Finance Director

Finance DirectorThis is senior executive-level work in the administration and management of the City's Finance Department. The Director is the Chief Administrator for the department, which includes Central Accounting, City Clerk, City Treasurer, Retirement Services, Finance Customer Billing. Work involves planning, scheduling, supervising, and participating in all phases of the City's financial activities. General direction is received from the City Manager.Essential FunctionsDevelops, communicates, and executes strategic business plans and objectives in alignment with the City's vision, mission, and values.Leverages succession management strategies to develop a diverse pipeline of highly qualified talent and future leaders.Formulates departmental goals and objectives.Plans, organizes, and assigns responsibilities to ensure goal attainment.Reviews the work of subordinates as required.Supervises the Assistant Finance Director, Division Managers, City Clerk, and other management personnel and reviews performance.Sets high-performance standards; provides honest and constructive feedback when expectations and results are not achieved; and renders timely personnel decisions as needed.Promotes a culture committed to continuous improvement.Maintains an adequate accounting system for recording financial data and providing an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report to the City Commission and other interested parties. Performs financial analysis and prepares financial and statistical reports as required.Develops departmental policies and procedures.Develops accounting policies and procedures for all departments within the framework of the City Charter; Federal, State, and local laws; City policies; and authoritative accounting standard-setting bodies such as the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.Works closely with the City's Financial Advisor(s), Investment Bankers, Legal Counsel, and City Management in project and financial planning and debt issuance.Provides input and assists in developing various legal and bond disclosure documents for debt issuance and refinancing, including for the Electric and Water Utility.Issues the Annual Report to Bondholders and provides required disclosure to Nationally Recognized Municipal Securities Information Repositories.Ensures compliance with bond and loan covenants.Establishes investment policies and coordinates the long-term investment of surplus funds.Prepares revenue and expenditure forecasts and coordinates the annual budget preparation.Ensures compliance with the TRIM statute.Attends City Commission meetings and Commission Committee meetings and advises the City Commission, City Manager, and Department Directors concerning financial matters.Acts as City Clerk when required.Is the Chair-person of the Public Improvement Endowment FundRepresents the City Manager in all collective bargaining negotiationsPrepares oral and written reports to the City Manager, City Commission, and other City departments as required.Works with state agencies, including the Division of Bond Finance, the Auditor General, and the Florida Department of Revenue, to ensure compliance with state law and procedural requirements.Works with various state and federal agencies in obtaining financing or grants for City programs.Assists the general public, actuaries, independent auditors, rating agencies, insurance companies, investment banking firms, brokerage firms, bondholders, and other interested parties in obtaining information relating to the City's finances and outstanding debt.Demonstrates genuine concern for the Department's and the City's success, modeling selfless behavior.Promotes world-class customer service by being accessible and responsive, anticipating customer expectations, architecting innovative and resourceful solutions, and building partnerships within the community.May be required to participate in and/or facilitate training to support departmental or City initiatives and requirements.May be required to work alternate hours as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.Position is designated as Mission Critical.Qualifications (Education, Training and Experience)Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting.Eight years of progressively responsible experience in Accounting, with four years of experience in Finance (both debt issuance and investment) and management.An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other competencies necessary for success in the target position may be considered. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.Must possess and maintain a valid telephone number.Persons holding an active designation of Certified Public Accountant (CPA) will be given preference in the selection process.Completion of Certified Public Manager (CPM) or completion within three years.An incumbent in this position is required to file a financial disclosure statement with the State of Florida in accordance with Florida Statutes, Chapter 112, Part III. This filing must be completed within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter, no later than July 1 of each year in which the individual serves in this position.Knowledge, Skills, Abilities KNOWLEDGE: Municipal accounting principles and procedures as applied to a complex municipal accounting system involving many complicated transactions.Applicable laws, regulations, procedures, and processes governing the City government's receipt, custody, expenditure, and accounting of monies.City policies and procedures. ABILITIES: Plan, organize, direct, and supervise the work of Departmental personnel most efficiently and productively to achieve Departmental goals and objectives.Prepare oral and written financial reports.Present complex positions to varied audiencesAbsorb complex financial problems or issues and apply technical knowledge to derive solutions or alternatives.Ability to deal effectively with City departments, City administration, and the general public.Ability to use sound judgment and competent decision-making in administering the department and handling the City's financial affairs. WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Sedentary work with some walking or standing, exerting up to 10 pounds of force regularly, and routine keyboard use.Exposure to bright/dim lights, dust, and pollen.Normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, and color perception.This job description outlines the general nature and level of work and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify or assign additional responsibilities as needed. This recruitment is being handled by an external recruiter. To apply, contact Anne Lewis at View email address on click.appcast.io. Phone View phone number on click.appcast.io. The City of Lakeland is an equal opportunity/equal access employer and a drug free workplace.BenefitsCity of Lakeland 2026 Summary Sheet Annual Leave Annual leave is accumulated bi-weekly and based upon years of service as follows: Annual leave may be taken as earned by employees hired after January 1, 1989. Employees hired prior to that date use annual leave within the calendar year following the year the leave is earned. All employees may carry over up to a maximum of twenty (20) days at the end of the calendar year. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue annual leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month.* Sick Leave Sick rate is accrued biweekly based upon years of service and standard hour classification. Eligible for use as soon as earned. Regular part-time employees who work at least twenty (20) hours per week accrue sick leave at the rate of four (4) hours per month. * NOTE : REGULAR employees with a working day other than eight (8) hours, please contact your supervisor regarding these policies. Sick Leave Pool Allows employees to receive sick leave benefits in cases involving catastrophic or long-term illnesses or injuries after all personal leave time has been depleted. Regular full-time employees contribute eight (8) hours and Regular part-time employees contribute four (4) hours on an annual basis. Employees must have completed one full year of service on or before December 31st of the calendar year enrollment; and have accumulated at least forty (40) hours of sick time (twenty (20) hours for Regular part-time employees). Participation in this program is voluntary. For more information contact Amanda Kaiser at 834-8768 Family & Medical Leave Federal legislation guarantees up to twelve (12) weeks