Finance Director

About the Community

The City of Walla Walla is located in southeastern Washington at the foot of the Blue Mountains, offering a vibrant community of approximately 35,000 residents. It blends a rich agricultural and cultural history with a welcoming small-city atmosphere, outstanding dining, higher education, arts, culture, and year-round outdoor recreation. Walla Walla features an award-winning, nationally recognized historic downtown with beautifully preserved architecture. The region is known for its agriculture and has become one of the country’s premier wine destinations, supported by a thriving culinary scene and numerous wineries, vineyards, and tasting rooms.

About the Organization

The City of Walla Walla operates under a Council-Manager form of government with a 2025-2026 biennial budget of $293,583,000 across 37 funds, including a General Fund budget of $100,609,690. The City employs 314 full-time equivalents (FTEs) and hires approximately 109 temporary employees annually.

The Finance Department, with 12 FTEs and a biennial budget of $5,124,876, provides accountability for all public funds, assets, policies, and systems. Responsibilities include accounting and reporting, preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, audit administration, payroll, project accounting, accounts payable and receivable, budget preparation and monitoring, and utility billing services, including account management, payment management, and customer service.

About the Role

Under the general direction of the City Manager, the Finance Director plans, organizes, controls, and directs the Finance Department operations, including purchasing, accounts payable, budgetary and financial reporting, and utility accounting, billing, and collection. The Director ensures accounting activities comply with generally accepted accounting principles and the State of Washington’s budgeting, accounting, and reporting system. The role supports City departments through the provision of services and information.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or a closely related field.
• Five (5) years of increasingly responsible financial accounting experience in municipal government.
• At least five (5) years in a supervisory capacity.
• Master’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or a closely related field is preferred.
• CPA certification, or demonstrated progress toward obtaining a CPA, is preferred.
• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software is desirable.
• Bilingual fluency in Spanish is desirable.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, orthodontia, and vision insurance.
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Life and AD&D insurance.
• Washington State PERS retirement plan.
• Deferred compensation options.
• 20 days of vacation annually.
• 10 paid holidays annually.
• 40 hours of floating holiday time.
• Sick leave accrual of 8 hours per month.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Wellness program.

Pay

$153,993 - $187,356 annually.