Director of Finance

POSITION DESCRIPTION: Under the general direction of the Assistant City Administrator, the Director of Finance serves as a senior management leader in the oversight, development, and control of fiscal operations for the City, and provides fiscal oversight and general business assistance to Department and Division Heads of the City, establishing goals and objectives within policy directives set by the City Commission.  The incumbent develops, recommends, and maintains fiscal operating policies.  This position serves as a key support person to the Finance Committee and is a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet.  

The following  are required for consideration of your application :
 

• COF Electronic Application
• Letter of Application
• Resume
• Minimum of three professional references
• PRIMARY RESPONSIBLITIES: Scope of Responsibility: 
  The Director of Finance is responsible directly and through subordinate supervisors for all major financial operating functions to include design and development of fiscal administrative operating systems, budget development, strategic financial planning, treasury management, financial reporting, internal control structure, risk management, municipal debt management, and internal audit procedures.  Incumbent supervises three operating Divisions of the City (Auditors, Assessors, and Municipal Court).
  
  Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
   
• Oversees City fiscal administration, and establishes goals and directives for Divisions in compliance with City Commission policy directives.
• Designs, develops, and maintains fiscal accounting and administrative systems;
• Designs, develops, and maintains operational policies and procedures;
• Ensures established goals and objectives comply with City Commission policy directives and any applicable local, state or federal laws, rules and regulations;   
• Provides guidance to subordinate supervisors in the development, recommendation and implementation of policies and procedures to accomplish divisional goals and objectives. Maintains relationship with City Commission, City Administrator, Department and Division Heads, media, consultants, attorneys, and other professionals in support of City functions.
• Supports senior management (Mayor, Commission, and City Administration) in decision making and long term strategic planning.
• Directs and conducts research into cost inflation and prepares guidelines for use by departments in preparing for annual budget submissions;
• Manages budget development process on City-wide basis;
• Represents the department at City Commission meetings to present the department’s plans, accomplishments and to discuss the development and implementation of programs,  policies, etc.;
• Plans, coordinates and evaluates the activities, programs and services of the Division (i.e. city-wide budgeting system) to ensure effective and efficient operation of the department and quality service to other City departments/employees and residents. 
• Monitors City-wide compliance with fiscal operational policies and procedures, and maintenance of internal control design and development.
• Assists Department and Division Heads with fiscal issues and planning;
• Participates in inter-departmental meetings to provide input, advice and technical assistance regarding accounting, funding, budgeting issues as they relate to the development of programs;
• Maintains a high level of awareness, directly and through delegation of responsibility to subordinates, of legal and compliance issues and trends at all levels of government that may impact departmental operations directly or indirectly;
• Approves expenditures to ensure compliance with budgetary guidelines.  
• Chief Compliance Officer – The Director of Finance shall be designated as the Chief Compliance Officer and shall be responsible for the administration and supervision of the City’s post-issuance compliance management program. The Chief Compliance Officer shall also be responsible for overseeing the timely filing of information on the MSRB’s EMMA System to comply with continuing disclosure requirements. The Chief Compliance Officer shall be responsible for the following: 
• Monitoring the City’s Arbitrage Rebate and Yield Restriction Compliance program,   including oversight of any third-party consultants engaged to perform arbitrage rebate and yield restriction compliance calculations.
• Managing the City’s record retention program related to debt issuance documents.
• Reviewing the use of facilities and other assets financed by proceeds of tax-exempt obligations.
• Performing calculations, at least annually, with respect to the amount of private business use of each tax-exempt financed asset and each tax-exempt bond issue that the proceeds of which were used to finance such assets. Identifying any changes in the use of tax-exempt financed asset that may require a Remedial Action to be taken.
• Chief Investment Officer - The Director of Finance shall be designated as the Chief Investment     Officer who manages and oversees Citywide investment functions 
• Serves as the City’s Chief Investment Officer
• Develops and monitors investment of City Funds including operating reserves and pension funds asset.
• Recommends investment strategies and asset allocations in conjunction with asset manages.
• Reports to the City Commission on the status of City investment holdings.
• Maintains healthy relations with third party investment advisors and banking partners.
• Metro Area Flood Diversion Fiscal Agent
• Designated as Fiscal Agent for the Metro Area Flood Diversion projection pursuant to the Master Indenture of Trust Agreement.
• Complies with all provisions related to this agreement.
• Serves on the Finance Committee of the Metro Area Flood Diversion project including ad hock and monthly Finance meetings.
• As Fiscal Agent processes vendor payments for flood project costs after reviews by project management and executive staff.
• Provides financial data to project managers as required
• Tracks and reports on sales tax revenue dedicated to this project.
• Remits sales tax revenue to the Bank of North Dakota pursuant to the Master Indenture of Trust 
• Reconciles Bank of North Dakota Trustee reports our project ledger accounts.
