Executive Director of Finance

Kentucky League of Cities; Covington (KY); On-site; USD 140,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Covington seeks an Executive Director of Finance to serve as CFO, leading all financial operations, budgeting, accounting, reporting, treasury, debt management, and procurement. The role advises the city manager and board, shaping financial strategy and safeguarding public resources.

Ideal candidates bring deep governmental finance expertise, strong judgment, and a proven leadership presence to align resources with community goals and ensure compliance with state law and GAAP/GASB

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in governmental or public-sector financial management, including at least five years in a senior management role.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Demonstrated experience preparing or overseeing a governmental annual budget and annual financial report.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

• Advise the city manager, board of commissioners, and department directors on the fiscal impact of policy, operational, economic development, and labor decisions.
• Develops and maintains multi-year financial forecasts, fiscal sustainability plans, and reserve and fund-balance policies.
• Participates in city-wide strategic planning, labor negotiations, and major development and partnership agreements, providing financial analysis and modeling.
• Directs preparation of the annual operating budget and multi-year capital improvement program for adoption by the board of commissioners, consistent with Kentucky law governing municipal budgets (KRS Chapter 91A).
• Oversees expenditure controls, budget amendments, and quarterly budget-to-actual reporting to the city manager and board of commissioners.
• Leads cost studies, fee and rate analyses, and evaluation of service delivery options.
• Oversees general accounting, accounts payable and receivable, fixed assets, and preparation of the annual comprehensive financial report in accordance with GAAP and GASB standards.
• Manages the annual independent audit and federal single audit; ensures timely resolution of findings and management-letter comments.
• Establishes and enforces internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures that protect city assets and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Pursues and maintains GFOA certificates of achievement for financial reporting and distinguished budget presentation awards.
• Oversees collection and forecasting of property taxes, occupational license (payroll) fees, net profit fees, insurance premium taxes, and waste and stormwater fees.
• Analyzes revenue structure and recommends policy changes; ensures fair, consistent, and customer-focused tax administration.
• Directs cash management, banking relationships, and investment of city funds in accordance with the city's investment policy and state law.
• Manages debt issuance and administration consistent with the city's debt management policy; works with municipal advisors, bond counsel, and rating agencies to protect and improve the city's credit rating; oversees continuing disclosure.
• Structures financing for capital projects, including bonds, leases, tax increment financing, and other development finance tools.
• Oversees purchasing, bidding, contracting, and surplus property processes to ensure competitive, transparent, and compliant procurement.
• Ensures financial compliance and reporting for federal and state grants, including uniform guidance requirements.
• Coordinates with human resources and legal on insurance, risk financing, and claims-related financial exposure.
• Leads, develops, and evaluates the finance department leadership team and staff; builds succession depth and cross-training.
• Directs the use and improvement of the city's ERP and financial systems; partners with the data analytics division on financial dashboards, transparency, and performance reporting.
• Presents complex financial information clearly to elected officials, the public, the media, auditors, and rating agencies.

Skills

Financial strategy

Executive leadership

Budget development

Revenue management

Treasury management

Internal controls

GAAP knowledge

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/public administration

Master's degree in public administration or related field

CPA/CPFO/CGFM (preferred)

Tools

ERP system

Job description

Position Summary: The executive director of finance is the City of Covington's chief financial officer and a member of the city manager's executive leadership team. The executive director of finance leads all financial operations of the city, including, but not limited to, budgeting, accounting and financial reporting, revenue and business-tax administration, treasury and investments, debt management, and procurement and serves as the principal financial advisor to the city manager and the board of commissioners. The executive director of finance sets financial strategy, safeguards public resources, protects the city's credit standing, and ensures that Covington's financial practices meet the standards of the largest and best-managed cities in the region. Success in the role requires technical mastery of governmental finance combined with the judgment, communication skills, and leadership presence expected of a senior executive.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

These tasks are typical for this position and may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Financial Strategy and Executive Leadership Chief financial advisor:
  • Advises the city manager, board of commissioners, and department directors on the fiscal impact of policy, operational, economic development, and labor decisions.
• Long-term Planning:
  • Develops and maintains multi-year financial forecasts, fiscal sustainability plans, and reserve and fund-balance policies.
• Executive Team Member:
  • Participates in city-wide strategic planning, labor negotiations, and major development and partnership agreements, providing financial analysis and modeling.
• Budget Development and Administration Annual budget:
  • Directs preparation of the annual operating budget and multi-year capital improvement program for adoption by the board of commissioners, consistent with Kentucky law governing municipal budgets (KRS Chapter 91A).
• Budget Monitoring:
  • Oversees expenditure controls, budget amendments, and quarterly budget-to-actual reporting to the city manager and board of commissioners.
• Performance and Cost Analysis:
  • Leads cost studies, fee and rate analyses, and evaluation of service delivery options.
• Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Audit Financial reporting:
  • Oversees general accounting, accounts payable and receivable, fixed assets, and preparation of the annual comprehensive financial report in accordance with GAAP and GASB standards.
• Audit:
  • Manages the annual independent audit and federal single audit; ensures timely resolution of findings and management-letter comments.
• Internal Controls:
  • Establishes and enforces internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures that protect city assets and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Recognition Programs:
  • Pursues and maintains GFOA certificates of achievement for financial reporting and distinguished budget presentation awards.
• Revenue and Business-Tax Administration Revenue Management:
  • Oversees collection and forecasting of property taxes, occupational license (payroll) fees, net profit fees, insurance premium taxes, and waste and stormwater fees.
• Tax Policy:
  • Analyzes revenue structure and recommends policy changes; ensures fair, consistent, and customer-focused tax administration.
• Treasury, Investments, and Debt Management Cash and Investments:
  • Directs cash management, banking relationships, and investment of city funds in accordance with the city's investment policy and state law.
• Debt and Credit:
  • Manages debt issuance and administration consistent with the city's debt management policy; works with municipal advisors, bond counsel, and rating agencies to protect and improve the city's credit rating; oversees continuing disclosure.
• Structures financing for capital projects, including bonds, leases, tax increment financing, and other development finance tools.
• Procurement, Grants, and Risk Procurement:
  • Oversees purchasing, bidding, contracting, and surplus property processes to ensure competitive, transparent, and compliant procurement.
• Grants:
  • Ensures financial compliance and reporting for federal and state grants, including uniform guidance requirements.
• Risk and Insurance:
  • Coordinates with human resources and legal on insurance, risk financing, and claims-related financial exposure.
• Organizational Leadership Department Leadership:
  • Leads, develops, and evaluates the finance department leadership team and staff; builds succession depth and cross-training.
• Systems and Modernization:
  • Directs the use and improvement of the city's ERP and financial systems; partners with the data analytics division on financial dashboards, transparency, and performance reporting.
• Communication:
  • Presents complex financial information clearly to elected officials, the public, the media, auditors, and rating agencies.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in governmental or public-sector financial management, including at least five years in a senior management role overseeing budget, accounting, or treasury functions.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Demonstrated experience preparing or overseeing a governmental annual budget and annual financial report.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in public administration, finance, accounting, or business administration.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), and/or Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM).
• Experience with Kentucky municipal finance, including occupational license fee administration and state reporting requirements.
• Experience with bond issuance, rating agency presentations, and development finance tools such as TIF.
• Experience implementing or optimizing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

Salary Information: $140,000 - $160,000 USD
Application Deadline: 11/30/2026

Steven Bydalek
Personnel Specialist
20 W Pike St.
Covington, KY 41011