Chief Financial Officer

Summary

Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and the recruitment will stay open until the position is filled. However applications submitted by 11 : 59 p.m. on November 10 2025 will be given priority consideration.

This recruitment will be used to fill a Career Service position and to create an eligibility pool to fill vacancies that may occur within the next six (6) months.

The King County Department of Public Defense (DPD) is seeking a talented and collaborative leader to serve as its Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This key role demands an experienced financial professional and dedicated public servant committed to advancing a client-centered approach and supporting DPD as a national leader in Public Defense. The department oversees a biennial budget exceeding $229 million and manages multiple innovative initiatives that position it at the forefront of public defense.

As CFO you will work closely with department leadership to develop and implement the departments budget financial policies strategic long-term financial plans and a comprehensive system for monitoring analyzing and managing departmental expenditures. Your expertise will help identify opportunities for funded initiatives cost savings and fiscal efficiency ensuring the departments financial sustainability. You will also oversee contracts fiscal management payroll asset management and all financial and accounting functions aligning operations with King Countys enterprise-wide financial policies and procedures.

The CFO will lead and supervise a small high-performing team fostering a culture of financial literacy and professional growth across the department. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in public sector budget development and finance technical proficiency with diverse financial data systems and a proven ability to mentor and develop teams. A strong commitment to equity racial and social justice and a mindset of continuous improvement and innovation are essential to support DPDs evolving financial needs.

Reporting directly to the Department Director the CFO serves as the chief advisor on all fiscal and compliance matters providing strategic insights and analysis to support the departments mission and programs. This is an exciting opportunity to impact public defense at a critical and influential level.

The Departments Mission Statement

The King County Department of Public Defense represents indigent adults and children facing a loss of liberty. Our department is an independent voice that promotes justice and equity for our clients and advocates for their objectives interests and dignity.

DPD provides high quality legal representation to indigent clients in felonies misdemeanors juvenile defense family defense (dependency cases) involuntary commitment (mental illness) and sex offender commitment proceedings.

DPD advocates to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal and civil legal systems that restrict our clients liberty and advances policy reforms to reduce systemic racism. We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive respectful and supportive premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD visit our website.

Job Duties

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following :

Fiscal and Compliance Management

• Oversee and manage DPDs overall financial sustainability and resources to accomplish its mission.
• Approve all department expenses.
• Manage supervise and approve the departmental payroll processes for highly unionized staff assuring compliance with multiple collective bargaining agreements.
• Direct review and ensure accuracy and integrity in DPDs fiscal and compliance analyses and reporting. Ensure departments financial structure meets all reporting requirements.
• Lead the development proposal and review of DPDs biennial budget and supplemental budget appropriations.
• Ensure development maintenance and implementation of strategic long-range financial plans.
• Monitor and analyze Department performance against budget identifying risks and opportunities regarding revenue expenditures and other financial issues and prepare management briefs as needed.
• Make and recommend operational direction in both the short- and long-term best interest for the department.
• Collaborate with DPDs HR manager to ensure consistent accurate and timely position management data to create and maintain up-to-date budget forecasting.
• Oversee a proactive compliance process that ensures proper use of public funds meets regulatory compliance with all funding agencies and provides support as needed.

Leadership and Strategic Planning

Lead Coach and Supervise a High-Performing Team

Experience Qualifications Knowledge Skills

Preferred Experience Qualifications Knowledge Skills :

Supplemental Information

At King County our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to : Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

King County offers great benefits to include a pension plan holidays transit pass plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development. Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance.

ARE YOU READY TO APPLY

This opportunity to join DPD is open to all applicants. Please apply at be considered for this role submit the following documents :

The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions interviewing references a personnel file review going back the last three (3) years and if applicable a background check. You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience and attach the required documents to your application.

If you have questions please contact our Talent Advisors at .

Work Schedule and Location

The Finance team works in a hybrid model with days in the office as well as telecommuting. The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location for this position is the Dexter Horton Building 710 Second Avenue Seattle.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the departments hybrid environment. Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

DPD maintains physical offices in the following locations :

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). As an exempt employee you are expected to work the hours necessary to satisfactorily perform your job and will not be eligible for overtime pay or compensatory time.

Rotations of work location and practicearea and / or workflow are an essential function and can occur based on business need. You may be required to report any of our Seattle and / or Kent locations.

DPD Policies

DPD Ethical Walls Policies and Procedures will apply to employees such that if you work or have worked for one of DPDs divisions you may be ineligible to work in another division.

Outside Work Policy for Administrative Staff will apply to employees such that you must receive approval from your supervisor and Managing Attorney before being permitted to engage in outside employment for compensation or volunteer.

Union Membership

This position is not represented by a union.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington States best employers.

Together with leadership and our employees were changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference Comejointheteam dedicated to serving one of the nations best places to live work and play.

Guided by our True North we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting support and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply including Native American and people of color immigrants refugees women LGBTQ people living with disabilities and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer

No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race color religion national origin sex (including gender identity sexual orientation and pregnancy) age genetic information disability veteran status or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions including but not limited to recruitment hiring selection for training promotion transfer demotion layoff termination rates of pay or other forms of compensation.

To Apply

If you are interested in pursuing this position please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.

SALARY AND BENEFITS :

In accordance with RCW 49.58.110 this salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidates current experience education skills and abilities related to the position. King County offers a comprehensive benefits package which includes paid sick and vacation leave; paid holidays; medical dental vision flexible spending accounts life and disability insurance for employees and dependents; retirement and deferred compensation. For additional information please review the detailed summaryofbenefits offered by King County.

Required Experience :

Chief

Key Skills

General Management,Access Control,Interior,Administration Support,Client Services,Computing

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1

Yearly Salary Salary : 151439 - 191958