Chief Financial Officer

Chief Financial Officer
City of Winter Haven
 Winter Haven, Florida
Wage/Salary: Anticipated Hiring Range: $120,000 - $145,000
Date Posted: Thursday, October 20, 2022
Date Closing: Monday, November 21, 2022
URL for this job: 
Job Description

SALARY & BENEFITS:

  • Anticipated Hiring Range: $120,000 - $145,000
  • 12 Paid Holidays
  • 12 Paid Vacation Days
  • 12 Paid Sick Days
  • Annual Pay Adjustments
  • Health/Dental Insurance
  • Life Insurance
  • Executive 401(a) Retirement Plan with Day-One Vesting

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

THE WINTER HAVEN COMMUNITY

With a history in citrus, lakes, and Americana rock & roll, the Winter Haven, Florida experience is a chorus of modern lifestyle possibilities in harmony with our roots. Winter Haven is where affordable lake living is a reality, and water play is a natural requirement. It’s a place where there’s a concert on every corner and family excitement in every park. It’s a town that chooses to differentiate itself with an understated cool vibe.Arts and culture, playful fun, music fusion affordable homes, a craft brewery, and local eateries are just a sampling of daily life. And let’s not forget about Winter Haven’s hometown connection to family-friendly LEGOLAND Florida Resort just down the block from the City core.

Winter Haven continues to experience steady, quality growth as it transforms into a distinctively unique City, embracing the values and needs of its residents. Partnerships and a cooperative spirit make Winter Haven an attractive City for new businesses and entrepreneurs. The City’s progress and success are owned by each of its residents, and planning for the future can never stop. Winter Haven is an exceptional destination offering all of life’s desires within its boundaries. The City of Winter Haven staff looks forward to serving its residents, businesses and visitors as we all enjoy Winter Haven’s special lifestyle.

CITY GOVERNMENT

The City of Winter Haven operates under a Council-Manager form of Government. Five non-partisan elected City Commissioners are responsible for City policy. The City Manager, who reports to the Commission, is responsible for the day-to-day operations of 600+ employees.

Winter Haven is a full-service City, providing services in the areas of Police, Fire, Water & Sewer Utilities, Solid Waste, Roads & Drainage, Building Permitting and Inspections, Planning, Parks & Recreation, Libraries, Cemeteries, and multiple internal support functions. The current population is 53,331; however, the greater service area is estimated at 83,000.

The City recognizes, embraces and celebrates the diversity of our great community and strives to include these unique voices, ideas and cultures in all aspects of City services.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The City of Winter Haven is looking for a transformational leader to join our executive team. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will be joining a tenured, well-established leadership team, including a City Manager currently serving in his sixth year, a solid and supportive City Commission, and a collaborative leadership team. The community is stable, and the local economy is strong. This position is being filled due to the retirement of our current CFO, after more than 45 years with the City of Winter Haven’s finance department.

The CFO must have a firm grasp on the funding of a utility system for the future, including challenges around population growth, aging infrastructure, WIFIA and other funding options to pay for replacement plans. The CFO should also understand long-term financing options for municipalities, including bonds. A working knowledge of public/private partnerships is needed along with the ability to manage financial needs across all City departments and divisions.

This role goes deeper than dollars and cents. At its core, the CFO position shares the same mission as the City-wide team: Enriching Lifestyle through Exceptional Service. The CFO should be a contemporary leader who can build a welcoming and collaborative atmosphere with an appreciation for diversity and inclusivity. They should put caring for people at the center of every decision, whether that be our employees or citizens.

TECHNOLOGY:

The CFO will be expected to lead the utilization of appropriate financial technology, including a potential conversion to updated software that enables interactive financial dashboards for internal and public access. Currently, the following are used:

  • Tyler Technologies New World ERP
  • Microsoft Products (Primarily Excel)
  • Stromberg Timekeeping (Phasing Out)
  • UKG Timekeeping (Phasing In)
  • Granicus
  • Laserfiche

DEPARTMENTS:

The CFO will work with all City departments:

  • Airport
  • City Clerk, Legal, Commission
  • City Manager’s Office
  • Economic Opportunity & Community Investment
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Parks, Recreation, & Culture
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works
  • Winter Haven Water

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Under the administrative direction of the City Manager, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is responsible for a variety of tasks of considerable difficulty in the administration of the City’s financial program:

  • Supervision is exercised over subordinate professional, administrative, and clerical employees.
  • Work is reviewed through audits, results achieved, and personal observation.
  • Works in close coordination with the City Manager and all department heads in all aspects of preparing the City’s budget; analyzes revenues and expenditures; assists in the administration of capital projects.
  • Prepares monthly and annual financial statements as necessary for the elected officials, staff, and for audits by independent auditors; prepares State of Florida annual reports pertaining to the City’s financial statements, pension funds, and annual budgets.
  • Monitors and prepares amendments to the budget and contracts, as needed.
  • Oversees the daily investment of idle cash; oversees the investment of the City’s funds in both short term and long term instruments.
  • Prepares bid specifications for requests for proposals or bids in areas relating to the Finance Department; approves purchase requests.
  • Serves on the General Employee Pension Board.
  • Administers the group health insurance and public liability (Note: Self-Insured Funds)
  • Oversees risk management with the Human Resource (Risk Management Team / Committee)
  • Supervises all finance department and procurement office staff, and all activities of the finance department and procurement office, to include payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, bids and purchases.
  • Assists with the coordination and review process of all rate studies.
  • Attends Commission Meetings and Committee Meetings, to assist in providing relevant financial information.

This is not intended to be an all-inclusive listing of essential job functions; the performance of other essential functions may be required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

  • Knowledge of principles and practices of advanced public accounting and sound investment policies.
  • Knowledge of the laws, rules, and regulations involving complex financial record keeping.
  • Knowledge of the design of financial systems and methods of implementation via technology.
  • Ability to maintain complex financial records and to analyze and prepare reports from same.
  • Ability to effectively communicate in writing and make public presentations on the financial status of the City.
  • Skill in working effectively with other City staff, Commission members, and the citizens in carrying out the financial responsibilities of the City.
  • Skill in developing an effective computer-based management information system for all City departments.
  • Skill in identifying and effectively recommending new sources of revenue.
  • Knowledge of specific municipal bonds and related debt financing for capital projects, grant management, and State/Federal Loan programs.

MINIMUM EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

  • Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, public or business administration, or closely related field. A Master’s degree is preferred, may be substituted for two (2) years of experience.
  • Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in local government financial administration involving a computer-based data information system, including two (2) years at a supervisory level.

A Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Governmental Financial Manager (CGFM), or Certified Public Financial Officer (CPFO) is required.
An equivalent combination of education and experience that is determined to be directly related to the foregoing specific requirements may be substituted.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Absence of non-prescribed controlled substances in the applicant’s system as verified through a screening process administered by a laboratory approved by the City of Winter Haven.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please complete an application at MyWinterHaven.com/Careers/. Additionally, a cover letter and resume must be submitted to HumanResources@MyWinterHaven.com by November 21, 2022.

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND A DRUG-FREE WORKPLACE

Enriching lifestyle through exceptional service.

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