Deputy Finance Director

City of Marysville; Marysville (WA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 175,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Marysville seeks a Deputy Finance Director to lead the Finance Department’s accounting and payroll functions, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with GAAP, GASB, and city policies. The role supports strategic financial direction, audit coordination, and internal controls across revenues, expenditures, and reporting.

duties include supervising staff, guiding financial system improvements, and providing expert financial guidance to City administration and staff.

Qualifications

• Six years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Three years of supervisory, management, or progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Experience in municipal or public-sector finance is preferred.
• CPA certification preferred or equivalent is suggested.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the City’s accounting and payroll administration functions, including cash/investments, debt, assets, capital, AP/AR, grant accounting, general ledger, and financial reporting.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, GASB, SAO/BARS, and applicable laws and city policies.
• Coordinate annual audits and serve as liaison with auditors and City departments.
• Provide leadership and guidance to Finance Department staff; manage performance and department goals.
• Develop and maintain accounting policies, internal controls, and financial systems.
• Support payroll operations, compliance with payroll laws and collective bargaining agreements.

Skills

Leadership

Financial reporting

Audit coordination

Internal controls

Public finance knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance

Graduate-level education preferred

Job description

Under the direction of the Finance Director, the Deputy Finance Director assists in the overall administration, management, and strategic direction of the City’s Finance Department. This position has primary responsibility for overseeing the City's accounting and payroll administration functions, including cash and investments management, debt management, asset management, capital, accounts payable, accounts receivable, grant accounting, general ledger maintenance, financial reporting, and payroll operations.

The Deputy Finance Director provides leadership, direction, and oversight to assigned Finance Department staff, and ensures financial and payroll operations are accurate, timely, efficient, and compliant with applicable laws, regulations, accounting standards, collective bargaining agreements, and City policies. The position also assists with audit coordination, financial policies, internal controls, financial systems, and departmental process improvements.

This position serves as a key member of the Finance Department’s management team and acts on behalf of the Finance Director as assigned or in the Director’s absence. The Deputy Finance Director provides professional financial guidance and consultation to City Administration, department directors, managers, supervisors, elected officials, and staff. This is a management position requiring considerable independence, professional expertise, sound judgment, and the ability to analyze complex financial issues, develop recommendations, and ensure the effective administration of the City's financial operations. Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Department Administration and Leadership

1. Assists the Finance Director in the overall administration, management, and strategic direction of the Finance Department. Serves as acting Finance Director in the Director’s absence or as otherwise assigned.
2. Supervises assigned staff, including assigning tasks, responsibilities, providing appropriate training, reviewing employees’ work processes and products, counseling employees, reviewing timesheets, conducting performance evaluations, recommending disciplinary action, administering labor agreements, and responding to grievances; participation in the interviewing and hiring process for new employees and promotional processes.
3. Develops and implements departmental goals, objectives, policies, procedures, priorities, and performance measures. Evaluates financial operations and recommends improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, accountability, and customer service.

Accounting and Financial Management

1. Manages, directs, and oversees the City's accounting and financial management operations, includingcash and investments, debt, assets, capital, accounts payable, accounts receivable, grant accounting, general ledger maintenance, and financial reporting.
2. Oversees the City's cash management and treasury functions, including monitoring cash balances and cash flows, banking relationships, investments, debt obligations, and financial transactions. Ensures appropriate controls and procedures are maintained to safeguard City funds and assets.
3. Oversees the accurate and timely processing, recording, reconciliation, and reporting of financial transactions. Ensures proper classification of revenues, expenditures, assets, liabilities, and other financial activity and maintains the City's chart of accounts and central accounting records in accordance with established account standards and legal requirements.
4. Oversees monthly and annual financial closing activities and the preparation of financial statements, schedules, and reports. Ensures accounting practices and financial reporting comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, Washington State Auditor's Office (SAO) Budgeting, Accounting and Reporting System (BARS), and applicable federal and state requirements.
5. Oversees capital project accounting and job costing, including project expenditure tracking, funding source monitoring, cost allocations, capitalization of project costs, and related financial reporting.
6. Oversees the City's required federal and state tax reporting obligations related to financial and accounting operations. Ensures timely and accurate preparation and submission of applicable tax returns, reports, reconciliations, and other regulatory filings.
7. Oversees grant accounting and financial reporting to ensure expenditures, reimbursements, and grant-related records comply with applicable grant agreements, funding requirements, and regulatory requirements.
8. Develops, implements, and maintains accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls to ensure financial accuracy, compliance, accountability, and protection of City resources. Identifies financial risks, investigates discrepancies, evaluates control deficiencies, and recommends appropriate corrective action.
9. Coordinates the City’s annual audits conducted by the Washington State Auditor’s Office, as well as other external audits as required. Serves as a primary liaison between auditors and City departments, coordinates audit requests and documentation. Prepares and reviews financial schedules, reconciliations, supporting documentation, and responses to audit inquiries and oversees the implementation of audit recommendations.

