Chief Financial Officer

The Employment Security Department (ESD) is seeking highly accomplished state financial executive to serve as the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the agency. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker and a principled leader—someone who is calm, methodical, and resilient under pressure.

You are compassionate, inclusive, culturally competent as well as technically sharp and politically astute. You’re a balanced human centered leader, committed to fostering a culture of performance and positivity. You approach your work with transparency and honesty. You’re capable of engaging diverse stakeholders with empathy and resolve. You possess both strategic and financial technical skills to lead change. You are an effective communicator that interprets complex information into accessible analysis for various audiences. You have some insight into the Washington state budget and it’s current financial transformation.

Please note: This position is open until filled. The first review of applicants will occur three weeks from the posting date.

Duties

As the CFO, you will play a critical role in shaping the strategic direction of the agency’s financial landscape. You will lead the Financial Services Division, while partnering with the agency’s program leaders and stakeholders. The CFO supports ESD’s mission of contributing to healthy community by providing equitable access to resources that improve economic security. You oversee and monitor all dimensions of the agency’s financial operations while navigating change, prioritizing projects and fostering a culture of teamwork, collaboration and partnership with teams and agency partners.

Washington State is undergoing a profound financial systems transformation, migrating from the Agency Financial Reporting System (AFRS) to Workday ERP under the One Washington initiative. The success of this transition—and the integrity of the state’s financial reporting—depends on the expertise, judgment, and stewardship of the Financial Services Division.

The CFO will serve as the business sponsor for this transformation, guiding the agency through complex business process redesign, financial data modeling, and change management. This role demands a leader who can translate enterprise-level strategy into operational excellence, ensuring compliance with federal and state financial laws, rules and policies while fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.

This is a hybrid role with an expectation of 2–3 days per week in person in Olympia, WA.

Additionally, some of your duties include:

• Lead development and monitoring of biennial operating and capital budgets
• Oversee federal grant performance, reporting, and compliance
• Manage banking relationships and trust fund operations
• Ensure equitable distribution of funds to support marginalized communities
• Direct procurement, contracting, and asset management functions
• Advance equity within FSD and across ESD
• Recruit, retain, and support a diverse and technically proficient workforce
• Represent ESD to OFM, legislative budget committees, and external partners
• Lead the development of fiscal notes and financial impact analyses for legislation
• Maintain a strong fiscal internal control environment and ensure timely payments

To request a detailed position description, click here.

Salary

• $100,000 - $170,076/year

Qualifications

Required Education & Experience:

Option 1: Ten years of combined relevant experience and/or education in business, finance, accounting, public administration, or a closely related field, including five years of progressive financial management experience, which includes multiple fund sources and managing supervisors in a highly complex organization, applying human-centric leadership and management principles.

Option 2: Associate’s degree in business, finance, accounting, public administration, or a closely related field, plus eight years of relevant experience, including five years of progressive financial management experience involving multiple fund sources and managing supervisors in a highly complex organization, applying human-centric leadership and management principles.

Option 3: Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting, public administration, or a closely related field, plus six years of relevant experience, including five years of progressive financial management experience with multiple fund sources and supervisory management in a highly complex organization, applying human-centric leadership and management principles.

AND

Five years leading large teams managing complex budget, accounting, and financial operations in medium-to-large governmental organizations.

AND
At least five years of management experience, including performance management, organizational planning, budgeting, resource planning, public/stakeholder relations, and leadership.

Required Competencies, Skills & Abilities:

• Information synthesis & communication — rapidly gather, synthesize, and clearly communicate diverse information in writing and orally.
• Analysis, judgment & problem solving — use critical thinking to analyze issues, recommend durable solutions, and make sound decisions.
• Technical competence & consulting — apply professional expertise to fulfill duties and advise stakeholders on complex or sensitive matters.
• Leadership, facilitation & collaboration — coach and motivate teams; lead small-group processes; build partnerships to improve performance.
• Strategic, financial & project planning — align resources, budgets, and projects with organizational mission and strategy.
• Interpersonal skills & cultural competency — relate across differences, mitigate conflict, and work effectively in cross-cultural settings.
• Customer service orientation & trustworthiness — prioritize customer needs while demonstrating ethics, integrity, and credibility.
• Resilience under pressure — remain calm, prioritize, and make accurate decisions in high-stress or adverse situations.

Preferred Competencies, Skills and Abilities:

• A Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or related field
• CPA Certification
• Certified Governmental Financial Manager (CGFE) certification
• Financial reporting & analysis — financial statement presentation; federal and state reporting; fiscal notes; fiscal impact statements.
• State accounting systems — State Agency Financial Reporting System (AFRS); accounting transactions.
• Budgeting, allotments & forecasting — budget development and control; allotment development and control; revenue forecasting and control.
• Costing & allocation — cost allocation methodologies; contract/procurement-related cost considerations.
• Accounting & auditing standards — Generally Accepted Accounting Principles; governmental accounting standards; Generally Accepted Auditing Standards; governmental auditing standards.
• Internal controls & compliance — internal control over fiscal transactions; policy development, implementation, and control; contracting/procurement compliance.
• Contracting and procurement — contracting/procurement experience; contract financial oversight and reporting.
• Policy & governance — policy development, implementation, control; preparation and review of fiscal impact statements.
• Continuous improvement — basic working knowledge of continuous process improvement applied to fiscal processes.
• Cross-cutting fiscal skills — integration of accounting transactions, reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and internal controls to support transparent fiduciary management.

Additional Requirement of Employment:

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

Please submit only the required documents as noted below and ensure all Personal Identifying Information (PII) such as Social Security numbers etc. are edited out of your materials for privacy.

