Business Manager

cityofsomerville; Somerville (MA); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 88,400; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4 weeks annual vacation (non-union)

Medical insurance through GIC

Dental & Vision coverage

Flexible spending accounts

MBTA pass program

Job summary

City of Somerville seeks a Business Manager for the Department of Infrastructure to provide comprehensive financial, administrative, and operational support across divisions including Capital Projects, Engineering, Water & Sewer, and Permitting & Building Code.

The role requires a strong background in municipal finance, revenue forecasting, and cost analysis, with experience in permitting systems and enterprise funds. Hybrid work with in-office days supports collaboration and effective oversight.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field; minimum of five (5) years' experience in financial management or municipal finance.
• Experience with permitting systems, enterprise funds, or public works/infrastructure departments is highly desirable; MCPPO certification preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct revenue projection analysis and forecasting for infrastructure initiatives.
• Perform detailed cost analysis on variable expenses and staffing costs.
• Oversee the City’s permitting platform (e.g., Citizenserve) and integrate data with financial systems.
• Coordinate financial oversight of capital projects and budget tracking.
• Develop recommendations for fee schedule updates to reflect costs and market conditions.
• Support grant management, including application tracking, reporting, and compliance.

Skills

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Revenue forecasting

Cross-department collaboration

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

Munis

Job description

Statement of Duties

The Business Manager for the Department of Infrastructure provides comprehensive financial, administrative, and operational support across all Infrastructure divisions, including Capital Projects, Engineering, Water & Sewer, and Permitting & Building Code. This position plays a critical role in financial planning, revenue and cost analysis, permitting system oversight, and coordination of cross-divisional business functions. The Business Manager works closely with division leaders and the Finance Department to ensure effective resource management, regulatory compliance, and alignment with departmental and municipal priorities.

Essential Functions:

The essential functions or 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 position.

• Conduct in-depth revenue projection analysis and forecasting, incorporating construction trends, permitting activity, seasonal variability, and other infrastructure-related drivers.
• Perform detailed cost analysis on variable expenses, including overtime, union-related payouts (e.g., accrued vacation and sick leave upon separation), and other fluctuating personnel costs.
• Track expenditures, revenues, and encumbrances; identify variances and recommend corrective actions.
• Support enterprise fund financial planning, including water and sewer operations.
• Analyze and evaluate existing fee structures, with a focus on Permitting & Building Code, Engineering, and Water & Sewer permitting (including building, plumbing/gas, and electrical permits).
• Oversee and manage the City’s permitting platform (e.g., Citizenserve), including financial tracking, reporting, and system optimization.
• Ensure accurate integration of permitting data with financial systems and reporting tools.
• Develop recommendations for fee schedule updates to ensure alignment with service costs, market conditions, and inflation.
• Manage cash receipts associated with Infrastructure operations, including permitting and other revenue streams.
• Perform regular account reconciliations to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with financial controls.
• Coordinate with the Finance Department on cash handling procedures and reporting.
• Standardize and improve internal business processes across divisions.
• Support grant management, including application tracking, reporting, and compliance.
• Coordinate financial oversight of capital projects, including budget tracking, funding sources, and cash flow analysis.
• Work with project managers and Infrastructure staff to ensure accurate financial reporting and compliance with funding requirements.
• Assist in the preparation of capital improvement plans and long-term financial strategies.
• Support ongoing evaluation of fee balance, cost recovery, and revenue sustainability.
• Support all aspects of Infrastructure billing operations, including meter reading, billing cycles, adjustments, abatements, and payment processing.
• Develop and recommend policies and procedures to improve utility billing operations, ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and laws.
• Analyze billing data to identify discrepancies, troubleshoot issues, and ensure customer bills are accurate.
• Prepare detailed reports for management, including billing summaries, account status, usage trends, and financial analyses.
• Assist with audits and provide necessary documentation and responses.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Recommended Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field; and minimum of five (5) years' experience of progressively responsible experience in financial management, municipal finance, or business-related operations; or any equivalent combination of education, training and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Experience with permitting systems, enterprise funds, or public works/infrastructure departments is highly desirable. Munis (municipal finance/billing software) experience preferred. MCPPO certification preferred but not required.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skill

Knowledge: Thorough knowledge of municipal utility operations, billing systems, and financial management. Strong knowledge of governmental accounting principles and municipal budgeting practices. Familiarity with permitting operations and associated financial workflows. Demonstrated experience in revenue forecasting, fee analysis, and cost modeling. Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines related to utility billing.

Ability: Ability to develop and implement effective billing procedures and operational improvements; ability to analyze complex data, prepare reports, and make recommendations for improvements. Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly and work collaboratively across departments.

Skill: Excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines. Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and utility billing software (e.g., Munis or similar product). Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to apply judgment in addressing financial issues and discrepancies.

Work Environment

The work environment involves everyday discomforts typical of offices, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employee may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings or complete work assignments. Hybrid work schedule available with a minimum of three (3) days in office per week.

Physical and Mental Requirements

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 position’s essential functions.

Physical Skills

Few physical demands are required to perform the work. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. May also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment and computer paper (up to 30 lbs.)

Motor Skills

Duties are largely mental rather than physical, but the job requires minimal motor skills for activities such as moving objects, operating a telephone system, computer and/or most other office equipment, typing and/or word processing, filing, and sorting.

Visual Skills

Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and for analytical purposes.

Hours: Full-Time
Salary: $85,000-$88,400 annualized, plus benefits.
Union: Non-Union
FLSA: Exempt
Date Posted: July 29th, 2026

The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact the ADA Coordinator at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or [e-mail].

Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:

• MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
• Completion of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees

Overview of Total Rewards:

• 4 weeks annual vacation for non-union positions. Union positions vary by contract. Please note, police officers are members of the SPEA union. Public Health Nurses are part of Union A (SMEA).
• Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
• Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
• Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
• Long term disability through Sun Life
• Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
• Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
• Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
• Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
• Annual cancer screening & wellness release
• Somerville Retirement Pension System
• Tuition reimbursement
• MBTA pass program
• FREE Blue Bikes membership
• Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.