Position hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, generally.

Key Responsibilities Including, But Not Limited To

Organizes, assigns, schedules, supervises, and evaluates the work of finance staff and, with staff, develops, implements, and monitors work to achieve objectives.
Provides input to the annual departmental budget; processes purchases and other expenditures in accordance with city procedures and monitors department performance against the annual budget.
Participates in developing, implementing, and evaluating plans, processes, and procedures to achieve established goals and objectives in accordance with department standards; prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports.
Interviews and participates in selecting new finance staff; supervises and evaluates staff performance; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitors performance and provides training, coaching, and mentoring for performance improvement; recommends performance recognition when warranted; and, with management concurrence, implements the progressive discipline process to address performance deficiencies.
Provides day-to-day leadership; works with staff to ensure a high-performance, customer service-oriented work environment that supports achieving the city’s and department’s missions, objectives and values regarding teamwork, mutual trust, and respect; applies best practices and quality assurance processes to assigned areas of responsibility; enforces the maintenance of safe working conditions and ensures safe work practices are followed by staff.
Assists with developing policies and procedures to enhance the city processes and internal controls.
Performs the more complex accounting, financial, and statistical analyses; prepares, reviews, and approves financial documents and transactions in accounting systems, budgets, and budget transfers; creates and reviews complex billing statements and invoices; stays abreast of changing regulatory and financial reporting requirements.

Qualifications: Requires a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a major in business administration, finance or accounting and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in professional accounting, of which at least five (5) years have been in a governmental or public accounting environment or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO) certification is preferred, or the ability to obtain CPA certification in the future.

(Refer to job description for complete list of duties and qualifications)

Pay info: Salary range starting at $86,220.23 – $120,710.68 DOQ. Excellent benefits package including 14 holidays, participation in the State Retirement System, the SC Deferred Compensation Plan, and the State Health Plan with the employee’s health and basic dental insurance premiums paid by the city.

Status: Exempt

How to apply: Employment application is available online at www.westcolumbiasc.gov and at the Customer Service Counter in the West Columbia City Hall, 200 N. 12th Street, West Columbia, SC 29169. Completed, signed applications may be mailed to Brittany Raven, Human Resources Coordinator, P. O. Box 4044, West Columbia, SC 29171-4044, faxed to (803) 939-8634 or e-mailed to employment@westcolumbiasc.gov.

Deadline: Open until filled.

The City of West Columbia is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The city does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, or disability.

JOB TITLE: FINANCE DIRECTOR

FINANCE DEPARTMENT

GENERAL STATEMENT OF JOB

Under the direction of the city treasurer, plans, supervises and reviews the work of other employees engaged in the preparation and maintenance of financial records for various city accounts and funds. Supervises accounting activities related to fund accounting, fixed-asset accounting, and grant accounting as assigned. Reviews, reconciles, and approves journal entries. Analyzes and evaluates financial accounting departments, records, and accounts. Prepares accurate and timely financial records and performs related duties as assigned.

The finance director is at the advanced skill level in the Finance Department and is responsible for supervising the work of one or more functions of professional and accounting support staff. The finance director performs complex professional accounting in the areas of general accounting, fund accounting, and auditing. The finance director works with limited supervision and exercises independent judgment to ensure employees complete assigned tasks and responsibilities in accordance with established policies, procedures and objectives. Reports to the city treasurer.

Specific Duties And Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Organizes, assigns, schedules, supervises and evaluates the work of finance staff and, with staff, develops, implements and monitors work to achieve objectives.

Provides input to the annual departmental budget; processes purchases and other expenditures in accordance with city procedures and monitors department performance against the annual budget.

Participates in developing, implementing and evaluating plans, processes and procedures to achieve established goals and objectives in accordance with department standards; prepares and maintains a variety of records and reports.

Interviews and participates in selecting new finance staff; supervises and evaluates staff performance; establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; regularly monitors performance and provides training, coaching and mentoring for performance improvement; recommends performance recognition when warranted; and with management concurrence, implements the progressive discipline process to address performance deficiencies.

Provides day-to-day leadership; works with staff to ensure a high-performance, customer service-oriented work environment which supports achieving the city’s and department’s missions, objectives and values regarding teamwork, mutual trust, and respect; applies best practices and quality assurance processes to assigned areas of responsibility; enforces the maintenance of safe working conditions and ensures safe work practices are followed by staff.

Assists with developing policies and procedures to enhance the city processes and internal controls.

Performs the more complex accounting, financial, and statistical analyses; prepares, reviews, and approves financial documents and transactions in accounting systems, budgets, and budget transfers; creates and reviews complex billing statements and invoices; stays abreast of changing regulatory and financial reporting requirements.

Supervises the processing of all city invoices, including the verification of account numbers, proper documentation, authorizations, and purchase order maintenance; supervises the processing and recording of all accounts receivables.

