Deputy Finance Director

City of Cambridge MA•Cambridge, MA

6d•Onsite

About The Position

The Deputy Finance Director is a senior department leader responsible for the day-to-day financial activities of the Finance Department, with direct supervision of five divisional managers and indirect oversight of approximately ten additional staff across the Revenue, Cash Management, and Payroll divisions. This role serves as a key resource across all Finance divisions, leading efforts to ensure that financial workflows, policies, and procedures are effective; overseeing critical reporting obligations including the ACFR, Annual Tax RECAP, Free Cash Certification, Rating Agency Presentation, and the Annual Official Statement; and coordinating enterprise financial system operations and upgrades. The role requires strong leadership, analytical depth, and broad knowledge of municipal finance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in public administration, finance, accounting, management, or a related field required.
At least seven (7) years of progressively responsible management experience in a municipal finance-related field.
Strong knowledge of applicable federal, state, and local financial laws and regulations; sound judgment; high ethical standards; and clear communication skills to collaborate with departments, auditors, and the public.
Knowledge of municipal finance and automated financial information systems.
Knowledge of governmental accounting, GAAP, and GASB standards, including fund accounting, revenue recognition, and municipal financial reporting requirements.
Proficiency with enterprise financial systems including PeopleSoft Financials and MUNIS, including ability to write queries, coordinate system upgrades, and resolve data integrity issues; strong skill in spreadsheet analysis, budget preparation, financial forecasting, and presenting complex financial information to leadership and external stakeholders.
Skill in cash and treasury management, public funds investing, banking services administration, and overseeing payroll and revenue collection operations.
Ability to lead, supervise, and develop staff; establish effective internal controls; and coordinate audits and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report under strict deadlines.
Ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups across diverse identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
ten (10) or more years preferred.
Experience in a municipal finance setting preferred.
An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and serve as a resource to divisional managers across all Finance divisions; establish annual work plans in partnership with divisional staff; lead regular Finance division head meetings to improve coordination, identify workflow issues, and drive continuous improvement in financial operations and PeopleSoft processes.
Administer the bank contract, resolve issues between the City and the bank, prepare an invitation for bid every three years, analyze bids, and oversee conversion to a new bank if necessary.
Analyze the cash position and prepare the monthly cash flow analysis; review daily cash balances, determine funding levels, and approve all bank transfers.
Determine and execute investment of available funds in accordance with the department's investment policy, and review and update that policy as needed in compliance with applicable state laws.
Monitor trust fund receipts and expenditures, assist individuals and departments with establishing new trust funds, and prepare trust fund documentation.
Coordinate the annual independent audit and oversee preparation of the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (ACFR), State Financial Statements, and Free Cash Certification; lead the Annual Tax Commitment and RECAP process; prepare and coordinate the Rating Agency Presentation, debt projections, and Annual Official Statement in coordination with the City’s financial advisors.
Supervise preparation of quarterly tax returns, quarterly cash reports, and annual cash reports; resolve payroll tax issues with the IRS and the State Department of Revenue; and ensure all debt service payments are made on time.
Oversee PeopleSoft Finance and HR system operations, including coordinating system upgrades with the Information Technology Department, writing queries to address financial and HR data needs, and providing historical system knowledge to resolve issues as they arise; oversee MUNIS system upgrades and Parking system operations as applicable.
Supervise maintenance of the fixed-asset database and preparation of the annual financial statements.
Prepare the Finance Department's annual budget.
Perform other related duties as required.