BUDGET & FINANCE DEPARTMENT - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BUDGET & FINANCE

Acceptable Experience and Education

Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Finance, Accounting, Economics or a related field; minimum eight (8) years of experience in a progressively responsible financial management; with three (3) years in a large finance or management government organization, preferably in a Texas County Government; five (5) years in a lead or supervisory capacity;

Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities along with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college in Accounting.

Certificates and Licenses Required

Must have or obtain by date of hire valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso.

In order to access the County’s network and systems, a personal mobile smart device is required by the hire start date.

Essential Duties

Serves as principal assistant to the Director of Budget & Finance; 

Assists in directing the operations through day to day management of the Budget and Finance Department with fiscal oversight of the County’s financial affairs in collaboration with the County Auditor’s Office to ensure statutory compliance requiring adherence to a variety of laws and county policies; enforces budgetary compliance with adopted budgets; conducts strategic planning and forecasts future budgetary trends;

Oversight of Financial Recovery Division which includes but is not limited to: Oversees the collection of costs, fines and attorney fees for the various courts of El Paso County; supports the County’s Strategic Plan by optimizing collection support to all departments, increases accessibility, and services to the public; extends to leading, planning, directing, and controlling the efforts of the Financial Recovery Division.

Participates with the Director of Budget & Finance in the development of the departments strategic planning; reviews and evaluates department systems and operating procedures for compliance and achievement of established goals; assists in the development, maintenance and routine compilation and reporting of performance measures; prepares and monitors the department budget; approves and monitors expenditures;sets priorities, coordinating with staff and users and progress reporting; analyzes and interprets financial data, identifies problem areas; recommends actions to solve problems; oversees and maintains contracts for the office, reviews terms and conditions, and submits contracts to County Attorney and Commissioner’s Court for approval;

Responsible for scheduling program work on a long-term basis; establishes standards and priorities and ensures they are maintained by others; approves selection of new employees, employee transfer/promotion, discipline, termination, performance evaluations, and personnel actions.    

Recommends, develops, administers, and implements fiscal policies; interprets, communicates and applies rules, procedures and policies; answers questions where judgment, knowledge and interpretation of County fiscal policies, procedures and regulations are necessary; 

Monitors and oversees department operations to assure that services delivered are in compliance with contract provisions, applicable laws, rules and regulations established by federal, state, and local laws and by applicable standards established by Commissioners Court and the department; 

Develops and implements security policies and practices; 

Compiles, researches and analyzes projects related to the departmental goals, objectives, measures, strategic plans, and strategic maps, including policy and operational issues, business methods, service levels, analytic models, financial reports and organizational effectiveness; 

Compiles statistics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for County-wide departments utilizing technology to establish a consistent, data-driven approach for evaluating the performance of County programs, services, and contracts.;

Ensures that all County departments/divisions comply with budgetary policies and adheres to budget appropriations; reviews and coordinates with department heads and elected officials to understand their needs for budget purposes, oversees the preparation of budget impacts, cost benefits analysis, new cost impacts, and recommends options; provides budgetary compliance strategies and training for County Offices and Departments; advises on appropriateness of program goals;

Assists in overseeing and coordinating the preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets and the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Budget Package in collaboration with the County Auditor’s Office for the appropriate required financial data; 

Works with the County Auditor’s Office and Information Technology Department to oversee the evaluation on the systems of internal budgetary controls and makes recommendations for improvements; 

Collaborates with the County Auditor’s Office to monitor the County budgets expenditures and analyze variances from forecasts and budgets;  

Prepares, completes, and presents various special and recurring reports; may develop budget materials for the public and media;

Recommends appropriate action to ensure planned expenses are in alignment with the budget estimated and supported by actual revenues based on the County Auditor’s estimate and certification of available funds; 

Serves as a member of the Budget and Finance Department management team and attends and participates in team meetings and training and information sessions;

Serves as a liaison to boards or programs (CIP, Travel, Risk Pool, depository bank, etc.) and ensures compliance with board or program policies;

Supervises department employees, including assigning and reviewing work, training completing performance evaluations, and making recommendations on hiring, terminating, and disciplining personnel;

Selects, motivates, and evaluates department staff; provides or coordinates training and works with employees to correct deficiencies;

Plans, directs, and coordinates, through subordinate-level staff, the department work plan; meets with management staff to identify and resolve problems; assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; and reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures;

Oversees and monitors current annual appropriations and researches trends; 
 

Gathers, interprets, and prepares a variety of studies, reports and related information for recommendation and decision-making purposes for assigned department(s) or area(s); coordinates with other departments and agencies as needed; makes recommendations based on findings;

Makes presentations to the Commissioners Court, various boards, civic groups and the general public; reviews Commissioners Court agendas for financial impacts pertaining to assigned area;

