Finance Director | Village of River Forest

Finance Director

The Village of River Forest seeks a strategic and approachable municipal finance leader who combines technical expertise with strong interpersonal and organizational leadership skills.

River Forest is a vibrant, and highly engaged community known for exceptional municipal services, attractive residential neighborhoods and historic homes. The Village was recently named a 2026 All-American City finalist by the National Civic League.

Following a successful tenure, our current Finance Director is retiring in 2026. We are looking for a successor who is ready to build upon a strong foundation. This role provides the rare chance to work alongside a veteran before fully assuming leadership of the Department at the end of the year.

River Forest has built a reputation for fiscal responsibility and transparency, consistently earning the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association (IGFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and Excellence in Financial Reporting Award. The Village maintains a proactive approach to long-range financial planning, capital investment and operational excellence. 

The Village is guided by three core principles:

1. Ensuring a safe community
2. Strengthening property values and enhancing quality of life
3. Minimizing and stabilizing the property tax burden

 The ideal candidate will be:

• A collaborative executive who builds strong relationships across departments and with elected officials;
• A confident communicator who translates complex financial information into clear, actionable recommendations;
• A forward-thinking leader who embraces innovation, process improvement, and operational efficiency;
• A hands-on manager who mentors and develops staff while maintaining high professional standards;
• A trusted advisor with sound judgment, and a commitment to transparency and ethical public service.

 Candidates with experience in high-performing local government organizations, capital planning, debt management, and long-range financial forecasting will be especially attractive.

The Village values leaders who are visible, team-oriented, solutions-focused, and committed to delivering exceptional service to residents, businesses, and community stakeholders.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary range: $154,584 – $214,948 DOQ
• Vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and supplemental life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Defined Benefit Pension Plan through IMRF
• 457 and Roth IRA plans
• Tuition reimbursement