Deputy Director of Finance

Deputy Director of Finance

SALARY: $119,059.20 Hire Rate and $125,299.20 Work Rate after 9 months - 2026 rates

TYPE OF EMPLOYMENT: Full Time

ISSUE DATE: 09/25/26

THE FINAL DATE TO FILE APPLICATIONS: 10/25/26

DATE THAT THIS ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM POSTING: 10/26/26

RESIDENCY: Candidates must have been legal residents of Tompkins County or one of the six adjoining counties (Cayuga,
Chemung, Cortland, Schuyler, Seneca, Tioga) for at least one month immediately preceding the date of application and maintain
residency. For Examinations: The eligible list resulting from the examination will be established in accordance with the final
earned numerical ratings of passing candidates regardless of residence. A municipality or district may exercise its right under
section 23-4-a. of Civil Service Law to request a certification of eligible candidates who have been residents of that municipality
or district for at least one month prior to appointment. After the names of residents have been exhausted, Tompkins County must
then certify the names of non-residents on the list.

Your financial expertise can help Tompkins County deliver the services our community depends on. As Deputy Director of
Finance, you will lead and support staff across Treasury, Purchasing, Accounting, and Payroll while helping the County maintain
accurate records, improve procedures, and meet its financial responsibilities. This is an opportunity for a thoughtful, collaborative
leader to develop people, solve complex problems, and make a meaningful contribution to local government.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

1. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered university with a Masters degree in Accounting,
Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field which must have included, or been supplemented by, at
least twelve

(12) credit hours in accounting, OR possession of NYS CPA certification, AND two years of full time (or the equivalent
part-time) experience in the preparation and maintenance of financial accounts and records, AND two years of full time (or the
equivalent part-time) supervisory experience; OR

2. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's degree in
Accounting, Public Administration, Business Administration or a related field which must have included or been
supplemented by at least (12) twelve credit hours in accounting, OR possession of NYS CPA certification, AND four
years of progressively responsible full-time (or the equivalent part-time ) experience in the preparation and maintenance
of financial accounts and records, AND two years full time (or the equivalent part-time) supervisory experience; OR

3. Any combination of training and experience equal to or greater than that specified in (a) and (b) above.

Tompkins County Government centers diversity, equity, and inclusion. We are committed to the empowerment of employees and
residents to dismantle systemic barriers that inhibit inclusive governance and the provision of government services to all. Guided
by our values of Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Equity, and Stewardship, we strive to build a workplace and community
rooted in trust, belonging, and opportunity for all.

Learn more about our Strategic Plan and Institutionalizing Equity Report, which embed equity across our operations.

NOTES:

The employee is expected to have a commitment to and maintain evidence of continuing education throughout their career.
Government accounting or fund accounting experience is a plus, but not necessary. CPA, CGFM, CMA, CPFO or related
designations preferred but not required.

During the interview/selection process, the applicant should be able to affirm that they are skilled, trained, and experienced in at
least three of the following competencies:

• Writing policies and procedures for Finance Department
• Banking & Investments for a municipality, including sending/receiving electronic payments
• Recording & Reporting of New York State Sales Tax – includes the receipting of sales tax and the distributions to the

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS:

The Deputy Director of Finance is responsible for coordinating all of the various accounting activities of a municipal finance
department. The work involves developing, implementing and overseeing the account-keeping activities of the office, supervising
staff responsible, and independently performing some of the more challenging public sector account-keeping tasks. The work
involves responsibility for insuring that all account-keeping activities are carried out in accordance with all applicable Federal,
State and local laws, regulations and policies governing local governments. The incumbent must be willing to learn new software,
and develop and adapt to new account-keeping systems and methods. The work is performed under the general direction of the
Director of Finance and is not usually subject to more than the Director’s general administrative controls. In accordance with
Public Officers law and the Tompkins County Charter, the Deputy Director of Finance has the power and authority to act for and
in place of the Director in his/her absence. The employee is responsible for the direct supervision of staff of the Finance
Department’s various operating units which consist of: Treasury, Purchasing, Accounting and Payroll. The incumbent will
perform all related duties as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

• Provides direct supervision to staff of the Finance Department’s various operating units which consist of: Treasury,

• Provides departments with information regarding the proper municipal accounting procedures;
• Provides information and reports relative to the proper utilization of Finance Department records;
• Develops, or assists the Director with developing, administrative policies of the Legislature;
• Learns new or existing software packages and implements new accounting procedures designed to ensure compliance

departmental reports;

• Prepares original written correspondence, annual statements, various governmental surveys, reports to various County

• Assists in the preparation of the department’s annual budget;
• Assists County Administration in obtaining data for preparation of the larger County budget;
• Oversees journal entries to the general ledger made from board resolutions which include budget transfers and budget

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of modern public sector finance, including internal auditing,

• Thorough knowledge of modern account-keeping practices and terminology;
• Thorough knowledge of the terminology, practices and procedures of electronic accounting systems;
• Good knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision;
• Good knowledge of office terminology, procedures and equipment;
• Good knowledge of business English, grammar usage and punctuation;
• Good knowledge of Federal, State and local laws and regulations that affect the accounting practices of local

without reasonable accommodations.

