Business and Finance Officer IV

Full Job Description

This recruitment will be used to fill a Career Service position and to create an eligibility pool to fill vacancies that may occur within the next six (6) months.

The Department of Public Defense (DPD) is seeking an experienced and highly analytical financial leader to serve as a Business and Finance Officer IV (BFO) in the Director’s Office.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the BFO will provide expert guidance on financial strategy, budget development, resource allocation, and long-term financial planning.

The BFO will oversee the development and administration of complex budgets across multiple funds, ensure financial integrity and compliance, and implement financial systems that support data-driven, equity-centered decision-making.

This role operates with a high level of independence, influencing policy and operational direction while collaborating with internal and external partners.

This position is ideal for you if you thrive in complex financial environments, enjoy partnering with others to solve financial challenges, and want your work to support equity-centered public service.

The Department’s Mission Statement The King County Department of Public Defense represents indigent adults and children facing a loss of liberty.

Our department is an independent voice that promotes fairness and equity for our clients and advocates for their objectives, interests, and dignity.

DPD provides high quality legal representation to indigent clients in felonies, misdemeanors, juvenile defense, family defense (dependency cases), involuntary commitment (mental illness), and sex offender commitment proceedings.

DPD advocates to reduce the harm and reach of the criminal and civil legal systems that restrict our clients’ liberty, and advances policy reforms to reduce systemic racism.

We strive to create a flexible workplace culture that is inclusive, respectful, and supportive, premised on a shared anti-oppression framework. To learn more about DPD, visit our website.

Requirements

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES include but are not limited to the following

Financial Leadership

• Serve as a key financial advisor to the Director’s Office on operational, fiscal, and policy issues. This includes working closely with Human Resources.
• Provide informed advice on major departmental decisions through advanced financial analysis, forecasting, and scenario modeling.
• Represent DPD in financial and budget matters with executive leadership, central budget, auditors, external agencies, and elected officials.
• Translate complex financial data into clear, actionable guidance for leaders, managers, and other key interested parties and/or partners.
• May supervise financial staff and lead cross-functional financial initiatives.
• Develop internal processes to enhance budget transparency, real-time financial monitoring, and expenditures related to legal services.

Grants Management and Compliance

• Manage grant and contract financial processes, including billing, reimbursements, reporting, and documentation; ensure compliance with applicable standards, including Federal Uniform Guidance.
• Provide technical assistance on allowable grant activities, expenditure documentation, and internal controls for ensuring compliance of multiple funding streams (federal, state, county, settlement, and private).
• Help develop grant and contract proposals to ensure accurate cost recovery.

Financial Systems, Reporting & Controls

• Oversee department-wide accounting and financial reporting functions.
• Develop and implement fiscal systems, automated reporting tools, dashboards, and analytical models to enhance accuracy and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and county standards, including internal controls, grant requirements, and audit recommendations.

Budget Development and Oversight

• Assist with the preparation of the department’s annual and biennial budget, including justification, and presentation of proposals.
• Manage complex budgets involving multiple funds, revenue sources, and grants.
• Prepare and review budget revisions, supplemental requests, and corrections.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered minimally qualified, applicants must demonstrate the following experience and competencies:

• Minimum of four (4) or more years of progressive experience in fiscal management, budgeting, accounting, or financial analysis, including work with multiple funding sources and/or grants.
• Demonstrated experience serving as a financial advisor to leadership, with responsibility for high-impact financial recommendations.
• Advanced proficiency with financial systems, modeling, forecasting, variance analysis, and complex report development.
• Experience developing and managing large or complex departmental or multi-program budgets.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex financial matters to non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity and social justice principles in fiscal and operational practices.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience supervising financial or accounts payable staff.
• Experience managing enterprise-level or multi-fund financial systems.
• Expertise in rate setting, cost allocation, models, or interjurisdictional financial environments.
• Experience partnering across teams such as HR, leadership, accounting or operations to coordinate financial or position management information.
• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, economics, or related field.
• Professional certifications such as CPA, CGFM, or similar.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel or comparable analytical tools.

Additional Information

At King County, our work is guided by our True North and values. Our True North is what we aspire to: Making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive.

King County offers great benefits, to include a pension plan, holidays, transit pass, plus training and education opportunities to promote growth and development.

Our focus is to provide our employees with work life balance. ARE YOU READY TO APPLY?This opportunity it is open to all qualified applicants. Please apply at www.kingcounty.gov/careers.

This recruitment will be used to establish an eligibility pool to fill vacancies that may occur over the next 6 months. This recruitment will be used to fill current Career Service vacancies.

To be considered for this role submit the following documents:

• Completed King County application.
• A current/chronological resume.
• Cover letter detailing your background and what you can bring to the Department of Public Defense.

The selection process may include evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, references, a personnel file review going back the last three (3) years, and if applicable a background check.

You must completely fill out the application with your relevant education and work experience and attach the required documents to your application.

If you have questions, please contact our Talent Advisors, at dpd-hr@kingcounty.gov.

Work Schedule and LocationThe Finance Team works in a hybrid model, with days in the office as well as telecommuting.

The ratio of remote to onsite work will be dependent on business needs and is subject to change. The primary onsite location for this position is the Dexter Horton Building, 710 Second Ave, Seattle.

Employees must reside in Washington state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements.

King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

The individual selected for this opportunity will join an innovative and progressive team that is redefining how we work as we transition to the department's hybrid environment.

Employees will be provided with a County-issued laptop and must maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours.

DPD maintains physical offices in the following locations:

• Dexter Horton Building – 710 Second Avenue, Seattle
• Jefferson Street Building – 1401 East Jefferson, Seattle
• Meeker Street Building – 420 West Harrison Street, Kent

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act and not overtime eligible. This position is expected to work the hours necessary to satisfactorily perform the job, and some night and weekend work is required.

Rotations of work location and practice area and/or workflow are an essential function and can occur based on business need. You may be required to report to any of our Seattle and/or Kent locations.

DPD PoliciesDPD Ethical Walls Policies and Procedures will apply to employees, such that if you work or have worked for one of DPD's divisions, you may be ineligible to work in another division.

Outside Work Policy for Administrative Staff will apply to employees, such that you must receive approval from your supervisor and Managing Attorney before being permitted to engage in outside employment for compensation or volunteer.

Union Membership

This position is not represented by a union.

Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.

Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence.

Are you ready to make a difference Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.

Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce.

To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity.

Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards.

We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.

King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) EmployerNo person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class.

Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.