The City of Fargo · 1 day ago
Assistant Finance Director
Fargo, ND
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
$127K/yr - $166K/yr
9+ years expThe City of Fargo is seeking an Assistant Finance Director to support the oversight and control of fiscal operations. This role involves managing financial reporting, budget analysis, and municipal debt while providing guidance to finance staff and ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
GovernmentGovTechHealth CareNon Profit
Responsibilities
Oversees City fiscal administration and establishes goals and directives for supervisors and staff in compliance with Finance Director goals and directives
Supports the goals and objectives established by the Director of Finance for the Finance Department
Provides guidance to subordinate supervisors in the development, recommendation and implementation of policies and procedures to accomplish divisional goals and objectives
Assembles professional support teams within the department to accomplish goals and objectives, supervises their activities and provides guidance to assure goal attainment
Evaluates ongoing business support systems and recommends changes to improve or modify financial management systems as needed
Designs and develops new fiscal accounting and administrative systems as needed
Assists in the design, development, and maintenance of operational policies and procedures and monitors Departmental compliance
Maintains healthy and supportive relationships with Director of Finance, City Administrator, Department and Division Heads, subordinate employees, consultants, attorneys, and other professionals in support of City functions
In collaboration with Finance staff and other departments, supports the transition to and subsequent modifications of a new ERP system. The Assistant Director is a major contributor and advocate for operational accounting in the agency-wide ERP project
Manages internal financial reporting on a City-wide basis
Develops and distributes fiscal reports required to continuously monitor budget compliance
Implements new technologies that help improve our overall system in internal accounting controls
Develops framework for supporting Departments and Divisions in fiscal administration
Manage integrity of ERP system by maintaining chart of accounts, monitoring user account access and permissions, and ongoing testing of system
Monitors City-wide compliance with fiscal operational policies and procedures, and maintenance of internal control design and development
Assists Director of Finance with fiscal issues, planning, and treasury management
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
Designs, develops and implements adequate levels of internal accounting controls that safeguard City’s assets and comply with appropriate regulations, including appropriate modifications to internal accounting controls or workflow process as a result of audit findings
Reports violation of our internal controls and potential financial abuse to the Director of Finance
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:
Prepares cash flow forecasts in support of capital financing transactions
Evaluates the feasibility of proposed bond issues in relation to operational sustainability and adequate resources to pay future debt services
Works directly with financial advisors and bond counsel in the debt issuance process
Reviews and approves official statements and related debt covenants associated with each bond issue
Oversight of debt including recording, payment, and long term tracking of all debt obligations
The Assistant Director of Finance is designated as the Chief Compliance Officer and shall be responsible for the administration and supervision of the City’s post-issuance compliance management program. In coordination with the City municipal advisor, 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
As a working manager, provide technical resources, ongoing supervision, direction, and product reviews to Finance Managers regarding their respective responsibilities, as described below:
Primary functions include Annual Audit, Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, Grant Reporting, and Fiduciary Responsibilities
Annual audit process, including procurement of qualified auditors, workpaper preparation, and audit communications, response to audit findings, if any, to include appropriate modifications to internal accounting controls or workflow process
Preparation of supporting documentation and drafting our Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, along with submission of our financial reports to Federal repositories upon completion
Assist with research and implementation of new Governmental Accounting Standards
Grants management support and guidance for fiscal reporting of federal, state and local grants and related grants management tracking and reporting systems in support of required Federal financial assistance reporting
Oversees accounting activities for entities under contract for fiscal services the FM Area Diversion Project
Primary functions include Annual Budget, Ongoing Financial Reporting and Monitoring, Bank Reconciliations, Accounts Receivable/Payable, and Payroll Processing
Annual budget development process including the assignment of professional staff needed for this function
Preparing financial analysis supporting budget recommendations to the Budget Review Team
Monitor budget performance, including a means of tracking, along with year-end projections
Maintain a system of recording budget amendments that occur outside of the annual budget development process
Timely and accurate billing, receivable, and payroll processes
Primary functions include purchasing assistance, compliance monitoring, and policy updates
Maintain purchasing policy through regular review and updates
Provide city-wide staff training on purchasing program
Assist departments via RFP templates and best practices guidance
Assess program compliance through active monitoring and reviews
Create online warehouse of state contracts and other public procurement resources
Establish protocols and system development designed to ensure efficient, effective procurement process
Using independent judgment provides supervision and leadership to department personnel 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
Investigates conflict issues with employees and recommends performance improvement plans where necessary to improve employee performance. Recommends disciplinary actions, if needed
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
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
Performs other duties and activities as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in public or business administration with an accounting, finance or a related field as a specialization
Nine or more years of progressively responsible governmental accounting experience
Five or more years of supervisory responsibility
Knowledge of concepts, principles and practices of governmental accounting and fiscal administration including treasury management, accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, capital planning and purchasing
Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and governmental accounting standards (GASB)
Knowledge of grant administration including recordkeeping, reporting, and Uniform Guidance (UG)
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
Experience working with modern accounting, payroll, and timekeeping software systems
Experience in ERP implementation, change management, and ongoing maintenance
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
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
Skill in coaching and development of staff by providing a challenging work environment and appropriate levels of feedback to enhance professional development over time
Preferred
Master's degree or recognized professional certification such as CPA or CPFO
Company
The City of Fargo
The City of Fargo is the largest community in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area and in the state of North Dakota with a population of more than 110,000.
1001-5000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Katie Ettish
Deputy Chief Communications Officer
Nick Lindhag
Chief Information Security Officer
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