City of Port Townsend Hiring for Finance Manager at Port Townsend, WA, USA Full Time

JOB SUMMARY

Performs several skilled and complex financial, accounting, and supervisory tasks, including coordination of the annual budget.

Supervises day-to-day operations of the financial services and front counter public experience functions of the Finance Department.

Supports Finance and Technology Services Director with City treasury duties including investments, banking, and debt administration.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Supervises the day-to-day operations of the financial services and front counter public experience functions of the Finance Department.

Motivates and communicates clearly in order to create a collaborative team. Monitors workflow, assignments and provides technical support for Finance and public experience positions which may include Payroll, Accounts Payable / Purchasing, Accounts Receivable, Business Licenses / B&O Taxes, Utility Billing, Customer Service (Public Experience Liaisons) and Project Accounting.

• Assists the Finance & Technology Services Director with the coordination and preparation of the annual budget. Maintains budgeting software and supporting schedules, as directed.
• Supports the Finance & Technology Services Director with long-term financial forecasting, investment management and debt administration.
• Prepares short and long-term financial forecasts and estimates to monitor the financial condition of the City ensuring fiscal sustainability.

Assists with revenue and expenditure forecasting based on current economic trends and historical data. Analyzes and monitors actual operating results for each department throughout the year comparing to budgets and forecasts.

Serves as system administrator for the budgeting and financial reporting system. Maintains system security and assists with software upgrades.

Ensures that system internal controls are in place for all modules.

• Assists with preparation of supplemental budget requests.
• Assist with the reconciliation of the City’s cash balance to the General Ledger. Prepare and post journal entries as needed.
• Analyzes and monitors the City’s annual operating and capital budgets, providing monthly financial performance and status reports.
• Analyzes submittals from departments for budget conformance.
• Assesses fiscal impacts of alternative budget policies; new federal, state and local legislation; and administrative actions.

Advises staff of those findings.

• Analyzes and monitors short and long-term trends of revenues and expenditures to determine potential issues or opportunities facing the City operations.
• Provides financial data and analysis on special requests from departments on current and proposed projects and programs.
• Assists in preparing presentations for City Council meetings, annual budget workshops and Committee and advisory board meetings as needed.
• Prepares daily bank and general ledger account reconciliations using established procedures within communicated deadlines.

Identify variances and coordinate corrective action with departments or finance staff if needed.

• Analyzes and maintains the City’s equipment rental & replacement program adhering to policies.
• Organizes and accomplishes various assigned financial projects within established deadlines by performing complex financial analysis.
• Coordinates the preparation of the City’s Annual Financial Report which may include compiling financial statements, notes and supplemental data as needed.

Provides final draft report to the Finance & Technology Services Director for review prior to the State Auditor’s Office required submission date.

Supports Finance & Technology Services Director in preparation of audit workpapers and schedules prior to the audit fieldwork.

Provides hands on support during the audit fieldwork to ensure that audit work is completed accurately and timely.

Responsible for assisting the Finance & Technology Services Director with ensuring the integrity of the City’s financial records.

The Finance Manager has a duty to report any anomalies, concerns, or financial discrepancies to the Finance & Technology Services Director and / or the City Manager in a timely manner so any issues can be researched and resolved.

• Prepares special reports and analysis as requested by the Finance & Technology Services Director or City Manager.
• Oversees project reporting for capital projects. Ensures project reports are routinely reconciled to the General Ledger.
• Oversee grant reporting and compliance.
• Assist with the preparation of loan accounting reports and / or bond proceed reports.
• Process journal entries to transfer funds for Capital Projects.
• Develop and maintain financial reports.
• Recommend changes in work methods, policies, and procedures to improve financial reporting, levels of service and operating efficiency.
• May act as Finance & Technology Services Director’s designee during absence.
• Lead, mentor and develop staff. Oversee individual and group performance and development.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Finance Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) standards, recommended practices and policies, rules and regulatory reporting requirements
• Knowledge of State of Washington Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System
• Knowledge of Financial analysis and projection techniques
• Knowledge of Federal and State tax regulations
• Knowledge to provide advice and technical assistance in the preparation of department annual budgets.
• Knowledge to employ cost-benefit analysis to review financial requests, assess program trade-offs, and explore alternative funding methods.
• Ability to examine past and current department budgets and research economic and financial developments that affect the department’s spending and revenue generation.
• Skilled in communicating and presenting complex financial and / or policy information to audiences of various backgrounds and levels of sophistication.
• Skilled in developing public communication plans, programs and campaigns, including the production of support materials.
• Ability to conduct research and perform analysis on a variety of program issues.
• Ability to independently analyze a wide array of data and make sound, reasonable judgments and recommendations.
• Ability to prepare accurate and concise written material.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other City staff, community groups, developers, and other agencies.
• Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive and / or confidential information.
• Deal tactfully and courteously with the internal and external customers.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business administration or closely related field, plus five or more years of professional level accounting experience and at least two years’ experience in a supervisory capacity.
• Will consider a combination of education, skills, and relevant experience to adequately meet the requirements of the position.
• Advanced knowledge of computerized accounting systems, spreadsheet and presentation software required.

Preferred

• Experience in governmental or fund accounting preferred.
• Knowledge of municipal budgeting practices and principles and rate setting processes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills working with multiple peer groups and levels of management.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Duties are performed primarily in an office environment with sitting for long periods of time, utilizing standard office equipment and personal computer.

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderately quiet. May be required to deal with upset customers. This position typically requires movement around the office, reaching, pushing, grasping, finger dexterity, hearing, seeing and repetitive motions.

Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and / or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and / or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that 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.

BENEFITS

• WA State PERS retirement and optional 457 Deferred Comp
• Medical, dental, vision, flexible spending account
• Life, AD&D, long-term disability, and long-term care insurance
• Sick leave (earns 1 day per month)
• Vacation (graduated accrual schedule starts at 8 hours per month)
• 12 paid holidays plus one floating holiday
• Up to 5 days of bereavement leave, if applicable
• Up to four weeks jury duty pay during service
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The City of Port Townsend is an equal employment opportunity employer. The City employs, retains, promotes, disciplines and otherwise treats all employees and job applicants strictly on the basis of job-related qualifications and competence.

These policies and all employment practices shall be applied without regard to any individual’s sex, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sexual orientation (including gender identity), pregnancy, age, marital status, military status, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

This job description in no way implies that these are the only duties to be performed. The employee occupying the position will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisors.

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the City and the employee and is subject to change as the needs of the City and requirements of the job change.