JOB DESCRIPTION

FINANCE DIRECTOR

FLSA Status: Executive Exempt

SUPERVISION

Supervision Received: The Finance Director reports directly to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

Supervision Given: Manages subordinate supervisors and employees and contractors in the treasury, budget, accounting, income tax, purchasing, human resources, payables and receivables and information technology divisions, including but not limited to the City Treasurer, Purchasing Agent, Payables and Receivables Manager and Human Resource Specialist.

DESCRIPTION

An incumbent in this position shall have the overall supervisory and administrative responsibilities pertaining to the administration and implementation of the functions of the Finance Department described in the Code of Ordinances. The Finance Director shall be responsible for ensuring that all of the duties and responsibilities of the Finance Department, as identified in the Code of Ordinances are executed in a fair and legal matter.

The environment in City Hall is one of a typical business office environment, with electro-mechanical computer and telecommunications-related equipment. There is exposure to noise from shredders, printers, copiers, telephones and other computer-related equipment. Also operates PC-based computer system and other equipment.

Has regular, daily contact with personnel and offices throughout City Hall in answering questions and solving problems. Has access to public information files in the computer systems, with extensive use of written documents, computer and telephone. Errors could result in the damage to or loss of information resulting in legal and financial consequences to the City.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment of the position:

• Plans and directs the City’s fiscal policies; analyzes operations to evaluate performance of the City and its staff in meeting objectives and to determine areas of potential cost reduction, program improvement or policy change.
• Develops financial studies and plans; gathers, interprets and prepares data for studies. Reports and recommendations.
• Directs and coordinates the City’s financial and budget activities to fund operations, maximize investments and increase efficiency.
• Responsible for overseeing all functions of the City’s utility billing, cash receipting and accounts payable and payroll.
• Supervises the preparation and issuance of the tax bills and the collection of taxes; oversees the disbursement of taxes to other local units of government.
• Supervises administrative employees performing financial functions, human resource and IT functions and/or other personnel performing related functions in the City.
• Ensures that assigned areas of responsibility are performed with budget; performs control activities; monitors revenues and expenditures to ensure sound fiscal control; prepares annual budget requests; ensures effective use of budgeted funds, personnel, materials, facilities and time.
• Participates in the selection of finance staff and the establishment and/or reorganization of major departments.
• Establishes and maintains internal control procedures and ensures that state and national standard accounting procedures are maintained.
• Supervises the collection of taxes, fees and other receipts in accordance with laws and regulations.
• Provides guidance to Finance Department and division heads whenever necessary and gives advice on general finance functions.
• Serves as member of the City’s labor negotiation team by attending meetings and participating in costing proposals.
• Review employee hours and resolve discrepancies.
• Create or review budget adjustments.
• Assist Treasury and train Treasury personnel as needed.
• Review Income Tax reports or direct contractors and review reporting from contractors.
• Approve City vendors.
• Approve invoice payments.
• Oversees the ongoing maintenance and development of computerized systems in the City.
• Presents financial metrics to City Council on a monthly basis at the Personnel and Finance Committee and as otherwise directed by the Deputy Mayor.
• Maintains all financial records of the City. Plans, organizes and administers the financial activities of the City in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, best fiscal practices and all state and local regulations.
• Completes and submits all financial reporting required by the City and state and federal agencies.
• Prepares annual financial statements and oversees annual City audit.
• Supervises the year-end losing of financial records. Provides needed documentation, schedules and information to the City’s auditors.
• Assist the Deputy Mayor and Mayor in preparing the annual City budget. Monitor and analyze expenditures throughout the fiscal year to maintain compliance with the approved budget.
• Evaluates financial trends and prepares periodic reports and recommendations to the Deputy Mayor and City Council.
• Performs cash management functions including investment of municipal funds. Balances all funds and reconciles internal and bank accounts. Investigates and examines various investment options in order to achieve the best possible rate of return.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) in accounting, finance, business, public administration or related field or equivalent.
• Necessary experience includes five to ten years in professional accounting or financial management in a municipal setting.
• CPA certification preferred.
• An employee in this classification must possess upon hire and maintain a valid Michigan Operator’s license.
• Knowledge of modern governmental accounting theory, principles, practices and procedures.
• Knowledge of procedures relating to municipal operations including auditing, budgeting and treasury functions.
• Knowledge of property tax law.
• Understand, speak and write in the English language.
• Read and interpret documents and write routine reports and correspondence.
• Exercise professional judgement and maintain confidentiality when necessary.
• Ability to apply the overall mission of a department to make executive decisions.
• Review several diverse references sources and select and synthesize data for reports and other forms of correspondence.
• Efficiently handle multiple tasks requiring a high degree of attention to detail.
• Read, analyze and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports and legal documents.
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, the City Administrator, Mayor, City Council, customers and the general public.
• Apply advanced mathematical concepts such as exponents, logarithms, quadratic, equations and permutations; as well as operations to such tasks as frequency distributions, determination of test reliability and validity, analysis of variance, correlation techniques, sampling theory and factor analysis.
• Skills in accounting software, database software, internet, spreadsheet and word processing software.