Finance Director

City of Lakeland, Civil Service; Town of Florida (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal Opportunity Employer

Drug Free Workplace

Job summary

City of Lakeland seeks a Senior Executive to serve as Director of Finance, acting as Chief Administrator of the department responsible for Central Accounting, City Clerk, City Treasurer, Retirement Services, and Finance Customer Billing.

The role involves strategic planning, managing debt issuance and investments, and delivering the Annual Financial Report to the City Commission and public. Requires CPA or CPM progression and extensive municipal finance experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting from an accredited college.
• Eight years of progressively responsible accounting experience, with four years in finance and management.
• CPA preferred; CPM coursework or completion within three years.

Responsibilities

• Develops, communicates, and executes strategic business plans and objectives in alignment with the City's vision, mission, and values.
• Supervises and develops department leadership; reviews performance and provides feedback.
• Oversees budgeting, debt issuance, investments, and long-term financial planning.
• Ensures regulatory compliance, financial reporting, and public disclosures.
• Collaborates with city management, auditors, and stakeholders on financial matters.

Skills

Leadership

Financial analysis

Debt issuance

Investment management

Budgeting

Strategic planning

Municipal accounting

Communication

CPA preferred

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

CPM/CPM certification preferred

Job description

This is senior executive-level work in the administration and management of the City's Finance Department. The Director is the Chief Administrator for the department, which includes Central Accounting, City Clerk, City Treasurer, Retirement Services, Finance Customer Billing. Work involves planning, scheduling, supervising, and participating in all phases of the City's financial activities. General direction is received from the City Manager.

• Develops, communicates, and executes strategic business plans and objectives in alignment with the City's vision, mission, and values.
• Leverages succession management strategies to develop a diverse pipeline of highly qualified talent and future leaders.
• Formulates departmental goals and objectives.
• Plans, organizes, and assigns responsibilities to ensure goal attainment.
• Reviews the work of subordinates as required.
• Supervises the Assistant Finance Director, Division Managers, City Clerk, and other management personnel and reviews performance.
• Sets high-performance standards; provides honest and constructive feedback when expectations and results are not achieved; and renders timely personnel decisions as needed.
• Promotes a culture committed to continuous improvement.
• Maintains an adequate accounting system for recording financial data and providing a Annual Comprehensive Financial Report to the City Commission and other interested parties. Performs financial analysis and prepares financial and statistical reports as required.
• Develops departmental policies and procedures.
• Develops accounting policies and procedures for all departments within the framework of the City Charter; Federal, State, and local laws; City policies; and authoritative accounting standard-setting bodies such as the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
• Works closely with the City's Financial Advisor(s), Investment Bankers, Legal Counsel, and City Management in project and financial planning and debt issuance.
• Provides input and assists in developing various legal and bond disclosure documents for debt issuance and refinancing, including for the Electric and Water Utility.
• Issues the Annual Report to Bondholders and provides required disclosure to Nationally Recognized Municipal Securities Information Repositories.
• Ensures compliance with bond and loan covenants.
• Establishes investment policies and coordinates the long-term investment of surplus funds.
• Prepares revenue and expenditure forecasts and coordinates the annual budget preparation.
• Ensures compliance with the TRIM statute.
• Attends City Commission meetings and Commission Committee meetings and advises the City Commission, City Manager, and Department Directors concerning financial matters.
• Acts as City Clerk when required.
• Is the Chair-person of the Public Improvement Endowment Fund
• Represents the City Manager in all collective bargaining negotiations
• Prepares oral and written reports to the City Manager, City Commission, and other City departments as required.
• Works with state agencies, including the Division of Bond Finance, the Auditor General, and the Florida Department of Revenue, to ensure compliance with state law and procedural requirements.
• Works with various state and federal agencies in obtaining financing or grants for City programs.
• Assists the general public, actuaries, independent auditors, rating agencies, insurance companies, investment banking firms, brokerage firms, bondholders, and other interested parties in obtaining information relating to the City's finances and outstanding debt.
• Demonstrates genuine concern for the Department's and the City's success, modeling selfless behavior.
• Promotes world-class customer service by being accessible and responsive, anticipating customer expectations, architecting innovative and resourceful solutions, and building partnerships within the community.
• May be required to participate in and/or facilitate training to support departmental or City initiatives and requirements.
• May be required to work alternate hours as necessary for the efficient operation of the department.
• Position is designated as Mission Critical.

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting.
• Eight years of progressively responsible experience in Accounting, with four years of experience in Finance (both debt issuance and investment) and management.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, abilities, and other competencies necessary for success in the target position may be considered.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must possess and maintain a valid telephone number.
• Persons holding an active designation of Certified Public Accountant (CPA) will be given preference in the selection process.
• Completion of Certified Public Manager (CPM) or completion within three years.
• An incumbent in this position is required to file a financial disclosure statement with the State of Florida in accordance with Florida Statutes, Chapter 112, Part III. This filing must be completed within 30 days of appointment and annually thereafter, no later than July 1 of each year in which the individual serves in this position.

KNOWLEDGE

• Municipal accounting principles and procedures as applied to a complex municipal accounting system involving many complicated transactions.
• Applicable laws, regulations, procedures, and processes governing the City government's receipt, custody, expenditure, and accounting of monies.
• City policies and procedures.

ABILITIES

• Plan, organize, direct, and supervise the work of Departmental personnel most efficiently and productively to achieve Departmental goals and objectives.
• Prepare oral and written financial reports.
• Present complex positions to varied audiences
• Absorb complex financial problems or issues and apply technical knowledge to derive solutions or alternatives.
• Ability to deal effectively with City departments, City administration, and the general public.
• Ability to use sound judgment and competent decision-making in administering the department and handling the City's financial affairs.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Sedentary work with some walking or standing, exerting up to 10 pounds of force regularly, and routine keyboard use.
• Exposure to bright/dim lights, dust, and pollen.
• Normal visual acuity, field of vision, hearing, speaking, and color perception.

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties or qualifications. Management reserves the right to modify or assign additional responsibilities as needed.

THE CITY OF LAKELAND IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/EQUAL ACCESS EMPLOYER AND A DRUG FREE WORKPLACE