Finance Director

Work Unit Overview: The Office of Budget and Finance improves the accountability and effectiveness of County government by providing efficient innovative services, public policy analysis, and fiscal expertise in support of all County government agencies.  The Office provides services including: Accounting, Budgeting, Investments, Asset Management, and Purchasing/Payments.
Job Summary: The Finance Director oversees and ensures the accomplishment of all financial operations and participates in decisions related to financial matters. Duties include ensuring the integrity of accounting policy and systems, and maintaining accounting, budgetary, and internal controls.Major Duties or Responsibilities: These duties are the essential functions and are not all-inclusive of all duties that the incumbent performs.

• Plan and manage county fiscal activities and accounting systems to meet accounting and reporting needs in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and professional practices. This includes participating in planning; establishing fiscal systems and policies to meet county business needs; reviewing and interpreting accounting and reporting guidelines (e.g. Federal circulars and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles); and having discussions with the county commission, department heads, other agencies, and elected officials (e.g., Treasurers and Auditors).
• Research and evaluate guidelines and standards to ensure County accounting complies with professional and governmental standards for issues such as the reporting of cash flows for proprietary programs; indirect cost proposals; federal contract accounting requirements; tracking and reporting loans, payments, and related transactions; etc. Provide fiscal guidance and consultation to other County managers.
• Evaluate agency financial transactions to ensure proper financial management. This includes monitoring activities including cash and fixed asset management, accounting transactions, and reporting. Ensure the proper implementation and administration of internal controls and separation of duties to ensure the integrity and compliance of financial transactions. Review and investigate large, unusual, and high-risk transactions and make recommendations to the Commission on policies, internal control systems and/or improved management practices necessary to address any problem areas identified.
• Analyze program expenditures to ensure the allocation of funding as designated and to track funding levels through review of financial reports and expenditures. Review and approve requisitions, payrolls, expense claims, vendor claims, etc. to ensure expenses remain within the budgets and that county resources are used in the most efficient manner possible.
• Develop accurate and timely fiscal reports to meet county, state, and federal reporting requirements and to provide timely information for executive decision-making. This includes evaluating regulations; establishing reporting formats to meet requirements or user needs; analyzing data for validity and propriety; and synthesizing and configuring data to ensure it is provided in formats that comply with accepted practices and standards.
• Coordinate and oversee the final review and approval of major financial transactions such as agency payroll journals, budget allocations, requisitions, claims, accruals, and journal vouchers to ensure statutory compliance, efficient workflow and fiscal processing by county staff. Provide advanced technical guidance and assistance to county departments regarding accounting, purchasing, budgeting, payroll, time clock management, property control, and revenue collections to identify and resolve complex or contentious issues affecting financial operations.
• Analyze and project agency fiscal needs, revenues, and expenditures to provide information used for program planning and budget development. This involves assessing economic factors affecting county programs (e.g., revenues, expenditures, historical patterns, ordinances, legislation, etc.). Project program budget needs by interviewing managers to assess program needs, and analyzing various programmatic and funding options.
• Conduct budget planning and fiscal analysis to support the accurate and effective development and administration of county budgets.  This involves developing and compiling budget allocations; analyzing, evaluating, and recommending budget justifications with supporting information and data; and assessing impacts of proposed budget changes. Research and analyze fiscal data to interpret and communicate information to program managers, department heads, elected officials, staff, and others. Develop cost and revenue projections; and determine the overall cost-effectiveness of various program operations and activities using cost/benefit and risk analysis methodologies.
• Allocate biennial budgets to distribute funds according to County Commission intent and specific appropriations. Analyze and evaluate budget components to effectively justify budget requests, and provide recommendations and support to the Commission. 
• Analyze legislative changes and legal opinions relating to taxation strategies and implementations which may extend into perpetuity without reliance on third parties.
• Monitor and evaluate budget and expenditure activity to identify and resolve errors, deficiencies, conflicts, inconsistencies, and other problems as they arise. Coordinate with others to verify financial data; evaluate the long-term budgetary impacts of problems and alternatives; and to develop, negotiate, and implement solutions consistent with statutory requirements as well as state and department policies. 
• Compile and submit detailed budget requests, amendments, operational plan changes, funding transfers, and related items to the county commission for review and approval to maintain viable program operations. Coordinate the development and submission of all fiscal year end transactions such as accruals, encumbrances, and budget adjustments to ensure accurate program accounting and adequate financial support for future program operations.
• Oversee county payroll functions to ensure consistency with agency policies and procedures. This includes directing and overseeing payroll processes, travel/leave tracking, and related activities; coordinating with the Human Resource Manager to ensure consistent application of personnel policies and benefits; and monitoring personal services budgets and transactions to identify and resolve deficiencies.
• Coordinate and oversee data and records management functions to ensure accessibility, security, and accuracy of essential program data (e.g., fiscal reports, agency payroll information, asset and inventory data, etc.). This includes working with management and information technology staff to develop and establish procedures for data collection and transfer; monitoring data management systems to ensure effectiveness; overseeing quality control reviews of data; and ensuring compliance with records retention and disposal requirements.

The job requires education and experience equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Public or Business Administration and a minimum of four (4) years’ experience in Government Accounting.The job requires knowledge of accounting and budget development and administration. The position requires knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), fiscal planning including the principles and practices of budget and program development, budget forecasting, governmental accounting and budgeting, bond issuance, the county budgeting process, grant reporting, contract administration, and records management.
The job requires skill in budgeting, program management, and plan implementation; the use of standard office and specialized accounting software applications; an ability to program and utilize electronic time clock software solutions; and excellent written and verbal communication skills.
The position requires the ability to plan, organize, and direct short and long-term fiscal management programs; analyze, interpret, and explain complex financial data; apply analysis and judgment in arriving at solutions to routine, unusual, and unprecedented financial and budgetary problems; communicate effectively and negotiate consensus; establish and maintain effective working relationships; and to motivate and direct staff to meet Department goals.