POSITION TITLE: Finance Director
DEPARTMENT: Finance Department
STATUS: Full time, salaried position
REPRESENTATION: None FLSA: Exempt
NATURE OF WORK
The Finance Director is responsible for all functions and management of the Finance Department and its staff and assists the Town Administrator in daily administration of the Town’s budget including analysis, forecasting, investing, and debt management. The Finance Director plans, organizes, directs, and controls functions of the Finance Department and serves as the Town’s internal auditor.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assume full management responsibility for all Finance Department services and activities including general accounting, budget preparation and compliance, treasury and debt management, grant management, and recommendation and implementation of financial policies and procedures to improve the efficiency of the department
- Oversee Town financial and accounting services including utility billing and customer service, payroll and benefits administration, accounts payable, and cash receipting
- Directly supervise functions of the Finance Department staff
- Establish and maintain procedures to assure strong fiscal controls including monitoring and auditing the handling of cash
- Establish and implement policies and procedures in compliance with the Washington State Auditor’s Cash Basis (BARS) accounting standards
- Recognize, interpret, and apply required federal, state, and local policies, laws, and regulations
- Coordinate response to annual state audits[JG1]
- Develop and administer the department budget and oversee other department budgets including forecasting funding needs for staff, equipment, materials, supplies, and overhead; approving expenditures; and implementing budget adjustments as appropriate and necessary
- Work with bond counsel to issue Town bonds, assist with official financial statements, and secure interim financing when required
- Analyze monthly financial statements, develop and monitor investment policies, and manage the Town’s investment portfolio while retaining legality, safety, liquidity, and yield
- Prepare clear, concise administrative and financial reports including the Town’s Annual Report
- Serve as the Town’s appointed Clerk-Treasurer, carrying out the statutory duties of the Treasurer and fulfilling the statutory duties of the Clerk through a Deputy Clerk except that quarterly and annual financial statements shall be the duty of the Finance Director
OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS
- Represent the Finance Department in coordinating assigned activities with those of other departments, elected officials, and outside agencies and organizations
- Attend and participate in professional group meetings and stay abreast of new trends and innovations in municipal and governmental accounting, financial management, budgeting, and information technology
- Perform other duties as assigned including those that may typically be performed by another exempt employee or by those they may supervise
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED
Personal computer including MS Office, Excel, financial software, database software, and design tools; 10-key calculator; multi-line phone system; copier; printer; and other general office machines
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed primarily in an office setting and involves contact with co-workers, elected officials, and the public. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The employee is frequently required to sit, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb stairs; use hands to operate, finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and push, pull, lift, or carry up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
The physical demands described must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
QUALIFICATIONS/EXPERIENCE/TRAINING
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, public administration, or a closely related field, or equivalent experience
- Five years of progressively increasing responsibility in public sector management with responsibility for finance, accounting, or other related administrative functions
- Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of municipal government finance
- Experience with long-range financial planning
- Ability to be bonded to the full extent of the Town’s treasury
- Proficiency in Microsoft software (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and municipal financial system software (Vision Solutions and Tyler Technologies)
- Strong leadership and organizational skills
- Ability to communicate effectively in a concise and explanatory manner, both orally and in writing, including when speaking or presenting to the public
- Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships with elected officials, government agencies, co-workers, and the public
Preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting
- Certified Public Finance Officer certification or some level of training by GFOA
- Thorough knowledge of effective managerial principles, practices, and methods
- An awareness of Washington laws pertinent to municipal organizations in order to carry out complex, multi-faceted services including budgeting processes, utility rate setting, and public procurement
- Experience with WA state payroll
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
The Town Administrator provides supervision and direction for compliance with the mayor and council’s goals, but the Finance Director is expected to carry out their duties with a significant degree of independence and little day-to-day supervision. The Finance Director supervises all finance department staff including the customer service/accounts receivable clerk, accounts payable clerk, and assistant finance officer following established personnel rules, policies, and collective bargaining agreements.
WORKING LOCATION AND HOURS
Location: 60 Second Street, Friday Harbor, WA
Work period: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday
Overtime: This is a salaried position. Work may be required outside of normal business hours and may include evening meetings and response to after-hour emergencies.
Travel: Occasional travel outside the county may be required for training or other duties.
SELECTION PROCESS
This process includes a formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview, reference check, and background check. Job-related tests may be required. Verification of identity and United States work authorization required prior to employment per the Immigration Reform and Control Act. Upon hire, employees are required to sign a drug-free workplace agreement.
NOTICES
The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.
The first 12 months of employment are considered an extension of the selection process.
A no smoking/vaping policy is in effect in all Town facilities and Town vehicles.
The Town of Friday Harbor is an equal opportunity employer and assures equal employment regardless of age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, race, creed, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, veteran or military status, disability, and the use of service animals.
Employees of the Town of Friday Harbor are public employees. Members of the public have the right to photograph or record public employees while working in areas open to the public.
[JG1]Leslie suggested noting responsibility for audits