Originally created 11/16/2015 D107.doc

FURTHER INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS

Falsification of any part of the "Application for Employment" will result in disqualification.

Accepted candidates will be notified when and where to appear for the examination. If you do not receive your notice to appear at least three days before the
date of the written examination, call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources at 274-5526. If an application is disapproved, due notice will be
sent. This department does not make formal acknowledgment of the receipt of an application or take responsibility for non-delivery or postal delay.

Applicants must answer every question on the application form and make sure that the application is complete in all respects. Incomplete applications will
be disapproved.

ACTIVE MILITARY PERSONNEL, VETERANS OR DISABLED VETERANS desiring to claim additional credit will request the Veterans Credits
application form, at any time between the date of application for examination(s) and the date of the establishment of the resulting eligible list. You must
meet the requirements set by NYS for these credits and they may be used only once. YOU MAY NOT CLAIM ADDITIONAL CREDITS AFTER THE
ELIGIBLE LIST HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. IT IS THE CANDIDATE'S RESPONSIBILITY TO REQUEST THE VETERANS CREDIT
APPLICATION FORMS AND TO SUBMIT THESE FORMS AND ANY SUPPORTING PAPERWORK BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST IS
ESTABLISHED.
Tompkins County's written examinations are prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of
Civil Service Law. The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations, which deal with the rating and review of the examinations
apply.

The duration of the eligible lists may be fixed for a minimum of one and a maximum of four years and may be extended beyond four years if there has been
a restriction against the filling of vacancies in that title.
The candidates must complete a separate "Application for Employment" for each open-competitive and/or promotional examination that the candidate is
eligible to take.

All experience required meeting the acceptable training and experience is full-time experience. (Part-time experience will be credited on a prorated basis).

Appointment from an eligible list must be made from the top three candidates willing to accept the appointment.

Tompkins County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. As part of its efforts to provide employment opportunities to the physically handicapped, Tompkins
County Civil Service has adopted a rule permitting the employment of qualified physically handicapped persons without competitive examination (pursuant
to Section 55 of Civil Service Law). If you meet the minimum qualifications for this position and wish to know more about this rule, please contact the
Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Office.

Unless otherwise notified, candidates are permitted to use quiet, hand-held, and solar or battery powered calculators. Devices with Typewriter Keyboards,
Spell Checkers, Personal Digital Assistants, Address Books, Language Translators, Dictionaries or any similar devices are prohibited. You may not bring
books or other reference materials.

CROSS-FILING - APPLYING FOR CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS IN MULTIPLE JURISDICTIONS WHEN EXAMINATIONS ARE
SCHEDULED ON THE SAME DATE: When applying for examinations across multiple jurisdictions - all of which are scheduled on the same day - you
must submit a Tompkins County Cross-Filing Form. This form must be submitted no later than 4:30 PM on the final filing date of the examination. On this
form, list each examination that you are taking and then tell us where you would like to sit. The purpose is to ensure that all of the test materials for the
various examinations that you are taking will be available in one location. If you do not provide the cross-filing form to us by the final filing date, we cannot
ensure that we can accommodate your desire to cross-file. If any of the examinations are State level examinations, you must sit at the State test center. You
will still need to complete the Tompkins County cross-filing form. If sitting at the State site, the State will notify you of when and where to report for your
examination(s) and you should bring all admittance letters to the State site. If you are not taking a State examination, bring all admittance letters to your
chosen testing site. If you have any question please call Tompkins County Department of Human Resources Department (607) 274-5526. The Cross File
form is located at http://www.tompkins-co.org/personnel/CivilSrvForms/index.html

FOR RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION AND HANDICAPPED PERSONS: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on
your application.

ALL CANDIDATES FOR EMPLOYMENT FOR POSITIONS IN SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND BOCES GOVERNED BY TOMPKINS COUNTY
CIVIL SERVICE MAY HAVE THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL REQUIREMENT. PER CHAPTER 180 OF THE LAWS OF 2000, AND BY
REGULATIONS OF THE COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION, TO BE EMPLOYED IN A POSITION DESIGNATED BY A SCHOOL
DISTRICT OR BOCES AS INVOLVING DIRECT CONTACT WITH STUDENTS, A CLEARANCE FOR EMPLOYMENT FROM THE
STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS REQUIRED.
In conformance with Section 85-a of the Civil Service Law, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duties shall be entitled to receive
an additional ten points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served. If you are
qualified to participate in this examination and are a child of firefighter or police officer killed in the line of duties in this municipality, please inform this
office of this matter when you submit your application for examination. A candidate claiming such credit has a minimum of two months from the
application deadline to provide the necessary documentation to verify additional credit eligibility. However, no credit may be added after the eligible list has
been established.▝

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Applicants may be required to undergo a State and national criminal history background investigation, which will
include a fingerprint check, to determine suitability for appointment. Failure to meet the standards for the background investigation may result in
disqualification.

TOMPKINS COUNTY PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT, 125 EAST COURT STREET, ITHACA, NY 14850