Listing Summary

POSITION SUMMARY

This is an appointed position responsible for the core accounting and financial functions of the City including overall financial management, accounting, reporting, budgeting, payroll accounting, internal, financial recordkeeping, procurement, revenue management, and treasury management. Work requires the exercise of independent judgement and discretion and analytical abilities to accomplish diversified duties within the limits of federal and state laws, City policies, standards, guidelines, and precedents. The employee in this class manages department operations and supervises professional staff. This position is also responsible for Executive Level Leadership within the city which includes overseeing general finance operations for the City of Stonecrest fulfilling organizational goals, strategic planning development and overall financial decision making in city operations.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Directs the methods and procedures for all financial accounts, designated financial accounting records as may be deemed necessary with the authority to recommend changes in implementation and maintenance.
• Ensures integrity and accuracy of all accounting and financial controls and activities of the City interprets, applies, and ensures compliance with generally accepted accounting principles and standards and all applicable local, state, and federal codes, laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures; and initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
• Consults with City Manager to review financial operations and activities, review and resolve problems, receive, and give advice and direction, and provide recommendations; prepares, analyzes, distributes, and presents financial reports and executive summaries; attends Council meetings; makes recommendations to assist City management in making financial decisions.
• Oversees the annual budget process; prepares the preliminary budget with proposed alternatives; participates in long- and short-range financial planning, including forecasting all revenues, capital requirements and cash flow management for all funds; provides final review and correction to written reports and documents included in annual budget; and manages and participates in entering budget data into accounting system.
• Monitors budgetary performance; oversees and conducts budget reviews; reviews financial statements; monitors revenues and expenditures; monitors and maintains debt service requirements; identifies problems and opportunities; formulates and recommends strategies to remedy budget deficiencies; reviews budget status with departments; and develops performance indicators to be used in integrating performance/financial evaluation.
• Oversees treasury operations with guidance from financial advisor including related borrowing needs, and available funds for investment; ensures sufficient funds are available to meet ongoing operational and capital investment requirements; maintains banking and credit rating agency relationships; assist with equity and debt financing; invests funds; makes recommendations regarding liquidity; and monitors adherence to policies and procedures and financial controls.
• Plans long range goals, objectives, organization structure and overall financial direction of city departments; provides direction and assistance to department staff and departments in the preparation and presentation of the city’s annual budget, financial audit reports, implementation of auditor recommendations, and citywide policies and procedures; monitors, reviews and communicates recommendations, and citywide policies and procedures; reviews and communicates implementation phases of the City’s strategic plans to ensure that long range goals and objectives are met.
• Provides technical advice, counsel and direction to Council and department heads as necessary to ensure effective administration and implementation of City approved policies, plans, procedures, hiring or promotion of financial accounting personnel, and systems, files various financial federal and state reports. Oversee preparation of annual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) (ACFR for future years) in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards (GAS), and Governmental Accounting Standard Board (GASB) requirements. 
• Works directly with Department Directors of assigned departments on day-to-day issues, special projects, and urgent issues to develop solutions and implement programs. Ensure credibility of the Finance Department by providing timely and accurate financial reports, balance sheet, budget analysis, budget to actual financial reports (monthly, quarterly and annually), financial trends, and forecasts to the Council as requested. Review the general ledger system for proper entries and compliance with state and federal regulations; and prepares necessary reports.
• Establish effective internal controls to ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulatory laws for assigned departments. Develop and recommend annual departmental operating budget; monitors and administers approved budget; assists in development and advises Council on annual operating budget.
• Provide leadership in the development of and continuous evaluation of short/long-term strategic objectives for assigned departments. Prepare and develop Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan designed to identify City capital needs by department and/or function and assist department managers in establishing timeline for project completion. Also, review funding requirements and advise the Council of the funds necessary to fund the plan. Prepare and develop Five-Year Financial Forecast for city operations to identify funding sources as well as identifying possible funding shortfalls along with a proposed plan to fund any shortfalls. Evaluates and advises on the impact of long-range planning, introduction of new programs/strategies, and regulatory action for assigned departments.
• Maintain budgetary control accounts showing encumbrances for obligations entered into, liquidation of such encumbrances, unencumbered balances of allotments, unexpended balances of allotments, and all un-allotted balances of appropriations. Maintain proprietary accounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenditures of all City funds. Maintain a permanent detailed fixed assets inventory of City assets in accordance with City financial policies and procedures and ensure fixed assets are properly tagged and accounted for. Responsible for financial reporting for all grants and works with recipient department to coordinate financial reporting (monthly, quarterly and annual reports) and related grant reporting.
• Oversee internal audit of City funds as advised or directed by the COUNCIL. Directs, monitors and evaluates the work of department staff; interviews, hires, trains, assigns work, addresses complaints, resolves conflicts, rewards and discipline employees.
• Trains staff on changes in regulations, financial information systems and general accounting principles as related to each function within the Finance Department as needed. Implements and installs all changes to the financial information system, as required. Represents the City at various functions including community functions and business meetings with other organizations.
• This position requires the incumbent to attend committee meetings, council meetings and work sessions.  This position may have to attend other city related meetings, events and functions.
• Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field; supplemented by ten (10) years of progressively responsible governmental fund accounting experience at the administrative level in a Finance Department, Purchasing Department, City/City Manager’s Office, or other related department; experience should include supervisory/management responsibilities, budget preparation, financial reporting, and financial statement preparation; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills and abilities for the job. Master’s degree in finance, Accounting, Public or Business Administration, or a related field; or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation is preferred.  Knowledge of Tyler Technologies is a plus.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS

