Sonoma Water Division Manager - Financial Services

Position Information

The Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is looking for an experienced and dynamic professional for their next Division Manager - Financial Services.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a dedicated team and oversee critical financial operations for a vital public agency.

The Division Manager - Financial Services at Sonoma Water is responsible for planning, organizing, and directing the operations of the Financial Services Division, which includes oversight of budgeting, accounting, fiscal management, grants administration, and related administrative functions. This position reports to the Assistant General Manager of Business Services and External Affairs and provides strategic leadership for Sonoma Water’s enterprise fund, guiding the development of financial plans related to water and sewer rates, long-term capital budgeting, debt service, and fund balance management. Responsibilities also include leading special projects such as financial planning and modeling, forecasting revenues and expenditures, monitoring budgets, recommending funding strategies for capital projects, and managing debt obligations-including evaluating and recommending financing options such as revenue bonds, bank loans, and State Revolving Fund loans.
The position oversees and coordinates the work of assigned staff, while also serving as a representative of the department in meetings, public forums, and before official bodies.

The Ideal Candidate

Sonoma Water is seeking a collaborative leader who develops and maintains positive relationships with department heads, elected officials, board members, commissions, and the public. The ideal candidate will be a progressive and highly capable administrative professional with strong interpersonal skills, excellent written and oral communication skills, and a high level of political acumen. The candidate will have strong analytical skills and significant experience developing and managing varied, complex budgets for public utilities, special districts, or at the county level. They will have a solid understanding of public sector budget practices, funding sources, and operations, and be proficient in developing long-range plans, forecasts, and projections, ensuring the long-term fiscal health of a public entity. They will also have experience with many of the following:

• Long-term strategic planning and financing, working with the public to communicate complex issues and strategies
• Shifting from supervising staff (including new employee selection, progressive discipline, and training/development) to performing highly responsible administrative work
• Managing complex operating, capital, debt service, and internal service fund budgets with multiple funding sources, along with managing debt portfolios, maintaining relationships with rating agencies and investors, and identifying financial risks and opportunities
• Representing an agency or organization before stakeholders, elected officials, and the public, including preparing and delivering convincing, clear, concise, and well-organized professional presentations
• Working with water, wastewater, or sanitation agencies, as well as clean, renewable energy enterprises or alternative energy providers, are desired

About Sonoma Water

Sonoma Water is a special district formed by the California State Legislature in 1949 and is responsible for providing a safe and reliable water supply to its customers in Sonoma and Marin counties. Sonoma Water also maintains 75 miles of flood control channels and provides sanitation services. Employing approximately 250 employees, Sonoma Water consists of four divisions including Engineering & Resource Planning, Environmental Resources, Business Services & External Affairs, and Water/Wastewater Operations & Maintenance. Sonoma Water supports the concept of environmental sustainability, focusing on renewable power sources, and strives to be a leader in its water use efficiency and fishery restoration programs. Employees of Sonoma Water are employees of a special district and are not subject to the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance of the County of Sonoma.

What Makes Sonoma County a Great Choice:

In addition to generous starting pay, expansive opportunities for growth and development, being part of a challenging and rewarding work environment that offers continuous training and education, and the satisfaction of knowing that you are working to better the communities of our region, you can look forward to some excellent benefits*, including:

• Salary Advancement- A salary increase after 1,040 hours (6 months when working full-time) for good work performance; eligibility for a salary increase for good performance every year thereafter, until reaching the top of the salary range
• Paid Time Off- Competitive vacation and sick leave accruals, 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year
• Staff Development/Wellness Pay- Annual benefit allowances of up to $2,000 and ongoing education/training opportunities
• County Paid Health Premium Contributions- 100% premium contribution for the majority of employee-only and employee + family health plan options
• Post-Retirement Health Reimbursement Arrangement- County contributions to help fund post-retirement health insurance/benefits
• Retirement- A pension fully integrated with Social Security
• Incentive Retirement Savings Plan (IRSP) and 457 Voluntary Deferred Compensation- 3% of salary County contribution to a 401(a), in addition to the County matching up to 1% of base salary in 401(a), based upon employee contribution
• Paid Parental Leave- May be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) after 12 months of County employment
• Student Loan Debt Relief- County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education

*Salary is negotiable within the established range. Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice. Additional information can be found in the Salary Resolution (SalRes) and our Employee Benefits Directory .

