Finance Director

WHO WE ARE:

The Town of Harrisburg is one of the fastest growing communities in North Carolina and considered one of the top ten affluent zip codes in the surrounding region. While growth has been exponential over the past ten years, the Town has been able to maintain its tight knit community-based mindset and strategically foster a work culture where customer service excellence is our #1 priority.

General Statement of Duties

Performs advanced professional, managerial, supervisory, and technical work planning, organizing, and directing the Town's financial operations and the Finance Department. Serves as the Town's statutory Finance Officer and provides strategic financial leadership, technical expertise, long-range analysis, and practical financial guidance to Town management, the Town Council, and departments.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

The Finance Director leads the Finance Department, reports to the Deputy Town Manager, and serves as a member of the Town's Executive Team. The position is responsible for the integrity of the Town's financial management system and for governmental accounting and reporting, budgeting and long-range financial planning, internal controls and preaudit compliance, cash and investments, debt and capital financing, grants, procurement administration, and Finance-administered customer service functions.

The employee serves as the Town's technical authority on governmental finance and principal advisor on financial strategy, long-range planning, organizational affordability, and capital funding. The position works with Town management and departments to translate organizational priorities into financially sound, practical, and compliant approaches; identifies material financial and compliance risks; and recommends alternatives that allow objectives to move forward within applicable requirements.

Work requires substantial knowledge of governmental accounting, GASB standards, the North Carolina Local Government Budget and Fiscal Control Act, Local Government Commission requirements, and public finance practices. The employee must exercise considerable independent judgment and initiative. Work is performed under the supervision of the Deputy Town Manager and is evaluated through the financial condition and compliance of the Town, the quality and timeliness of financial reporting, progress toward organizational objectives, service quality, staff performance, and an independent audit of the Town's records.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serves as principal financial advisor to Town management and department directors; evaluates affordability, financial condition, operating impacts, reserves, revenues, risks, and funding alternatives; participates in the early development of complex and non-routine initiatives, capital projects, and service expansions; and develops feasible approaches or alternatives when proposals create material financial or compliance concerns.
• Serves as the Town's designated Finance Officer pursuant to N.C.G.S. 159-24 and performs the duties of the office established by N.C.G.S. 159-25, including maintaining the Town's accounts in accordance with generally accepted principles of governmental accounting and the rules of the Local Government Commission; disbursing Town funds in compliance with the budget ordinance and each project ordinance; preauditing obligations and disbursements as required by N.C.G.S. 159-28; receiving and depositing Town revenues; maintaining records of the Town's debt; and filing statements of the financial condition of the Town. Maintains the fidelity bond required by N.C.G.S. 159-29, completes required Local Government Commission training, and ensures timely completion of required reports and filings, including the annual audit contract and audited financial statements, the Annual Financial Information Report, and debt-related submissions.
• Plans, organizes, and directs the Finance Department, including accounting, financial reporting, utility billing, customer service, collections, receivables, and passport functions; establishes goals, service standards, priorities, procedures, and performance expectations; prepares the departmental budget; directly supervises the Assistant Finance Director and other assigned personnel; leads hiring, coaching, evaluation, training, and staff development; and directs day-to-day operations through the Assistant Finance Director, addressing material or precedent-setting matters.
• Leads year-end closing, annual financial reporting, and the annual audit and applicable Single Audit process; prepares complete governmental financial statements and the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, including appropriate accounting treatment and note disclosures under generally accepted accounting principles and GASB standards; serves as the Town's primary liaison to the independent auditor and to the Local Government Commission.
• Leads development and administration of the annual operating and capital budgets in coordination with the Town Manager and Deputy Town Manager; directs departmental submissions, revenue and expenditure forecasts, personnel cost projections, budget amendments, budget monitoring, and year-end projections; compiles and produces the budget document; presents at budget workshops; and meets with department directors on a monthly or quarterly basis to review budget-to-actual performance, forecast year-end results, and develop compliant funding and implementation approaches.
• Maintains and annually updates the Town's ten-year financial model, ten-year Capital Improvement Plan, ten-year personnel plan, debt projections, and related forecasting tools; integrates operating and capital needs and recommends strategies that support long-term financial sustainability.
• Manages cash, liquidity, banking relationships, and the Town's investment program; monitors the Town's cash position, forecasts cash flow, transfers funds as needed to meet obligations, and invests idle funds in accordance with N.C.G.S. 159-30 and Town investment policy to preserve principal, maintain liquidity, and optimize earnings.
• Leads debt and capital funding strategy, including evaluation of pay-as-you-go funding, reserves, grants, installment financings, and debt issuance; assesses debt capacity; coordinates with the Local Government Commission, the Town's financial advisor, bond counsel, underwriters, banks, and other financing professionals; and manages post-issuance compliance, including continuing disclosure and arbitrage requirements.
• Oversees financial administration and reporting for capital project funds, capital reserve funds, grants, and major initiatives; reviews grant submissions for financial feasibility and compliance and approves them prior to submission; and ensures appropriate accounting, reimbursement, reporting, Single Audit compliance, and closeout.
• Administers the Town-wide procurement framework; reviews and approves formal competitive solicitations, including Invitations for Bid, Requests for Proposals, Requests for Qualifications, and comparable processes, prior to release for compliance with applicable state requirements, federal procurement standards under Uniform Guidance where applicable, Town policy, funding, procurement method, and financial controls; develops procedures, templates, guidance, and training. Routine purchases and informal quotes remain delegated to departments.
• Reviews contracts and agreements for funding availability, budget authority, financial compliance, and required preaudit certification, coordinating with the Town Attorney on legal sufficiency.
• Develops and recommends financial policies; establishes, documents, and maintains the Town's system of internal controls, including segregation of duties, electronic banking and wire transfer controls, and access controls over financial systems; monitors compliance and resolves audit findings.
• Leads improvement of the Town's financial system capabilities, including enterprise resource planning, reporting, workflow, and automation, in coordination with Information Technology and departments; uses financial and operational data, dashboards, and performance information to improve resource allocation and organizational decision-making.
• Presents the monthly financial report to the Town Council and provides financial presentations at budget workshops and other meetings; explains the Town's financial model, Capital Improvement Plan, debt position, and other complex financial matters; and reviews Council agenda items and significant departmental actions for fiscal impact and compliance.
• Maintains current knowledge of governmental accounting standards, North Carolina finance law, Local Government Commission requirements, public finance practices, financial technology, and emerging financial risks; and recommends changes to Town practices as warranted.

