Financial Operations Director

About the role

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) is seeking a dedicated, dynamic, and strategic leader to serve as the Financial Operations Director. The Financial Operations Director will lead and oversee all financial operations for DPS, including accounting, reporting, payroll, and cash management. They manage financial staff, ensure compliance with state and federal standards, and establish policies and controls to protect public funds and maintain accountability. This position leads training, development, and coordination of financial staff across divisions, provides expert guidance on complex funding and fiscal policy issues, and serves as a member of the FAS Senior Leadership Team, supporting enterprise-wide financial integrity, strategic planning, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all financial operations for DPS, including accounting, reporting, payroll, and cash management
• Manage financial staff and ensure compliance with state and federal standards
• Establish policies and controls to protect public funds and maintain accountability
• Lead training, development, and coordination of financial staff across divisions
• Provide expert guidance on complex funding and fiscal policy issues
• Serve as a member of the FAS Senior Leadership Team

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Four (4) years of supervisory/managerial experience which includes administering and managing accounting operations, financial reporting, payroll, AP/AR, cash management, and compensation
• A bachelor’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration or Policy, Economics, or related field may substitute for one (1) year of experience
• A master’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, Public Administration or Policy, Economics, or related field may substitute for eighteen (18) months of experience

Experience Must Include

• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and experience interpreting and applying these principles
• Experience strengthening internal controls to mitigate financial and operational risks
• Knowledge of federal and state compliance, legislative, and fiscal note processes, statewide budgeting frameworks, and the policies that guide public-sector financial governance
• Experience analyzing, preparing, and presenting financial data and reports in a professional, timely, and effective manner
• Demonstrated leadership experience sufficient to effectively supervise and direct the work of assigned staff
• Excellent interpersonal and human relations skills necessary to establish and maintain effective working and collaborative relationships with internal and external customers, direct reports, and colleagues
• Ability to work cooperatively with individuals from diverse backgrounds and underserved communities

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience navigating complex regulatory environments and ensuring compliance with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Experience with the State of Minnesota’s legislative process, including fiscal notes, and budget implementation
• Experience with the State’s Accounting and Procurement System (SWIFT), budgeting and fiscal notes systems (BPAS, FNTS), the Human Resources and Payroll System (SEMA4)
• Experience working in or supporting a public safety, emergency management, or law enforcement environment, with an understanding of the operational, regulatory, and organizational complexities unique to such settings
• Demonstrated success in building partnerships and leading collaborative planning and decision-making

Physical Requirements

Light: Requires occasionally moving and transporting such articles as file boxes and heavy hand tools or heavier materials with help from others, and moving and transporting light objects frequently. Even though the weights being moved and transported may be a negligible amount, a job in this category may require positioning self to move to a significant degree or may involve maintaining a stationary position for extended periods.

Additional Requirements

It is the policy of the Department of Public Safety that all employees submit to a background investigation prior to employment, which includes successful completion of the following background components: criminal history, credit check, reference check, SEMA4 records, personnel file and employment records (current and former State employees only).