• Maintains healthy relationships with the Metro Flood Diversion Authority leadership and staff.
• Serves as Finance Committee Secretary
• Serves as Secretary to the Finance Committee
• Voting member of the Finance Committee
• Prepares agendas and supporting content for monthly meetings.
• Prepare minutes or report of actions of Committee meetings
• Oversees Defined Benefit Pension Fund Fiscal Administration
• Provides fiscal support for the Police and City Employee defined benefit pension funds.
• Integration of payroll data into pension management systems
• Reconciles investment portfolios monthly and produces financial statements for the pension boards
• Maintains participant membership data.
• Contracts for actuarial services and completes actuarial studies as required by GASB not less than every two years
• Monitors compliance with the City Commissions pension funding policy annually recommending funding levels within policy parameters.
• Maintains City’s enterprise resources programs for fiscal administration and financial reporting
• Maintains / updates / replaces ERP systems as needed.
• Provides financial management services to all City Departments, Fargodome, Red River Regional Dispatch and the Metro Flood Diversion Authority.
• Manages City insurance coverages for general liability, property, flood and other specific risks.
• Procures insurance coverages as required.
• Assists in claim settlements when requested.
• Maintains inventory of capital assets insured by property insurance policy.
• Prepares and/or oversees the preparation and submission of a variety of reports and correspondence to the City Commission relating to the City’s financial status, departmental activities, direction, accomplishments, etc.; prepares public documents for publication summarizing the annual budget and financial activities of the city.
• Supervises Finance Department Divisions including Auditors, Assessors, Municipal Court, and  is responsible for Committee’s administrative functions; coordinates the preparation of the City’s annual budget including advising department directors in formulating budgets, reviewing status of budget and preparing required reports.
• Responsible for significant analysis, strategic planning, problem solving and decision making in support of City functions; develops, recommends and monitors the departmental budget including the incorporation of individual work unity budgets by reviewing past expenditures, determining future needs and making determinations regarding the necessary resources to accomplish department and city-wide goals;
• Manages the City’s municipal debt portfolio including active participation in the issuance and defeasance of municipal debt; provides key recommendations to senior management on the appropriate use and issuance of debt obligations for capital financing needed to operate.
• Using independent judgment provides supervision and leadership to department personnel under the span of control.  
• Makes decisions on matters of hiring, transfer, suspension, lay off, recall, promotion, discharge, assignment, reward, adjusting grievances or disciplining employees under the span of control;
• Directs the activities of professional and technical staff and subordinate supervisors responsible for work units within the Division, delegates authority, assignment and review of projects/programs;
• Sets goals and objectives for others to work towards and monitors performance;
• Leads unit management in creating and maintaining a positive work environment and fostering effective performance of staff;
• Conducts ongoing feedback, coaching, mentoring, and timely formal reviews of performance for assigned employees;
• Provides training and work direction, ensuring the employee knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;
• Encourages employee growth and development by providing or encouraging learning opportunities; 
• Assesses staff development needs and directs the provision of staff training;
• Participates in decisions regarding the content of jobs and the number of staff within the functional areas under the span of control.
• Communicates courteously and professionally and maintains working relationships with others in carrying out job functions.
• Frequently  interacts with others in the work unit to exchange detailed and/or technical information;
• Frequently  interacts with the public, vendors or across departments to exchange detailed and/or technical information;
• Communications include responsibility for maintaining relationships that are key to the function or the city;
• Plans and carries out communications at a level that can impact the morale and performance of a major work unit;
• Serves a principal role in guiding or executing public communications affecting the public reputation of the city with the broad base of all of its constituents.
• Performs all job duties in compliance with safety guidelines and with an ongoing awareness of safety practices.
• Knows and follows department and city rules as well as sound work and safety practices in order to accomplish the job objectives and avoid injury or loss;
• Wears proper protective equipment when policy requires or conditions indicate a need exists and utilizes proper body mechanics and ergonomics while performing work;
• When potentially unsafe conditions are observed makes efforts to avoid or correct them if they are controllable and draws them to the attention of the responsible supervisor or safety representative in a timely manner.
• Oversees accounting activities for entities under contract for fiscal services including the Red River Regional Dispatch Center and the FM Area Diversion Project.
• Performs other duties and activities as assigned.
• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  The job requires a master’s degree in public or business administration with an accounting, finance or a related field as a specialization or undergraduate degree and ten or more years of progressively responsible governmental accounting experience, including five or more years of supervisory responsibility, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job such as those listed above (e.g. a bachelor’s degree with a CPA and a minimum of ten years of experience would be acceptable). 

