Court Director of Finance (20682146)

The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo is seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Court Director of Finance. 

To view our online brochure, please click here.

Located in Redwood City, at the heart of Silicon Valley, the San Mateo Superior Court offers the best of both worlds—a mission-driven organization that values innovation, integrity, and impact. You will play a key role in shaping how justice is delivered in one of California’s most forward-thinking and community-centered courts.

Working as part of the court executive team, the Court Director of Finance (Director of Finance) will exercise managerial authority over the financial operations, oversee the budget, and look for ways to enhance the revenue of the Superior Court of California in San Mateo County.  In addition, the Director of Finance will develop, recommend, and implement departmental budgetary goals, policies, and objectives and will develop and implement dual (programmatic and cost center) budgetary, monitoring, and fiscal reporting systems to coordinate with the State budgetary and fiscal reporting systems. 

The Director of Finance will also coordinate financial activities with those of other local agencies and the State and will provide highly responsible and complex financial management support to the Court Executive Officer and related management staff.  Additionally, the Director of Finance will provide direct and indirect supervision over assigned professional, supervisory, technical, and clerical personnel.

The successful candidate is a strategic, innovative, and collaborative financial leader who thrives in a mission-driven environment. You bring a passion for service, a forward-looking mindset, and the ability to lead through change.

You will demonstrate:

• Strategic vision and the ability to anticipate fiscal challenges and opportunities.
• A participatory leadership style that fosters engagement, respect, and innovation.
• A results-oriented, approachable demeanor with a sense of humor and humility.
• The ability to develop and persuasively communicate the Court Executive Officer’s fiscal management vision and effectively motivate others to achieve that vision.
• Skill as a consensus builder who is firm, fair, and responsive, and is a tactful leader with excellent group facilitation skills.
• Demonstrated success implementing system improvements and automation initiatives to enhance financial efficiency and transparency.
• Skill in evaluating the operations of court divisions of various sizes, functions, and levels of complexity.
• Demonstrated success with automation and system upgrades.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Plan, develop, and oversee fiscal management, budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting functions for the Court.
• Provide strategic policy direction for all financial activities and ensure integration with State budgetary and reporting systems.
• Monitor and analyze State and local legislation affecting court operations and develop responsive fiscal strategies.
• Direct and evaluate staff responsible for fiscal and accounting functions, including training, motivation, and performance management.
• Plan the development and implementation of the overall Court budget in coordination with operational divisions, prepare budgetary administrative information, and participate in forecasting additional funding requirements for programs, staffing, facilities, equipment, and materials.
• Oversee revenue collection, cost recovery, auditing, procurement, and contract administration.
• Ensure accuracy and compliance of financial statements, reports, and reimbursement claims.
• Oversee, prepare, and review the preparation of complex financial statements, reports, summaries, and reimbursement claims, and analyze and interpret financial information and statistical data for Court management, judicial officers, advisory committees, auditors, and related individuals and groups.
• Represent the Court administration in meetings with the State, judicial officers, County departments, other Superior Courts, and public and private organizations.
• Provide expert consultation to the Court Executive Officer and executive team on fiscal strategy, forecasting, and risk management.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Current Opportunities and Challenges

The Court is in an exciting phase of innovation and modernization including strengthening systems, enhancing transparency, and preparing for long-term fiscal sustainability.
Key initiatives include:

• Implementing financial systems to improve accuracy, efficiency, and insight.
• Expanding automation and data analytics to support executive decision-making.
• Aligning fiscal practices with evolving State funding models.
• Supporting capital project planning and long-term financial forecasting.

Qualifications

Education and Experience: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

• Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, auditing, economics, business, or public administration or a related discipline. A graduate degree in one of the above disciplines is preferred.
• Experience: Five years of increasingly responsible experience performing a wide variety of fiscal resource management in a public agency, at least two years of which were in an administrative or management capacity. Experience in a California Court setting is preferred.

Knowledge of:

• Legislation, policies, and procedures related to budgeting and financial reporting for the California Superior Courts, including public agency fund accounting and third-party reimbursement and claims payment practices.
• Fiscal resource administration, including planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, auditing, and related practices.
• Understanding of California court fiscal structures, fund accounting, and State reporting.
• Strong leadership and management capabilities, including staff development and performance management.
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Ability to foster innovation while maintaining compliance and stewardship of public funds.
• Strategic planning, process improvement, and fiscal policy development. Principles and practices of internal and external auditing.
• Techniques for communicating technical financial information to nontechnical operational staff.
• Manage effective financial systems, spreadsheets, and analytics tools.
• Methods for effectively communicating complex financial data to diverse audiences.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, organize, direct, review, and evaluate department-wide budgetary, fiscal reporting, and accounting operations for the Court.
• Coordinate and align local fiscal practices with State requirements.
• Analyze complex administrative and operational problems and implement effective solutions.
• Plan, oversee, train, motivate, review, and evaluate the work of supervisory, professional, technical, and clerical support staff.
• Interpret, evaluate, make complex decisions in accordance with, and explain complex laws, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Monitor, analyze, and recommend policy and procedure modification in accordance with State and local legislation.
• Negotiate agreement among groups and individuals with differing objectives.
• Prepare and present comprehensive financial reports and analyses.
• Communicate effectively in writing and verbally with internal and external stakeholders.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

Total Rewards and Benefits

The Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to attract and retain top talent. We are proud to provide exceptional benefits that promote work-life balance, wellness, and financial security:

• Compensatory time accrued at 5 hours per bi-weekly pay period, which may be used for additional time off or eligible for yearly cashed out.
• Fully paid medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and their families.
  • San Mateo County administers benefits for the Superior Court and offers a variety of plan options. Please visit the Benefits At-A-Glance page on the County’s website for a summary of available benefit packages.
• Wellness and professional development programs designed to support your personal and professional growth. Most opportunities are offered during work hours and at no cost to you.
• Participation in the federal Social Security system, providing valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
• CalPERS pension plan with optional deferred compensation programs for additional retirement savings.

• Generous leave programs including vacation, sick leave, and 14 paid holidays per year.
• Participation in Social Security and the CalPERS pension system, with optional deferred compensation programs.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Longevity pay.

Application / Examination
To apply, the following materials must be submitted using the County's online application system:

• County of San Mateo Employment Application Form
• Resume
• Cover Letter expressing your interest in the position and including responses to these four supplemental questions/ subject areas:

Budget Management and Fiscal Oversight
Describe your experience preparing and managing budgets for a judicial government or similar organization. Include the approximate size of the budgets, total staffing, and your specific responsibilities for budget development, monitoring, and reporting. 

Revenue Forecasting and Long-Range Planning
Discuss your experience developing revenue projections and long-range financial forecasts. Include examples of how you used forecasting to guide strategic decision-making or ensure fiscal sustainability.

Contracts and Procurement Management
Describe your experience overseeing contracts, purchasing, and procurement functions. Include examples of how you ensured compliance with public sector regulations, maintained fiscal accountability, and improved procurement efficiency or vendor performance.

Innovation and Operational Efficiency
Provide examples of innovative strategies or process improvements you have implemented to increase efficiency, enhance revenue, or modernize financial or administrative operations. Describe the impact of these initiatives on your organization.

TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT SCHEDULE
Recruitment Opens: November 7, 2025

Final Filing Date: December 1, 2025, by 11:59 PM PST

Application Screening: December 3-4, 2025

Civil Service Panel Interview: December 16 and 17, 2025