Assistant Director of Finance

City-of-Suffolk; Hall (WA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Suffolk seeks an experienced Assistant Director of Finance to oversee governmental accounting, general ledger integrity, and year-end closing activities. The role coordinates external audits, strengthens internal controls, and drives timely financial reporting and ACFR preparation.

The ideal candidate has strong ethics, municipal accounting background, and leadership skills. Supervisory responsibilities include directing staff and collaborating with the Director of Finance on citywide

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or closely related field; supplemented by 6 years’ governmental accounting/financial management experience.
• Experience with general ledger, year-end closing, and ACFR development; strong internal controls and audit coordination.
• CPA and CPPO certifications are preferred credentials for this role.

Responsibilities

• Directs and reviews accounting activities including GL maintenance, journal entries, reconciliations, payables, receivables, payroll, assets, debt, and grants.
• Leads preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and year-end close; ensures GAAP/compliance with standards.
• Coordinates external audits; manages audit requests, responses, and corrective actions.
• Supervises staff; assigns work, sets performance standards, and conducts appraisals.
• Ensures compliance with laws, regulations, and internal controls; develops financial policies and procedures.
• Oversees budget development and monitoring; supports debt issuance and management activities.
• Represents the Finance Department in meetings and presentations; communicates complex financial information clearly.

Skills

governmental accounting

general ledger

year-end close

audit coordination

debt management

internal controls

financial reporting

analytic communication

leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Administration

6 years governmental accounting/financial management experience

CPA certification preferred

CPPO certification preferred

Job description

The City of Suffolk seeks a highly motivated and experienced financial professional, driven by integrity, excellence and professionalism with a successful background in local government accounting to serve as the next Assistant Director of Finance.

Under limited supervision, the Assistant Director assists the Director of Finance in directing the City’s financial operations, with primary responsibility for the finance division’s performance of governmental accounting, general ledger integrity, year-end closing activities, audit preparation and coordination, debt management and compliance, internal control, and development of the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.

The position supervises and reviews complex accounting activities, ensures financial transactions are properly recorded and supported, strengthens internal controls, and coordinates the work necessary to produce accurate and timely financial statements. The position also provides oversight and support for debt management, financial analysis, and other Citywide financial initiatives.

The Assistant Director of Finance is responsible for the Finance Division and is part of a three division management team and supervises the finance division’s 13 member staff with four direct reports (grants manager, payroll manager, controller and financial reporting manager). The position is the senior member of the management team under the Director of Finance and may provide limited oversight of budget or procurement activities when assigned or in the Director’s absence but is not responsible for the day-to-day management of the City’s budget or procurement functions. The Assistant Director acts on behalf of the Director when assigned or in the Director’s absence and reports directly to the Director of Finance.

The ideal candidate will embody the guiding principles of the department and possess strong ethics, significant municipal accounting experience, excellent analytical and leadership skills and the ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to all levels of the organization. The position may present financial information to City Council or the public as directed.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions herein described. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.

