Listing Summary

Bartow County Water Department is seeking a Chief Financial Officer to take the water department finance function to the next level of service.  Bartow County is approximately 45 miles North of Atlanta and 65 miles south of Chattanooga, Tennessee along Interstate 75 and comprises approximately 470 square miles. Bartow County is home to a number of award winning museums and historical landmarks, including the Rose Lawn Museum, the home of renowned evangelist Samuel Porter Jones; the George Washington Carver Park, established in 1950 as Georgia's first state park for African Americans; and the Etowah Indian Mounds, a 54- acre archaeological site located along the Etowah River and one of the largest and most intact Indian mounds still remaining in North America. Bartow County Government has a sole commissioner form of government. There are only seven counties in Georgia still using this form of government. Bartow is the largest county by population still using sole commissioner form. All departments of the County work under the authority of the sole commissioner except those under the authority of other elected officials. The Commissioner hires a County Administrator to assist with daily operations. The Chief Financial Officer for the Water Department will report to the Water Department Director. 

Find details about the position expectations by reviewing the recruitment brochure at www.mercergroupassociates.com

The Water Department CFO is responsible for directing the administrative duties related to the financial functions of the Bartow County Water Department to ensure proper accountabilities for all revenues and expenditures. The work consists of overseeing the work of assigned department administrative and accounting staff. Strict regulations and the need for accuracy contribute to the complexity of the work. Successful financial performance helps ensure the department's effective and efficient operation and compliance with all relevant regulations.

The ideal candidate for the position should be a professional and ethical finance professional who has served as a Finance Director, CFO or upper-level finance/accounting manager within a public/governmental organization.  The Chief Financial Officer should be a dedicated team player and have a proven financial services record of success in leadership and management of finance functions.  The successful candidate should be an experienced, self-confident person who can immediately provide quality financial services to the Water Department in a timely manner and is able to address budgetary questions/concerns and issues with diplomacy and tact. The ability to identify and implement new and innovative approaches within a department is an important qualification expected of the new CFO. Specific experience is expected in purchasing/procurement, accounting, utility billing, budget development and the ability to offer responsive support services to a team-oriented organization. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, have well-developed problem-solving abilities, have the ability to communicate with stakeholders about the budget process, and focus on succession planning within the department.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Knowledge and level of competency commonly associated with the completion of a baccalaureate degree in a course of study related to the occupational field is required.
• A minimum of five years of accounting/finance experience in a governmental organization with a complexity similar to Bartow County’s Water Department and three years of supervisory experience is required.
• Any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Compensation & Benefits:

The expected starting salary range is $90,000-$110,000 based on the candidate's qualifications. In addition to a competitive salary, the benefits package includes health, dental, vision insurance, flexible and health spending benefits, life insurance, short-term & long-term disability, and retirement plans. The incumbent will also accrue vacation and sick leave on a monthly basis. Full-time employees (at least 30 hours per week) are eligible to participate in the hybrid retirement plan Bartow County offers.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates must submit by email a cover letter, resume, a list of at least five job-related references (with email and phone numbers), as well as salary history no later than the close of business on August 20, 2024 to lisaward912@gmail.com.

Please direct any questions to Lisa Ward, Senior Associate, Mercer Group Associates, at lisaward912@gmail.com or 706-983-9326 or Alan Reddish, Senior Associate, Mercer Group Associates, Cell: 706-614-4961.