Position Brochure
Employment Application
Finance Director Job Description
If you should have any questions, please contact Trish Ivansek by email or phone 708-714-3554.
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:
- Ensuring a safe community
- Strengthening property values and enhancing quality of life
- 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