Reconciles and/or supervises the reconciliation of the city’s bank accounts to ensure the integrity of the accounts and to safeguard against fraud and misappropriation.

Reviews and ensures appropriate internal controls for areas of responsibility; monitors and takes action to require compliance with internal controls and city policies and procedures; as necessary, recommends changes to achieve better control and/or to improve the efficiency of functional processes in areas of responsibility; explains changes in policies and procedures to staff of city departments; may develop and provide training on internal controls to city departments as needed.

Acts as liaison between city staff, county, water customers, banks, vendors, and credit card agencies on accounting discrepancies and operational concerns; resolves issues or escalates to the city treasurer.

Additional Job Functions

Performs other duties as assigned and provides assistance to other employees and departments as needed.

Minimum Training And Experience

Requires a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four (4) year college or university with a major in business administration, finance or accounting and seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in professional accounting, of which at least five (5) years have been in a governmental or public accounting environment or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO) certification is preferred or ability to obtain CPA certification in the future.

Minimum Qualifications Or Standards Required

TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION

The finance director must have knowledge of: principles, practices and terminology of general and enterprise accounting, including financial statement preparation, financial control, and reporting methods, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) accounting standards and requirements applicable to municipalities; internal control and audit principles and practices; budget principles and terminology; cost accounting methods and procedures; laws and regulations relating to the financial administration of the municipality, including; auditing principles and practices; principles and practices of sound business communication; correct English usage, including spelling, grammar and punctuation; and principles and practices of effective supervision.

Physical Requirements: Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines including telephone, typewriter, calculator, computer, etc. Must be physically able to exert up to twenty pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Work involves sitting most of the time but also involves walking or standing for long periods of time. Must be able to lift and/or carry weights of approximately twenty pounds.

Data Conception: Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people, or things.

Interpersonal Communication: Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and direction to co-workers and assistants.

Language Ability: Requires the ability to read a variety of documents and reports. Requires the ability to prepare budget reports, proposals, grants, and correspondence using the proper format, punctuation, spelling, and grammar, using all parts of speech. Has the ability to speak before an audience with poise, voice control, and confidence. Requires an extraordinary command of the English language as necessary in doing detailed report writing and data analysis. Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely, in a manner that is easily understood by a varied audience.

Intelligence: Requires the ability to apply principles of rational systems such as accounting, effective writing and speaking in order to collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, solve problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists; to interpret a variety of information furnished in written, oral, diagrammatic, or schedule form. Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

Verbal Aptitude: Requires the ability to record and deliver information and to follow verbal and written instructions.

Numerical Aptitude: Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; utilize geometric formulas and calculations; make statistical applications and calculations; add and subtract totals; multiply and divide; determine decimals and percentages; and determine time and weight.

Form/Spatial Aptitude: Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape.

Motor Coordination: Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes in using automated office equipment. Requires the ability to operate motor vehicles. Must possess or be able to acquire a valid SC driver’s license.

Manual Dexterity: Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Color Discrimination: Requires the ability to differentiate colors and shades of colors.

Interpersonal Temperament: Has the ability to deal with people beyond receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under minimal stress when confronted with an emergency.

Physical Communication: Requires the ability to talk and/or hear (talking – expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing – perceiving nature of sounds by ear.)

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

Knowledge of Job: The finance director must be able to plan, supervise, assign, review and evaluate the work of employees engaged in professional accounting and accounting support; prepare clear, concise, and complete financial documents, statements, and reports; define issues, analyze problems, evaluate alternatives, and develop sound, independent conclusions and recommendations in accordance with laws, regulations, rules and policies; communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; understand, interpret, explain, and apply applicable laws, codes, and ordinances; represent the city effectively in dealings with other employees, state and county employees, vendors, and the public; present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically, and persuasively; maintain and ensure the integrity of sensitive and confidential information; operate a computer and use standard business software and a variety of complex computer software programs and databases related to area of assignment; use tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex issues, situations and concerned people; and establish and maintain effective working relationships with all those encountered in the course of work.

Quality of Work: Maintains high standard of accuracy in exercising duties and responsibilities. Exercises immediate remedial action to correct any quality deficiencies that occur in areas of responsibility. Maintains high quality communication and interacts with all city departments and divisions, co-workers and the general public.

Quantity of Work: Maintains effective and efficient output of all duties and responsibilities as described under “Specific Duties and Responsibilities.” Performs other related work as required.

Dependability: Assumes responsibility for doing assigned work and for meeting deadlines. Completes assigned work on or before deadlines in accordance with directives, city policy, standards and prescribed procedures. Accepts accountability for meeting assigned responsibilities in the technical, human and conceptual areas.

Attendance: Attends work regularly and on time with a minimum of tardiness and absences and adheres to city policies and procedures regarding absences and tardiness. Provides adequate notice to higher management with respect to vacation time and time-off requests.

