Finance Director

Join our growing team and make a real impact every day at Golder Ranch Fire District!

Benefitsfor this position: We have an AMAZING benefits package, worth approximately 35% of your salary!

• Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) with employer matching contributions
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurances
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual at 10 hours per pay period (260 hours per year), and 12 Paid Holidays annually (birthday included)
• District paid concierge healthcare service for you and your family
• Opportunity for continued education reimbursement
• Option to participate in additional self-funded retirement plans and a variety of supplemental insurance plans

The best benefit of all is our people! Join an amazing team of dedicated colleagues and courageous first responders who serve our community with commitment and heart. This is more than a job — it’s an opportunity to be part of a collaborative, mission-driven organization where you’ll work alongside people you genuinely enjoy while making a direct impact on public safety and community well-being.

ApplicationRequirements:

• A resume must be uploaded at the time of application submission. Applications submitted without a resume will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.
• The system will require documents to be uploaded within the application to answer the following questions (500 words or less per question):
  1. Golder Ranch Fire District’s family-oriented culture is foundational to its operational excellence and community impact. At the executive level, how would you intentionally model, reinforce, and advance these cultural values through your leadership philosophy, strategic decision-making, and organizational influence?
  2. Describe your executive leadership style and the impact it typically has on organizational culture and team performance. When entering an environment with a well-established and deeply rooted culture, how would you balance respect for existing norms with the responsibility to elevate performance, accountability, and strategic alignment?
  3. As a public-sector executive entrusted with taxpayer resources, describe your philosophy and approach to fiscal stewardship within a performance-based budgeting framework. How do you ensure that public funds are allocated responsibly, aligned with measurable outcomes, and presented to a governing board with transparency, accountability, and a commitment to maintaining public trust?

Job Summary:

The Finance Director provides strategic leadership and oversight of the District’s financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, treasury management, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, ambulance billing, and financial systems. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the District’s principal financial advisor, the position supports fiscal integrity, transparency, operational efficiency, informed decision-making, and long-term financial sustainability.

The Finance Director leads the development and continuous improvement of financial systems, business processes, internal controls, and decision-support capabilities. The position leverages technology, automation, and business intelligence to improve organizational performance, reduce duplication, ensure regulatory compliance, and build sustainable processes that remain effective independent of any individual employee.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provides strategic direction and leadership to Finance and Ambulance Billing staff, aligning departmental priorities and performance with District goals.
• Develops staff through clear expectations, coaching, feedback, performance evaluation, professional development, cross-training, and succession planning.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, continuous improvement, innovation, and automation.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Leads the District’s financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, financial reporting, treasury management, and internal controls.
• Leads the development, integration, governance, and continuous improvement of financial systems, business processes, workflow automation, data, and business intelligence.
• Establishes financial policies, internal controls, and accountability systems that protect public resources and ensure compliance with applicable governmental financial requirements.
• Directs development and administration of the annual budget, aligning resource allocation, capital priorities, departmental objectives, and financial strategies with the District’s strategic plan.
• Leads long-range forecasting, financial modeling, scenario analysis, and revenue strategy and advises leadership and the Governing Board regarding funding, risk, and long-term sustainability.
• Provides executive oversight of financial close, annual financial statements, the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, audits, audit readiness, and resolution of findings.
• Leads treasury and financing strategy, including cash flow, liquidity, banking, investments, reserves, debt, bond compliance, and long-term financing.
• Partners with Support Services to ensure appropriate financial accounting, reporting, controls, and long-term planning for capital assets.
• Provides financial governance and oversight for contracts, insurance, grants, restricted funding, leases, financing arrangements, and other fiscal obligations.
• Provides strategic oversight of Ambulance Billing, including revenue-cycle performance, reimbursement, compliance, customer service, and systems integration.
• Partners with District departments to improve financial literacy, support data-informed decisions, and ensure financial processes support operational needs.
• Monitors legislative, regulatory, economic, reimbursement, and industry developments and advises leadership regarding financial impacts and recommended responses.
• Other duties as assigned
• Occasional evening or weekend work may be required.

Core Competencies:

• Governmental Financial Expertise – Knowledge of public finance, governmental accounting, budgeting, treasury, debt, financial reporting, GAAP, GASB standards, and GFOA best practices.
• Strategic Financial Leadership – Ability to develop long-term financial strategies, evaluate risk, align resources with organizational priorities, and advise executive leadership and the Governing Board.
• Financial Systems, Data, and Internal Controls – Ability to lead financial systems, automation, integration, data governance, internal controls, and business intelligence.
• Analysis and Decision Support – Ability to analyze complex financial and operational information, evaluate alternatives, and provide clear recommendations.
• Leadership and Talent Development – Ability to establish expectations, develop staff, provide feedback, manage performance, and build organizational capability.
• Communication and Collaboration – Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Judgment and Accountability – Ability to exercise sound, independent judgment and maintain a high standard of integrity, transparency, and stewardship.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance and/or accounting, or related field, from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• A minimum of six (6) years of increasingly responsible, comprehensive experience in the Finance field.
• A minimum of four (4) years of supervisory experience in the Finance field.
• Experience with public-sector debt, treasury, investments, capital financing, financial systems, or organizational process improvement.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Arizona driver’s license with acceptable driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in finance and/or accounting, business, or related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Public Sector experience in the finance or accounting field.
• Experience optimizing governmental financial management systems and business intelligence reporting solutions.

Preferred Licenses and Certifications:

• Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO)
• Certified Governmental Financial Manager (CGFM)
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

First review of applications: 8/31/2026

If enough applications are received, posting will close.

All contact with applicants will be via email. No walk-in applications will be accepted.

If you do not meet the minimum qualifications of this position, you will not continue in the process.

Veterans’ Preference Documentation Requirements: In accordance with A.R.S. §38-492, applicants requesting Veteran’s Preference must submit required supporting documentation at the time of application. Within the application, applicants must upload documentation verifying military service and eligibility, such as:

• DD Form 214 or DD Form 215 (showing discharge status and dates of service), and/or
• VA or DoD disability letter (if claiming preference as a disabled veteran or service-connected disability), and/or
• Other official documentation that confirms eligibility for Veterans’ Preference under Arizona law.

The District cannot apply Veterans’ Preference if required documentation is not received with application submission.

Safety Sensitive: This job is designated by GRFD as a safety-sensitive position because it includes tasks or duties that GRFD, in good faith, believes could affect the safety or health of the employee performing the task or others (ARS 23-493). This job may require the operation of a motor vehicle, equipment, machinery, or power tools. An applicant or incumbent may be disqualified, disciplined, or terminated, if they are determined to be positive for marijuana or its metabolites, regardless of cardholder status.

Selection process may consist of: Application screening, skills assessment, credibility assessment, and interview(s). The pre-employment process for the successful candidate may include but is not limited to background checks (i.e. driving record, criminal history, etc.), physical examination, drug screen, and fingerprint checks.

Candidate Notification: All candidate notifications will be completed by email.  Please ensure you have entered your email address correctly before submitting your application. In case we need to reach you by phone, please ensure your voicemail is set up and not full.

Reasonable Accommodation Request: Applicants with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodation for this process must contact Human Resources at (520) 825-9001 option 6. 

Golder Ranch Fire District is a Drug and Tobacco-Free Workplace, and an Equal Opportunity Employer