Assistant Finance Director

City of Apple Valley; Apple Valley (MN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Apple Valley is seeking a qualified finance professional to oversee budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting functions. The role focuses on maintaining accurate financial data, internal controls, and timely reporting to support city operations and decision-making.

The position requires strong communication and analytical skills, with extensive experience in governmental accounting and relations with auditors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 7–10 years of finance-related work experience.
• Seven years of responsible financial, treasury, or accounting experience.
• Working knowledge of state and federal finance regulations.
• Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Strong problem analysis and decision-making abilities under time constraints.
• Ability to work in a high-energy environment with minimal supervision.
• Strong customer service orientation and relationship-building.

Responsibilities

• Participate in budgeting process and assist department heads with budgets.
• Track budget amendments and update general ledger; monitor authorization and variances.
• Assist in preparing Budget book and GFOA Budget award submission.
• Support audit functions and year-end close with finance staff.
• Coordinate internal and external financial reporting monthly, quarterly, annually.
• Monitor and reconcile special assessments and tax-related records.
• Prepare cash receipts, invoices, and monthly AR reconciliations.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial Analysis

Accounts Receivable

Internal Controls

Communication

Problem Solving

Team Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance

Master’s degree in finance-related field (preferred)

CPFO certification (preferred)

Tools

JD Edwards

LOGIS

Financial Software

Job description

Assists in the coordination and control of the City's financial account activities. Assists in the implementation of approved policies, plans, and programs for the financial, accounting and recordkeeping function to ensure timely and accurate financial data is being maintained at all times. Monitors established controls necessary to ensure the accuracy and security of all records and funds. Ensures the accuracy, integrity, completeness and timeliness of financial data, reports, and records. Responsible for maintaining accounts receivable ledgers. Oversees maintenance of information related to special assessments. Participates in the budgeting process and provides guidance and assistance to department heads, as requested, in preparation of departmental budgets.

1. Budget: Participates with the Finance Director in the budgeting process and provides guidance and assistance to department heads, as requested, in preparation of departmental budgets.
2. Tracks periodic budget amendments and updates the JD Edwards general ledger system. Assists in ongoing control of budget by reviewing disbursements to verify appropriate authorization and relation to budget projections. Notes variances from approved or authorized practices and recommends actions to Finance Director to ensure established controls are maintained.
3. Assists in preparation of Budget book and submission for GFOA Budget award.
4. Audit and Reporting: Assists Accounting Supervisor with audit functions and provides information as needed to external auditors. Provides assistance with year-end financial closing.
5. Coordinates internal and external financial reporting on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. Oversees preparation of all federal, state and local government reports of City financial operations.
6. Completes lodging tax reconciliation.
7. Completes Sales tax filing on construction projects
8. Financial Grant reporting as required, including monitoring total grant expenditures for Federal grants
9. Assessments: Monitors payments of assessments and prepayments of assessments to ensure proper accounting of funds received. Prepares and maintains special assessment searches and records payments of special assessments.
10. Maintains property information fields and records. Sets up and/or updates special assessment records for levied, postponed, deferred, or pending special assessments and/or agreements. Sends notices of public hearings to property owners; prepares and mails statements of special assessments. Allocates the amount of special assessments to be levied against each parcel.
11. Reviews maps, files and records to indicate which parcels are affected to provide engineers with information needed to spread assessments.
12. Receives and allocates payments over various assessments, issues receipts, and sends copies to County. Searches files and identifies parcels for which assessments are contested or approved.
13. Processes all special assessments for certification through typed reports and data processing.
14. TIF Reporting: Assists in the annual TIF reporting which includes working with TIF reporting partner, internal reconciliation of TIF reports, overseeing submission of annual report to OSA and to Dakota County.
15. Maintains the internal records of all open TIF accounts.
16. Manages bi-annual TIF payments to developers.
17. Evaluates existing financial control systems on a continuing basis and recommends changes as necessary or desirable.
18. Serves as back-up to all functions in the Finance Department.
19. Supports the Finance Director with investment activities, which includes reviewing investments, being part of the investment meetings, monthly investment reconciliations.
20. Reviews investments for potential calls or rating downgrades and notifies Finance Director of any seen risks
21. Ensures that we are always compliant on investments
22. Oversees Cash and Treasury management policies in tandem with the Finance Director, to include guiding department on cash management processes and internal audit of all petty cash within City.
23. Coordinates activities with Local Government Information Systems consortium (LOGIS) and other external resources and agencies and facilitates effective use of LOGIS for the Finance Department. Reviews and evaluates financial software releases and upgrades.
24. Provides training to Finance Department and other City employees on use of financial information systems as necessary.
25. Oversees, defines and implements new uses for computer financial applications.
26. Prepares cash receipts and income accrual documents for posting.
27. Prepares invoices for the City as requested
28. Prepares monthly accounts receivable reconciliations.
29. Answers specific inquiries on property descriptions, assessments, tax information, current taxes, previous year's taxes and/or other descriptive data relating to property.
30. Assists Director in daily operations of the Finance Department and performs other duties consistent with tasks and responsibilities of the position and as assigned.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance-related field, or equivalent of 7-10 years work experience in a finance related field
• Seven years of responsible financial, treasury, or accounting experience.
• Working knowledge of State and Federal finance-related regulations.
• Effective verbal and written communication and presentation skills with attention to detail and follow-up.
• Strong problem analysis and decision making skills; ability to develop alternatives and make prompt decisions under time constraints and conditions of uncertainty.
• Ability to work effectively in a high energy environment with minimal supervision; must set goals and priorities and work efficiently to accomplish critical objectives.
• Strong customer service orientation; ability to create effective working relationships with a variety of people and maintain a positive professional manner while resolving customer issues.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in finance-related field, or Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) by Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA).
• Three years of experience in governmental accounting.
• Additional years of responsible financial or accounting experience.
• Work experience in system implementations.
• Supervisory experience.

Working Conditions and Physical Requirements:

• Work is performed primarily in a standard office environment that includes exposure to computer screens.
• Primary job 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 (25 pounds).
• Operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

Reports to: Finance Director.

Schedule: Full-time, Monday – Friday; Days. Exempt (not eligible for overtime compensation). May require some evening and weekend work, including attendance at meetings and events.

Starting Pay: Starting pay rate is dependent on qualifications and salary history.

Background Check: Offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of background investigation.