Sonoma Water is currently recruiting to fill a Water Agency Division Manager - Financial Services position. This employment list may also be used to fill future full-time, part-time, or extra-help positions as they occur during the active status of the list. Qualified County employees who wish to be considered for future positions should consider applying to this recruitment. The formal title for this position is Water Agency Division Manager - Administrative Services.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire to be completed.

Minimum Qualifications

Experience: Any combination of experience that would provide the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, four years of progressively responsible experience in a professional, personnel, administrative, or fiscal staff position, including at least two years of experience supervising professional, administrative, or technical staff within a large and complex organization, would provide such opportunity.

Education: Any combination of course work and training that would provide an opportunity to acquire the knowledge and abilities listed. Normally, such course work would include the equivalent of a four-year college or university degree in business administration, public administration, management, economics, accounting, finance, statistics, personnel management, or a closely related field.

Other Requirements

License: Possession of a valid California driver's license at the appropriate level, including necessary special endorsements, as required by the State of California to perform the essential job functions of the position.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Thorough knowledge of: principles and practices relating to modern budget, cost accounting, and programs and systems of fiscal management; research methodology, report writing and basic statistics and their applications; public personnel administration; principles of supervision; management and leadership styles and techniques designed to train, supervise, motivate and lead a group of employees, which includes understanding employee behavior and performance standards; interviewing techniques; use of personal computers and appropriate software applications

Considerable knowledge of: basic principles, practices and procedures used in governmental accounting; electronic data processing equipment and of accounting methods and procedures associated with the use of such equipment; operations and functions of local government and water agency operations; written and oral communications, including language mechanics, syntax and English composition; modern office methods and procedures

Ability to: plan, organize and direct the activities of the Administrative Services division; analyze problems and draw logical conclusions; understand, interpret and apply rules, regulations and ordinances and federal, state and local legislation; establish and maintain effective working relationships with county management personnel, employees, and the public in carrying out sound management policies; perform data collection, interpretation and evaluation pertaining to administrative, fiscal and management matters; use principles of inductive and deductive reasoning to validate conclusions and recommendations; communicate verbal and written ideas clearly and logically; persuade, rationalize and project consequences of decisions and/or recommendations; analyze administrative problems, budgets and a variety of programs, systems and procedures; effectively supervise the work of professional, technical and clerical employees; and use a personal computer to do word processing and spreadsheets.

Working Conditions

Duties require sitting, standing, squatting, stooping, and walking on level surfaces in performance of daily activities. The position requires grasping, repetitive hand movement, and fine coordination in preparing reports and data using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near vision in reading correspondence, statistical data and using a computer, and acute hearing is required when providing phone service and communicating in person. Incumbent may be required to drive vehicles, walk on uneven surfaces and be subjected to dust and pollen while making site visits. The need to climb stairs, push and/or lift weights up to 25 pounds may be required when using office equipment, lifting report binders, or moving other materials. The incumbent attends meetings, works with interruptions, and answers questions while meeting critical schedules and multiple deadlines.

Selection Procedure & Some Helpful Tips When Applying

• Your application information and your responses to the supplemental questions are evaluated and taken into consideration throughout the entire selection process.
• You should list all employers and positions held within the last ten years in the work history section of your application. Be as thorough as possible when responding to the supplemental questions.
• You may include history beyond ten years if related to the position for which you are applying. If you held multiple positions with one employer, list out each position separately.
• Failure to follow these instructions may impact your competitiveness in this process or may result in disqualification.

Please visit Getting a Job with the County of Sonoma to review more detailed information about the hiring process, including the application process, examination steps, and department selection process.

