The Assistant Director of Finance is a key member of the Finance Department and will report to the Director of Finance. The incumbent in this role will provide financial, budgeting, operational, and administrative support for the Town Finance Department. The role requires the ability to proactively identify and act on major accounting and finance operations deliverables, while also executing recurring tasks effectively and adapting to additional requests as needed, often with tight deadlines. The role works independently and as part of a team, and requires excellent communication, organizational, problem-solving skills and business acumen. The position will interact closely with municipal directors and other town personnel.

SCOPE OF WORK

The Assistant Finance Direct heads the Accounting and Control Division and has major accounting and financial management duties delegated by the Finance or Deputy Finance Director. This is a responsible professional accounting, administrative and supervisory work involving the hands-on performance of a variety of professional accounting and financial control functions. Incumbent in this role will be one of the senior leaders in the finance administration, managing complex finance and accounting deliverables. Work involves responsibility for the supervision and completion of accounting functions and the analysis and reconciliation of various financial statements on a monthly basis. Duties include account reconciliation, cash management, accounting for various funds, monthly financial reports, year-end reports, bank reconciliation, financial analysis and internal audit. This position also has the responsibility for making difficult technical accounting decisions. The work requires that the employee have considerable knowledge, skill, and ability in every phase of municipal accounting and control functions. 

SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general direction of the Director of Finance or Deputy Finan

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervises employees involved in accounting and control, including accounting, accounts payable/receivable, payroll, and other related accounting functions.

• Assigns, oversees and monitors work of accounting staff involved in the processing of payrolls, payment of invoices and the maintenance of general ledger accounts including general and special funds.
• Serves as a back-up for payroll and accounts payable processing. 
• Oversees maintenance of the Town’s general ledger and accounting system for all funds.
• Performs detailed and complex monthly bank reconciliation of the Town’s General Fund and Payroll bank accounts to the General Ledger, including tax reconciliation. Prepares monthly bank reconciliation of the Board of Education accounts payable and payroll bank accounts and general fund transactions in the Town’s general ledger.
• Prepares annual financial statements and makes detailed fund analysis for the various Town funds including balance sheet accounts, revenues, expenditures, encumbrances and necessary supporting documentation. Prepares adjustments and provides the Town’s external auditors with a complete financial package.
• Conducts analysis/accounting review for special projects including bond arbitrage calculations, grant analysis, interest allocation to Bond accounts for pooled investments and payroll projections.
• Performs analysis and assists Town staff with grant funds and preparation of required reports.
• Prepares and reviews journal entries on total funds expended and transfers. Monitors Health Insurance Fund claim withdrawal activity and advise Finance Director of any unusual changes.
• Reconciles bank statements for various Town checking accounts and investments.
• Maintains financial system software including assigning and setting up user access, security and general funds, departments, codes and accounts. Trains staff on financial system software application uses.
• Participates in the annual budget preparation process by updating programming in the financial system report writer module, including setting up annual projections, and reviewing accuracy of Town employee’s grades, steps and salaries for the forthcoming year.
• Reviews budget transfer requests submitted for Finance Director’s approval and posts approved transfers to the financial system.
• Reviews Personnel Action Forms as related to compensation. Monitors payroll and tax withholdings, researching and resolving discrepancies. Reviews the quarterly 941 tax return prior to the Director’s approval.
• Reviews and balances year-end gross and taxable wages and tax withholdings to prepare files for W-2 printing. Reviews, analyzes, balances and prints 1099 forms as required by the IRS.
• Interfaces with Board of Education to resolve and reconcile accounting matters and required journal entries.
• Develops finance staff to ensure accuracy in transactions, professional growth and retention. Acts on behalf of the Finance Director or Deputy Finance Director in his or her absence and performs other duties delegated by the Director or Deputy Finance Director.

• Considerable knowledge of governmental accounting principles and procedures, including auditing, payroll, cash management and budgeting. 
• Considerable knowledge and experience in municipal transactional accounting.
• Considerable knowledge of the municipality’s financial and accounting system, including policies and financial reporting requirements.
• Considerable knowledge of the operations of municipal departments from an accounting perspective.
• Intermediate to expert Microsoft Excel skills required.
• Knowledge of finance, accounting, budgeting, and cost control principles including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Extremely detailed and analytical.
• Considerable knowledge of financial statements, interfund relationships and intuitive knowledge of balance sheets.
• Considerable skill in business mathematics.
• Considerable ability in oral and written communications.
• Considerable ability to administer an accounting unit and to supervise the work of others.
• Considerable ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, associates, subordinates, banks, officials of other agencies, auditors and the general public.
• Maintain aptitude and willingness to seek continuing education for self and staff under his or her supervision to promote work mastery, accurate assignments delivery, and industry level process improvement to benefit the Town.

A bachelor’s degree from a recognized college or university in business, accounting, public administration or a related field, supplemented by courses in public accounting plus five years of responsible accounting experience, including at least two years in a government and two years of supervisory experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

A Master’s degree from a recognized college or university in accounting or CPA with 7 years of direct transactional accounting experience is preferred.

Experience with audit firm with exposure to transactional accounting, audit and review.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

None

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Computer, calculator and standard office equipment.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and listen. Occasionally the employee is required to walk, use hands and fingers to operate office equipment and reach with hands and arms. The employee may occasionally lift or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Employee must be able to read, analyze and interpret financial reports and legal documents and to effectively present information to top management, public agencies, Boards and Commissions. The position requires the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The work is conducted in typical office working conditions with virtually no disagreeable features.

GENERAL GUIDELINES

The duties listed above 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 to the position.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.