Location
Description
Why Work for the City of San Mateo?
The City of San Mateo is a dynamic community nestled along the San Francisco Bayfront and
conveniently located in Silicon Valley about halfway between San Francisco and San Jose. With
approximately 100,000 residents, the City’s diversity stands out as one of its greatest strengths—
evident in both the ethnic composition of its population and the mix of land uses, architecture, and community design.
San Mateo has over 200 acres of parks and open space, a vibrant business and employment
environment, two major shopping centers and an active downtown. Over 500 dedicated City
employees provide an array of vital services such as maintaining city streets and infrastructure,
supporting parks and recreational opportunities, and keeping the community safe, healthy and
clean. It's our mission to serve the San Mateo community with a collaborative, innovative and
professional spirit. We are looking for someone who embodies our shared values of respect,
creativity, inclusivity, transparency, and integrity.
About the Finance Department
The Finance Department is responsible for the overall financial management of the City, including
oversight of the citywide operating budget of $272 million ($175.8 million General Fund) for FY 25-
26 with 550 budgeted FTEs and a capital improvement program budget of $61.5 million. The
Department’s core function is to maintain a strong and secure financial position for the City by
providing comprehensive financial and analytical services to the City Council, City management and
staff, and the public. With a staff of 18.0 FTE and an annual budget of $4.5 million the Finance
Department provides the following services including Accounting and Financial Reporting, Budget,
Treasury and Revenue Management, Purchasing, Accounts Payable, Payroll, and Debt Service. In
addition, the Department provides
The Opportunity
The Deputy Director of Finance assists in planning, directing, organizing, and coordinating the
operations of the Finance Department. This position manages assigned functional areas, which may
include accounting, payroll, revenue and treasury operations, and/or budget planning. The Deputy
Director provides highly responsible technical and professional staff support, serves as a key
member of the department’s leadership team, and performs complex financial and operational
analyses to support the City’s strategic and fiscal objectives.
Ideal Candidate
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate is an innovative and forward-thinking finance professional who combines strong technical knowledge with exceptional leadership and communication skills. They bring a balance of analytical ability, collaborative leadership, and a vision for continuous improvement. For a full job description, please visit:
https://www.cityofsanmateo.org/DocumentCenter/View/86202/Deputy-Director-of-Finance
The City is seeking an individual who:
- Demonstrates strong accounting and budget management expertise.
- Possesses public sector experience, with a solid understanding of municipal finance practices.
- Is collaborative and has excellent interpersonal skills, fostering trust and teamwork.
- Effectively leverages technology to streamline operations and support decision-making.
- Has ERP implementation experience and embraces modernization.
- Excels at time management, prioritization, and maintaining accuracy under deadlines.
- Can lead change, demonstrate innovation, and adapt to evolving priorities.
- Communicates in an efficient and concise manner with both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Has a clear vision for excellence in financial services and the ability to execute and implement that vision.
- Is skilled in project management, including planning, evaluating, and implementing finance projects and programs.
- Brings efficiency and a solutions-oriented mindset to all aspects of work.
Qualifications
- Five (5) years of increasingly responsible professional experience in one or more aspects of
- financial administration and supervision, preferably in local government.
- Equivalent to a Bachelor’s degree in business administration or related field.
Desired Qualifications
- Two (2) years of supervisory experience and proven success managing people and teams.
- A Master’s degree in accounting, business or related field or CPA or CPFO is desirable.
- Experience working with purchasing, budgeting, cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll systems are highly desirable.
Benefits
What We Offer
- Salary: $ 16,271 - $17,939 /month.
- Comprehensive benefits package including generous paid leave and health benefits
- CalPERS retirement 2% @ 55 for classic members; 2% @ 62 for new members. Classic employees contribute 8.34% to CalPERS and New members contribute 7.50% to CalPERS.
- Participation in the Social Security Program
- Deferred Compensation: City will contribute 0.5% and match up to 2.0% of base salary
- Medical: A choice of plans with City paid premium of up to 100% for individual coverage, and up to 90% for two-party and family for Kaiser coverage, or $160 per month if waived.
- Insurance: City paid premiums for Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance.
- Generous Paid Leave benefits
- Free Fitness classes through City of San Mateo Parks and Recreation, Employee Assistance Program and Credit Union Membership
- For more information, please refer to the Department Head and Deputy Director Compensation Plan Compensation Resolution effective February 2023.
Special Instructions
Are You Ready? Apply.
Submit an online application, résumé (required), and supplemental questionnaire at https://www.calopps.org/city-of-san-mateo or to the Human Resources Department, City of San Mateo, 330 W. 20th Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94403, (650) 522-7260.
Application Deadline:
Recruitment will close on Monday, November 10, 2025, at 5 p.m.
Examination Process:
All applications, résumés (required) and supplemental questionnaires received will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. A fully completed application is required; a resume does not replace the information required on the employment application, including work history. Applications with "see résumé" as a substitution for the work experience description, those with none or unclear current/past employment information, or those with insufficient information to evaluate possession of minimum qualifications will not be considered; missing information cannot be assumed. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of an oral panel interview, written exercise, or in the form of a practical demonstration of skill and ability, or any combination of these; a oral panel interview is tentatively scheduled for Thursday, December 4, 2025.
An employment list will be established for those who pass the examination process. Current and future vacancies may be filled from this list. The list will remain in effect for at least six months with the possibility of an extension for an additional six months. Once placed on an employment list, and at the time a vacancy occurs, eligible candidates may be contacted by the hiring department and scheduled for additional department interviews.
Date posted: October 17, 2025