Finance Director

The City of Ellsworth, Maine, is seeking a seasoned, strategic, and public service driven leader to serve as its nextFinance Director / Chief Financial Officer (CFO) – a pivotal executive role at the center of one of Maine’s fastest-growing cities.

This is a rare opportunity to lead a modern municipal finance operation during a period of rapid growth, organizational transformation, and once in a generation major capital investments in the city. The CFO will be a trusted partner to the City Manager, City Council, department heads, and the public – helping ensure that Ellsworth’s financial systems are transparent, resilient, data-driven, and aligned with long-term community priorities.

Ellsworth is intentionally moving away from reactive, siloed government and toward predictable performance, strong internal controls, modern digital systems, and proactive financial planning. The CFO will play a central role in building and sustaining that future. In addition to coming onto an already strong team, this position and the effort to sustain and invest in a successful finance operation is well supported by city leadership, the council, and the community.

While the ideal candidate would bring a long history of high levels of municipal experience- ideally with a master’s degree in accounting and/or is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) – we are also encouraging financial professionals across the private and non-profit sectors who have executive levels of financial, accounting, auditing, and systems management to apply. Extraordinary attention to detail, a belief in the power of sound financial practices being the backbone of all great organizations, a strong work ethic, and being reinvigorated by our public service mission to be good public stewards of citizen tax dollars, are of most importance to the role regardless of municipal background.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the City’s chief financial strategist and steward of public resources.
• Advise the City Manager and City Council on fiscal policy, long-range planning, financial risks, and opportunities.
• Translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for elected officials, staff, and the public.
• Help shape a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement across the organization.

Budgeting, Capital Planning & Financial Strategy

• Lead development and execution of the City’s annual operating budget and multi-year financial forecasts.
• Play a central role in Ellsworth’s 10-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), aligning capital investments with growth, infrastructure needs, and the Comprehensive Plan.
• Oversee debt management, bonding, reserve policies, and long-term fiscal sustainability strategies.
• Support Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, Credit Enhancement Agreements (CEAs), and other economic development tools.

Accounting, Controls & Compliance

• Oversee all accounting, treasury, cash management, payroll, and financial reporting functions.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, Maine municipal law, internal policies, and audit requirements.
• Serve as primary liaison with external auditors and regulatory agencies.
• Strengthen internal controls, financial procedures, and documentation to reduce risk and improve consistency.

Digital & Systems Modernization

• Lead continued modernization of financial systems, including budgeting, procurement, grants management, and reporting platforms.
• Champion data-driven decision‑making through dashboards, performance metrics, and accessible public reporting.
• Partner with departments to streamline workflows and improve financial literacy across the organization.

Procurement, Grants, Revenue & Growth Management

• Support the City’s expanding grant portfolio, ensuring strong financial oversight, compliance, and reporting.
• Assist departments in identifying sustainable funding strategies and aligning new revenues with service demands.
• Help manage the fiscal impacts of population growth, development pressures, and increased service expectations.
• Oversee implementation of the city’s new procurement and contracts management digital system.

Team Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop the Finance Department team with a focus on professionalism, collaboration, and service as well as guidance on professional and educational opportunities.
• Build systems that support cross‑departmental alignment rather than silos.
• Contribute to citywide management culture grounded in merit, accountability, and shared purpose.

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Significant leadership experience in municipal finance, public administration, business/non‑profit financial management, accounting, or a related field.
• Bachelor’s or higher in finance, accounting, public administration, business, or a related discipline strongly preferred; advanced degree or CPA a plus but not required.
• Candidates with non‑traditional career paths managing complex financial systems and strong demonstrated results are encouraged to apply.
• Experience working with municipal budgets, capital planning, audits, and public boards is highly desirable.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to balance long‑term planning and day‑to‑day operations.
• Deep understanding of internal controls, and financial transparency.
• Excellent communication skills – able to explain complex financial concepts clearly and calmly.
• Comfort operating in a fast‑moving, growth‑oriented environment where systems are evolving.
• High ethical standards and a strong sense of stewardship for public funds.
• Full‑time, senior executive position reporting directly to the City Manager.
• Highly collaborative environment working closely with department heads, elected officials, and external partners.
• Typical office hours with periodic evening meetings tied to Council, committees, and budget cycles.

Compensation and Benefits

• Starting salary range: $95,000–$150,000 (depending on experience and qualifications).
• Generous fringe benefit package including health insurance (with 90% of premiums covered by the City), retirement plan, and paid time off (up to 7 weeks per year).
• Participation in the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MPERS) or the city’s defined benefit contribution plan.
• Professional development and training support.

How to Apply

• Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and references to Lorina Look, HR Specialist , at . Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis, with priority consideration given to early submissions.
• The city will interview candidates on a rolling basis with priority consideration given to applicants who apply by February 28, 2026.
• Timeline to onboard will be negotiable. The city is looking for the right candidate to lead the department for multiple years, not the candidate who has the soonest availability. Though candidates who are looking to onboard immediately may also have that opportunity as the city is currently about to engage in budget season which is an excellent time to get to know the organization.
• The City of Ellsworth is an equal opportunity employer.

About the City of Ellsworth

Nestled in the heart of Downeast Maine, Ellsworth serves as the professional, recreational, cultural, and retail hub with around 9,000 residents. The city is also the county seat and is the only service center in a landmass twice the size of Rhode Island with a population of around 90,000 residents across Hancock and Washington Counties. It is a city where regional responsibility meets small‑town character, and where growth is shaped by a deep respect for history, landscape, and community.

Historically known as “The Friendly City” Ellsworth is framed by the Union River, three substantial lakes and innumerable ponds, and a marina along on of Maine’s dramatic coastlines. Its historic downtown (walkable, intact, and increasingly vibrant) sits alongside trail systems, waterfront access, forests, and nearby mountains. While Ellsworth is widely known as a gateway to Acadia National Park and the Downeast region, it is very much a destination in its own right: a place where people live year‑round, and thousands of people from the region come to work every day build careers, raise families, and invest for the long term.

Incorporated in 1800 and named for Oliver Ellsworth, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitutional Convention, the city blends early American roots with a forward‑looking civic culture. That blend is visible today in restored public spaces, a growing arts and cultural scene, expanding recreational assets, and a downtown that serves both residents and millions of annual visitors.

At the same time, Ellsworth is experiencing some of the fastest growth in Maine. Population has increased more than 37 percent since 2000, that is 26 percent higher than the Maine average, and more in real population gains than Augusta and Bangor combined. The city has experienced around $700 million in new valuation over the past five years alone. Major public and private investments – including a new $55 million courthouse, hotels, mixed‑use developments, housing, and large‑scale state and federal infrastructure projects – are reshaping the city’s role as the economic and service center of Downeast Maine.

This is a city where leaders can do consequential work and still kayak after work, walk Main Street, attend a local or national performance at The Grand, or run into neighbors at the harbor. Ellsworth is restoring its civic “frame” with care, modernizing for the future while honoring the character that makes the place matter.

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