Initiative and Enthusiasm: Maintains an enthusiastic, self-reliant and self-starting approach to meet job responsibilities and accountabilities. Strives to anticipate work to be done and initiates proper and acceptable direction for the completion of work with a minimum of supervision and instruction.

Judgment: Exercises analytical judgment in areas of responsibility. Identifies problems or solutions as they occur and specifies decision objectives. Identifies or assists in identifying alternative solutions to problems or situations. Implements decisions in accordance with prescribed and effective policies and procedures and with a minimum of errors. Seeks expert or experienced advice and researches problems, situations and alternatives before exercising judgment.

Cooperation: Accepts supervisory instruction and direction and strives to meet the goals and objectives of same. Questions such instruction and direction when clarification of results or consequences is justified, i.e., poor communications, variance with city policy or procedures, etc. Offers suggestions and recommendations to encourage and improve cooperation between all staff persons and departments within the city.

Relationships with Others: Shares knowledge with managers, supervisors and staff for mutual and city benefit. Contributes to maintaining high morale among all city employees. Develops and maintains cooperative and courteous relationships with department employees, staffers and managers in other departments, representatives from organizations, and the general public so as to maintain good will toward the city and to project a good image. Tactfully and effectively handles requests, suggestions, and complaints from other departments and persons in order to maintain good will within the city. Emphasizes the importance of maintaining a positive image with the city. Interfaces effectively with higher management, city administrator, other professionals, and the general public.

Coordination of Work: Plans and organizes daily work routine. Establishes priorities for the completion of work in accordance with sound time-management methodology. Avoids duplication of effort. Estimates expected time of completion of elements of work and establishes a personal schedule accordingly. Attends meetings, planning sessions and discussions on time. Implements work activity in accordance with priorities and estimated schedules. Maintains a calendar for meetings, deadlines and events.

Safety and Housekeeping: Adheres to all safety and housekeeping standards established by the city and various regulatory agencies. Sees that the standards are not violated. Maintains a clean and orderly workplace.

Planning: Plans, directs, and uses information effectively in order to enhance activities and production of the department. Knows and understands the expectations of the City regarding the activities of the department and works to see that these expectations are met. Designs and formulates ways, means, and timing to achieve the goals and objectives of the department and the City. Within the constraints of City policy, formulates the appropriate strategy and tactics for achieving departmental and City objectives. Organizes, arranges, and allocates manpower, financial and other designated resources in an efficient and effective way so as to achieve the goals and objectives of the department and the City.

Organizing: Organizes own work and that of subordinate staff well. Ensures that staff members know what results are expected of them and that they are regularly and appropriately informed of all City and department matters affecting them and/or of concern to them.

Staffing: Works with upper management to select and recommend employment of personnel for the department who are qualified both technically and philosophically to meet the needs of the department and City. Personally directs the development and training of department personnel in order to ensure that they are properly inducted, oriented, and trained.

Leading: Provides a work environment which encourages clear and open communications. Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of the principles of effective leadership and how such principles are to be applied. Provides adequate feedback to staff so that they know whether their performance levels are satisfactory. Commends and rewards employees for outstanding performance yet does not hesitate to take disciplinary action when necessary. Exercises enthusiasm in influencing and guiding others toward the achievement of City goals and objectives.

Controlling: Provides a work environment which is orderly and controlled. Coordinates, audits, and controls manpower and financial resources efficiently and effectively. Coordinates, audits, and controls the utilization of materials and equipment efficiently and effectively. Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of City standards, methods, and procedures.

Delegating: Assigns additional duties to staff as necessary and/or appropriate in order to meet department goals, enhance staff abilities, build confidence on the job and assist staff members in personal growth. Has confidence in staff to meet new or additional expectations.

Decision Making: Uses discretion and judgment in developing and implementing courses of action affecting the department. When a particular policy, procedure, or strategy does not appear to be achieving the desired result, moves decisively and definitively to develop and implement alternatives.

Creativity: Regularly seeks new and improved methodologies, policies and procedures for enhancing the effectiveness of the department and City. Employs imagination and creativity in the application of duties and responsibilities. Is not adverse to change.

Human Relations: Strives to develop and maintain good rapport with all staff members. Listens to and considers their suggestions and complaints and responds appropriately. Maintains the respect and loyalty of staff.

Policy Implementation: Has a clear and comprehensive understanding of City policies regarding the department and City function. Adheres to those policies in the discharge of duties and responsibilities and ensures the same from subordinate staff.

Policy Formulation: Keeps abreast of changes in operating philosophies and policies of the City and continually reviews department policies in order to ensure that any changes in City philosophy or practice are appropriately incorporated. Also understands the relationship between operating policies and practices and department morale and performance. Works to see that established policies enhance same.

DISCLAIMER: This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

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