Deputy Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer
ABOUT THE SHEFFIELD ADMINISTRATION
Detroit is entering a historic new chapter under Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield, the city’s first woman to serve as Mayor. Elected with a decisive mandate, Mayor-Elect Sheffield brings a steady, community-rooted approach to governing—one focused on listening to residents, healing long-standing divides, and delivering meaningful improvements in daily life across every neighborhood. She will take office on January 1, 2026, with a commitment to building a city that lifts every family and expands opportunity for all.
As she forms her administration, Mayor-Elect Sheffield is assembling a talented, diverse team of leaders who bring deep expertise, lived experience, and the courage to put forward bold, innovative ideas that move Detroit forward. Her team will drive a City government grounded in collaboration, equity, transparency, and results. The Sheffield Administration seeks mission-driven individuals who are ready to serve, ready to build, and ready to help shape Detroit’s future.
ABOUT THE OFFICE
The Office of the Chief Financial Officer (OCFO) serves as Detroit’s centralized financial management system, responsible for safeguarding public resources, ensuring fiscal integrity, and enabling the city’s long-term financial stability. The Office of the Treasury plays a central role in this mission by collecting, managing, investing, and disbursing all City funds; administering Detroit’s tax systems; supporting major capital investments; and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local financial regulations. Under Mayor-Elect Sheffield’s commitment to transparency, ethical governance, and responsible stewardship, the Treasury is a cornerstone of public trust and a key driver of Detroit’s continued financial recovery and growth.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Deputy Chief Financial Officer / Treasurer is Detroit’s senior financial steward for the Office of the Treasury, responsible for overseeing the City’s cash, investments, tax administration, revenue operations, and debt-management functions. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer provides executive leadership for citywide revenue collection, property-tax administration, income-tax operations, customer service functions, cash management, and debt-financing strategies that support Detroit’s long-term capital needs.
This role is essential to advancing the Sheffield Administration’s priorities of ethical public finance, transparent practices, resident-centered customer service, and accountable stewardship of public assets. The Treasurer ensures compliance with state and federal regulations, supports financial policies that strengthen Detroit’s fiscal position, and works closely with executive leadership, City Council, state partners, rating agencies, and community stakeholders to ensure Detroit remains financially strong, credible, and well-managed.
This role will drive the administration’s priorities, including:
Strengthen resident-centered financial operations and improve accessibility of tax and revenue services
Ensure full transparency and accountability in all Treasury functions, advancing the administration’s ethics and good-government standards
Support equitable revenue systems that reduce burdens for longtime Detroiters while maintaining strong fiscal health
Enhance Detroit’s debt-management and capital-financing strategies to support neighborhood infrastructure and long-term growth
Modernize Treasury systems and processes to improve accuracy, efficiency, and timely financial reporting
Strengthen collaboration with state Treasury partners and ensure Detroit’s compliance with all relevant financial laws and mandates
Advance customer-service improvements for property owners, taxpayers, seniors, and small businesses
Support long-term revenue forecasting and financial policies that protect Detroit’s stability and resilienceThis description outlines the general nature and key responsibilities of the role and is not intended to be exhaustive; duties, responsibilities, and activities may be modified at the discretion of the Mayor.
Core responsibilities include:
Provide executive leadership over all Treasury operations, including tax administration, cash management, debt management, revenue collections, and customer service
Oversee the accurate billing, collection, accounting, and distribution of property-tax revenues in accordance with state law
Manage operations of the Detroit Taxpayer Service Center, ensuring high-quality support for residents and Detroit property owners
Lead income-tax administration, compliance, discovery, and reporting in partnership with the State of Michigan
Serve as the City’s primary banker, ensuring the safekeeping, liquidity, and compliant investment of all cash assets
Direct enforcement and compliance actions across various tax types, including utility-user taxes, wagering taxes, and delinquent property taxes
Oversee citywide billing, delinquent-revenue collection systems, and clearance issuance for vendors and residents
Lead the Treasury’s debt-management portfolio, ensuring compliance with all covenants and disclosures while supporting issuances and updates with municipal advisors and rating agencies
Guide financial reporting and monthly revenue accounting, including contributions to annual audits and financial statements
Monitor Treasury’s organizational structure, operational efficiency, staffing assignments, and administrative systems
Develop and implement Division goals, policies, service levels, and resource-allocation priorities
Communicate regularly with executive leadership, City Council, departments, and external partners regarding Treasury activities and financial impacts
Represent the Treasury before legislative bodies, external agencies, financial institutions, and public stakeholders
Serve in ex-officio roles on major retirement system boards and financial oversight committees
Ensure Treasury operations align with Detroit’s Charter, state laws, federal regulations, and the administration’s ethical standards
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, economics, or related field required; advanced degree or CPA strongly preferred
Progressive leadership experience in government finance, treasury management, revenue administration, or large-scale public-sector financial operations
Proven track record overseeing tax systems, cash management, debt portfolios, or major municipal finance functions
Experience managing complex budgets, financial controls, compliance systems, and multi-source revenue environments
Deep knowledge of municipal finance, investment laws, debt markets, and public-sector financial reporting
Demonstrated ability to lead diverse teams of executives, managers, and financial professionals
Exceptional communication skills, capable of explaining complex financial information to diverse audiences
Ability to collaborate with City Council, state partners, financial institutions, philanthropic partners, and community organizations
Strong commitment to transparency, integrity, ethical governance, and resident-centered service delivery
Detroit experience or deep knowledge of municipal finance in legacy cities highly valued; Detroit-based candidates encouraged to apply
Rate of Pay: $135,679 - $193 006 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Benefits: Our goal is to attract and retain a highly skilled workforce by providing generous healthcare and other benefits to eligible employees. Learn more about benefits for City of Detroit employees.
Equal Opportunity in Employment: The Sheffield Administration is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace. Even if you do not meet all of the requirements listed above, we encourage you to apply if you believe you have the skills, experience, and expertise necessary to thrive in this role. The City of Detroit is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates of all backgrounds—including those historically underrepresented in municipal government—to apply.