TO
- Provide executive leadership in fiscal strategy, budgeting, procurement, and financial operations.
- Analyze complex situations, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
- Prepare clear, accurate, and timely fiscal reports and policies.
- Direct multiple functional areas and diverse teams through subordinate managers.
- Lead organizational change and improve policies, procedures, and workflow.
- Respond promptly and accurately to information requests.
- Model Court values such as honesty, integrity, respect, transparency, professionalism, and service.
- Motivate staff, support growth, and foster a positive workplace culture.
- Work effectively with judicial officers, executives, staff, agencies, vendors, and the public.