Finance Manager

Finance Manager

The City of Kennewick is seeking an experienced and collaborative finance professional to serve as our next Finance Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to help shape the City's financial strategy while leading a talented team and supporting high-impact projects that serve the Kennewick community. This leadership position plays a key role in overseeing the City's accounting operations, financial reporting, budgeting, debt administration, and financial systems while supporting the Finance Director in achieving the department's strategic goals.

The City of Kennewick will provide excellent public service and ensure the safety and well-being of our community and one another through the empowerment of each employee. We value integrity, inclusiveness, stewardship and communication. We are accountable to our community for innovative and collaborative efforts that anticipate needs, leverage resources and deliver solutions. We expect our employees to ensure compliance with all applicable safety practices and policies, including those established by OSHA/DOSH regulations and by the City's Accident Prevention Plan. This includes but is not limited to actively identifying and correcting potential hazards that may affect employee and public safety, including those identified by co-workers. Leading by example to promote a positive culture of workplace safety through everyday action; emphasizing safe completion of work throughout all aspects of developing and carrying out work plans.

Under general direction of the Finance Director, plans, organizes, and manages the City's accounting and budgeting program, including the combination of financial reporting, budgeting, debt administration, general ledger and core financial system maintenance, as well as supervision of both professional and paraprofessional staff in performing the required activities. This is a single position classification. It is not part of a series.

The initial work schedule for this classification will be full-time, Monday through Friday. Early mornings, evenings, and weekend work may be occasionally required. Overtime may be occasionally required. This classification is exempt under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

The following list reflects the essential job duties and responsibilities of this classification, but should not be considered all-inclusive. The incumbent will be expected to perform other related duties as assigned.

• Supervises the performance of both professional and paraprofessional accounting staff. Supervision includes training, work assignment and review, performance appraisal, employee evaluation, and making employment and pay rate change recommendations.
• Assists the Finance Director in establishing department goals, objectives and priorities to ensure compliance with City Council policy directives and all applicable local, state or federal laws, rules and regulations.
• Assists the Finance Director in preparing reports, presentations, and conducting various financial analyses as needed.
• Oversees year-end reporting and closing functions, including the preparation of the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) as well as other monthly, quarterly and annual budgetary and financial reports.
• Coordinates and assists with financial and accountability audits.
• Assists the Finance Director with coordinating the budget process for the City's operating and capital improvement budgets in accordance with the principles and processes of public finance, budgeting, and budget control.
• Performs complex financial analysis and develops projections and models to assist in forecasting.
• Oversees project accounting and is responsible for grant accounting and reporting for the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
• Ensures appropriate governmental accounting concepts are being correctly and consistently applied within financial statements and reports. Makes recommendations to the Finance Director regarding reporting deficiencies or other areas for improvement that have been identified.
• Oversees the City's debt administration program, including compliance monitoring and preparation of all required external compliance reporting. Assists the Finance Director in preparing financial information and presentations associated with the issuance of bonds or other financing transactions.
• Evaluates accounting system requirements and makes recommendations regarding system needs, improvements, and enhancements. Provides oversight and monitors internal control structure to ensure they are appropriate in all aspects of daily operations. Makes necessary recommendations regarding improvements to the accounting system and/or internal control environment.
• Maintains journals, ledgers, and other complex financial records and establishes the total financial status of various funds and reconciles discrepancies.
• Serves as the Finance Director in his/her absence. Represents the department at City Council, Workshops, Committee, Commission and other meetings to present the department's plans and accomplishments, and to discuss the development and implementation of programs, policies, etc.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

This position requires a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or related field, and five or more years of experience in the preparation of financial statements and reports and the interpretation and application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Three years of experience in a project lead or supervisory capacity is required.

• Must pass a criminal background investigation.
• Must maintain a level of mental and physical fitness required to perform the essential functions of this classification.
• Must maintain regular attendance and punctuality.
• Experience in public sector work is highly desired.

Knowledge of:

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• State of Washington Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System (BARS).
• The theory and application of governmental accounting and financial management.
• Computerized accounting systems and practices.
• Statistical financial reporting.
• Administrative management and supervisory practices.

Ability to:

• Select, train, supervise and evaluate assigned professional and technical staff.
• Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Prepare and deliver written and oral presentations.
• Plan, prioritize, schedule and organize work.
• Meet schedules and timelines.
• Read, interpret, apply and explain rules, regulations, codes, policies, procedures and ordinances.
• Analyze situations accurately and adopt an effective course of action.
• Initiate creative improvements, manage change and stimulate collaborative problem-solving.
• Work independently with little direction.
• Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others.

Physical Requirements To perform the essential functions of the classification, incumbents must be able to meet the following physical requirements: must regularly talk, hear/listen, see/observe, sit, stand and walk; must regularly demonstrate fine motor skills; must occasionally exert up to 10 pounds of force.