Deputy Finance Director

City of Vancouver

3d • $12,554 - $18,831 • Onsite

About The Position

Public finance is about more than numbers. It is about trust. Stewardship. Making thoughtful choices with public resources. Building systems that work. Developing people. And helping an organization make sound decisions today while preparing for what comes next.
The City of Vancouver is seeking a Deputy Finance Director who is ready to take on that responsibility at an executive level. As the principal deputy to our Chief Financial Officer (CFO), you will help lead the City's Financial and Management Services Department and serve as a trusted strategic partner to the CFO, City leadership and departments across the organization.
We are looking for an accomplished public finance professional who brings more than technical expertise. We need an executive who brings sound judgment, perspective and composure to complex situations; communicates with credibility; builds trust across organizational boundaries; and models the leadership expected throughout the organization.
You will be a strategic thought partner to the CFO and other leaders on the financial issues shaping Vancouver's future. We are looking for someone who can evaluate competing considerations, anticipate downstream impacts and offer clear, objective advice—even when the advice is difficult.
You will help leaders understand not only what the numbers say, but what the choices mean.
This is an opportunity to help shape the financial future of a growing city—and to demonstrate what thoughtful, accountable and service- centered executive leadership looks like in public service.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of overall experience in governmental financial administration or accounting administration, of which four years should include complex governmental multi-fund revenue and expenditure management.
• Supervisory experience overseeing accounting or budget managers and staff.
• Advanced Excel skills related to budgeting, forecasting and reporting
• Advanced knowledge of government budgeting and accounting principles (GAAP, GASB)
• Principles of supervision and mentoring people
• Understanding of municipal debt management, taxation, and treasury management.
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws that are relevant to Washington municipal finance.
• Principles of process improvement.
• Advanced skills in Excel
• Advanced understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
• Intermediate skills in Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint.
• Use of personal computers and basic software
• Ability to build strong, high functioning teams and manage third party vendors and/or consultants.
• Ability to manage or oversee financial systems upgrades and improvements
• Ability to see the big picture, think strategically, foresee issues, make connections, improve processes and act in the best interest of the City.
• Succinct, professional report writing
• Utilize effective conflict resolution techniques.
• Public speaking and presentations
• Data visualization and analysis
• Lead others in times of change
• Develop direct reports for through mentorship, collaborations and continuous learning opportunities
• Work in a manner consistent with the City of Vancouver’s Values: Empowered, Innovative, Compassion, Inclusive and Collaborative
• Ability to write clearly and cohesively, presenting issues and potential solutions.
• Build and foster positive and productive relationships with partners across departments.
• Responsiveness, organization, strong communication skills and excellent follow-through.
• Project and maintain a positive image with those contacted in the course of work
• Develop and maintain collaborative and respectful working relationships with team members and others
• Consistently provide quality service
• Maintain regular and dependable attendance
• Demonstrate a commitment to valuing differences among people and to being inclusive
• Show the utmost respect for others, and act as a team player
• Promote safety as a guiding principle and regular practice in accomplishing work by focusing on safe practices and complying with safety and health policies and procedures.
• Recognize unsafe conditions which may be hazardous to an employee or to the public.
• Work in safe and responsible manner; not putting self or others at risk. Comply with applicable policies and procedures including but not limited to using personal protective equipment, observing warning signs, learning about potential hazards, and reporting all unsafe conditions.
• Ensure a safe workplace in compliance with applicable policies, procedures and regulations; ensure supervised employees review the City Core Accident Prevention Plan, relevant safety policies and procedures, and training on illness and injury response and specific job-related safety concerns. Report and appropriately escalate all safety issues and all injuries.
• Project and maintain a positive image with those contacted in the course of work
• Develop and maintains collaborative and respectful working relationships with team members and others
• Consistently provide quality service
• Maintain regular and dependable attendance

Nice To Haves

• Experience leading annual financial statement preparation preferred.
• Master's degree and /or CPA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the CFO’s principal deputy and provide leadership for day-to-day department operations, cross-divisional coordination, and execution of department priorities.
• Partner with the CFO to establish departmental priorities, performance expectations, organizational culture, and strategic initiatives.
• Supervise, coach, and develop designated managers and supervisors; support succession planning and leadership development across the department.
• Resolve cross-functional operational issues, remove barriers to effective service delivery, and lead continuous improvement efforts.
• Serve as Acting CFO as delegated and represent the department with executive leadership, City Council, and external partners when needed.
• Provide executive leadership for governmental accounting and financial reporting, including complex accounting issues, year- end close, ACFR preparation, audit coordination, and implementation of GAAP and GASB standards; provide executive oversight for treasury, cash and investment management, internal controls, and related financial administration.
• Ensure timely and accurate preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and other mandated financial reports.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards.
• Promote a strong internal-control environment and coordinate resolution of audit findings, accounting issues, and operational risks.
• Advise the CFO on fiscal issues, emerging trends, organizational impacts, and financial risks and opportunities.
• Support development of financial policy, long-range forecasts, multi-year planning, revenue strategies, reserve analysis, and long-term sustainability strategies.
• Support the development of the City’s biennial operating and capital budget, providing operational and process oversight and support.
• Assist with the development of the City’s debt strategy, bond issuance, credit-rating strategy, and financial risk management.
• Participate in major capital financing, cost-recovery, fee, and enterprise financial-policy initiatives as assigned.
• Provide executive leadership for financial systems strategy, governance, modernization, and continuous improvement.
• Lead or co-lead enterprise-wide Enterprise Resource Planning software, (ERP), upgrades and financial-system initiatives in partnership with Information Technology, Finance divisions, operating departments, vendors, and executive sponsors.
• Promote process redesign, automation, data quality, integration, reporting capability, and effective use of technology across financial functions.
• Lead change management, stakeholder engagement, governance, testing, training, and adoption activities necessary for successful system implementations.
• Build strong working relationships across City departments and promote a responsive, solutions-oriented partnership model.
• Translate complex financial and systems issues into clear recommendations for executive leaders, elected officials, employees, and other stakeholders.
• Promote financial literacy, sound decision-making, and shared accountability for the City’s financial health.
• Serve as a financial liaison to auditors, financial institutions, municipal advisors, credit rating agencies, regional partners, and other external stakeholders as assigned by the CFO.
• Emulates and demonstrates the City of Vancouver Values of collaborative, inclusive, innovative, compassionate and empowered to their team, colleagues, other leaders and the community.

Benefits

• The successful candidate will receive professional and leadership development designed to prepare them to be competitive for the next Chief Financial Officer recruitment.

What This Job Offers

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