  Knowledge, skills and ability include:

• Knowledge of concepts, principles and practices of governmental accounting and fiscal administration including treasury management, accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, capital planning and purchasing, etc.;
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and governmental accounting standards (GASB);
• Knowledge of grant administration including recordkeeping and reporting;
• Knowledge of defined benefit administrative practices and financial reporting,
• Knowledge of investment strategies for investment of City funds,
• Knowledge of North Dakota Century Code and City Home Rule Charter;
• Knowledge of all local, state and federal laws pertaining to fiscal administration;
• Knowledge of municipal capital financing techniques and debt issuance practices;
• Knowledge of fiscal accounting software support systems;
• Knowledge of governmental industry changes in operational environments;
• Knowledge of the comprehensive functions and operations of a large municipality, particularly the fiscal requirements and procedures;
• Knowledge of human resource management practices such as training, delegation, discipline, etc.;
• Skill in the planning, development and implementation of fiscal management practices and systems;
• Skill in leadership and management to coordinate the diverse activities of separate operating units towards the achievement of common goals;
• Skill in organization and prioritizing work and delegation of projects and tasks;
• Skill in informational analysis and problem solving to assess large amounts of information and formulate decisions;
• Skill in communication, including persuasive communication and interpersonal skills as applied to interaction with City Commission, other municipal officials, coworkers, staff, the general public, etc. sufficient to exchange or convey complex information in readily understandable terms and to give and receive work direction;
• Skill in coaching and development of staff by providing a challenging work environment and appropriate levels of feedback to enhance professional development over time.
• PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Most work is performed in a normal office environment.  Work requires extensive use of a computer, telephone and other office equipment.  There is high attention to detail and deadlines.  Work is generally light with considerable variety.  Daily work may involve moving between buildings and rooms.   Intermittent driving is required to attend meetings.  The job may involve dealing with and calming individuals who are emotionally charged over an issue.  

  Activities include stooping, standing, walking, lifting, fingering, grasping, feeling, talking, hearing/listening, seeing/observing, repetitive motions. 

  Light Work: Physical demands are normally those associated with light work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently to move objects. 

  Some requirements in this job description may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.  All requirements are subject to modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. 

  Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills, and experience required.  To perform this job successfully, the worker must possess the abilities and aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. 

  This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" employment relationship.  The City Administrator retains the discretion to add duties or change the duties of this position at any time.