Financial Director

PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS:

Under general administrative direction, directs and/or performs the accounting and data processing functions of the City. Work responsibilities extend to serving as the Chief Accounting Officer in coordination with the City Administrator.

Reports to:   City Administrator

Supervision: Accounting Technician – Payroll

                        Accounting Technician – Accounts Payable

                        Utility Billing Clerk

                        Administrative Specialist

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

  Accounting Duties

• Direct the performance of accounting and control functions for the City including general ledgers, budget reports, grant reports, billing, payroll, accounts payable, coding, tracking and other data based reporting efforts.
• Schedule and ensure the execution of various procedures required to complete each accounting cycle.
• Review the need for and provide the coordination and staff support for the sale of bonds, including general obligation, revenue and tax increment bonds.
• Provide all required reports to the City Council, County, State, and Federal governments regarding budget, audit, tax increment and other financial reports.
• Assist City Administrator in the coordination, preparation, and presentation of the budget, including required State and County reports.
•  Closely monitor expenditures within approved budgetary guidelines. Identify and follow up on budget variances with appropriate Department Head.
• Coordinate the City’s annual audit. Prepare audit worksheets, supplemental work papers, and narratives. Work closely with external auditors to ensure City is in compliance.
• Invest City funds in accordance with City policies, State and Federal laws, and the City Charter under the direction of the City Administrator.
• Oversee collection and reporting activities pertaining to loans, grants, tax increment districts, or other development activity or business subsidy entered by the City or Economic Development Authority.
• Ensure proper software for accounting, utility billing, and payroll.

  Office Supervisor

• Assign work to office staff to assure that necessary services to the public such as receipt of utility bill payments, inquiries by phone or in person, and payment of other fees.
• Establish priorities of tasks to be completed by the administrative staff and assign people to the most urgent ones as necessary to ensure completion of time.
• Establish coverage for jobs when employees are absent for vacation, sickness, or other reasons to assure that necessary tasks are completed on schedule.
• Ensure training and development is implemented for employees assigned to an unfamiliar task and determine when they are qualified to carry out the task.

  Other Duties

• Act as the risk manager for the City’s liability insurance.
• Track City law suits and keeps the City Administrator, City Attorney and City Council informed as to the developments.
• Other duties as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of City policies, procedures, programs, rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of modern office methods, procedures and equipment.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of effective employee supervision.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of budget administration.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of government accounting.
• Ability to read, understand, interpret and apply statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, codes, policies, procedures and other operational guidelines and directives.
• Ability to read, write, speak and understanding English effectively.
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to assess and prioritize multiple projects and work within deadlines to complete projects and assignments.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, subordinate staff, City Council, other external agencies, and the general public.
• Ability to operate a personal computer and various software applications.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid State of Minnesota driver’s license within 60 days of hired date. 
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field.

PREFERABLE QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certified Public Accountant [CPA].
• At least five (5) years of experience in government accounting.
• At least three (3) years of supervisory experience.