Finance Director

General Description

The Finance Director is responsible for the core financial functions of the City including overall financial management and operations, accounting, reporting, budgeting, payroll, procurement, debt issuance, compliance, management, internal auditing and financial record keeping.

Duties and Responsibilities

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this position. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the position as necessary.

• Plan, direct, and manages the accounting functions for the City to ensure compliance.
• Establish and maintain internal controls policy and procedures.
• Fraud prevention and recommendation/ implementation of services available. Ex. Positive Pay.
• Entering auditor’s adjusting entries into system.
• Maintains current knowledge of Local Government, regulatory and legislative developments affecting accounting functions to ensure application to areas of responsibility.
• Coordinating with City Administrator and Department heads on the annual budget in order to create the annual budget book.
• Custodian of CEO portal for financial institutions (Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Ameris, Regions Banks) addressing new requests and discrepancies relating to account activity.
• Plans, directs, and supervises department employees engaged in financial management and operations, accounting, reporting, budgeting, payroll, benefits administration, grants administration, internal auditing and financial record keeping for the City.
• Develops and recommends annual department operating budget; monitors and administers approved budget.
• Reviews, analyzes, and reports information as requested by City auditor.
• Schedules, assigns, inspects, and evaluates work; instructs and trains in correct methods and procedures; monitors work on a daily basis; reviews and evaluates employee performance.
• Manages the investment portfolio of operating, grant and bond funds.
• Provides technical advice, counsel and direction to the City Administrator, Mayor, City Council and department heads as necessary to ensure effective administration and implementation of City-approved financial policies, plans, procedures and systems.
• Files various financial Federal and State reports.
• Implements and installs all changes to financial reporting system, as required.
• Provides requested data, reports and other necessary items to ensure the completion and accuracy of annual audits.

· Performs other related duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

· Advanced knowledge of public accounting, utility accounting, fixed assets accounting, finance, budgeting and auditing principles, procedures and techniques.

· Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of public financial administration, including budget preparation

· Advanced knowledge of statistical methods, techniques and financial report preparation,

· Advanced knowledge of computerized financial system design and analysis.

· Advanced knowledge of principles and practices of fund investing procedures and cash management.

· Knowledge of bond markets and ratings, trend analysis and financial forecasting.

· Knowledge of administrative practices and principles including goal setting, program budget development and implementation.

· Knowledge of City ordinances, City investment policies and bond agreements, property tax allocation, Federal and State payroll taxes and laws governing local governments.

· Knowledge of general office procedures, policies and equipment.

· Knowledge of Tyler Incode and UKG.

· Skill in effective and clear oral and written communications about the City's finances to individuals and groups.

· Skill in local option sales tax negotiation, special purpose local option sales tax and service delivery strategy assessments.

· Ability to perform complicated mathematical calculations and analyses.

· Ability to interpret and apply related federal, state and local laws.

· Ability to apply sound administrative and fiscal practices.

· Ability to write clear, comprehensive explanatory texts to accompany financial reports.

· Ability to prepare accounting/financial data projections.

· Ability to present ideas effectively orally and in writing.

· Ability to supervise the work of departmental staff including coordinating, assigning, monitoring, and evaluating work; hiring, training, counseling, and disciplining staff; and processing grievances.

· Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other City employees/departments, City officials, and the public.

· Ability to operate City vehicles in the performance of duties and/or to attend training programs.

· Ability to act as a financial advisor to the City Administrator, Mayor and City Council.