Under the direction of the Director of Finance, the Department of Finance provides a myriad of financial and administrative services within Sacramento County government. The Director of Finance reports directly to the Internal Services Agency Administrator. Departmental duties include those duties described on the department's home page as well as the following:

• Provide core-level support services to general taxpayers, county departments and other government agencies.
• Process vendor payments for all county departments and special districts.
• Prepares the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
• Maintains the Comprehensive Online Management Personnel and Accounting Systems for Sacramento County (COMPASS) that is the countywide financial system, automated general ledger.
• Prepares the countywide Indirect Cost Allocation Plan and departmental cost rate proposals.
• Issues and monitors fictitious business name statements.
• Manages the Pooled Investment Fund in compliance with the California Government Code, the Pooled Investment Policy and Investment Guidelines.
• Maintains the Pooled Investment Fund credit ratings and achieves a competitive yield for the Pooled Investment Fund.

The Sacramento County Charter established the offices of Tax Collector, Auditor-Controller, and Treasurer. In November 1996, Sacramento County voters approved ballot Measure C that amended the County Charter to consolidate the elected position of Auditor-Controller with the appointed position of Treasurer. This Charter change established a Director of Finance in 1997 with responsibility for these two county functions.

Dave Irish became Director of Finance in 2005. There are 150 full-time positions in the department and it has an operating budget of approximately $20 million.