Chief Financial Officer

Liberty County is inviting applications for their next Chief Financial Officer. A county rich in historical significance, was founded February 5, 1777 and named for the American ideal of liberty. It is ideally located between Savannah and Brunswick with local access via I-95 to beaches and coastal recreational opportunities. A growing and progressive community of 65,256 people, the county encompasses an area of 603 square miles and seven municipal governments. Liberty County employs 484 full-time and about 100 part-time employees assigned to 35 departments providing services to the community. The current General Fund budget totals approximately $48 million dollars with public safety occupying 50% of functional services allocations. The County also has 2 Enterprise Funds (Solid Waste and Rural Water), 15 Special Revenue Funds, and multiple Capital Funds including a local TSPLOST program and a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) fund, totaling $54 million. The county continues to be the recipient of the GFOA annual Certificate of Award for Financial Excellence in Reporting, is planning for renewal of its seventh SPLOST program, and currently has over $51 million in capital construction projects either in design or under construction. The County has strong financial posture with a bond rating of Aa3 and undesignated fund balance equivalent to 7 months.

The ideal candidate for the position shall be a professional and ethical CFO who is a dedicated team player and has a proven Financial Services record of success in leadership and management of Finance functions within a public/governmental agency/organization. The successful candidate should be an experienced, self-confident person who can immediately provide quality Financial Services to a variety of internal departments in a timely manner and is able to address budget questions/concerns/issues with diplomacy and tact. This person should be knowledgeable of the unique role Constitutional Officers have in managing their budgets under the Georgia Constitution. The ability to identify and implement new and innovative approaches within a department is an important qualification expected of the new CFO. Specific experience is expected in purchasing and procurement, accounting, budget development and the ability to offer responsive support services to a team-oriented organization. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, have well-developed problem-solving abilities, have the ability to communicate with stakeholders about the budget process, and hold staff accountable and focus on succession planning within the Finance Department.

To find out more details about the position visit www.mercergroupassociates.com for the recruitment brochure

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or related degree from an accredited university is required. A Master’s degree is preferred.
• A minimum of four (4) years of department director/management level experience in local governments of similar size and complexity to Liberty County or in a Department Director role in the private sector is required.
• Previous experience as a Chief Financial Officer or Finance Director is desirable.
• Evidence of continued professional development such as GFOA or other upper-level finance certifications or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation are positive indicators of dedication to the profession and will be noted during the candidate vetting process.
• Must possess a valid Georgia driver’s license or have the ability to obtain upon selection.

Compensation & Benefits:

Salary for this position DOQ (depending on qualifications) of the selected candidate is expected to be in the range of $100,000 - $130,000 with a comprehensive benefits package including: Low-cost health, dental and vision insurance, 401(a) retirement plan with County match, free life insurance, 13 paid holidays, paid sick and vacation days, Employee Assistance Program and Wellness Program, County-provided cell phone and laptop and negotiable relocation expenses

Interested candidates must submit by email a cover letter, resume, at least five job related references, and salary history not later than August 3, 2022 to: Lisa Ward, Senior Associate, Mercer Group Associates at lisaward912@gmail.com

Any questions please call 706-983-9326. Interviews are expected to be conducted the first week of September 2022.

Alan Reddish, Senior Associate
Cell: 706-614-4961
107 Indigo Lane, Athens, Georgia 30606