Finance Director

City of Williston; Williston (ND); On-site; USD 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Williston in North Dakota seeks a Finance Director to lead all municipal financial operations including budgeting, accounting, treasury, investments, debt management, and reporting. The role reports to the City Administrator and serves as City Auditor as prescribed by state law.

The Director advises elected officials and department heads on financial policy, develops internal controls, oversees budgets, and guides modernization of financial systems to ensure transparency and compliance.

Qualifications

• Thorough knowledge of governmental accounting, municipal finance, budgeting, treasury management, and public‑sector financial administration.
• Knowledge of GAAP, GASB standards, municipal debt financing, investment management, and governmental auditing practices.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws governing municipal finance and public administration.
• Strong strategic planning, analytical, and organizational leadership skills.
• Ability to interpret and analyze complex financial data and develop actionable recommendations.
• Ability to communicate effectively with officials, leadership, employees, auditors, and the public.
• Ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the City’s Chief Financial Officer and principal financial advisor to the City Administrator, Board of City Commissioners, department heads, and other stakeholders.
• Provides strategic leadership for all municipal financial operations, ensuring fiscal integrity and long‑term sustainability.
• Advises City leadership on financial trends, revenue projections, expenditure forecasts, and policy decisions affecting City services.
• Develops and implements financial policies, internal controls, and best practices to ensure fiscal integrity and compliance.
• Prepares and presents financial reports, forecasts, and analyses for executive leadership, auditors, rating agencies, and the public.
• Coordinates the preparation, development, administration, and monitoring of the City’s annual operating and capital budgets.

Skills

Governmental accounting

GAAP & GASB

Budgeting & treasury management

Public administration

Financial data analysis

Communication with officials

Leadership & change management

ERP systems

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/public administration/business administration

CPA/CPFO/CGFM preferred

Tools

ERP software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Summary

The Finance Director provides strategic leadership for all municipal financial operations, including budgeting, accounting, treasury management, investments, debt administration, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance.

This position serves as a key advisor to the City Administrator, and Board of City Commissioners on financial planning, fiscal policy, capital financing, organizational strategy, transparent stewardship of public funds, and long‑term financial sustainability.

The position also serves as the statutory City Auditor in accordance with North Dakota Century Code.

Supervision Received

City Administrator

Supervision Exercised

Accounting, Municipal Court, and Water departments

FLSA Status

Exempt

Essential Job Functions

1. Serves as the City’s Chief Financial Officer and principal financial advisor to the City Administrator, Board of City Commissioner’s, department heads, and other stakeholders.
2. Provides strategic leadership for all municipal financial operations, ensuring fiscal integrity, long‑term sustainability, and alignment with organizational goals and priorities.
3. Advises City leadership on financial trends, economic conditions, revenue projections, expenditure forecasts, operational impacts, and policy decisions affecting City services and programs.
4. Develops and implements financial policies, internal controls, and best practices to ensure fiscal integrity, operational efficiency, and compliance.
5. Prepares and presents financial reports, forecasts, and analyses for executive leadership, elected officials, auditors, rating agencies, and the public.
6. Coordinates the preparation, development, administration, and monitoring of the City’s annual operating and capital budgets.
7. Evaluates capital financing strategies and provides recommendations regarding funding options, debt capacity and financial risk management.
8. Oversees investment activities and cash management practices in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and financial management standards.
9. Directs and coordinates all municipal debt issuance activities such as general obligation bonds, special assessments and refinancing activities
10. Ensures compliance with GAAP, GASB standards, federal and state regulations, City policies, and applicable laws.
11. Conducts training with City departments on financial data, best fiscal management practices and the usage of financial data programs and technology.
12. Provides financial guidance and support to department heads and City staff.
13. Represents the City at meetings, conferences, and public presentations related to municipal finance and administration.
14. Leads efforts to modernize financial operations through process improvement, technology implementation, data analytics, and enhanced financial reporting tools.
15. Promotes organizational transparency and public trust by supporting accessible financial communication and public‑facing financial information.
16. Performs the duties of the City Auditor as prescribed by North Dakota Century Code chapter 40‑16 and City ordinances.
17. Oversees official financial records, required financial publications, and related statutory reporting requirements.
18. Supervises, trains, and evaluates assigned personnel while promoting professionalism, accountability, professional development, and customer service.
19. Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

NOTE

The functions and duties listed are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of the specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position. The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Thorough knowledge of governmental accounting, municipal finance, budgeting, treasury management, and public‑sector financial administration.
2. Knowledge of GAAP, GASB standards, municipal debt financing, investment management, and governmental auditing practices.
3. Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local laws governing municipal finance and public administration.
4. Strong strategic planning, analytical, and organizational leadership skills.
5. Ability to interpret and analyze complex financial data and develop actionable recommendations.
6. Ability to communicate effectively with elected officials, executive leadership, employees, auditors, financial institutions, and the public.
7. Ability to lead organizational change and continuous improvement initiatives.
8. Ability to exercise sound judgment, political awareness, discretion, and ethical decision‑making.
9. Strong interpersonal, supervisory, and team development skills.
10. Proficiency in financial management systems, ERP software, Microsoft Office applications, and data reporting tools.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.

Experience: Seven years of progressively responsible experience in governmental finance, accounting, budgeting, auditing, or public administration, including at least three years in a supervisory management role.

Preferred Qualifications: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), or Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)

Necessary Special Requirements

• Possession of or the ability to obtain a valid North Dakota driver’s license.
• Must be bondable

Physical Demands and Work Environment

Work is primarily performed in a professional office environment with frequent use of computers, standard office equipment, and communication devices. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit at a desk or table; talk or hear; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate objects, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee regularly works indoors but sometimes travels within the city for reasons related to the job; The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

The City of Williston does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, genetics, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services, and complies with the provisions of the North Dakota Human Rights Act.

The City of Williston is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.