Lead Financial Analyst

Are you a strategic, hands-on finance professional ready to make an impact for an innovative and mission-driven public agency? The Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara (HACSB) is seeking a forward-thinking Lead Financial Analyst to join our Finance team and play a key role in strengthening data-driven decision-making, ensuring accuracy and compliance for all fiscal functions, and modernizing our financial systems. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys problem-solving, continual improvement, and mentoring others while contributing to a mission that truly matters.

This work directly influences how we invest in and sustain affordable housing in Santa Barbara — advancing our mission while ensuring long-term financial strength for the agency and the community we serve.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Lead Financial Analyst handles a spectrum of complex financial analysis and accounting functions, including cash management, investments, debt, budgets, capital expenditures, and revenue and expense analysis. The role also involves preparing and reviewing detailed financial reports, forecasts, and audit documentation, and developing models and projections to support strategic decision-making.

As a technical and functional leader, the Lead Financial Analyst provides guidance and mentorship to Accounting Specialists, promoting efficiency, consistency, and best practices across the department. This role requires exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills and the ability to exercise sound independent judgment in a dynamic and collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides complex professional and technical assistance to co-workers in administering HACSB’s financial management, auditing, and accounting programs.
• Reviews the work of accounting specialists, shares insights on work procedures and results.
• Participates in developing, recommending, and implementing financial goals, policies, standard operating procedures, and special projects as assigned.
• Leads the development and monitoring of annual budgets for all agency programs, tax credit partnerships, and nonprofit entities.
• Performs complex financial analyses, including revenue, expenditure, variance, and cash flow forecasts, to support budgetary and strategic decision-making.
• Reconciles general ledger and subsidiary accounts; prepares journal entries and month-end and year-end reports.
• Coordinates annual audit activities, prepares audit schedules, and ensures timely and adjustment-free financial reporting for year-end audits and HUD Federal Data Schedule (FDS) reporting.
• Maintains capital asset records, manages fixed asset accounts and depreciation, tracks asset acquisitions and dispositions, and ensures accurate journal entries.
• Monitors the Authority’s debt portfolio, including bonds, notes, and inter-agency loans, maintaining balances, interest, maturities, covenants, and repayments.
• Researches, interprets, and implements new accounting standards, trends, regulations, and financial reporting requirements to ensure ongoing compliance.
• Drives automation and data integration initiatives to modernize reporting and analysis.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

We’re seeking a finance professional who pairs strong technical skills with curiosity, initiative, and a passion for continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will possess the following:

• Knowledge of public/governmental fund-based accounting, quality control, audit cycles, and financial analysis.
• Familiarity with affordable housing funding, relevant laws and regulations, and industry best practices.
• Ability to analyze, interpret, and present complex financial data clearly; prepare reports, forecasts, and audit documentation.
• Strong leadership skills to mentor and lead staff, promote collaboration, and ensure accuracy and compliance in a team-oriented environment.
• Expertise with Microsoft Office, ERP systems (e.g., Yardi Voyager), paperless environment, and modern software tools.
• Brings both analytical rigor and creativity to problem-solving.
• Excellent communication, presentation, problem-solving, and organizational skills; ability to exercise sound independent judgment, prioritize, and manage multiple concurrent projects.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field; CPA or MBA is helpful but not required.
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible governmental or fund-based accounting experience, including 3+ years in a lead or supervisory role.

This is a full-time, exempt position that enjoys a 9/80 work schedule with alternate Fridays off, plus the possibility of remote work!  For a detailed job description and to learn more about this exciting opportunity, visit www.hacsb.org.

Compensation and Benefits:

Total compensation package includes a competitive salary range from $111,662-$135,726 annually and a generous and well-rounded benefit package, including:

Selection Process:

If you’re ready to apply your financial expertise to meaningful work and help shape the future of affordable housing in Santa Barbara, we’d love to meet you. Apply online or by visiting our website www.hacsb.org, by Tuesday, December 3rd for priority consideration. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The selection process may include interviews and other testing processes designed to predict successful job performance.  Please contact Tiffany Carter at (805) 897-1040 or tcarter@hacsb.org with any questions.

If HACSB determines an applicant is suitable for the position based on a job-related evaluation of skills and experience, prior to final selection and subsequent employment, the applicant will be subject to a criminal background check, appropriate to the job functions and business necessity.  Criminal convictions will not automatically disqualify a candidate for employment. The nature of the crime, time since offense, surrounding circumstances, and relevance of the offense to the position applied for will be considered.

The Housing Authority is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the ADA, HACSB provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Applicants with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations may contact Human Resources at (805)965-1071 or (805)965-2521 TDD to make accommodation requests. In accordance with Section 3 of the Housing & Urban Development Act of 1968, HACSB promotes self-sufficiency amongst low-income individuals and provides hiring preferences to Santa Barbara residents who meet Section 3 eligibility.

ABOUT HACSB

Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara is an award-winning, mission-driven public agency with a reputation as a national leader in the housing industry, known for its singularly attractive properties. With 60+ employees and over $64 million in revenue, HACSB has developed over 4,000 homes for Santa Barbara residents.

At HACSB, we help residents thrive through innovative housing programs and supportive services, and we help employees grow through meaningful work, professional development, and a shared sense of purpose.  We value curiosity, collaboration, and continuous improvement—the “5 C’s” that define our culture: Competence, Cooperation, Commitment, Communication, and Compassion.