Deputy Finance Director

Join the Cumberland County Finance Department and play a key leadership role in guiding the County’s financial operations and long-term fiscal success. This position oversees critical financial services including accounting, payroll, purchasing, cash forecasting, investments, debt management, and fixed asset control while ensuring compliance with North Carolina statutes, federal regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles. The selected candidate will lead financial services units, supervising professional accountants and departmental managers while fostering a collaborative, high‑performing team environment.

This role drives innovation by developing strategic goals, policies, and operational improvements that strengthen financial processes and organizational effectiveness. The position plans, directs, and evaluates accounting and risk management activities, ensuring accurate reporting and sound financial stewardship. Serving as a trusted partner to leadership, this role also represents the Finance Director when needed and helps shape the County’s financial vision for the future.

* Salary will be determined by applicants qualifying education and experience*

• Develops and implements departmental goals and objectives while leading cross‑functional teams to support County and Finance Department priorities
• Supervises professional, technical, and support staff, including hiring, training, employee development, performance management, and evaluation
• Provides leadership and oversight for purchasing and contracts, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, risk management, and collections operations, ensuring strong internal controls and accurate financial recordkeeping
• Reviews and approves timesheets, administrative documents, financial transactions, and staff work products while identifying staffing and resource needs
• Serves as backup to the Chief Financial Officer (upon appointment by the Board of County Commissioners), performing pre‑audit functions to ensure expenditures comply with the adopted budget ordinance and applicable regulations
• Monitors daily banking activity, including cash balances, check runs, payroll funding, and incoming/outgoing wire transfers; administers the County’s banking portal and user access controls
• Oversees investment activities in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes and County policy, including obtaining competitive bids, executing trades, transferring funds, verifying transactions, and maintaining investment records
• Manages financial system administration by maintaining the chart of accounts, establishing account codes, troubleshooting system issues, coordinating with Information Services and vendors, and maximizing software utilization
• Leads month‑end and year‑end close processes, ensuring financial accuracy, system integrity, and balanced accounts prior to closing periods
• Trains staff, responds to financial system inquiries, and recommends process improvements that enhance operational efficiency and strengthen financial management practices

Graduation from an accredited four‑year college or university with a major in accounting, business administration or finance and four (4) years of progressively responsible professional level accounting and supervisory experience in a governmental fiscal operation; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Management Preference: Experience in municipal/county government or auditor of public finance organization;
Certified Public Accountant (CPA); NC Certified Local Government Finance Officer; high level of proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint); experience with financial operating systems such as Tyler Munis, or similar enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of governmental accounting, including financial reporting and the performance of complex accounting activities
• Knowledge of the County’s financial system, including chart of accounts management and preparation of daily and monthly financial entries
• Knowledge of financial systems sufficient to analyze operations and recommend modifications or process improvements
• Knowledge of…