Behavioral Health Chief Financial Officer

Ventura County Behavioral Health Leadership Position

The Ventura County Behavioral Health (VCBH) Department, a division of the County of Ventura Health Care Agency (HCA), provides essential mental health and substance use treatment services to individuals and families throughout Ventura County and plays a critical role in promoting community wellness and crisis response. As an integrated part of the County's comprehensive public health system, VCBH works alongside award-winning hospitals, ambulatory care clinics, and public health services to deliver accessible, compassionate, and high-quality care to the diverse Ventura County community.

VCBH also functions as the county Behavioral Health Plan (BHP), a specialty Medi-Cal managed care plan, designated by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS). Under direction of the Behavioral Health Director, the Behavioral Health Chief Financial Officer provides executive leadership and strategic oversight of all financial operations within VCBH, including the financial oversight related to the department's role as the Behavioral Health Plan (BHP), a specialty managed care plan, as designated by the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).

This position is responsible for ensuring the financial integrity, regulatory compliance, and long-term fiscal sustainability of BHP services throughout Ventura County by overseeing accounting, auditing, budgeting, risk management, revenue maximization, cost allocation, forecasting, and regulatory reporting, including compliance with local, State, and Federal requirements such as Medi-Cal/Medicaid. With one direct report—the Administrative & Financial Operations Chief—and oversight of an approximate $350 million budget, the Chief Financial Officer plays a critical role in supporting VCBH's mission through sound financial leadership, strategic vision, operational efficiency, and long-range planning.

The role also partners closely with VCBH and HCA executive leadership to align financial strategy with agency and department goals, support quality assurance and compliance within the BHP, and provides high-level financial analysis and recommendations that strengthen organizational performance, inform strategic decisions, and advance recovery-focused services for the communities served.

The successful candidate is expected to lead several critical priorities including:

• Financial Strategy and Long-Term Sustainability – Lead multi-year financial planning efforts that align with policy changes, reimbursement trends, and cost pressures to ensure long-term financial resilience across the integrated health system.
• Financial Modernization and Advancement – Strengthen cost accounting capabilities and advance the modernization of financial and operational systems to improve reporting precision, transparency, and executive decision support.
• Operational Transparency and Performance Accountability – Implement robust reporting frameworks that provide actionable insights at the service-line and program level while promoting shared ownership of financial performance across divisions.
• Leadership and Development – Lead, mentor, and develop a team of finance professionals, reinforcing alignment, accountability, and executive-level financial stewardship throughout the organization.
• County and Executive Partnership – Serve as a trusted financial advisor within County governance structures by strengthening relationships with executive leadership and governing bodies and clearly communicating complex financial strategies in a public-sector environment.

Work Schedule:

This position operates on a regular, in-office schedule. The role does not offer flexible/hybrid or remote work schedule opportunities. Payroll Classification:
Assistant Chief Financial Officer- HCA
-E This is an at-will position, exempt from the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance.

EDUCATION, TRAINING, and EXPERIENCE These are entrance requirements to the recruitment process and do not assure continuance in the process:
Extensive education, training, and experience that demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills, and…