THE OPPORTUNITY

The City of South Pasadena is embarking on a bold organizational transformation—and at the center of this turnaround effort is a newly elevated role: Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer. This is a rare opportunity for an experienced, mission-driven municipal leader to partner directly with a new City Manager known for reinvention, results, and driving lasting change. With a finance department in need of stabilization, a dedicated team eager to grow, and several other high-impact service areas under its purview, this role offers the chance to lead with vision, restore operational excellence, and help shape the future of one of Southern California’s most desirable small cities.

ABOUT SOUTH PASADENA

The City of South Pasadena, incorporated in 1888, is a charming and historic community nestled in the West San Gabriel Valley region of Los Angeles County. Encompassing just 3.4 square miles and home to approximately 26,000 residents, South Pasadena is widely recognized for its strong sense of community, tree-lined streets, and distinctive small-town character while in the heart of a major metropolitan area. With a strong civic identity, active community engagement, and proximity to major economic and cultural centers, South Pasadena offers an exceptional quality of life for those seeking a welcoming, inclusive, and connected place to call home.

THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT

The City of South Pasadena’s Finance Department is responsible for providing accurate and relevant financial information to all City departments, the City Manager, the City Council, and the citizens regarding the financial status of South Pasadena. This information enables management and the City Council to make sound financial decisions that help to ensure the long-term financial health of the City.

The Finance Department is comprised of two divisions, each led by a division manager. An Accounting Manager-Controller oversees payroll, general ledger, and auditing. In addition to budget and purchasing, a Budget & Purchasing Manager oversees accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchasing, budget and financial analysis, as well as staffing the Council’s Finance Commission. In total, the Finance Department has 10 FTE positions.

THE POSITION

The Assistant City Manager/Chief Financial Officer will serve as a strategic advisor to the City Manager while leading and integrating key internal service departments. This executive role offers the opportunity to drive financial innovation, restore organizational stability, and shape the future of a high-performing, community-centered city. Key areas of responsibility include leading the development of citywide financial strategies, overseeing budgeting processes, and managing treasury, investment, and debt activities to ensure long-term fiscal health; overseeing the Finance Department, as well as other assigned departments and initiatives; directing the preparation and administration of the City’s operating and capital budgets, forecasting funding needs, monitoring expenditures, and implementing adjustments as needed; rebuilding and mentoring a high-performing Finance team; and strengthening internal controls, improving financial systems, and ensuring audit compliance.

The ideal candidate will have an orientation toward building strong and effective teams who are invested in working together to continually seek improvement; be a strong leader, committed to leading by example and delivering excellent customer service; understand change management and building employee buy-in; and have an appreciation and acceptance for continually improving operations through developing people, improving processes, and investing in technology.

QUALIFICATIONS

A combination of education and experience that demonstrates the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered qualifying for this position. The following is a typical way to qualify:

Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, preferably with major course work in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or related field.

Experience: Eight years of increasingly responsible experience in public accounting, financial analysis, public and private sector financing, and debt structuring experience including at least five years of administrative and management responsibility.

Licensure: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) is desirable.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The City of South Pasadena provides a competitive compensation and benefits package. The salary for this role is up to $240,000, with specific placement in the range dependent on qualifications and experience. Key elements of the City’s benefits program include retirement provided by CalPERS with 2.0% @ 55 for Classic PERS member employees and 2.0% @ 62 for new PERS members. The City also contributes 1% of base salary to a deferred compensation plan and provides merit pay up to 2% above the salary step in the pay schedule.

For additional benefit information, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed recruitment brochure at www.mosaicpublic.com/careers.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Apply Immediately - Will close once a strong pool of candidates is established. Interested candidates are encouraged to submit a cover letter and résumé online at:

www.mosaicpublic.com/careers

This recruitment will be handled with strict confidentiality. References will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.

Confidential inquiries are welcomed to:

Greg Nelson | greg@mosaicpublic.com |(916) 550-4100

Bryan Noblett |bryan@mosaicpublic.com |(916) 550-4100