• Directs and reviews the City’s accounting activities including general ledger maintenance, journal entries, account reconciliations, receivables, payables, payroll, capital assets, debt, leases, grants, accruals, financial schedules and supporting documentation prepared by staff. Ensures routine and complex transactions are properly recorded in the appropriate funds and accounts and that balances are accurate, adequately supported and reconciled timely. Identifies discrepancies, determines appropriate corrections, and ensures issues are resolved timely.
• Leads and coordinates preparation of the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report; including the year-end closing process, financial statements, note disclosures, supporting schedules, statistical information, and other required reporting. Ensures the ACFR is accurate, complete, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable governmental accounting standards, and completed within established deadlines.
• Serves as the primary Finance Department coordinator for the City’s annual external financial audit and other assigned financial, compliance, and regulatory audits. Coordinates audit requests and departmental responses, reviews supporting documentation, resolves accounting issues, monitors audit progress, and assists with developing and implementing corrective actions.
• Supervises assigned employees; including assigning and reviewing work, establishing performance standards, identifying training needs, evaluating performance, addressing employee concerns, and recommending or initiating appropriate personnel actions.
• Coordinates daily work activities; organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; monitors the status and quality of work performed; assists staff with complex or unusual situations; and provides technical accounting guidance.
• Ensures departmental compliance with applicable laws, regulations, accounting standards, policies, and procedures and initiates appropriate action to correct identified deficiencies or violations.
• Collaborates with the Director of Finance on the development and revision of departmental and Citywide financial policies, procedures, internal controls, methods of operation, and organizational practices to improve accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Oversees the implementation and maintenance of financial policies and internal controls and provides technical assistance to Finance staff and other City departments regarding accounting procedures, financial records, documentation requirements, and accountability.
• Performs or oversees financial compliance reviews and other internal reviews as assigned. Identifies control weaknesses, accounting deficiencies, or areas of financial risk and recommends corrective action.
• Manages the development and administration of the Finance Department’s operating budget and monitors departmental expenditures.
• Provides oversight and support for debt issuance and management activities. Reviews financial schedules and documents related to debt transactions and assists with preliminary official statements and other legal, technical, or financial documents as needed.
• Researches, analyzes, reviews, and prepares financial reports, schedules, account analyses, agenda items, correspondence, and other documents. Performs special financial, analytical, budgetary, accounting, or purchasing projects as assigned.
• Consults with the Director of Finance regarding financial operations, complex accounting matters, departmental priorities, operational issues, and recommendations for improvement.
• Attends meetings, serves on committees, represents the Finance Department, and makes presentations as assigned.
• Reviews and approves employee time records, leave requests, invoices, and other administrative documents within assigned authority.
• Maintains current knowledge of applicable laws, accounting standards, professional practices, and emerging issues affecting municipal financial operations. Participates in relevant professional organizations, workshops, and training.
• Performs the duties of the Director of Finance in the Director’s absence or as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as required.

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or closely related field; supplemented by 6 years previous experience and/or training that includes progressively responsible governmental accounting, financial management, general accounting, financial analysis, budget development, financial reporting, accounting controls, public procurement, supervision, and personal computer operations; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job. Valid Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification preferred. Possession and maintenance of valid Certified Public Procurement Officer (CPPO) certification preferred.

• Knowledge of the policies, procedures, and activities of the City and of departmental practices as they pertain to the performance of duties relating to the position of Assistant Finance Director.
• Knowledge of the practices, procedures, methods, and generally accepted standards pertaining to governmental accounting, financial management, budgeting, and procurement.
• Knowledge of general laws, administrative guidelines, generally accepted accounting principles, governmental accounting standards, and other guidelines governing municipal financial operations and activities.
• Knowledge of methods to monitor current legislative issues, to identify legislation which may impact City financial operations, and to communicate relevant information to appropriate City personnel to ensure compliance with legislative changes.
• Knowledge of the terminology, principles, and methods utilized within the department.
• Knowledge and proficiency of computers.
• Ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply regulations, procedures, and related information.
• Ability to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, computer operations, equipment needs, policies, etc., as they pertain to departmental operations and activities.
• Ability to perform various quantitative analyses in areas of policy analysis, program evaluation, financial analysis, financial forecasting, cost benefit analysis, or related areas.
• Ability to develop a detailed plan of approach for solution of issues based on direction/guidance from director or other department directors.
• Ability to effectively communicate and interact with subordinates, supervisors, members of the general public, and all other groups involved in the activities of the department.
• Ability to prepare complex financial reports, account analyses, and financial documentation.
• Ability to assemble information and make written reports and documents in a concise, clear and effective manner.
• Ability to use independent judgment and work with little direct supervision as situations warrant.
• Ability to use mathematical formulas to handle required calculations using percentages and decimals.
• Ability to read, understand, and interpret financial, technical, and computer reports and related materials.
• Ability to evaluate, audit, deduce, and/or assess data using established criteria, includes exercising discretion in determining actual or probable consequences and in referencing such evaluation to identify and select alternatives.
• Ability to function in a managerial capacity for a division or organizational unit. Includes the ability to make decisions on procedural and technical levels.
• Ability to read a variety of financial and informational documentation, directions, instructions, and methods and procedures.
• Ability to write reports with proper format, punctuation, spelling and grammar, using all parts of speech. Ability to speak with and before others with poise, voice control, and confidence using correct English and well-modulated voice.
• Ability to apply principles of influence systems, such as motivation, incentive, and leadership, and to exercise independent judgment to apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to resolve problems.
• Ability to utilize a wide variety of reference, descriptive, advisory and/or design data and information.
• Ability to perform addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; ability to calculate decimals and percentages; may include ability to perform mathematical operations involving basic algebraic principles and formulas, and basic geometric principles and calculations.
• Ability to inspect items for proper length, width, and shape, visually with job related equipment.