Director of Finance

City of Colonial Heights (Contract); Colonial Heights (VA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

VRS Retirement

Supplemental Retirement Plans

Paid Holidays

Paid Sick Leave

Compensatory Leave

Voluntary Benefits

FSA & Benefits

Other Benefits

Job summary

The City of Colonial Heights seeks a highly professional Director of Finance to lead the City’s financial operations. The role reports to the City Manager and oversees Accounting, Payroll, Purchasing, Risk Management, Utility Billing, Real Estate Assessment, and Billing and Collections.

Responsibilities include budget development, financial reporting, and strategic planning; provides advisory support to the City Manager and department directors. Strong GAAP knowledge required.

Qualifications

• Comprehensive knowledge of GAAP and governmental accounting concepts.
• Ability to lead and supervise multiple Finance Department functions.
• Strong written and oral communication and presentation skills.
• Experience with budget development, controls, and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Direct, supervise, and evaluate Finance Department staff.
• Assist City Manager with financial planning, budgeting, and controls.
• Prepare revenue estimates and coordinate budget processes.
• Issuance of bonds; liaise with rating agencies and issue statements.
• Oversee fiscal statements, accounting systems, and audits.
• Maintain GASB/GAAP compliant accounting and reporting.
• Provide financial oversight for all departments and grants.
• Analyze costs and advise on policy changes.
• Invest City funds and monitor debt structures.
• Establish financial goals for city operations.

Education

Bachelor's Degree and 10+ years supervisory experience

Master's Degree and 5+ years supervisory experience

GAAP knowledge

Strong leadership & communication

Job description

Description

Open Until Filled. First review of applications to begin no later than October 2, 2026.

The City of Colonial Heights is seeking a highly professional Director of Finance to provide overall direction and leadership of the City's financial operations.

Hiring Range

$115,000 - $140,000; Negotiable (Anticipate hiring above the pay range minimum).

This position, which reports to the City Manager, directs, manages, and oversees the staff and the functions of the Finance Department, to include Accounting, Payroll, Purchasing, Risk Management, Utility Billing, Real Estate Assessment, and Billing and Collections. Assists the City Manager with the development and implementation of financial matters, including budget preparations and controls, financial reports and statement preparations, and strategic planning; serves as an advisor to the City Manager and Department Directors.

Examples of Duties

• Directs, supervises, and evaluates Finance Department staff.
• Assists the City Manager with the development and implementation of financial matters, including budget preparations and controls, financial reports and statement preparations, and strategic planning.
• Prepares revenue estimates and coordinates budget preparation and review.
• Coordinates the issuance of bonds, bond rating agency presentations, and official statements concerning the amount of debt capacity.
• Oversees the preparation of fiscal statements and accounting systems and coordinates annual audit procedures and financial reports.
• Establishes and maintains citywide accounting and reporting systems pursuant to Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) standards.
• Provides financial oversight for all departments.
• Oversees financial administration of grants and grant-funded programs.
• Appraises operating results in terms of costs, budgets, operating policies and procedures, and makes appropriate change recommendations.
• Invests City funds.
• Analyzes the City’s existing debt structure, and projects future financing needs and options for funding those needs.
• Establishes and monitors short and long-term financial goals of the City, including the City’s enterprise operations.
• Recommends financial policies and procedures, drafts and proposes financial accounting policies and practices to manage the City’s financial risks by researching, analyzing, and implementing accepted governmental accounting policies and procedures.
• Coordinates procurement activities, reviews and approves city purchases.
• Addresses citizen inquiries.
• Other duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's Degree and over 10-years directly related supervisory experience; or Master's Degree and over 5-years directly related supervisory experience, or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is desirable.
• Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) is desirable.

Must Possess

• Comprehensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and of general laws and administrative policies governing municipal financial practices and procedures.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of governmental accounting, budget preparation and account reconciliation.
• Must have strong leadership, managerial, communication (oral and written), and presentation skills; must have a clear and open communication style.
• Must have strong quantitative and analytical skills.
• Needs the ability to prepare informative financial reports.
• Needs the ability to plan, organize, direct and evaluate the work of subordinate staff.
• Needs the ability to evaluate complex financial systems and efficiently formulate and install accounting methods, procedures, forms and records.
• Needs the ability to build strong working relationships within and across departments, with the City’s Management team, the Mayor and City Council, and other City officials.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

The work is generally performed in an office environment. Typically, the employee may sit to do the work. However, there may be some walking, standing, stooping, carrying of light items such as papers, books, or small parts, or driving an automobile. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.

The work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts which require normal safety precautions. Use of safe work practices with office equipment, avoidance of trips and falls, observance of fire regulations and traffic signals are minimally required.

Full-Time Employee Benefits

Health Insurance –

The Local Choice

• The Local Choice Program (Anthem, Delta Dental, and Blue Vision).
• Health, Dental, and Vision benefits are included as a package under our health insurance program and cannot be purchased as separate coverage items.
• Health insurance benefits start on the 1st of the month following the hire date.
• Benefit Summaries
• Key Advantage 250 Benefits Summary
• Key Advantage 1000 Benefit Summary
• High-Deductible Health Plan Benefits Summary

Retirement – Virginia Retirement System (VRS)

• Basic Group Life Insurance Program Features
• Optional Group Life Insurance Program Features

Supplemental Retirement – Mission Square Retirement

• We offer supplemental Retirement plans through Mission Square Retirement.
• Employees can enroll in the following plans at any time during their employment.
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Roth IRA

Paid Holiday Leave

• The city observes 14 holidays throughout the year (except certain departments if scheduling does not permit).

Paid Sick Leave

• All full-time employees earn (1¼) days of paid sick leave for each calendar month of employment and is accumulated without limit.

Compensatory Leave

• Non-Exempt employees may accumulate compensatory leave only for overtime worked which is authorized prior to the performance of such work. Compensatory leave may be accumulated at the rate of 1 1/2 times the regular rate for all hours worked in excess of 40 during a work week. Compensatory leave for nonexempt employees is voluntary but in no instance may exceed 120 hours of accumulated leave. All hours in excess of 120 hours will be compensated on the same basis as approved overtime.

Voluntary Benefits – Pierce Group Benefits

• Employees have 30 days from their hire date to enroll in the following benefits. If an employee does not enroll, they cannot enroll until the next Open Enrollment.

Colonial Life Products

• Pre-Tax
• Post Tax:
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Critical Illness
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Disability
• Cancer
• Term Life
• Accident
• Whole Life
• Medical Bridge
• Student Loan Forgiveness Program
• Note: Employees can only enroll in Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care FSA and Dependent Care FSA) during Open Enrollment in May of each year. *

Other Benefits

• Bi-weekly payday
• Virginia Credit Union membership
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• City Sick Leave Bank Program (VRS Plan 1 and Plan 2 Members only)
• VRS Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (VRS Hybrid Members only)
• Education/tuition discounts through Liberty University

For additional information or more details about employee benefits please call the Human Resources Department at [phone].