The posting
Job Description
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Arlington County requires all applicants to thoroughly complete each section of the application, including prior job responsibilities, duties, and supplemental questions. While you may attach a resume, it will not replace a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The Department of Management and Finance (DMF) is seeking an experienced, innovative, and results-oriented executive to serve as its Director and as the County’s Chief Financial Officer. This position will provide strategic guidance to the department as well as County leadership in the areas of financial management and budgeting, debt issuance and management, tax and revenue policy development, accounting, purchasing, real estate assessment, capital financing, and internal auditing. This position will also regularly lead multidisciplinary financial teams, and oversee comprehensive municipal fiscal operations in a predominantly remote environment.
Responsibilities
Major Job Duties:
- Guiding Financial Strategies: Guides the current and long-term financial strategies of the County, serving as a principal advisor to the County Manager, Department Directors, and the County Board by recommending financial, budgeting, and debt management strategies that maximize fiscal resources and anticipate economic fluctuations.
- Managing Fiscal Operations & Budgets: Directs and oversees the County's financial operations, a General Fund operating budget, a multi-year Capital Improvement Plan, and a variety of complex funding streams.
- Maintaining Bond Ratings: Maintains the County's AAA bond ratings through rigorous fiscal discipline, conservative management, and sound debt policies.
- Forecasting & Planning: Improves multi-year financial forecasting, establishing clear linkages between capital improvement plans, service delivery needs, and community priorities while advising on their impact to the County’s overall financial health.
- Enhancing Budget & Performance Systems: Enhances the budget process to support strategic planning and reinvigorates program analysis and performance measurement systems.
- Driving Technology & Transparency: Leverages existing and new technology systems to streamline financial and accounting processes and to improve the transparency of financial data to the public.
- Strengthening Internal Controls & Auditing: Encourages a culture of internal controls across the County and continues the development of a robust internal audit program to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
- Optimizing Purchasing & Stakeholder Relations: Enhances the Purchasing program to meet the needs of multiple stakeholders including decentralized County agencies, contractors, and the Office of the County Attorney while ensuring compliance with regulations and optimal value for taxpayers.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of driving organizational change and financial innovation; while also possessing exceptional communication skills, demonstrating the ability to translate complex, and sensitive financial information clearly for executive leaders, advisory boards, the community, and the County Board.
Additionally, the ideal candidate will possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities:
- Thorough knowledge of the principles, theories, and practices of financial management, budgeting, purchasing, accounting, debt management, and internal auditing;
- Advanced knowledge of federal, state, and County laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations governing municipal financial operations;
- High-level quantitative analysis skills to extract, interpret, and evaluate complex financial data, revenues, and expenditures; and
- Demonstrated ability to develop working relationships and partnerships with colleagues, elected officials, and community stakeholders to effect change and facilitate issue resolution.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, Public Administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university; and
- Extensive (10+ years) senior financial management experience in a government setting, including significant supervisory and management experience in budgeting, financial management, auditing, and accounting functions.
Desirable Qualifications: Preference may be given to applicants with one or more of the following:
- Possession of a Master’s Degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or Public Administration;
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or the equivalent professional finance certification;
- Experience in financing large programs and capital budgets, and successfully working with rating agencies and investors;
- Experience implementing performance management programs and open data systems; and/or
- Experience developing and implementing internal controls to safeguard fiscal activities against fraud, waste, and abuse.
Special Requirements
Letter of Interest: A complete application includes a letter of interest. Please attach your letter to this application describing your experience leading multidisciplinary professional teams and developing long-term financial strategies in a complex public or governmental organization. In your response, please include the approximate size of the staff and operating budget you managed, how you structured or directed your management team such as budgeting, accounting, auditing, or purchasing managers, and how you successfully aligned financial strategies with broader organizational priorities.
Resume Requirement: A complete application includes a resume. Please attach your resume to the application and verify that the details of your application provide further evidence of your experience and qualifications as displayed on your resume.
Background Check: A pre-employment criminal records check will be conducted. It will include checks of the following: criminal record, driving record, education, professional licensure, and credit history. You will be required to sign a release authorizing the County to obtain your background information.
Financial Disclosure: Completion of the Commonwealth of Virginia Statement of Economic Interest form will be required of the successful candidate upon acceptance of employment and annually thereafter.
Please complete each section of the application including the supplemental questions. Your responses to the supplemental questions are required because they provide us with specific information necessary to evaluate your qualifications for this position. These responses are considered part of the selection process. A resume may be attached; however, it will not substitute for a completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please do not write "see resume" as a response to the questions. In accordance with § 19.2-392.15, applicants are not required to provide information regarding sealed arrests, charges, or convictions in response to any questions or inquiries during the hiring process.
Additional Information
Work Schedule/Location: Standard business hours with flexibility required for evening meetings, public hearings, or emergency responses as an executive leader. Work will primarily be performed in a hybrid setting with in-person work occurring at Bozman Government Center (2100 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201). Department employees primarily work in a remote setting.
Classification: This position is in the Arlington County Government's Executive Management Classification, in which Senior Leadership positions are evaluated and compensated based on a performance agreement linked to the County's Management Plan and the results achieved.
Starting Salary: $214,073.60 - $331,822.40 Annually (Negotiable) Commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the candidate selected.
This recruitment is open until filled with a preferred filing date of November 20, 2026.
This position is eligible for County government employee benefits that include health, dental, vacation and sick leave, commuter transportation subsidies, tuition reimbursement, as well as a generous retirement plan.
For more information on Arlington County’s generous benefits and retirement plan, click here.
Arlington County is committed to advancing diversity, equity, access, and inclusion across all our services, activities, and programs. Learn more about our commitment.
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