Finance Director

Finance Director

MUST HAVE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT FINANCE EXPERIENCE TO BE CONSIDERED.

The purpose of this classification is to oversee, manage, administer, and direct all aspects of Municipal Financial Operations to include all governmental accounts.

Under administrative direction, plans, organizes, coordinates and directs the City's Finance Department, including payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, Purchase Orders and Requisition as well as maintaining all budget information.

General duties and responsibilities include:

• Support the vision, mission, and guiding principles of the city
• Provide executive-level leadership, strategic planning, and administrative direction for the Finance Department.
• Serves as Finance Director for the City; works collectively with Mayor & City Manager on annual budget calendar and coordinates submittal of department budget requests; assists in developing expenditure and revenue estimates; reviews program decision packages; maintains revisions of budget records to meet any fiscal year adjustments; monitors City expenditures and revenues to ensure compliance with adopted budget; prepares cash flow projections and budget reports as necessary.
• Writes journal entries and makes adjustments as needed to the City's accounts receivable, accounts payable and payroll records.
• Verifies all revenues and expenditures have been entered into the proper financial account.
• Prepares various financial reports as required; reviews financial reports to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Serves as interface with auditors and accountants.
• Provides special financial status reports to City officials as required.
• Coordinates City of Jonesboro year-end financial audit
• Approves purchase orders; reviews accuracy of coding on invoices and payroll, and ensures budgeted amount is available for payment.
• Creates budget overview documents for presentation to the Mayor and City Council, and the public.
• Administers payroll, reports, and other financial records to ensure compliance with Federal, State, County, and City laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
• Monitors payroll and budget, approving new hires and promotions.
• Presents monthly financial status reports to City Manager and Mayor who presents to City Council
• Processes transactions affecting plan coverage, premium payments and other administrative matters regarding the City's property and liability insurance plans and retirement plan; monitors related plan expenditures.
• Ensures retention of financial records in accordance with established laws and City policies governing records retention
• Operates a computer to enter, retrieve, review, or modify data utilizing various computer software programs.
• Assists employees by providing information and instructions, explains procedures and answers questions regarding applicable questions on budget, financial procedures, and methods; resolves problems.
• Communicates effectively with others as needed to coordinate work activities, review status of work, exchange information, and resolve problems.
• Ensures proper implementation of millage rate including compliance with state laws and interpretation of the tax digest.
• Works with the public regarding City finances and collections; explains and enforces City policies and procedures regarding finances; and
• Maintains accounting, computer and budgetary systems that provide control of expenditures within all applicable guidelines, rules, regulations, legal constraints and budgetary controls.

Additional duties and responsibilities include:

• Any other duties as assigned.

Job scope involves high degrees of discretion with a need for accuracy and effective use of available resources. Errors in judgment could cause disruptions to the City's mission and adversely impact attainment of the City's goals. The incumbent operates independently but results are monitored by the City Manager.

Communications/customer contact includes interactions across the entire City community in a leadership capacity. Community contact is a critical component of success in developing good will and support of City programs and initiatives.

Competencies/specific experience or training preferred include:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college/university in finance, business administration or closely related field; five (5) years of progressively responsible management experience in public/local government financial management; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• In depth knowledge and skill in the understanding and use of the standards and principles used in the government finance area as defined by Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB).
• Proficient computer skills (Microsoft Office, Outlook, Internet, Tyler Technology (Incode), ADP.
• Strong effective communicator in writing, business presentations, and in interpersonal communication
• Experience with preparation of a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities include:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of finance, budgeting, and accounting particularly as it is applied in public organizations. Ability to plan, organize, and direct a comprehensive program of financial services.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of computerized information management.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of purchasing.
• Knowledge of economic forecasting and economic trends.
• Knowledge of special requirements pertaining to accounting for investment of governmental funds.
• Knowledge of relevant federal and state laws, city ordinances, departmental policies and procedures, and city procedures.
• Knowledge of the operations of other city departments in purchasing, accounting, and cash collection.
• Skills in supervising, evaluating, and managing personnel in diverse functions, including the ability to plan, assign, coordinate, and establish priorities.
• Ability to maintain complex financial records and prepare reports.

Supervisory control is provided by the City Manager. The Finance Director must be able to accurately forecast future financial conditions and advise the City Manager. The employee is responsible for organizing the work of the department so overall city goals are met. Work is reviewed in consultation with the City Manager on special problems and through regular reports to the City Manager, Mayor, and the City Council. Review is for propriety of results.

Guidelines are relevant federal and state laws, grant requirements, city ordinances, policies and procedures, and accepted accounting principles for government organizations. Interpretation is necessary in the application of guidelines.

This position consists of a variety of main functional areas including administration, accounting, economic forecasting, and budget preparation. Tasks within each of these areas are related. Complexity is added by the presence of time constraints, the variety of tasks, and the number of guidelines.

Successful performance in this position ensures efficient operation of the department, effective handling of all city financial transactions, effective budget development, and profitable investment of financial resources. Errors could result in loss of funds and credibility for the city and could cause legal liability.

Personal contacts are typically with the City Manager, elected officials, managers in all departments, vendors, and auditors, representatives of financial institutions and organizations.

Contacts are typically for directing, supervising, and motivating personnel, exchanging, and supplying information and resolving problems.

Physical demands include sitting at a desk with intermittent standing and walking and may occasionally lift light objects.

Work environment is performed in an office.

The position has direct supervision over the Financial Services Technician.

The City of Jonesboro is an equal opportunity, drug-free employer committed to diversity in the workplace.