Analyzes and recommends new programs and monitors effectiveness of existing programs and recommends changes to improve departmental and County-wide efficiency;

Exhibits excellent interpersonal and human relationship skills;

Evaluates adequacy of fiscal controls in accurately reflecting actual fiscal condition of operations and modifies procedures to meet record retention laws; 

Responds and provides necessary information for open records requests as needed within timelines;

Works with external and internal auditors; 

Stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field;

 Conducts or directs complex studies pertaining to a variety of financial problems; determine actions appropriate for improvements; advise Department Head on findings and methods of effective solution;

Prepares or directs the preparation and reviews of assigned programs and projects; interface with governmental agency's personnel regarding requirements for obtaining funds and monitoring procedures; present proposal to various boards and commissions in order to gain approval for programs and projects. 
 

Organizes and directs the development and administration of the departmental budget;

Conducts cost/benefit analyses, and recommends decision options based on analysis results;

Oversees the direction of staff;

Oversees and directs the analysis of data obtained for evidence of deficiencies in controls, fraud, or lack of compliance with laws, government regulations, and management policies and procedures; 

Oversees the evaluation on the systems of internal controls and makes recommendations for improvements;

Provides support, mentors, transfers knowledge, and skills to staff at all technical levels in a team environment to meet established goals and objectives; 

Attends and participates in meetings, training and information sessions;

Provides assistance in the development, reporting and linking performance measures, goals & objectives and strategic plan for County Offices and Departments to the budget;

Other Important Duties*

Substitutes, if assigned, during temporary absences by performing delegated duties sufficient to maintain continuity of normal operations;

Commits self to providing excellent customer service and demonstrate commitment through cooperative team and individual efforts; and

Creates a high-quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills.

Performs such other related duties as may be assigned;

Maintains a safe and healthy work place environment; 

Be available for work beyond standard workday or workweek hours as necessary;

Regular out of town travel for professional conferences and meetings;

Be available to participate as a committee member on various boards within the County; and

As members of the County of El Paso Emergency Response System, all El Paso County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to train on emergency response and/or perform certain emergency services at the direction of their supervisor. 

Summary of Position

The Assistant Director of Budget & Finance under general direction performs a variety of complex administrative, technical and professional work in administering Budget and Finance activities of the County.The incumbent is responsible to comply and ensure that all County policies, procedures and contracts are adhered to.

Minimum Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of:public sector budgeting, financial analysis, and management analysis principles and techniques; business process analysis methods;principles and practices of general and governmental accounting and budgeting, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB); best business practices in fiscal policy development; operations of Texas County Government; Texas Local Government Code; Government Auditing Standards; statutory duties and responsibilities of county officials and department heads; procurement statutes; statutory duties and responsibilities of county officials and department heads; financial statutes and the role of the County Budget;  fundamental internal accounting controls; principles and practices of administrative management; the principles and practices of effective customer service; principles and practices of effective employee supervision; County organization, operations, policies and procedures; English usage, grammar, punctuation and spelling; techniques for effective interpersonal communications; modern office procedures, methods and computer equipment to include Windows and Microsoft based products.Skill/Ability to:Read and interpret federal, state, and county laws pertaining to accountability of assigned department funds; oversee the extensive budget procedures and processes; provide assistance and oversight in the development of the County accounting systems; prepare a variety of regular and special financial and statistical reports; make arithmetic calculations accurately and rapidly;  analyze financial data and formulate recommendations; direct and oversee budget and financial analysis projects; write and execute fiscal policy; conduct financial and trend analysis; make sound budgetary investment decisions; conduct research, develop appropriate documentation, assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects and demands to meet scheduled requirements; do extensive public speaking and formal public presentations; establish and maintain effective working relations with co-workers and customers to promote and support a productive work environment; work efficiently independently and in a team environment to meet established goals and objectives; communicate effectively in verbal and written forms to respond effectively to customers and staff accurately; communicate complex financial, budgetary, and accounting issues without unnecessarily alarming the media and other “non financial” persons; exercise initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines in performance of daily duties; read, interpret, and communicate instructions; compile, analyze, and present statistical information; complete projects on time and within budget; operate personal computer using standard office operating software and general office equipment; prepare and maintain records; promote program activities; make mathematical computations; prepare clear, concise and comprehensive written reports, and staff studies; schedule, supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff; and work under stressful conditions. Pass a background investigation.Each and every county position requires the following professional skills and abilities as key and necessary elements of performance: 

Organizational Relationships

Reports to: Director of Budget & Finance

Directs: Budget and Grant Systems Manager, Budget Division, Executive Assistant, Grant Division, the Financial Recovery Division Manager

Other: Has routine contact with Commissioners Court, County Elected Officials, Department Heads and/or staff, other counties and city officials, federal and state governmental agencies, federal agencies, financial advisors, vendors, contractors, and other county employees. 

Salary : $133,929