The Town of Clayton, North Carolina, recognized for its strong financial position and AA+ and Aa1 bond ratings from Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, is seeking an accomplished and forward-thinking Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to lead the Town’s financial operations during a significant period of growth, transition, and organizational modernization.

This is a unique opportunity for a strategic and collaborative financial leader to play a central role in shaping the Town’s long-term financial direction. The next CFO will partner closely with the Executive Team to support continued growth, address increasing service and infrastructure demands, and strengthen the Town’s financial systems, processes, and reporting capabilities.

Clayton’s CFO will provide executive leadership across a broad and integrated finance portfolio, including financial operations, accounting and reporting, cash and debt management, investment strategy, utility billing and customer service, procurement, financial systems/ERP, and asset management. Beyond functional oversight, the CFO will ensure effective coordination across these areas, improving transparency, consistency, and organizational performance.

The Town is in a pivotal period of transition and modernization, creating a rare opportunity for the next CFO to shape the future of the finance function. This includes evaluating and strengthening internal operations, guiding ongoing system and process improvements, and building a scalable, high-performing organization that supports long-range financial planning and decision-making.

The CFO will play a key role in advancing data-informed decision-making across the organization, helping departments better understand financial information, improving accessibility to meaningful data, and strengthening the Town’s overall financial governance and operational effectiveness.

The Town is seeking a finance professional with a demonstrated ability to lead cohesive, accountable, and high-performing teams. The successful candidate will be an experienced and confident leader who delegates effectively, develops staff, and fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

About the Organization:  

The Town of Clayton operates under a Council-Manager form of government, with five elected Town Council members and a separately elected Mayor. The Council establishes policy and strategic direction, while the Town Manager oversees daily operations. Clayton’s elected officials serve the entire town rather than specific districts and serve staggered four-year terms.

The Town employs approximately 350 full-time employees across its municipal operations, including enterprise functions supporting water, sewer, and electric services. Clayton has a proposed FY2026–2027 budget of approximately $140.3 million, including a $63.2 million General Fund, $53.6 million Water and Sewer Fund, and $23.5 million Electric Fund. The Town owns and operates a municipal electric utility and functions as a wholesale purchaser and reseller of electricity. 

The Town also maintains a significant capital improvement program across all funds, supported through a combination of pay-as-you-go financing, general obligation bonds, limited obligation bonds (LOBs), and installment financing. Davenport & Company serves as the Town’s financial advisor. A property revaluation occurred in FY2026, resulting in an adopted tax rate of $0.49 per $100 of assessed value, reduced from $0.65 in FY2025. The revenue-neutral rate was $0.45 per $100.

The Town’s Strategic Plan, adopted in 2024, focuses on guiding future growth, organizational effectiveness, infrastructure investment, and high-quality service delivery. Key priorities include supporting a vibrant downtown, sustainable infrastructure, diversified economic development, public safety, community engagement, mobility and transportation, and amenities that enhance quality of life for residents and visitors.

More information about the Town of Clayton can be found here.

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.

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.