Finance Director

Job Summary

The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is seeking an experienced and quality-oriented Finance Director who is committed to the efficient management of the Health Department’s public resources and assets. This is an appointive, full-time (1.0 FTE) position on the Department’s executive leadership team that leads the Health Department’s Finance team, supports and mentors Finance team leaders, and helps guide the Department’s values, strategic initiatives, and commitment to be an innovative, equitable, and quality-focused organization. The Finance Director plays a key role in safeguarding public funds, optimizing resource allocation, and supporting the Department’s mission to deliver quality services to Pierce County residents in a fiscally responsible manner.

Some of what you'll do

• Direct the financial operations of the Department: Plan, organize, and supervise the operations and personnel of the Finance program, including payroll, grants, contracts and procurement, accounts payable and receivable, financial reporting, audits, general ledger, budget and debt management, cash control and investments.
• Direct the Department’s budgeting process: Manage and oversee all budget and accounting operations for the Department, including the timely development of the biannual budget. Monitor the annual budget throughout the year and react to fiscal and budget issues as they arise. Manage and oversee the development and implementation of the operating and capital budgets. Make funding adjustments as necessary to meet business needs.
• Serve as the Department’s financial advisor: Provide technical expertise, information, and assistance to the Director of Public Health and the Board of Health regarding financial activities, transactions, and policies. Develop and maintain a comprehensive financial master plan and make strategic recommendations for the Director of Public Health, Board of Health, and staff to use in decision making in coordination with the Department’s capital improvement plan and strategic plan.
• Provide executive leadership with advice on the financial implications of business activities. Participate as an active member of the Leadership Team.
• Ensure accurate and useful reporting tools: Analyze, prepare, and review a variety of complex reports, financial statements, and accounting and financial management documentation for major financial projects such as the Department’s annual Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), year-end projections, and management financial review. Ensure accurate and timely reporting of fiscal affairs, including design, implementation and updating of information systems to support budgeting, accounting, and reporting objectives. Direct the preparation and maintenance of a variety of narrative and statistical reports, records, and files related to personnel, payroll, insurance claims and policies, audits, budget, financial impact, and investments.
• Identify process improvement initiatives and make recommendations to implement process modifications and enhancements.
• Supervise, mentor, coach, and manage Finance staff: Includes hiring, training, timecard/time off approvals, performance management, investigations, and resolution of disciplinary matters. Provide leadership and direction to multi-disciplinary staff. Effectively develop their direct reports. Review and evaluate Finance processes, cross train staff, forecast staffing needs, and allocate resources accordingly. Develop and manage the Finance program’s budget to assure adequate staff, equipment, resources, and other materials to perform the functions necessary in the division.
• Oversee the development and implementation of the rate-setting process. Work with Leadership Team on the analysis and evaluation of rate proposals, including making presentations to the Board of Health and general public.
• Develop annual and long-term goals and objectives, strategies, and work plans.
• Provide timely and accurate analysis of budgets and financial trends and forecasts, including data on the financial health of the Department. Project future possible results and advise on corrective actions to accomplish goals.
• Monitor changes in federal, state and local laws and regulations to ensure the Department maintains compliance and is positioned to take advantage of opportunities.
• Establish and administer systems for maintaining accountability over grant, trust, and agency funds. Ensure all financial operations have adequate internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and other relevant standards, federal, state and county laws, codes and policies.
• Track and monitor grants and expenditures to ensure financial accountability.
• Participate in the development and implementation of policies and procedures for handling accounting and financial activities including pre-audit, posting of expenditures and revenues, payroll, and other related activities.

What you bring to the table

• Advanced knowledge of standard Microsoft Office programs, accounting software, and automated financial systems.
• Advanced knowledge of professional government accounting and auditing principles, practices, theories, and concepts to include compliance with reporting and disclosure requirements.
• Strong understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards (GASB), and Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS).
• Understanding of local, state and federal legislation, policies, and procedures relevant to the body of work.
• Knowledge of Washington State BARS, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards, and schedule of expenditures of Federal Award preparation.
• Hightly skilled in interpreting complex financial data and providing actionable insights.
• Skill in interpreting and explaining local, state, and federal laws and regulations.
• Skill in preparing narrative, statistical and graphical reports, and correspondence.
• Knowledge and skill in maintaining financial information systems.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and proof-reading skills. Ability to research and compile information from multiple sources.
• Knowledge of quality improvement principles and techniques.
• Strong presentation and project management skills.
• Skill in building effective and cohesive teams.
• Skilled in maintaining sensitive and confidential data and using discretion when sharing information.
• Skilled in communication: Listens to others and communicates in an effective manner. Asks questions in ways that enhance the clarity, quality, and reliability of information. Understands and learns from what others say, attends to nonverbal cues, and responds appropriately. Grasps the meaning of written information and applies it to work situations. Conveys ideas and facts using language the audience will best understand, taking into consideration the audience and nature of the information.

Foundational competencies

• Knowing and managing oneself: Understands that all equity, trauma-informed, and restorative practices start with oneself. Exercises a high degree of self-reflection, personal accountability, resilience, flexibility, and adaptability. Is willing to learn, apply, and model agency values and ethical standards.
• Restorative practices and conflict resolution: Articulates through words and actions authentic commitment to create an environment in which all people are treated with dignity and respect and afforded equal opportunities and impartial treatment. Centers work inequity and trauma informed and restorative practices to achieve and maintain collaboration and teamwork and to effectively work with historically underrepresented and/or underserved populations to advance community health. Utilizes restorative practices to address harm and promote healing to strengthen relationships between individuals and social connections within communities.
• Collaboration and engagement: Provides balanced and objective information to help teammates, partners, and the public understand problems, alternatives, opportunities, and solutions. Works directly with partners within the Department, in the community, and members of the public affected by the work to obtain feedback and understand diverse points of view, concerns, and aspirations. Identifies preferred solutions together, incorporating advice and recommendations to the maximum extent possible.
• Evidence informed practices and decision-making: Applies evidence informed practices and methodologies to achieve the greatest impact in delivery of services to internal and external customers and partners. Incorporates the social determinants of health into public health work. Integrates research and evidence into the decision-making process. Seeks to systematically identify and eliminate inequities resulting in differences in health and in overall living conditions. Utilizes evidence informed practices to increase equity in systems and policy. Creates a robust culture of assessment and evaluation and continuous process improvement.
• Cross cultural communication and Engagement: Understands that cultural awareness, appreciation, and humility can only occur when you practice curiosity and open-mindedness. Operates with a high level of humility and cultural agility to achieve effective intercultural communication, engagement, and collaboration in the workplace and in the community. Is open to feedback and continuously self-reflects on one’s own actions and responses. Centers personal accuisition and cultural humility in all interactions.