Finance Director

Description

As the primary professional for accounting and financial analysis develops an orderly system of accounting on a County-wide basis and leads a staff in account processing. Continuously monitors accounts to determine budget conformity, cash flow status, conformity to legal requirements and County standards, and to prepare summary/status reports for administrative and policy review. Performs the normal duties of an accountant in preparing revenue/expenditure projections, preliminary budget data and year end closing entries. Is an integral part of the Otsego County Management Team, acting as a department head for the Finance Office, and acts on behalf of the County Administrator in his or her absence with regard to financial matters.

Examples of Duties

An employee in this position may be called upon to perform any or all of the following essential duties. These examples do not include all of the duties which the employee may be expected to perform.

• Incorporates authorized changes to accounting systems to ensure efficient systems of financial management, prompt identification of account status and conformance to agreed upon contractual terms and statutory and other applicable standards.
• Supervises accounts payable tasks, verifying transactions, coding, maintaining payroll records/changes, balancing and obtaining proper authorizations. Monitors posting entries and balancing County-wide.
• Provides monthly reports to Treasurer and Clerk, including payables, journal entries, trial balances and others as required or requested.
• Personally trains County personnel in new or revised processes/procedures and initiates corrective actions as necessary.
• From computer summarized data, prepares a variety of financial reports for periodic administrative/policy view. Such reports include monthly status of accounts, grant funding status, budget control by department/budgetary unit, cash flow status and interim/annual financial reports and projections.
• Develops financial information for purposes of preliminary budget preparation, making revenue/expenditure projections, historical expenditure/revenue summaries, identifying financial change/effect based on past managerial decisions, etc. and summarizes to working document. May conduct costing analysis for items such as union contracts, capital projects and new or expanded programs.
• Oversees the regular preparation of payroll ensuring that deadlines and compliance standards are met, appropriate procedures are followed and various summaries and analyses are prepared as required.
• Serves as advisor on financial status of accounts to County Administrator, Board of Commissioners, management team, and other interested parties.
• Monitors/researches adopted automated accounting methods to assure proper report content, format and timely completion. Recommends improvements in automated systems and procedures.
• Periodically audits accounts, tests systems and determines conformity to legal standards and proper accounting practice. Assures development of audit trails and assists outside auditors in systems reviews.
• Makes special accounting corrections, closes year end books and cooperates with outside auditors as necessary. Arranges external audits as instructed or required by law.
• Perform related duties as required.

Typical Qualifications

All of the following functions, qualifications, KSAs and duties are essential. An employee in this class, upon appointment, should have the equivalent of the following:

• Considerable knowledge of municipal accounting, bookkeeping and payroll.
• Ability to work effectively with the general public and fellow employees.
• Ability to reason and process numbers effectively.
• Ability to type and data input a minimum of 50 WPM.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms; stand; walk; and use hands to operate office equipment. The employee is regularly required to sit and stoop.
• Possession of a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance with course work in budgeting, data processing or the equivalent.
• Minimum of five years progressive responsibility in the field of municipal finance, accounting, accounting management, budgeting, finance or auditing, or the equivalent. Twelve month orientation/probation period.
• Possession of a Michigan Vehicle Operators License.
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check, pre-employment drug screen testing and post offer physical exam.