Finance Director

About Longview: Longview, Washington is located in Southwest Washington along the scenic Columbia River Basin 50 miles north of Portland, Oregon and 145 miles south of Seattle. Longview is a comfortable and affordable community with close proximity to larger city amenities as well as abundant outdoor recreational activities in the Cascade Mountains, Pacific beaches, and numerous rivers and lakes.

The City provides a comprehensive benefits package that is predominantly employer paid for full family coverage, which includes medical or VEBA account, dental, vision, long-term disability, and basic life insurance. The City offers a generous paid leave program including paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave, and the ability to participate in a tax-deferred 457 retirement savings plan, Washington State PERS, short term disability, Flex 125 spending account, and supplemental life. The City also operates on a 4 day work week, to allow for a meaningful work/life balance.  

Position Information: The Finance Director has responsibility for the overall management and direction of the Finance Department, including budget and personnel management.  Primary functions include coordinating and directing the budget process; and directing the accounting and utility billing/customer service divisions.


To Apply: Complete the City's on-line application process with a thorough list of education, training and experience; attach a cover letter and resume. Additional attachments are welcome, but not required.

*This position is open until filled with a first review of applications occurring on November 26th.  

The final candidate for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check.  

• Provides oversight and directs the implementation of internal operations in the finance department, including treasury and accounting, which includes planning, coordinating, administering, and evaluating programs, projects, processes, procedures, systems, standards, and/or service offerings.
• ensures compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and/or standards; coordinates activities between multiple service areas; works to integrate and coordinate service areas.
• Directs and participates in the preparation and implementation of the budget and capital improvement plan, grants, financial reports, business licensing and tax collection, automated billing systems, investments, financial systems, and/or other related items.  
• Monitors revenue and expenditures to ensure sound fiscal control.
• Develops and updates the City’s five-year financial forecast.
• Manages and directs staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; trains, motivates, and evaluates assigned staff; ensures that employees follow policies and procedures; maintains a healthy and safe working environment; and, makes hiring, termination, and disciplinary decisions.
• Serves as a liaison with employees and external organizations; represents the City at a variety of meetings, public events, training sessions, on committees, and/or other related events.  
• Makes presentations to Council, boards, civic groups, and the public.
• Reviews, interprets, and analyzes a variety of information, data, and reports; makes recommendations based on findings.
• Directs the preparation, maintenance and distribution of records, reports statistics and other materials for Agency use and for Local, State and Federal agencies as required.
• Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or related field AND 5-7 years of management experience in Finance or Accounting OR a combination of education, training and experience which would provide the required skills, knowledge, and ability to perform the job as determined by the department.  
• Valid Driver’s License

 

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Extensive knowledge of finance theory and principles.
• Ability to execute proper managerial principles.
• Knowledge of public administration principles and practices.
• Knowledge of governmental budgeting principles and practices.
• Can identify and implement performance measures for City staff.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Knowledge of Governmental Accounting Standard Board (GASB) principles.
• Can successfully monitoring and evaluating employees.
• Ability to prioritize and assign work to staff and communicate expectations. 
• Can apply contract, grant, and other administrative limitations to project activities.
• Skilled in reading, analyzing, and interpreting general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations.
• Strong ability to multitask and manage several projects/assignments at once. 
• Ability to develop, manage and control budgets for the Finance department and direct the City’s budget process.
• Can write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals effectively.
• Can effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.
• Ability to working with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistics.
• Can define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to work with several abstract and concrete variables within the City departments.
• Can use computers and related software applications efficiently. 
• Can interpret and apply applicable Federal, State, and/or Local laws, rules, regulations, codes, and/or statutes.
• Ability to evaluate complex financial systems and efficiently formulate and install accounting methods, procedures, forms, and records.
• Can prepare complex financial statements, reports, and analyses.
• Can develop and enforce finance and accounting procedures and principles.
• Experience analyzing and interpreting complex financial and accounting information.
• Experienced in designing and implementing finance, budgeting, accounting, and recordkeeping systems.
• Ability to conduct complex research, prepare related reports, and presenting findings to staff, Council members and the public.
• Skills in conducting long-range fiscal planning practices.
• Effective communication and interpersonal skills, as applied to interaction with coworkers, supervisor, the public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey information and to receive work direction.

Salary : $114,720 - $154,896