Finance Director/Chief Financial Officer

City of Westminster - Westminster, CO

Full-time - Senior

Westminster, CO

Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support

About the position

The Finance Director/Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is a City leader who serves as a key member of the Executive Leadership Team translating City Council's strategic plan into action through development of policies, leadership innovation, and resource allocation and management. The position directs department activities in fulfillment of the City's Mission Statement, Vision and Values. The Finance Director/CFO works collaboratively with other City Directors, the Deputy City Managers, and the Assistant City Manager in supporting the City Manager in leading and managing the City. This leadership position is responsible for making executive-level decisions in alignment with the direction of the organization as defined by City Council and the City Manager as well as establishing major departmental policies, planning long-term programs. Primary duties involve overseeing all administrative and professional work in planning, organizing and directing the Finance Department which consists of the Accounting, Sales Tax, Procurement, and Finance Administration which comprises Treasury, Contracts and Grants, and Special Districts operations. Work involves responsibility for managing and administering citywide finance programs, including overall planning, coordinating and supervising of these divisions, which provide enhancement for the quality of life in Westminster. The Finance Director/CFO also serves as a citywide champion of innovation, creating and driving short-term and long-term vision for innovation, and driving initiatives in support of citywide financial sustainability, environmental, service, and efficiency goals. Responsibilities include supporting financial transparency, determining major departmental policies; planning long-term programs and communication efforts; and making difficult technical and administrative decisions. Work includes assuring accomplishment of the objectives of the Finance Department through the direct and indirect supervision of all personnel assigned to the department. Work will require attending some evening meetings and occasional weekend meetings/events. The Finance Director/CFO performs work with wide latitude for independent judgment and action, and the Deputy City Manager reviews work through conferences, reports, and success of the Finance Department's programs and activities.

Responsibilities

• Directs Finance Department personnel and operations to meet the Department's and City's Strategic Plans and goals established by City Council
• Represents the City and Finance Department in a professional manner and positive light
• Collaborates with City Manager's Office, Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and Finance Department management team members to develop innovative solutions that support and promote a high performing organization
• Attends City Council meetings as needed to address issues related to the Finance Department
• Partners with City Manager's Office, and other departments and divisions to advocate and promote fulfillment of City's mission statement, vision and values
• Embodies City's SPIRIT values in all interactions and discussions with citizens, employees, vendors, and intra-departmentally
• Develops policies, procedures, and best practices that demonstrate exceptional customer service, innovation, and prudent stewardship of City revenue
• Participates on the Pension Board
• Makes presentations before public officials, boards and groups
• Demonstrates political acumen
• Develops policies, procedures, and best practices that demonstrate exceptional customer service and prudent stewardship of City resources and revenue
• Deals with contentious issues in a timely manner that reflects and supports City management philosophy and decisions
• Ensures procedures for handling citizen complaints are carried out quickly and efficiently
• Evaluates and advises on the impact of long-range strategies, planning, programming, and regulatory actions
• Successfully applies the principles and practices of public administration, financial and personnel management
• Clearly interpret all applicable laws, ordinances and codes
• Supervises Finance Department Staff
• Provides Finance Department personnel with appropriate training, direction and technical assistance to ensure effective and efficient operations
• Develops standards of performance for personnel to improve the Finance Department's overall effectiveness and efficiency
• Demonstrates a long-term perspective through coaching and development of employees to meet the strategic functional goals and objectives to support the Finance Department's mission in meeting the City's Strategic Plan priorities and goals
• Supervises Finance Department team leadership and takes necessary actions to ensure proper coaching, guidance and mentoring throughout the department
• Participates on the Finance management team that supports the goals and objectives of on-going learning and employee development
• Provides for career development opportunities and personal growth, including technical and leadership development opportunities
• Recommends necessary personnel action in compliance with the City's Personnel Policies and Rules, including promotions, transfers, corrective measures, disciplinary action and discharge
• Models and encourages employees to demonstrate ownership and support of the City by fostering a collegial and supportive work environment
• Demonstrates authenticity, strong communication, integrity, compassion, empowerment, continuous improvement, and putting others first
• Promotes collaborative, systems thinking
• Demonstrates a long-term perspective through coaching and development of employees to prepare the next generation of leadership
• Supervises personnel and takes necessary actions to ensure proper personnel administration throughout the department
• Directs allocation of employee resources and equipment for maximum effectiveness
• Provides for a comprehensive program of employee training and department training
• Focuses on organizational development with the continued emphasis on the development of a 'healthy', engaged employee community
• Keeps informed as to personnel, property, and operations by observation, reports and management input and acts on such information in order to improve operations
• Supports and encourages on-going employee development through City-wide training, on-going education, and job-specific training
• Writes and conducts performance appraisals
• Plans, administers, formulates, and directs overall Finance Department operations
• Provides day-to-day managerial decisions on problems and issues that arise, ensures cost effective operations, and promotes inter-departmental cooperation on common projects and functions within the divisions of the Finance Department
• Works as a member of the Citywide Leadership Team to ensure citywide and Finance departmental goals, concerns, policies and priorities are met
• Prepares City Council documents and attends City Council meetings to address issues related to the Finance Department
• Directs and manages all activities and operations of Finance, including general accounting, financial reporting, capital financing, debt service, internal audits, financial planning, cash management, investments, City retirement program oversite, payroll, sales and use tax auditing
• Creates and establishes accounting for all monies received and paid out by the City
• Prepares reports and work programs
• Serves as Hearing Officer for tax matters and responsibilities assigned by the City Code; serves as Trustee of two City Employee Pension Plans and the FPPA Retirement Plans for Police and Fire employees
• Reviews, analyzes and evaluates operational procedures and makes recommendations for improvement, refining or expanding operations or projects to meet current and long-range needs
• Directs related administrative activities including the Finance Department budget preparation and execution, purchasing, personnel selection, reports, employee training, and correspondence in administration of projects
• Directs all divisions' planning activities (both short range and long range); prepares and implements comprehensive plans and planning policies
• Reviews plans, technical reports, budget estimates, and proposed ordinances and regulations submitted by division heads
• Purchases and approves purchase of departmental materials, supplies and equipment
• Conducts feasibility studies, prepares special reports and/or cost benefits studies as requested
• Focuses on organizational effectiveness principles and practices with the emphasis on support for employees
• Develops cooperative working relationships with all other departments of the City
• Serves as a professional ambassador of the department and City by maintaining a professional image, a team-based collaborative approach and a high level of internal and external customer service
• Keeps informed as to personnel, property, and operations by observation, reports and management input and takes action of such information in order to improve operations

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or college with major coursework in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, or a related field
• Five (5) to seven (7) years of senior management experience in government finance, budget preparation, investment strategy and monitoring, capital financing programs, information technology and general accounting
• Minimum of six (6) years of senior management and administrative experience in a public sector or military setting, or six (6) years of experience in an executive-level city management position combined with public sector experience
• Considerable supervisory experience over a large group of professionals, para-professional, and clerical personnel
• Experience serving as a prime spokesperson on business and financial matters, working under tight timelines and potentially stressful conditions, and making significant public presentations is required
• Must possess a valid driver's license, provide proof of a safe driving record, and maintain a safe driving record for continued employment

Nice-to-haves

• Master's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Management, or a related field
• Licensed Certified Public Accountant
• Certified Government Finance Officer

Benefits

• Multilingual Stipend Program for employees who are conversationally fluent in languages other than English
• Opportunities for career development and personal growth
• Support for ongoing employee development through City-wide training and job-specific training
• Participation in a collegial and supportive work environment
• Engagement in a vibrant, diverse economy and community