Assistant Director of Finance

City of Des Plaines • Des Plaines, IL

4d • Onsite

About The Position

This position is responsible for performing a variety of supervisory, administrative, and complex accounting and budgetary functions in maintaining the fiscal systems and operations of the City. In the absence of the Director of Finance, serves in an acting capacity and assumes many of the duties and responsibilities of the Director. Works under the general supervision of the Director of Finance. Directly supervises staff as assigned and when called upon, supervises all staff assigned to the Finance Department.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field, along with a Master’s degree in a related field.
• A minimum of five to seven years of increasingly progressive responsible experience in accounting or finance, three of which must be in a public sector organization.
• Demonstrated successful experience in supervisory, accounting, audit/budget preparation, payroll or an equivalent combination of education and experience which meets the minimum knowledge, skills and abilities.
• Thorough knowledge of governmental accounting theory, principles, and best practices; thorough knowledge of internal control procedures; thorough knowledge of office automation and computerized financial applications; thorough knowledge of public finance and fiscal planning; thorough knowledge of payroll and accounts payable functions; working knowledge of budgetary, accounting and reporting systems, GAAFR, GAAP and GASB.
• Ability to prepare and analyze complex financial reports; ability to maintain efficient and effective financial systems and procedures; ability to effectively supervise staff; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, City officials, consultants, other governmental agency representatives and the general public; ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Thorough knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws pertaining to Finance.
• Ability to conduct necessary research and compile reports, carry out assigned projects to their completion and meet deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse groups of individuals and maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to maintain a professional and credible attitude.
• Ability to understand and follow verbal and written instructions and to communicate effectively verbally and in writing to a diverse audience.
• Ability to focus on detail and follow up on unresolved items.
• Ability to efficiently and effectively problem-solve and understands when to bring items to individuals in positions with the authority to resolve problems.
• Ability to proactively seek resolutions to potential problems within the Finance Department
• Knowledge of and the ability to apply this knowledge to utilize various software programs to accomplish the duties of the position.
• Ability to learn new software programs.
• State of Illinois Class ‘D’ Driver’s License.

Responsibilities

• Assists the Director in identifying areas for improvement within the Department and in formulating, implementing, and enforcing departmental procedures in accordance with applicable City policies.
• Collaborates with the Director to develop short and long-term work plans for the Department across functional areas of responsibility; works proactively to successfully complete work plans and manages resources, including personnel, to accomplish tasks set forth within the work plans and/or strategic objectives of the Department.
• Plans and organizes staff workloads and assignments, reviews the work of subordinates for completeness and accuracy; completes annual performance reviews, may coach and/or counsel employees and when appropriate is responsible for disciplining employees under his/her supervision within the Personnel Policies or applicable negotiated agreement.
• Responsible for the continuous development, improvement, and implementation of internal control procedures to ensure compliance with state and national accounting standards and industry best practices.
• Through assigned staff, is responsible for the accurate preparation of journal entries, reconciliation of accounts, analysis and compilation of revenue and expenditure figures, management of payroll and other functions of finance as well as administration of finance projects and meetings including but not limited to audit, OPEB, actuarial reporting, etc.
• Responsible for the accurate preparation and completion of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and the Poplar Annual Financial Report (PAFR).
• Assists the Director and the City Manager's Office in the preparation, development, and presentation of the City's annual budget.
• Prepares the annual department budget.
• Prepares and distributes regular financial reports including the treasurer’s report, state, federal, and local reports as required, tax reports and other reports as appropriate or requested.
• Prepares requested reports for union contract negotiations.
• Responsible for investment of City funds and cash monitoring as well as assisting in debt issuance including rating agency presentation materials, preparation of official statements and other tasks as necessary.
• Responsible for monitoring and recording of grant revenues and expenditures and ensuring compliance with requirements of City grant agreements and applicable federal and state laws; proactively reports problems to Department Heads or the Director of Finance.
• Assists in analyzing tax increment financing district projections, and prepares reports for internal and external distribution as required or upon request.
• Performs other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off : Enjoy 15 paid vacation days , 3 personal days , and 12 sick days –plus, your vacation and personal days grow as you continue your journey with us!
• 11 Paid Holidays : Celebrate the holidays with pay while spending time with loved ones.
• Comprehensive Healthcare : We’ve got you covered with medical, dental, and optical insurance options tailored to fit your needs–offering low deductibles, low premiums, and an overall low cost to you and your family.
• Employer-Paid Life Insurance : Feel secure with $100,000 in life insurance provided at no cost to you.
• Retirement Planning : Secure your future with the Illinois Municipal Employee Retirement Fund (IMRF) and additional perks like a Retirement Health Savings Account , Transportation Spending Account , 457 Deferred Compensation Plan , Roth IRA , and optional life insurance.
• Tuition Reimbursement : We're committed to your growth–take advantage of our Tuition Reimbursement Program to keep learning and advancing your career.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager