Director of Finance

Salary : $117,041.60 - $146,307.20 Annually

Location : Watauga, TX 76148

Job Type : Full Time

Job Number : FIN 01-101 0125

Department : Finance

Opening Date : 01 / 31 / 2025

Closing Date : Continuous

Summary of Position

This position provides financial direction of all departments within the City. The position oversees the activities and operations of Budget, Payroll, Utility Billing, Accounting, Municipal Court, Purchasing, Internal Audit, and City Marshal's division. Directs, plans, and controls all financial functions for the City in accordance with legislation, City policies and procedures and generally accepted accounting principles.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Directs, evaluates and manages the Finance, Accounting, Municipal Court, and Utility Billing divisions.
• Plans, directs, and manages all finance and accounting functions including accounts payable and receivable, treasury, cash collections, debt management, purchasing, grant reporting, payroll and benefits processing, fixed asset management and contract administration; monitors budget, revenue and expenditure trends to ensure budget appropriations are not exceeded; oversees the disbursement of all funds and reviews vendor payments for accuracy.
• Serves as Chief Financial Officer and principal financial advisor to the City Manager; provides leadership, direction, and guidance in financial strategies and priorities; evaluates and analyzes financial data and develops solutions to assure the City's financial health.
• Oversees the City's Finance, Municipal Court, and Utility Billing operations promoting excellent customer service to both internal and external customers; assesses the organization and its services from the customer's point of view and delivers services where and when the customer needs them.
• Establishes financial policies and procedures that promote accuracy, effective internal controls, safe investments, and efficient use of City resources. Ensures financial compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including charter, local government codes, generally accepted accounting principles, Public Funds Investment Act and continuing disclosure rules.
• Leads the Finance Department towards achieving strategic goals regarding governmental accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards as developed by the Government Finance Officer's Association and the application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as they relate to municipal finance.
• Manages the development of the annual budget through preparation of the budget calendar, budget manual and annual budget document; provides estimates and forecasts for expected revenues and expenditures; prepares tax rate calculation and submits related required reporting with Tarrant County Tax Office and Tarrant Appraisal District; prepares required tax rate notices, tax rate adoption ordinances and budget adoption and amendment ordinances; provides long term financial forecasting of the City's various funds; prepares the multi-year capital improvement budget; ensures accuracy of budgetary information included in the City's financial database including posting of budget amendments and adherence to state mandates and legislative requirements; presents budget information to the City Council;; makes budget amendment recommendations to the City Council as needed.
• Collaborates with all City departments and service areas to ensure proper accounting, cash handling, and reporting systems are in place; provides guidance on financial policies and procedures; assists departments with procurement activities and the preparation of competitive bids and proposals to ensure that City purchasing policies and state purchasing statutes are followed.
• Oversees continuous financial reporting to City Departments, City Council, and the public. Prepares City Council agenda briefings and presentations, complex journal entries, quarterly investment reports and state required reporting for the City's special purpose districts; prepares grant reports and economic development grant disbursements.
• Coordinates the annual financial examination by external auditors; prepares client schedules and responds to external auditors' information requests, oversees the preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and prepares the submission of the ACFR to GFOA including responses and implementation of prior year GFOA review comments; responsible for addressing and / or recommending solutions to audit management letter reported issues.
• Serve as the City Treasurer and Investment Officer; conducts investment activities; ensures compliance of investments with the City's investment policy and Public Funds Investment Act; ensures all City deposits are properly collateralized; manages debt service payments, debt issuances and bond refunding; identifies and presents debt opportunities to the City Council.
• Reviews and updates user fees, including municipal drainage, impact, ambulance fees and other fees as appropriate; prepares and presents recommendations to the City Council.
• Serves as a Treasurer on various boards, including the Watauga Economic Development Board, Crime Control and Prevention District.
• Serves as City's designated Tarrant Appraisal District (TAD) contact person, enters data on proposed and adopted tax rate information, provides public hearing dates, receives and responds to comments from taxpayer and uploads tax rate calculation forms.
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

SCOPE OF SUPERVISION

Minimum Qualifications

Education, Training and Experience Guidelines

Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or a closely related field; AND seven (7) years of experience, including three years of managerial experience, in financial management; OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. A Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO) is strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

LICENSE AND CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO) within two years of employment; Certified Public Accountant

CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) preferred.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Work is performed in an office work environment. May be required to lift and carry items weighing up to 30 pounds.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Full Time

The City of Watauga offers a variety of employment benefits to all regular full time employees.

SALARY AND RETIREMENT

SALARY

Salary ranges are designed to be competitive with area industries and municipalities.

SOCIAL SECURITY

The City of Watauga is a non-participating agency.

TEXAS MUNICIPAL RETIREMENT SYSTEM

Regular full-time employee's tax-deferred contribution into the pension fund is 7% of gross wages. The City matches this contribution on a 2 to 1 ratio. Vested after 5 years. Employees are eligible to retire with 20 years of service.

MEDICARE

Employees are required to contribute 1.45% of their pay for Medicare insurance.

LONGEVITY PAY

Full-time employees who have been employed for one (1) year are eligible to receive longevity pay. Eligible employees will receive twelve dollars ($12) for each month they have been employed, and this is distributed as a lump sum in the month of December.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT

The city will reimburse eligible employees for a portion of the cost of tuition. Conditions and restrictions do apply.

LEAVE

HOLIDAYS

Thirteen (13) holidays including New Year's Day, President's Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, 2 Personal Days and Birthday Holiday.

VACATION

Employees begin accruing vacation leave when hired but are unable to use it until after successfully completing their 6 month probationary period. Full-time Employee's vacation leave accrual rates are based on length of service. Vacation leave during the 1st and 2nd year is 80 hours annually. Vacation leave during the 3rd and 4th year is 120 hours annually. Vacation leave after the completion of five to 10 years of service is 128 hours annually. Vacation leave after the completion of ten years of service is 168 hours annually.

SICK LEAVE

Sick leave is accrued at 10 hours per month for a total of 120 hours per year for regular Full time employees

HEALTHCARE

MEDICAL INSURANCE

All regular full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental and vision insurance. Family coverage is available by payroll deductions at reduced group rates. Retirees are also eligible for coverage.

HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT

The City of Watauga offers Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to employees who have elected a High Deductible Health Plan. Employees can deposit money to their HSA through payroll deductions on an income tax free basis. Employees own their HSA and the money can roll over every year if not used. The account is theirs and they will keep it even if they leave the City. Employees will be issued a debit MasterCard, which can be used to pay for medical expenses, prescriptions and other qualifying items

INCOME PROTECTION

LIFE INSURANCE

The City presently has a group life insurance program under which regular full-time City employees are eligible for a minimum of $20,000 or 1X the annual salary to a maximum of $100,000 at no cost to them. Accidental Death and Dismemberment insurance is also provided at no cost to regular full-time employees for the same coverage.

VOLUNTARY LIFE INSURANCE

Voluntary Term Life Insurance is available in increments of $10,000 to a maximum of $300,000. Coverage is available for spouses under age 70 in increments of $5,000 to $150,000 not to exceed 50% of your amount. Children of covered employees can have $10,000. This coverage is guaranteed at the initial offering up to $150,000 for employees under age 60, $30,000 for spouses under age 60 and $10,000 for children. If you apply at a later date or for amounts over the Guaranteed Issue you need to complete a medical questionnaire and could be declined for coverage. Cost will depend on the employee's and spouse's age and coverage amount. You also have the option to add AD&D coverage to your Life Insurance. AD&D coverage to employee and spouse voluntary life insurance. The amount must match the amount of supplemental life insurance. (Cost $0.03 per thousand)

LONG TERM DISABILITY

All regular full-time employees have long term disability coverage, which is provided at the City's expense. The long-term disability plan provides financial protection for regular full-time employees by paying a portion of the employee's income (up to 50% of monthly earnings to a maximum benefit of $5,000 per month).

MILITARY LEAVE

Regular employees are allowed (15) days per year.

WORKERS COMPENSATION

Employees may receive up to three months of salary continuation due to an on-the-job injury

VOLUNTARY SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFITS

Group rates are offered for supplemental insurance plans including Accident, Cancer, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Medical Transportation, Permanent Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Legal and Identity Theft, and Short Term Disability coverage. These are voluntary plans paid for by the employee.

OTHER BENEFITS

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a benefit available for employees and their dependents to be used for confidential counseling.

SERVICE AWARDS

Employees receive service awards for every five years of service.

DIRECT DEPOSIT

The City of Watauga is a direct deposit City. The City offers the ability to deposit employees' paychecks into 6 different accounts, if desired.

WATAUGA RECREATION CENTER

Employee membership is free.

Salary : $1,000 - $20,000