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Description
Under the direction of the City Manager, the Finance Director holds a leadership position with responsibilities that include planning, directing, organizing, and reviewing the activities of the Finance department and serves as the City’s chief financial officer. Responsibilities include overseeing all functions of the finance department including annual reporting, fund accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, utility billing, investments, short-term and long-term debt, tax audit functions, and purchasing. Oversees development, operations, and maintenance of the City’s information technology systems and operations. Works with the City Manager in the development, analysis, implementation, and administration of the annual budget, and provides highly responsible and professional staff assistance to the City Council and City Manager.
Essential Job Duties
- Leadership and Strategic Planning: Participate in city leadership, provide technical and administrative direction, assist in policy planning and implementation, and contribute to quality improvements affecting the entire city.
- Budget and Financial Management: Prepare comprehensive budgets, prepare and direct financial reporting, oversee financial analyses, manage grant compliance, and assist other departments with budget preparation, and financial compliance.
- Personnel Supervision and Development: Supervise staff including hiring, training, performance appraisals, disciplinary actions, and promote effective communication through team meetings and written communications.
- Internal Controls and Process Improvement: Evaluate and improve administrative and financial internal control systems, procedures, and prepare policies for the finance department and city.
- Information Dissemination and Public Relations: Oversee dissemination of information related to finance, utility billing, payroll, and purchasing, and respond to public inquiries and complaints.
- Technology and Infrastructure Oversight: Oversee the maintenance and operations of system hardware and software, network infrastructure, disaster recovery, and data integrity.
- Risk Management and Compliance: Serve as the primary contact for risk management, oversees claims process, maintain adequate coverage, ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws, and coordinate with auditors during financial and accountability audits.
- Contract and Service Management: Manage city-wide contracts and services, evaluate cost/value relationships, oversee renewals, and coordinate with partner agencies and groups.
- Financial Analysis and Reporting: Prepare complex financial reports for various stakeholders, including city council, city manager, and regulatory agencies.
- Investment and Asset Management: Serve as the city’s investment manager, coordinate investments, work with Public Works on utility rate setting and capital replacement planning, manage utility contracts with outside agencies.
- Strategic Financial Planning: Prepare long-range financial projections and planning tools, recommend fiscal policies to the City Manager and Council.
- Engagement in City Governance and Community Relations: Participate in City Council meetings, customer focus groups, and external special interest groups, ensuring adequate representation and involvement.
Qualifications
Education and/or Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field. Postgraduate education in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field desirable.
- Minimum of five (5) years of increasingly responsible experience in financial management with a minimum of two (2) years of supervisory experience.
- Certification as a Public Accountant, Management Accountant, or Public Finance Administrator desirable.
Knowledge Of:
- Generally accepted accounting principles including governmental accounting and regulations.
- Accounting software systems.
- Statistical and budgetary analysis techniques.
- Principles and techniques of budget development and administration.
- Principles and practices of organization, administration, and personnel management.
- Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies, operational issues, and local government functions.
- Microsoft Office Suite including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and database development as may be required.
Ability To:
- Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, commissioners, public officials, and the public.
- Form, lead, and participate in work teams, to manage team dynamics and respond appropriately to interpersonal relationship challenges.
- Learn the Washington State Budgetary Accounting and Reporting System (BARS).
- Learn the Washington State public investment rules and regulations.
- Plan, organize, and facilitate the solving of problems through effective decision making.
- Develop and implement departmental goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and internal controls.
- Research applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules and regulations pertaining to assigned areas.
- Meet deadlines while working on multiple projects at any given time.
- Make clear public presentations before governmental and private groups and organizations.
- Plan, organize, assign, and coordinate the activities of the office of the Finance Director in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.
- Analyze problems, identify, and evaluate alternative solutions, recommend courses of action, and implement direction in support of goals.
- Research techniques, sources of information and methods for presentation.
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with professionals, public officials, other employees, and the public. Requires the ability to interact with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress and when confronted with persons acting under stress.
- Communicate effectively, including orally, in writing, and with Visual media, in clear, concise language appropriate for the purpose and parties addressed. Use tact, discretion, and courtesy to gain the cooperation of, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, consultants, vendors, co—workers, other departments, and diverse members of the public. Work independently or cooperatively as a team member.
- Read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.
- Write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
Licenses/Certificates/Registrations:
- Must have a valid driver’s license and appropriate insurance at the time of hire for work related travel. Driving record must be free of any significant moving violations.
- Ability to pass background checks required for the position.
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