Finance Director

About the role

This is senior executive-level work in the administration and management of the City's Finance Department. The Director is the Chief Administrator for the department, which includes Central Accounting, City Clerk, City Treasurer, Retirement Services, and Finance Customer Billing. Work involves planning, scheduling, supervising, and participating in all phases of the City's financial activities. General direction is received from the City Manager.

Responsibilities

• Develops, communicates, and executes strategic business plans and objectives in alignment with the City's vision, mission, and values.
• Leverages succession management strategies to develop a diverse pipeline of highly qualified talent and future leaders.
• Formulates departmental goals and objectives; plans, organizes, and assigns responsibilities to ensure goal attainment.
• Reviews the work of subordinates as required; supervises the Assistant Finance Director, Division Managers, City Clerk, and other management personnel and reviews performance.
• Sets high-performance standards; provides honest and constructive feedback when expectations and results are not achieved; and renders timely personnel decisions as needed.
• Promotes a culture committed to continuous improvement.
• Maintains an adequate accounting system for recording financial data and providing an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report to the City Commission and other interested parties.
• Performs financial analysis and prepares financial and statistical reports as required.
• Develops departmental policies and procedures.
• Develops accounting policies and procedures for all departments within the framework of the City Charter; Federal, State, and local laws; City policies; and authoritative accounting standard-setting bodies such as the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
• Works closely with the City's Financial Advisor(s), Investment Bankers, Legal Counsel, and City Management in project and financial planning and debt issuance.
• Provides input and assists in developing various legal and bond disclosure documents for debt issuance and refinancing, including for the Electric and Water Utility.
• Issues the Annual Report to Bondholders and provides required disclosure to Nationally Recognized Municipal Securities Information Repositories.
• Ensures compliance with bond and loan covenants.
• Establishes investment policies and coordinates the long-term investment of surplus funds.
• Prepares revenue and expenditure forecasts and coordinates the annual budget preparation; ensures compliance with the TRIM statute.
• Attends City Commission meetings and Commission Committee meetings and advises the City Commission, City Manager, and Department Directors concerning financial matters.
• Acts as City Clerk when required.
• Serves as Chair-person of the Public Improvement Endowment Fund.
• Represents the City Manager in all collective bargaining negotiations.
• Prepares oral and written reports to the City Manager, City Commission, and other City departments as required.
• Works with state agencies, including the Division of Bond Finance, the Auditor General, and the Florida Department of Revenue, to ensure compliance with state law and procedural requirements.
• Works with various state and federal agencies in obtaining financing or grants for City programs.
• Assists the general public, actuaries, independent auditors, rating agencies, insurance companies, investment banking firms, brokerage firms, bondholders, and other interested parties in obtaining information relating to the City's finances and outstanding debt.
• Demonstrates genuine concern for the Department's and the City's success, modeling selfless behavior.
• Promotes world-class customer service by being accessible and responsive, anticipating customer expectations, architecting innovative and resourceful solutions, and building partnerships within the community.
• May be required to participate in and/or facilitate training to support departmental or City initiatives and requirements.
• May be required to work alternate hours as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.
• Position is designated as Mission Critical.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting. Eight years of progressively responsible experience in Accounting, with four years of experience in Finance (both debt issuance and investment) and management. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other competencies necessary for success in the target position may be considered.

Special Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must possess and maintain a valid telephone number.
• Persons holding an active designation of Certified Public Accountant (CPA) will be given preference in the selection process.
• Completion of Certified Public Manager (CPM) or completion within three years.
• An incumbent in this position is required to file a financial disclosure statement