Additional Job Duties

• Serves as a member of the Town's Executive Team.
• Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines - Knowledges, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of North Carolina local government finance law and Local Government Commission requirements, including budgeting, fiscal control, preaudit, debt, investments, purchasing, and the statutory responsibilities of the Finance Officer.
• Extensive knowledge of governmental accounting, generally accepted accounting principles, GASB standards, fund accounting, year-end closing, financial statement preparation, annual reporting, audit processes, and internal controls.
• Extensive knowledge of public finance administration, including operating and capital budgeting, revenue forecasting, long-range financial modeling, reserves, capital planning, debt management, cash management, investments, grants, and procurement.
• Thorough knowledge of North Carolina General Statutes governing local government purchasing, contracting, and bidding, including formal and informal bid requirements, qualifications-based selection for design services, and federal procurement standards under Uniform Guidance.
• Thorough knowledge of Town policies and procedures related to personnel, budgeting and purchasing.
• Considerable knowledge of modern and effective supervisory principles and practices, including leadership, motivation, communication, performance coaching and evaluation, and hiring.
• Working knowledge of laws and regulations related to hiring and staff management.
• Ability to prepare complete governmental financial statements and note disclosures from general ledger and supporting records, and to interpret complex accounting and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to convert complex financial information into clear analysis, options, and recommendations for management, elected officials, departments, and the public.
• Ability to think strategically, identify and manage financial risk, balance service objectives with fiscal sustainability, and assist departments in developing practical approaches within legal and policy requirements.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and changing environment; quickly analyze complex or unfamiliar issues; develop practical alternatives; and support timely organizational decisions without compromising statutory, financial, ethical, or internal-control requirements.
• Ability to lead professional staff, establish accountability, delegate effectively, develop staff, improve processes, and foster a collaborative, service-oriented work environment.
• Ability to use enterprise resource planning systems, banking platforms, spreadsheets, data analysis, dashboards, and automation to strengthen controls, reporting, forecasting, and decision-making.
• Skill in collaborative conflict resolution, public speaking, and customer service excellence.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, vendors, department directors, governmental officials, and other Town employees.
• Ability to exercise sound independent judgment, maintain confidentiality, uphold high ethical standards, communicate effectively, and produce accurate and timely work.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to perform sedentary work exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to move objects.
• Must possess the visual acuity to analyze financial data and statements, use financial systems and computers, and perform extensive reading and document review.
• Must be able to attend evening and occasional weekend meetings, including Town Council meetings and budget workshops.

Required Education, Certifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a closely related field, with a degree in accounting preferred. A master's degree in a related field is preferred.
• Seven or more years of progressively responsible experience in governmental accounting, local government finance administration, governmental auditing, or public accounting with substantial governmental experience, including significant supervisory or management experience. North Carolina local government finance experience is strongly preferred.
• Experience preparing or auditing governmental financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and GASB standards is required. Experience independently preparing an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report or complete governmental financial statements is strongly preferred.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensure is strongly preferred. North Carolina Certified Local Government Finance Officer certification is preferred or must be obtained within three years of appointment. Must be eligible for appointment as the Town's Finance Officer and able to obtain and maintain the required fidelity bond.

Special Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license, as travel for Town business may be required.