What are the responsibilities and job description for the Library Finance Manager position at City of Tacoma?
Position Description
Join a library system engaged in community-driven services to deliver an innovative and exciting future to residents of the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Tacoma Public Library (TPL) serves over 200,000 residents in Tacoma. The Finance Manager is the Library's Chief Financial Officer and reports to the Library Director. The Finance Manager is a member of the Senior Leadership team and plays a key role in system-wide strategic planning, coordinating operating activities, and aligning services to maximize resources and enhance performance throughout the organization.
The Finance Manager’s responsibilities cover budgeting, finance, interagency agreements, strategic analysis, facilities management, and business operations. This role supervises three direct reports: Account Technician, Senior Account Technician, and Facilities Manager with an overall team of nine FTE's. They oversee all financial activities, acting as the Library's primary liaison with the City's Office of Management and Budget. They also work with the City’s Finance Department and City Attorney’s office on contractual and operational matters.
At Tacoma Public Library, our mission is to empower our community by bringing people together to discover, connect, create, learn, and thrive. We are radically welcoming: a trusted community hub where all people can find joy, compassion, and inspiration. We welcome applicants of all abilities.
The ideal candidate is passionate about providing excellent customer service, developing strong community relationships, working collaboratively with others, and is committed to racial equity and social justice to serve to Tacoma’s diverse communities. Applying equity and social justice principles is a daily responsibility and a foundational expectation for all Tacoma Public Library employees. All employees are expected to model and apply our equity and social justice shared values, behaviors, and practices.
Job Responsibilities:
Finance
- Ensures compliance with city, state, and federal legal requirements for financial and business operations, including oversight of audits by city or state auditors
- Appraises the organization's financial position and issues financial and operating reports to the Library Director and Library Board of Trustees
- Leads the Library's annual and biennial budget process, working with the City Manager's Office, City Office of Management and Budget, and City Council to secure General Fund support for programs and services
- Develops an annual Operations Plan, allocating operating and capital budgets, personnel, and identifying revenue sources (the Library's adopted biennial budget for 2025-2026 was $39,000,000)
- Directs and oversees budgeting, audit, tax, and accounting functions, including monitoring contract, capital, and operating funds usage
- Establishes business relationships with key City of Tacoma Finance and executive leadership and Library Foundation
- Manages Library trusts and other assets, ensuring efficient and proper fund utilization
- Identifies fiscal requirements for grants and contracts, and ensures compliance with fiscal and programmatic reporting
- Supervises contract monitoring, conducting financial and operational analysis to support strategic priorities and service development
- Oversees the development and implementation of operating and contracting policies and procedures and related processes with the City Attorney's Office and City contracting services
- Oversees the Library's building and grounds maintenance, the capital improvement program, custodial services, parking garage and space/retail leases
- Oversees the Library's risk management in conjunction with the City's Risk Management Office and City Attorney's office
- Assists with negotiations and administration of lease and vendor agreements and conducts competitive vendor selection processes
- Participates on the Library's Senior Management and Leadership teams to provide direction and leadership on the strategic direction, policy review, and administrative and budget oversight for the Library
- Participates as a spokesperson and Library representative as assigned with other members of the Senior Management Team
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, accounting, or directly related field
Minimum Experience*
6 years of accounting, payroll, budgeting and procurement experience including 1 year prior at senior, lead and/or supervisory level
- Equivalency: 1 year of experience = 1 year of education
Knowledge & Skills
- Financial Acumen & Decision Making:
- Use key financial indicators for informed decision-making.
- Gather, analyze data, and make timely decisions advancing goals.
- Knowledgeable about financial systems, budgeting, fiscal policy, and decision-making processes.
- Experience with change management, supporting employee involvement, negotiation, persuasion and mediation skills.
- Innovative, analytic, collaborative, self-directed, and committed to intellectual freedom.
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Honesty, Integrity, and Communication:
- Gain trust through consistent honesty, integrity, and respectful treatment.
- Clear and effective communication, adapting to diverse needs and encouraging open expression.
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Resourcefulness & Problem Solving:
- Acquire and deploy resources effectively for optimal outcomes.
- Problem-solving, define issues, identify root causes, evaluate options, and deliver solutions.
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Organization & Work Direction:
- Demonstrate high level organizational skills, align work with priorities, and exercise sound project management.
- Effective work direction, provide clear guidance, monitor progress, and offer support.
- Lead effectively, inspire staff, promote teamwork, and exceptional interpersonal skills.
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Additional Skills & Experience:
- Exceptional written and oral communication, including public presentations.
- Knowledge of public libraries and belief in their essential role within communities.
Selection Process & Supplemental Information
Interested individuals should apply online and attach a detailed resume and cover letter that includes job experience, major responsibilities and accomplishments related to this position.
In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement. Candidates whose backgrounds most closely reflect the current needs of the department will be referred to the hiring manager for review and hiring consideration. Appointment is subject to passing a background check.
Tacoma Public Library Stands Against Racism and White Supremacy
Tacoma Public Library is opposed to white supremacy in all of its forms and is committed to fostering an organization that is actively anti-racist. We believe that Black Lives Matter. We are grieving with our black community and all communities of color who continue to be harmed by institutionalized racism. We are committed to being a trusted community resource available to all and will provide resources and public programs that seek to reflect the values of anti-racism and elevate the voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC).
Tacoma Public Library
Tacoma Public Library (TPL) has been an essential provider of free books, information, ideas, and education for more than 125 years. TPL's neighborhood libraries originated with Andrew Carnegie's visionary philanthropy at the turn of the 20th century and are being transformed into true centers of educational innovation and service-and vital community hubs-that continue to provide far more than free books and materials.
Learn more about the Tacoma Public Library and the services we provide at www.tacomalibrary.org and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn to stay up to date on exciting things happening at the library, and to be notified of other career opportunities with us.
Communication from the City of Tacoma
NOTE: For questions regarding this specific recruitment contact Kat Flores, HR Analyst.
We primarily communicate via email during the application process. Emails from cityoftacoma.org and/or governmentjobs.com must be placed on your safe domain list to ensure that you receive notifications in a timely manner. As a precaution, you may also want to check your junk email folders.
The online application system requires you to enter a substantial amount of information. Be prepared to spend at least an hour entering information. In order for your application materials to be considered, all information must be submitted by the closing date and time listed on this job announcement.
For assistance with the NeoGov application process, or questions regarding this job announcement, please contact the Human Resources office at 253-591-5400 by 4:00pm of the closing date of the job announcement. This will allow time to assist you before the job announcement closes. (For technical difficulties using the NeoGov system, call the applicant support line at 1-855-524-5627 between 6:00am and 5:00pm Pacific Time.)
