Joe Stephenshaw was appointed as director of the California Department of Finance by Governor Gavin Newsom in July 2022. He serves as the Governor's chief fiscal policy advisor. Prior to his appointment, Stephenshaw served in Governor Newsom's office as a senior counselor on Infrastructure and Fiscal Affairs.

Stephenshaw was staff director for the California State Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee from 2017 to 2022. He held multiple positions in the California Legislature from 2008 to 2017, including serving as a policy consultant in the Office of the Senate President Pro Tempore, a special advisor to the speaker of the assembly, and a budget consultant for the Assembly Budget Committee and the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee.

Stephenshaw earned a Masters of Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento.

Joe Stephenshaw serves on the following committees:

• Vice Chair – Audits and Risk Management Committee
• Benefits and Services Committee
• Board Governance Committee
• Compensation Committee
• Investment Committee