Job Description

TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN, RI

POSITION DESCRIPTION

TITLE: Deputy Finance Director

DEPARTMENT: Finance

REPORTS TO: Finance Director or Designee

SUPERVISES: Classified and Non-Classified staff in the Finance Office

JOB TYPE: Full-Time

JOB CLASSIFICATION: Non-Classified / Management

WORK SCHEDULE: Non-Standard. Weekends/Evenings required based on Town’s needs

SALARY: Commensurate with education, experience, and other qualifications

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Deputy Finance Director is responsible for assisting the Finance Director with the fiscal functions of the School Department, while maximizing the efficiency of available resources, in accordance with generally accepted accounting and financial principles established by regulatory and advisory federal and state organizations. The Deputy Finance Director oversees all payments and disbursements on behalf of Middletown Public Schools. Further, the Deputy Finance Director assists with the development of the School Department’s operating and capital budgets; the functions of accounting, grant management, payroll, revenue collections, disbursements, risk management, funds investment, performance audit, along with the associated financial and accounting software. Also, the Deputy Finance Director provides support to the School Business Manager.

I ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The duties listed below 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 class, or it addresses business needs and changing practices:

• Assists the School Business Office with the planning, development, organization, implementation, direction, evaluation, and reporting of the School Department’s fiscal function and performance to the School Business Manager and Town Finance Director.

• Assists with the development of the school budget, to include, but not limited to, forecasting revenues, expenditures and cash flow requirements.

• Reviews and analyzes semi-annual data uploads to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) and ensures compliance with uniform chart of accounts (UCOA).

• Analyzes the MTP for the School Department.

• Acts as a liaison between the School Department and its auditors to prepare the Town’s annual audited financial statements, the annual single audit, and year-end audit schedules.

• Manages the accounting procedures related to capital assets.

• Manages the general ledger by approving, and posting journal entries in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

• Reviews, authorizes and analyses revenue and expenditure transactions.

• Responsible for recording all activity in special revenue funds including interfund activity

• Manages the accounting and reporting of all project costs, capital projects and debt management.

• Reviews and approves all investment and checking account reconciliations on a monthly basis.

• Reviews and approves financial reports for various boards.

• Assists with the official statement for issuing bonds as well as the annual continuing disclosure.

• Assist the Finance Director and appropriate staff with the bid opening and awarding processes.

• Manages the administration of all grants awarded to the School Department.

• Leads and directs staff and project teams organization-wide to successful outcomes using best practice in government financial management.

• Maintains and improves upon internal controls, financial policies and procedures.

• Collaborates across the organization to develop and administer the annual budget; works with the administration to develop the Capital Improvement Plan for the School Department.

• Maintains a working knowledge of all federal and state laws and other regulations concerning municipal and school finance. Informs the Finance Director of such requirements and significant changes thereof.

• Assists with the maintenance of the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

• Assists with the maintenance of the Town’s financial transparency portal.

• Other related duties as assigned.

II NECESSARY KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the position and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties:

• Must have and maintain a thorough knowledge of governmental fund accounting theory, principles, standards, and practices, and in the application and use of related information technology.

• Must have a thorough knowledge of auditing theory and practices, internal controls and procedures, accounting and bookkeeping procedures, and related systems.

• Must develop and maintain a good working knowledge of the School Department’s operations and of generally accepted practices related to governmental auditing, financial reporting, treasury management, debt administration, investment and money management, assessing practices, and governmental financial systems.

• Must possess extensive knowledge regarding the use of automated financial systems.

• Strong knowledge of Rhode Island law pertaining to municipal and school finance is preferred.

• Must possess the ability to apply knowledge of professional and other standards or requirements.

• Must be able to maintain the GFOA Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

• Must be able to accurately perform, interpret, and report information pertaining to the financial status of the School Department.

• Must be able to consistently demonstrate expertise of financial detail and concepts.

• Must be able to maintain complex financial records, and prepare clear reports from such records.

• Must be able to convey, verbally and in writing, highly confidential, complex and/or public matters with other department heads and the School Department’s administration, elected and appointed boards and committees, professionals external to the Town government, School Department and its staff.

• Must be able to maintain effective accounting operations and supervisory relationships.

• Must be able to build and maintain collaborative relationships among all departments in the Town and School system, other stakeholders, as well as state and federal officials.

• Must be able to successfully implement and use best practices in government financial management.

• Must possess strong conceptual, analytical, budgetary, oral and writing skills.

• Must possess strong presentation skills.

• Must possess strong supervisory skills.

III MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Must possess at least ten (10) years of financial management experience in the public or private sectors.

• Bachelor’s degree form an accredited institution in accounting, finance, business administration or related field is required. Master’s degree from an accredited institution in accounting, finance, business, public administration or related field is preferred. Finalists will be required to provide official transcripts.

• CPA certification is preferred.

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

• Must successfully complete a background check.

IV PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

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.

• Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment with required travel to different sites; incumbents are required to work extended hours, including evening and weekends, on a frequent basis. Incumbents are also required to travel outside Town boundaries to attend meetings.

• Physical: Work is primarily of an intellectual nature; it requires the ability to communicate complex financial issues clearly and effectively; primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting, to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry , push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; required travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to frequently interact verbally and in writing to communicate and exchange information.

• Vision: See in the normal vision range with or without correction.

• Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.

V EQUIPMENT USED:

Equipment used includes but is not limited to the following:

Personal computer and peripheral devices, calculator, copy machine, digital camera, telephone, telephone headset, folder, postage machine, and fax machine.

The Town of Middletown is an Equal Opportunity Employer