Finance Director

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

This position is responsible for leading a full spectrum of financial services for the City of North Miami, including General Ledger Accounting, Grant Accounting, Treasury, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Budgeting, Payroll, Financial Systems, and Purchasing & Contracting. The Chief Financial Officer/Finance Director will guide the Finance and Budget teams within the Organization. This position also oversees administrative work in planning, organizing, coordinating and directing the financial activities of the City.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CLASS:

The Finance Director serves as financial expert/consultant to the City Manager by providing counsel, expertise guidance to the City management, administrators, and staff in financial services matters. The selected individual leads and inspires the Financial Services team in the delivery of financial processes, developing cross-functional partnerships, and providing innovative and reliable financial guidance and plans, installs and maintains a central accounting system for the City, which includes all internal and financial controls; directs and coordinates functions of the several activities of the department including budget and utility billing. The Director provides department heads and the City Manager with timely and informative financial reports and statements. The work of the Finance Director is reviewed through conferences with the City Manager and by independent post audits. Independent judgment in resolving department problems within the scope of established policies and procedures.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Directs the maintenance of a central accounting system for the City government and its agencies in a manner consistent with established and accepted Government Accounting Standard Board (GASB) principles and practices and in sufficient detail to produce adequate cost, financial and statistical data for management purposes and to meet statutory requirements.
• Oversees the development and preparation of the annual budget for the City ad implements a strategy to ensure that the City’s budget and expenditures align with the goals of the City.
• Directs, oversees, and monitors financial and strategic planning to assure fiscal integrity and accountability for the City and ensure that expenditures do not exceed appropriation.
• Develops and implements long and short-term plans and activities to meet both the operational and financial goals of the City, including the prioritization of resources.
• Implements a strategy to ensure that the City's budget and expenditures align to the goals of the City.
• Develops and maintains spreadsheets to monitor and control expenditures and other operating expenses.
• Assesses the impact of the Capital Improvement Plan on the operating budget.
• Prepares budget presentation to the City Council; and makes Finance matters oral presentations when required
• Attends Council meetings, community meetings, public hearings and City staff meeting
• Supervises professional, technical and clerical employees performing general accounting, payroll, accounts payable, appropriation control, investments, utility billing, purchasing and pension administration.
• Develops, implements, and maintains complex financial reporting and internal accounting controls.
• Provides the basic documents to implement the disbursement of all City funds in accordance with officially established procedures.
• Assists the City Manager in budget and annual revenue and expenditure projections.
• As Treasurer of both pension plans, administers the accounting and records of pension fund activities and monitors pension fund investments by outside investment contractors.
• Reviews and analyzes financial statements, cost reports and statements of receipts and expenditures for use by the City Manager and other operating officials.
• Directs the approval, audit and certification of all claims against the City for payrolls, goods and services.
• Directs the compiling of statements of current operating and capital outlay expenditures for use by the City Manager and department heads in preparing budget estimates.
• Directs the billing and collection functions of the City's water and sewer division.
• Directs the budgeting function of the City and provides assistance and advice to departments regarding budget, strategic plan and grants operations
• Directs the development, implementation and ongoing maintenance of the City's annual budget and strategic plan.
• Prepares ad-hoc analyses for senior management and maintains historical revenue and expenditure cost data.
• Complies with "Truth in Millage" guidelines and assures that the operating budget is balanced.
• Assesses the impact of the Capital Improvement Plan and grants on the operating budget.
• Reviews official documents for tax and budget certification.
• Conducts research on issues that may impact the financial standing of the City.
• Assists in the preparation of mandated advertisements and documentation required for public hearings and the adoption of the final budget by City Council.
• Reviews department budget transfer

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Master’s degree in accounting, Finance, Public/Business Administration or a related field plus five (8) years professional experience, or Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Public/Business Administration or a related field plus seven (10) years professional experience preferably in local government.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO) designation required.
• CGFO, CPA, CGFM or CMA certified with Grants management experience with Tyler Munis ERP experience of applicable financial software experience.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• A valid Florida driver’s license

Skills

• Thorough knowledge of laws, ordinances, standards and regulations pertaining to the specific duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Thorough knowledge in the areas of budget development and administration, financial and business analysis, investment management, governmental accounting, financial report preparation, management information systems, government procurement, and etc;
• Ability to plan, evaluate, organize and direct the work of subordinate employees in the specialized fields of accounting.
• Ability to establish and maintain harmonious working relationships with other department heads and governmental officials.
• Good professional judgment.
• Physical ability to perform duties.
• Proven ability to influence and develop strong working relationships with multiple partners, including leaders, peers, and external stakeholders.
• Commitment and demonstrated experiences of leading, coaching, and guiding organizational change to increase cultural and linguistic diversity within organizations and/or departments.
• Strategic thinking capability paired with the ability to motivate others.
• Ability to lead collaborative teams and mentor personnel; Experience working and/or consulting in a unionized environment.
• Ability to deliver excellence in the fields of Finance and Accounting through large teams in complex environments.
• Ability to develop consistency of process while demonstrating in an environment of transformation and change.
• Extensive knowledge of budget preparation methodologies and accounting principles and reporting requirements.
• Ability to use objective and analytical processes to project revenues and expenditures; Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing.
• Ability to handle stress.
• May be required to work nights and/or weekends