Payroll Administration

1. Provides management oversight of the City's payroll administration function through the Payroll Supervisor, who is responsible for supervising and coordinating day-to-day payroll operations. Ensures payroll is accurate, timely, and compliant with applicable laws, regulations, collective bargaining agreements, personnel policies, and City procedures.
2. Provides direction and guidance to the Payroll Supervisor regarding payroll administration, staffing, policies, procedures, internal controls, system issues, and complex payroll matters. Reviews payroll operations and performance to ensure established deadlines, accuracy standards, and compliance requirements are met.
3. Oversees payroll-related financial accounting, including payroll reconciliations, general ledger entries, payroll accruals, deductions, benefits, retirement contributions, leave balances, payroll liabilities, and other payroll-related transactions. Ensures payroll activity is accurately reflected in the City's financial records.
4. Ensures required federal, state, and local payroll tax reports, deposits, withholding payments, and regulatory filings are completed accurately and submitted within established deadlines. Monitors changes in payroll laws and regulations and ensures appropriate implementation.
5. Coordinates with Human Resources and City departments regarding employee compensation, benefits, leave, deductions, collective bargaining provisions, and other matters affecting payroll administration. Ensures appropriate internal controls, system access, segregation of duties, and confidentiality of payroll and employee records.
6. Oversees payroll-related audit activities and evaluates payroll systems, processes, controls, and reporting. Recommends improvements to strengthen accuracy, efficiency, compliance, and customer service.

Departmental and Strategic Support

1. Interprets and ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, accounting standards, City policies, and administrative requirements affecting municipal finance, accounting, payroll, grants, and financial reporting. Provide guidance and training to city staff on changes in laws or accounting standards that impact city operations.
2. Oversees the development, implementation, and maintenance of financial and payroll systems, automated reporting tools, and related technology. Coordinates with Information Technology staff, vendors, consultants, and other departments to resolve issues and improve financial operations.
3. Provides financial guidance, technical assistance, and training to City departments regarding accounting, payroll, financial controls, reporting requirements, and applicable policies. Develops and maintains Finance Department policies, procedures, and administrative guidelines.
4. Participates in City Council meetings, Council committee meetings, board and commission meetings, and other professional or community meetings as assigned. Prepares and presents financial reports, analyses, recommendations, and other information to City officials, employees, and the public.
5. Directs or coordinates special projects and financial initiatives in coordination with the Finance Director and other City departments. Establishes priorities, delegates responsibilities, monitors progress, and ensures assigned projects are completed within established objectives and deadlines.
6. Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with City employees, department directors, managers, elected officials, external auditors, financial institutions, governmental agencies, and members of the public. Performs related duties and special projects as assigned.

A combination of the experience, education, and training listed below which provides an equivalent background to perform the work of this position.

Experience

• Six years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, public administration, or a closely related field.
• Three years of supervisory, management, or progressively responsible leadership experience.
• Experience in municipal or public-sector finance is preferred.

Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, economics, public administration, business administration, or a related field.
• Graduate-level education in accounting, finance, public administration, business administration, or a related field is preferred.

Licenses or Certificates

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification or equivalent professional certification is preferred.
• Must possess, or have the ability to possess within one month of hire date, a Washington State Driver’s License.

The physical demands and characteristics of the work environment described here are representative of those occurring in the performance of the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the essential functions of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must frequently lift up to 10 pounds; occasionally lift and/or move 10 to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. This position works in an office, and the noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Attendance at Marysville City Council meetings and additional evening meetings and/or functions may also be required.