Business Finance and Operations Manager

Full Job Description

Requirements

Why it's a Great Opportunity: This role will lead complex financial work supporting the Finance & Enterprise Services Department.

You will oversee the department’s consolidated budget, cost allocation plans, enterprise service rate modeling, financial monitoring and management, and contract coordination.

Your work will steward the department’s financials, ensure costs are recovered accurately, and allocate expenses across the organization in a transparent, sustainable way.

You will also play a key role in building and leading a newly consolidated financial operations team, strengthening processes, expanding team capacity, and shaping how the department manages its financial operations going forward.

Why it's a Great Department: The Finance & Enterprise Services Department delivers enterprise-wide services that support every County department and many external partners, ensuring Pierce County operates effectively, efficiently, and with strong public stewardship.

Finance & Enterprise Services staff provide a broad portfolio of high-impact, countywide services, including budgeting and performance management, fiscal services, procurement and contracting, information technology, general services, fleet services, and risk management.

Employees have the opportunity to work on strategic, enterprise-level initiatives, collaborate across departments, provide the operational and technical backbone that ensures the smooth delivery of services across the organization, and deliver critical analysis and decision support that informs leadership and shapes County priorities.

The Finance & Enterprise Services Department is focused on creating a culture where employees can help improve service delivery to make a meaningful impact on County operations and the community.

The Department leads with safety, empowerment, and collaboration to create an environment where every person can contribute, challenge ideas, and continuously improve.

Learn more about the Finance Department here.

How to be Successful in this Role: We are looking for candidates who bring strong financial expertise, budgeting experience, leadership ability, and a practical approach to solving complex operational challenges.

Someone who can confidently manage detailed financial work while also stepping back to see the broader financial picture for the department.

Our next Business and Financial Operations Manager will be comfortable working with complex budgets and cost allocation models, ensuring services are appropriately funded and that financial practices align with sound governmental budgeting and accounting principles.

Equally important is the ability to lead people and build a strong, collaborative team. Success will require thoughtful leadership, clear communication, and the ability to guide staff through change while establishing clarity around roles, expectations, and priorities.

Your Future in this Role: A career with Pierce County means joining an organization invested in your growth.

Through leadership development, robust online learning, and a variety of training opportunities, we provide continuous professional development at every stage.

This commitment empowers you to contribute meaningfully while advancing your skills and supporting resilient communities, reliable infrastructure, and equitable outcomes for all.

Core Daily Responsibilities:

• Lead department-wide business and accounting processes, financial management, budget development, financial planning, and controls.

Ensure all accounting actions, contracts and grants are sound, comply with generally accepted accounting principles, and conform to Finance & Enterprise Services Department policies and procedures.

Exercise proper financial control over budgetary expenditures and the appropriateness of expenditures.

Identify major variances and report them to senior managements and ultimately to the Finance & Enterprise Services Department Director.

• Take a central role along with senior management in development, presentation, and implementation of the department’s budget. Serve as an integral member in the preparation of long- and short-term financial plans for the department and ensure alignment with key stakeholders.
• Manage and direct work of managers, supervisors and team leads in all financial matters. Deploy appropriate financial management training, sound budgetary practices, and prudent fiscal management.
• Provide oversight of required financial audits.
• Analyze complex rate and cost-of-service fee models, recommend appropriate adjustments, and implement changes.
• Provide effective leadership to staff.
• Support development, measurement and execution of the mission, goals, and objectives of the department, its divisions, and individual work groups.

A classification description with a more detailed list of essential functions can be found here.

Qualifications

Additional education or experience may substitute for the required education which would clearly indicate the ability to perform the duties of the position.

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field AND
• Six years of progressively responsible work experience in monitoring and developing large complex budgets with multiple funds, accounting, financial planning, or experience that clearly demonstrates the ability to perform the work of this position.
• Must have three years of supervisory experience.
• Attach a resume and cover letter - required.

As a condition of employment, the applicant will need to authorize and complete a background check. Information received from the background check is reviewed case-by-case and will not necessarily remove an applicant from consideration.

Additional Information

To be considered for this opportunity please:

• Complete and submit a detailed online Pierce County Employment Application by selecting "APPLY" above or go to: www.piercecountywa.gov/jobs.
• If you have a question about this opportunity, please email the Recruitment Team at PCHRRecruit@piercecountywa.gov and specify the Job Number and Title.
• If you do not have internet access, you may visit your local public library or any WorkSource location and use their computers.
• Individuals needing accommodation in the application, testing process or need this job announcement in an alternative format may call Human Resources at (253) 798-7480, at least two days prior to the need.

This is a competitive selection process. Your application will be reviewed and evaluated for the quality and quantity of education/experience in the areas listed.

Applicants whose qualifications most closely correspond to the County's needs will be eligible for further consideration.

Notification of application status normally occurs 2 to 3 weeks after the closing date.

Short notice may be given to applicants to participate in further selection processes which may include assessments, phone screens, and interviews.

At Pierce County, diversity, equity, and inclusion means commitment, not a single step.

We strive to foster an inclusive environment that supports equitable access to opportunities throughout your career.

We want to recruit, develop, and maintain a talented workforce from various backgrounds, cultures, lifestyles, and perspectives, committed to our vision.

Employees of the County have local, direct, and visible impact in our diverse community. Will you join us in keeping Pierce County a place people are proud to call home?