Additionally, we ask that you not include photographs or external links within your documents. Any documents uploaded through this platform will be securely transmitted electronically to support application review.

Please submit your Resume with your Online Application through the "Add Attachments" field. A resume will not substitute for the "work experience" section of the application or vice versa. Applications with blank fields, or supplemental question responses with comments such as "see attachments" may be considered incomplete.

Other Information

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. We understand that a work environment that respects your work/life balance is key; that's why many of our positions are eligible for flexible work schedules and teleworking opportunities. Through support, value, and trust, our employees are empowered to grow and develop into their best self.

Opportunity for All

We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, ethnic, racial, religious, sexual orientation, and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, people over 40 years of age, people with religious beliefs, veterans or people with military status, and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

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

If you are a person needing assistance in the application process, if you need this job announcement in an alternate format, or if you have general questions about this opportunity, please contact Katie Swanson or the Talent Acquisition Team, or Washington Relay Service 711 prior to the recruitment closing. If you are having technical difficulties creating, accessing, or completing your application, please contact careershelp@des.wa.gov or (360) 664-1960 or toll free (877) 664-1960, Washington Relay 711.

**This Organization Participates in E-Verify**

Benefits

More than Just a Paycheck!
Employee benefits are not just about the kind of services you get, they are also about how much you may have to pay out of pocket. Washington State offers one of the most competitive benefits packages in the nation.

We understand that your life revolves around more than just your career. Like everyone, your first priority is ensuring that you and your family will maintain health and financial security. That's why choice is a key component of our benefits package. We have a selection of health and retirement plans, paid leave, staff training and other compensation benefits that you can mix and match to meet your current and future needs.

Read about our benefits:
The following information describes typical benefits available for full-time employees who are expected to work more than six months. Actual benefits may vary by appointment type or be prorated for other than full-time work (e.g. part-time); view the job posting for benefits details for job types other than full-time.

Note: If the position offers benefits which differ from the following, the job posting should include the specific benefits.

Insurance Benefits
Employees and their families are covered by medical (including vision), dental and basic life insurance. There are multiple medical plans with affordable monthly premiums that offer coverage throughout the state.

Staff are eligible to enroll each year in a medical flexible spending account which enables them to use tax-deferred dollars toward their health care expenses. Employees are also covered by basic life and long-term disability insurance, with the option to purchase additional coverage amounts.

To view premium rates, coverage choice in your area and how to enroll, please visit the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) website. The Washington Wellness program from the Health Care Authority works with PEBB to support our workplace wellness programs.

Dependent care assistance allows the employee to save pre-tax dollars for a child or elder care expenses.

Other insurance coverage for auto, boat, home, and renter insurance is available through payroll deduction.

The Washington State Employee Assistance Program promotes the health and well-being of employees.

Retirement and Deferred Compensation
State Employees are members of the Washington Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). New employees have the option of two employer contributed retirement programs. For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site.

Employees also have the ability to participate in the Deferred Compensation Program (DCP). This is a supplemental retirement savings program (similar to an IRA) that allows you control over the amount of pre-tax salary dollars you defer as well as the flexibility to choose between multiple investment options.

Social Security
All state employees are covered by the federal Social Security and Medicare systems. The state and the employee pay an equal amount into the system.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness
If you are employed by a government or not-for-profit organization, and meet the qualifying criteria, you may be eligible to receive student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Holidays
Full-time and part-time employees are entitled to paid holidays and one paid personal holiday per calendar year.

Note: Employees who are members of certain Unions may be entitled to additional personal leave day(s), please refer to position specific Collective Bargaining Agreements for more information.

Full-time employees who work full monthly schedules qualify for holiday compensation if they are employed before the holiday and are in pay status for at least 80 nonovertime hours during the month of the holiday; or for the entire work shift preceding the holiday.

Part-time employees who are in pay status during the month of the holiday qualify for the holiday on a pro-rata basis. Compensation for holidays (including personal holiday) will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status in the month to that required for full-time employment, excluding all holiday hours. Pay status includes hours worked and time on paid leave.

Sick Leave
Full-time employees earn eight hours of sick leave per month. Overtime eligible employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month, earn a monthly proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Overtime exempt employees who are in pay status for less than 80 hours per month do not earn a monthly accrual of sick leave.

Sick leave accruals for part-time employees will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment. Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

Vacation (Annual Leave)
Full-time employees accrue vacation leave at the rates specified in WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Full-time employees who are in pay status for less than 80 nonovertime hours in a month do not earn a monthly accrual of vacation leave.

Part-time employees accrue vacation leave hours in accordance with WAC 357-31-165(1) or the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) on a pro rata basis. Vacation leave accrual will be proportionate to the number of hours in pay status, in the month to that required for full-time employment.

Pay status includes hours worked, time on paid leave and paid holiday.

As provided in WAC 357-58-175, an employer may authorize a lump-sum accrual of vacation leave or accelerate the vacation leave accrual rate to support the recruitment and/or retention of a candidate or employee for a Washington Management Service position. Vacation leave accrual rates may only be accelerated using the rates established WAC 357-31-165.

Note: Most agencies follow the civil service rules covering leave and holidays for exempt employees even though there is no requirement for them to do so. However, agencies are required to adhere to the applicable RCWs pertaining holidays and leave.

Military Leave
Washington State supports members of the armed forces with 21 days paid military leave per year.

Bereavement Leave
Most employees whose family member or household member dies, or for loss of pregnancy, are entitled to five (5) days of paid bereavement leave. In addition, the employer may approve other available leave types for the purpose of bereavement leave.

Additional Leave
Leave Sharing
Parental Leave
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Leave Without Pay

Please visit the State HR Website for more detailed information regarding benefits.

Updated 07-21-2025