Finance Director

The primary purpose of this position is to supervise and manage all staff and operations of the Finance Department, to develop broad fiscal policies, engage in strategic planning, and provide financial guidance to the Municipal Administrator and other municipal officials, ensuring the overall fiscal health and effective financial management of the municipality.

Under the supervision of the Municipal Administrator, the Finance Director exercises independent judgment and discretion in the leadership and management of the Finance Department’s staff, operations, and compliance. The Finance Director directly supervises two or more employees and is responsible for the supervision of all department staff if delegated to other managers or supervisors.

The Finance Director is a management employee who assists and acts in a confidential capacity to the Municipal Administrator, Assembly, Municipal Attorney, and other department heads who formulates, determines, or effectuates management policies.
• Assigns, prioritizes, supervises, motivates, and evaluates the work of staff directly supervised
• Oversees the work and performance by all other department staff supervised by others who report directly to the Director
• Maintains final authority, subject to review by the Municipal Administrator, on all department staff personnel actions and disciplinary decisions
• Prepares, recommends, and provides operational justification for the department’s annual budget to the Municipal Administrator and Assembly
• Approves and monitors the expenditure of funds within the parameters of the budget
• Advises and provides strategic guidance around long-range financial plans and key fiscal policies to ensure fiscal health
• Establishes and maintains all financial and accounting systems, assisting other departments in implementing financial systems and procedures
• Plans, organizes, directs, supervises, and coordinates activities of the Finance Department, including budget, accounting, treasury, and tax collection
• Oversees the preparation of quarterly financial statements and the Annual Consolidated Financial Report (ACFR)
• Coordinates the preparation of the Consolidated Operating Budget, presents it to the Assembly, and oversees departmental budget performance.
• Develops and provides policy direction to department employees to ensure financial, technical or operational, and legal compliance
• Advises the Municipal Administrator, department heads, and the Assembly regarding the status of the CBS’s and department’s obligations, ongoing activities, financial matters, and accomplishments
• Performs other duties as assignedKnowledge of:
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), Government Accounting, Auditing Financial Reporting (“GAAFR”) standards, and fund accounting
• Laws and administrative policies governing municipal financial practices, including municipal bond financing
• Information technology as applicable to financial accounting and reporting in municipal government
 
Skills in:
• Operating a personal computer using standard software, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other customized software for fire and emergency medical services operations  
• Long-range fiscal planning and budgeting
• Researching current best policies, procedures, and practices related to GAAP, GAAFR, and municipal finance to prepare analysis and proposals  
• Communicating and dealing with a variety of people with various, and sometimes competing interests, calmly and professionally, and maintaining a positive working relationship
• De-escalating potential or actual conflict
• Conducting public outreach and engagement
• Presenting and public speaking, explaining complex and sometimes controversial topics to a wide audience  
• Analyzing complex problems and developing innovative solutions
• Problem solving to deal with a variety of community and staff needs and issues
• Multi-tasking with strong attention to details
• Decision making as a manager in a diverse operation
• Supervising a diverse team of professional, technical, and support staff  
 
Ability to:
• Recognize and maintain confidential information  
• Develop accounting methods for control and reporting
• Analyze financial data and determine appropriate accounting controls
• Manage external audits of internal controls and financial systems
• Work effectively with elected officials, department heads, representatives of other agencies, employees, and the general public
• Communicate well with others, both orally and in writing, using both technical and non-technical language
• Understand and follow oral and written policies, procedures, and instructions
• Prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations
• Use logical and creative thought processes to develop solutions according to written specifications and oral instructions
• Perform a wide variety of duties and responsibilities with accuracy and speed under the pressure of time-sensitive deadlines
• Quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge  
 

• Master Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field; and
• Ten (10) years of experience in financial management with a focus on budgeting and fiscal planning, in the public sector preferred; and
• Two (2) years of experience as a Finance Director or similar management position, in Alaska preferred; or
• Any equivalent combination of experience, education, and training which provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform the work

• Attendance at relevant committee and commission meetings as well as Assembly meetings which may occur after regular work hours


Working Conditions:  
• General office environment and meeting rooms  
 
Specific Physical Requirements:  
• Operating office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination using a computer and keyboard on a daily basis  
• Sitting at desk for prolonged periods of time while using a computer, in meetings, and performing other tasks during the workday  
• Occasionally lifting up to 50 pounds with or without assistance using proper equipment  
• Some standing, bending, reaching, and climbing  
 
General Physical Requirements:  
• Sufficient clarity of speech and hearing, which permits the employee to communicate effectively  
• Sufficient vision which permits the employee to review a wide variety of written correspondence, reports, and related material in both electronic and hardcopy form  
• Sufficient manual dexterity, which permits the employee to operate a keyboard and produce hand-written materials and notations  
• Sufficient personal mobility, which permits the employee to visit various and other workstations and attend a wide variety of meetings within CBS and out-of-area