There shall be a department of finance, the head of which shall be the director of finance, who shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to any merit or civil service system which is applicable to the city. He or she shall be the chief financial officer of the city. The chief financial officer of any city which adopts the mayor-council form of government who holds office under any civil service or merit system applicable to such city shall be the first director of finance under the mayor-council form of government.
Alabama Legal Code