Assistant Chief Financial Officer

Job Description and Duties

This position is currently posted for public comment and is pending California Department of Human Resources (CalHR) approval.

Are you an experienced financial executive with expertise in long-range forecasting, strategic budgeting, fiscal analysis, and enterprise financial planning? As Covered California’s Assistant Chief Financial Officer, you will lead policy development and oversight of core financial planning functions, including long-term enrollment, revenue and expenditure forecasting, participation fee rate setting, budgeting frameworks, fiscal risk management, and financial analysis that supports enterprise resource decisions.

In this role, you will lead the Forecasting, Budgeting, Systems, and Financial Planning and Analysis Units and serve as a strategic advisor to the Chief Financial Officer, Executive Director, Executive Staff, and Board. You will establish organization-wide financial planning standards, guide scenario modeling and fiscal risk frameworks, update budget policies, evaluate strategic investments and operational priorities, and help ensure Covered California maintains long-term financial resilience in a self-funded enterprise environment.

If you are prepared to translate complex financial analysis into clear, executive-level recommendations, shape strategic business plans, and oversee the finances of the nation’s largest health benefit exchange, we encourage you to apply.

Why Join Us?

Covered California isn’t just a workplace, it’s a mission-driven community dedicated to ensuring healthcare accessibility and affordability for all Californians. As the Assistant Chief Financial Officer, you’ll play a vital role in shaping financial strategies, forecasting practices, and resource planning decisions that protect Covered California’s long-term sustainability and support its mission to expand equitable access to affordable health care.

Effective July 1, 2025, in response to the budget deficit, the Department of Human Resources (CalHR) has implemented the Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025). PLP 2025 requires that each full-time employee working their assigned work schedule receive a 3 percent reduction in pay in exchange for 5 hours of PLP 2025 leave credits monthly through June 30, 2027.

Review the full-duty statement to learn more about the duties and responsibilities of this position.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

• This position may be eligible for telework. In accordance with Government Code section 14200, only employees who reside in California are eligible for telework. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department and based on Covered California’s current telework policy. While Covered California supports telework, in-person attendance may be required based on operational needs. Employees are expected to be able to report to their worksite with minimal notification if an urgent need arises, as determined by the Department.

• This position is headquartered in Sacramento County , 1601 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815. Business travel may be required, and reimbursement considers an employee’s designated headquarters office subject to regulations and bargaining unit contract provisions. Travel expenses associated with commuting to the employee’s office headquarters location are not reimbursable, other than authorized transit subsidies.

Special Requirements

A CEA Examination is required as part of the application package and consists of a thorough review of the candidate's Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). The SOQ must clearly and concisely describe the candidate's education, training, professional experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities as they relate to the desirable qualifications for this position. Candidates are expected to provide detailed and specific examples from their education, professional experience (paid and/or volunteer), and training to address each SOQ question directly.

**Applicants who do not follow the SOQ instructions or fail to provide responses as outlined in the Examination Information section of this posting will not be considered.**

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be useful in the development of written responses; however, it is important to use these tools responsibly and ethically. Where assistive tools may be used, responses within the SOQ should be your own original work. Applicants must write in their own words and avoid plagiarism. Failure to comply may be cause for disqualification.

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• A bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business administration, public administration, economics, or a related field. Having an advanced degree or a relevant professional certification, such as a CPA, is preferred.
• Minimum 3+ years of senior financial leadership experience overseeing financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, fiscal analysis, or enterprise resource planning functions.
• In-depth knowledge of the health care industry, managed care, Medi-Cal, government entitlement programs, and California’s health care ecosystem.
• Demonstrated depth of knowledge of GAAP/GASB and finance and accounting policies and procedures for not-for-profit organizations and proprietary funds.
• Skilled in directing and publishing Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFRs) according to GASB pronouncements.
• Strategic mindset: Envisions future possibilities and develops innovative strategies; identifies, plans, leads, and executes initiatives to address evolving organizational and community needs, as well as regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage operating budgets that support business objectives.
• Strong assessment and analytical skills, including the ability to synthesize, distill concepts, draw conclusions , and identify implications.
• Experience developing long-term revenue and expenditure forecasts, fiscal scenario planning models, and sustainable funding strategies for executive-level decision-making.
• Experience establishing budgeting frameworks, budget development policies, fund allocation processes, and priority-based budgeting practices.
• Knowledge of public sector financial management, including statutory requirements, fiscal solvency, reserve planning, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Outstanding ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including strong writing, presentation, interpersonal, and collaboration skills.

Benefits

The State of California offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes Health, Vision, Dental, Retirement, and an array of other options. For more information on the benefits offered by the State of California, please click below:

Pre-Employment Requirements

Background Check: All applicants shall be subject to a pre-employment background investigation. The investigation will consist of completion of a pre-employment questionnaire, fingerprinting, and an inquiry to the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation to disclose criminal records.

This position is identified as a Conflict of Interest (COI) Form 700 position. Government Code Section 19990 specifies a state officer or employee shall not engage in any employment, activity, or enterprise which is clearly inconsistent, incompatible, in conflict with, or inimical to his or her duties as a state officer or employee. Government Code Section 100500 (f) (1) states, in pertinent part:

“...staff of the Exchange shall not be employed by, a consultant to, a member of the board of directors of, affiliated with, or otherwise a representative of, a carrier or other insurer, and agent or broker, a health care provider, or a health care facility or health clinic while serving on the board or on the staff of the Covered California. A member of the board or of the staff of the Exchange shall not be a member, a board member, or an employee of a trade association of carriers, health facilities, health clinics, or health care providers while serving on the board or on the staff of the Exchange.”

Applicants who may fall under Government Code 100500 (f) (1) will be considered ineligible for appointment with the Exchange. Please read the Covered California Incompatible Activities Statement and Policy (CCAM 14-400). Please email any questions or concerns you may have prior to accepting a final offer of employment to [email protected].

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications -

  A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is REQUIRED and must be submitted along with your Employment Application (STD. 678). Applications submitted without an SOQ will not be considered. Resumes, cover letters, or other documents will not be accepted in place of an SOQ. Please review the “Examination Information” section of this bulletin for detailed instructions.

• Other - Cover Letter is required and must be included.