[Hiring] Deputy Chief Financial Officer @State of Washington

Role Description

The Employment Security Department (ESD) is seeking an accomplished financial leader to serve as our Deputy Chief Financial Officer (Deputy CFO). We are seeking a leader who combines technical expertise, operational leadership, and the ability to guide complex financial transformation.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Deputy CFO has a strong internal and operational focus, serves on behalf of the CFO when needed, and provides leadership across the agency’s financial operations.

The work of the Deputy CFO centers on three priorities:

• Technical Financial Leadership:
  • Serves as a primary advisor to the CFO on agency financial operations.
  • Provides leadership over day-to-day finance operations.
  • Identifies risk, strengthens controls, analyzes financial information, and supports sound decisions.
• Operational Leadership:
  • Provides internal operational leadership for the Financial Services Division.
  • Partners with teams throughout ESD to strengthen centralized financial operations.
  • Helps lead the division’s operational work and supports organizational health.
  • Assumes supervisory responsibility for the Financial Services Division in the CFO’s absence.
• Financial Transformation and Systems:
  • Helps lead ESD through a significant period of financial transformation and systems modernization.
  • Oversees financial system-development and automation initiatives.
  • Plays an important role in ESD’s implementation of statewide One Washington and Workday financial systems.
  • Prepares people, processes, and financial operations for transition.

This role is for a financial leader who wants to understand the technical underpinnings, strengthen operations, develop people, and thoughtfully lead transformation.

The Deputy CFO has the opportunity to protect the integrity of today’s financial operations while helping shape how ESD’s financial work is performed in the future.

Qualifications

• Required Education and Experience:
  • Option 1: 10 years of progressively responsible financial management and operational leadership experience, including at least 5 years supervising professional-level finance staff and managing complex budgets.
  • Option 2: Associate’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field AND 8 years of progressively responsible financial management and operational leadership experience, including at least 5 years supervising professional-level finance staff and managing complex budgets.
  • Option 3: Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field AND 6 years of progressively responsible financial management and operational leadership experience, including at least 5 years supervising professional-level finance staff and managing complex budgets.
• Required equity competencies:
  • The ability to take action to learn and grow.
  • The ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Core Competencies and Technical Skills:
  • Strategic Financial Planning & Forecasting: Ability to translate high-level economic data and trends into actionable, long-term agency financial plans and forecasts.
  • Internal Controls & Risk Management: Deep knowledge of internal control frameworks, risk assessment protocols, and financial mitigation strategies to safeguard agency resources.
  • Enterprise System Governance: Competency in aligning financial system development, automation initiatives, and IT portfolios with organizational goals.
  • Policy & Procedure Formulation: Skill in designing, updating, and executing administrative and financial policies that comply with state and federal regulations.
  • Intergovernmental Relations: Familiarity with state oversight and financial entities to represent the agency effectively.
• Leadership and Behavioral Competencies:
  • Transformational Leadership: Capacity to guide organizational change, streamline operational efficiencies, and foster cross-divisional collaboration.
  • Executive Coaching & Development: Demonstrated talent for providing constructive leadership, professional development, and mentorship to high-performing finance teams.
  • Cultural Humility & DEI: A tangible, active commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.
  • Decision-Making & Delegation: Sound judgment to act as a delegated appointing authority.
• Preferred/Desired Education, Experience, and Competencies:
  • A Master’s degree (MBA, MPA) or professional certification such as a CPA or CGFM.
  • Demonstrated experience working within state or local government financial structures.
  • Demonstrated track record overseeing large-scale financial system automation or ERP implementation projects.

Requirements

• Must be able to pass Unemployment Insurance (UI) & Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) claim and fraud check.

Benefits

• Flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities.

Company Description

Our agency's mission and values drive every decision that we make, determine how we interact with others and are at the core of who we are. We value Access, Love, Belonging, Equity, and Stewardship.

The Employment Security Department is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.