Description

About the Department and Position:  

The Town’s award-winning Finance Department supports a rapidly growing community of more than 33,000 residents representing over $5 billion in assessed tax valuation, in addition to thousands of vendors, Town employees, and departments across the organization. Reporting directly to the Town Manager, the CFO provides executive leadership over the Town’s financial operations, including financial reporting, long-range financial planning, capital financing, debt management, utility financial operations, grant compliance, audit coordination, and overall stewardship of public resources.

The CFO establishes direction and accountability for financial policies, internal controls, operational procedures, reporting, and financial systems, while strengthening coordination, communication, and performance across the department and organization.

The CFO leads a 21-person team spanning Accounting and Payroll, Procurement, and Utility Billing. With several anticipated retirements and key vacancies, this role presents a unique opportunity to assess and reshape the department’s structure, build bench strength, and position the organization for long-term success. The next CFO will prioritize succession planning, knowledge transfer, recruitment, staff development, and cross-training to create a resilient, high-performing team.

A major focus of the position will be advancing the Finance Department’s reporting capabilities, internal coordination, and overall transparency, consistency, and accountability. This includes reviewing and modernizing financial policies and procedures; developing comprehensive SOPs and policy manuals; standardizing financial and procurement practices; streamlining workflows and approval processes; evaluating procurement, PCard, and reconciliation practices; strengthening grant compliance; and improving consistency across departments and enterprise functions.

The CFO plays a critical role in safeguarding the Town’s financial integrity by ensuring accurate, timely, and compliant financial operations, while proactively identifying and managing financial risks. The position also serves as a key advisor to the Town Manager and Executive Team, supporting operational and capital planning initiatives including water reclamation expansion, water supply capacity, public safety facilities, and future development impacts such as a potential stormwater utility.

Clayton is seeking a forward-thinking and solutions-oriented financial leader who brings both technical expertise and strategic perspective. The successful candidate will be an innovative thinker who can evaluate utility rate structures, funding strategies, and enterprise fund sustainability while advancing long-range financial planning, capital financing strategies, debt management, and organizational forecasting to support the Town’s continued growth and evolving service demands.

Key Position Priorities

• Lead ERP and Financial Systems Modernization
   Oversee the Town’s multi-year ERP and systems transformation, guiding implementation of modern, scalable financial operations. Evaluate and redesign workflows, improve reporting capabilities, and align financial systems to support organizational growth and more data-informed decision-making.
• Strengthen Organizational Structure and Team Capability
   Assess and optimize the Finance Department’s structure, staffing, and operations. Clarify roles and responsibilities, support documentation of institutional knowledge, promote effective delegation, and implement ongoing training and development strategies to build a confident, high-performing team.
• Elevate Finance as a Strategic Partner
   Strengthen the Finance Department’s role in organizational decision-making by enhancing communication, accessibility, and trust. Build effective working relationships with executive leadership, departments, elected officials, auditors, and external partners to improve collaboration and financial insight across the organization.
• Support Growth and Complex Capital Operations
   Provide leadership and oversight for major capital programs and utility infrastructure initiatives, ensuring strong procurement, contract management, and financial controls. Enhance forecasting and establish scalable financial frameworks to support rapid growth and increasing service demands.
• Advance Audit Readiness and Financial Accountability
   Lead the Town’s audit process, including active engagement in the FY2026 audit and preparation of the ACFR. Strengthen internal processes, documentation, and data management to support audit readiness, continuity, and strong external partnerships going forward.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field (required); Master’s degree in Public Administration, Finance, or a related field (preferred).
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in governmental financial leadership, including at least 5 years in a senior management role. 
• Local government or municipal experience strongly preferred. 
• NC Certified Local Government Finance Officer (or ability to obtain within a reasonable timeframe). 
  CPA preferred. 
• Residency within reasonable proximity is expected to support executive leadership responsibilities and community engagement. 

The Successful Candidate:

The Town is seeking a CFO who brings both technical expertise and strong organizational leadership, with demonstrated experience in:

• Public-sector finance functions, including debt issuance and Local Government Commission (LGC) interaction, audit management, internal controls, financial compliance, and oversight of public funds; 

• Leading ERP or major financial system implementations and managing cross-functional financial operations (finance, accounting, reporting, utility billing, customer service, and procurement); and, 

• Working effectively within complex, multi-fund organizations, including enterprise fund management, capital planning, and long-range financial strategy. 

The ideal candidate will also:

• Lead with both technical strength and emotional intelligence, fostering a supportive, accountable, and high-performing team culture; 
• Build trust and credibility through a collaborative, service-oriented leadership style that strengthens relationships across the organization; 
• Communicate clearly and effectively with diverse audiences, serving as a bridge between technical finance functions and organizational decision-making; 
• Demonstrate strong critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with a track record of identifying inefficiencies and implementing practical, scalable improvements; 
• Thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, navigating organizational change, transition, and ambiguity with confidence and adaptability; 
• Be willing to challenge legacy processes and drive improvements in efficiency, accountability, and compliance while respecting institutional knowledge and staff expertise; 
• Delegate effectively while providing strategic leadership, mentorship, and direction to ensure both operational success and long-term organizational development; 
• Bring a comprehensive understanding of local government finance, enabling immediate impact across financial operations and strategic initiatives; and, 
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous improvement, operational excellence, and implementation of best practices.