Guidelines: Guidelines include governmental Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards (GAS), GASB, City and departmental rules, and other Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and standards related to public financial recording keeping and reporting. These guidelines are sometimes clear and specific but may require interpretation in application.  CPA preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of public accounting, finance, budgeting and auditing principles, procedures, and techniques.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of public financial administration including budget preparation.
• Knowledge of statistical methods, techniques, and financial report preparation.
• Knowledge of financial system design and analysis.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of fund investing procedures and cash management.
• Knowledge of administrative practices and principles including goal setting, program budget development and implementation.
• Skill in effective, clear, and persuasive oral and written communication about the City’s finances to individuals and groups.
• Ability to interpret and apply related Federal, State, and local laws.
• Ability to apply sound administrative and fiscal practices.
• Ability to write clear, comprehensive explanatory texts to accompany financial reports.
• Ability to prepare accounting/financial data projections.
• Ability to present ideas effectively orally and in writing.
• Ability to supervise the work of departmental staff including coordinating, assigning, monitoring, and evaluating work, hiring, training, counseling, and disciplining staff.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, other City employees/ department, City officials, and the public.
• Prioritizes and plans work activities and uses time efficiently.
• Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, monitors own work to ensure quality and applies feedback to improve performance.
• Interacts and communicates clearly with coworkers, citizens and vendors in a courteous, friendly matter.
• Manages difficult situations, responds promptly to needs, solicits consultant feedback to improve service, responds to requests for service and assistance and meets commitments.
• Exhibits tact, consideration, and patience in difficult situations.
• Approaches sudden, unexpected challenges effectively with confidence.
• Punctual, follows instructions, responds to management direction and solicits feedback to improve performance.

• Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems time efficiently; Gathers and analyzes information; Develops solutions; Uses reason.
• Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Organizes or schedules other tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
• Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively; Listens and gets clarification when necessary; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
• Written Communication - Writes clearly and concisely; Edits work; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

ADA COMPLIANCE

Physical Ability:  Tasks require the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, but which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (5-10 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation.

Sensory Requirements: Some tasks require the ability to perceive and discriminate colors or shades of colors, sounds, depth, texture, and visual cues or signals.  Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally.

Environmental Factors: Essential functions are regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

May work an adjusted schedule for assisting in events occurring after 5:00 p.m. such as meetings, or planned events. May perform some duties outdoors while conducting official business which will require limited local travel.

REQUIREMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS CLASS SPECIFICATION MAY BE SUBJECT TO MODIFICATION IN ORDER TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WHO ARE OTHERWISE QUALIFIED TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THE JOB.