Application submissions require the Supplemental Questionnaire be completed.

Responses to supplemental questions will be scored using position-specific criteria. Please provide specific and detailed responses of a reasonable length to allow for a thorough assessment of your qualifications. Responses that state, "See Resume" or "See Application" may be considered insufficient and therefore may not be scored.

The selection procedure will consist of the following examination:

An Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination (weight 100%) will be conducted to evaluate each applicant's application and supplemental questionnaire for satisfaction of minimum qualifications (pass/not pass); and for educational coursework, training, experience, knowledge, and abilities which relate to this position. Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Relevance of work history, related experience, and achieved level of education and/or training as described in the application and responses to the supplemental questions.

Candidates demonstrating possession of the minimum qualifications will be placed on an employment list in order of most qualified to least qualified based on the achieved score received in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination which evaluates the education, training, experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, and other qualifications that you demonstrate in your application and/or response to the supplemental questionnaire. Please be aware that resumes and cover letters are not typically evaluated in the Application and Supplemental Questionnaire Appraisal Examination. Scores may be adjusted based on such factors as the number of candidates, anticipated vacancies, past practice, and natural breaks in the scores achieved by this group of candidates.

Additional Information

A background investigation is required prior to employment. Candidates referred to departments for a selection interview are typically required to sign authorization and release forms enabling such an investigation. Failure to sign prescribed forms will result in the candidate not being considered further for that vacancy. Reference information will not be made available to applicants.

Additional requirements, such as successful completion of a physical exam, drug screen, etc., may apply, depending on the duties and responsibilities of the position. If you receive a conditional job offer for the position, the requirements upon which the offer is contingent will be outlined in the conditional job letter. You may also review the Job Classification Screening Schedule to determine the requirements for this position.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted online at www.yourpath2sonomacounty.org . Paper applications may be submitted by person, fax (707-565-3770), email, or through the mail. All applications and appropriate supplemental information as outlined in the job bulletin must be received by the time and date specified on the first page of this job announcement. Applications received after the recruitment closes will not be accepted.

The County of Sonoma values diversity and is dedicated to creating a workplace environment that provides individuals with a sense of belonging. We are committed to having a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. The County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where all aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance, and business need.

HR Analyst: JT

HR Technician: VH

Important Note: Benefits described herein do not apply to Extra Help positions.

County of Sonoma Benefits: Management*

These are some of the excellent benefits the County offers:

Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation accrual and sick leave accruals; additional management leave annually; 12 paid holidays, and an additional 8 floating holiday hours per year; and may be eligible for up to 8 weeks (320 hours) of Paid Parental Leave after 12 months of County employment.

Health Plan: Choose from nine health plans (three HMOs, three deductible HMOs, and three HSA-qualifying plans) with a generous County contribution to the premium (the contribution amount varies by bargaining unit). For more information, please see the appropriate MOU.

Retirement: Fully integrated with Social Security. For more information regarding eligibility, retirement contributions, and reciprocity with prior public service, please visit https://scretire.org/active-/-deferred/when-you-are-hired .

IRS 457 Plan: Pre-tax employee contribution up to the IRS annual maximum.

Retiree Medical: County contribution to a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help fund post-retirement employee health insurance/benefits.

Student Loan Debt Relief: County employees may be eligible for Public Service Loan Forgiveness through the U.S. Department of Education.

Plus, excellent dental, vision, disability, life insurance, professional development, and more.

For answers to specific questions regarding the employment process and more details about benefits or retirement, please contact Human Resources at (707) 565-2331. Additional details about benefit and compensation packages can be found in the MOUs located at Labor Agreements & Salary Resolution . For specific information about health and welfare benefits, including plan options, coverage, and premium amounts, go to Human Resources or contact the Human Resources' Risk Management-Benefits Office at benefits@sonomacounty.gov or (707) 565-2900.

*Important Notes: Benefits described herein do not represent a contract and may be changed without notice.

Closing Date/Time: 10/22/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

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• County of Sonoma

• 707-565-8059

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