Finance Director

City of Covington • Covington, KY

11d • $140,000 - $160,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Finance Director is the City of Covington’s chief financial officer and a member of the City Manager’s executive leadership team. The position leads the City’s financial operations, including budgeting, accounting and financial reporting, revenue and business-tax administration, treasury and investments, debt management, and procurement. The Finance Director serves as the principal financial advisor to the City Manager and Board of Commissioners, sets financial strategy, safeguards public resources, protects the City’s credit standing, and ensures financial practices meet high standards for municipal government.

The role directs annual operating-budget preparation and the multi-year capital improvement program; oversees financial reporting, audits, internal controls, tax administration, cash and investments, debt and capital financing, procurement, grant compliance, and risk-related financial matters. It also leads Finance Department staff and modernization of the City’s ERP and financial systems, and communicates financial information to elected officials, employees, the public, media, auditors, and rating agencies.

The position is based at City Hall in Covington, Kentucky, and is typically performed in an office environment. The regular schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Attendance at evening Board of Commissioners meetings, budget hearings, and community meetings is required. Periodic extended hours are expected during budget, audit, and year-end close periods, and evening, weekend, or adjusted hours may be required as duties demand. Travel is minimal and mostly local, with potential overnight conference travel.

During the first year, the Finance Director is expected to deliver a timely, balanced budget and clean annual audit; present a multi-year financial forecast and reserve strategy; assess departmental structure, systems, and internal controls; and establish working relationships with rating agencies, auditors, municipal advisors, and banking partners.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• 10 years of progressively responsible experience in governmental or public-sector financial management, including at least 5 years in a senior management role overseeing budget, accounting, or treasury functions.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license.
• Demonstrated experience preparing or overseeing a governmental annual budget and annual financial report.
• Knowledge of governmental accounting (GAAP/GASB), municipal budgeting, public finance, treasury management, and procurement law and practice.
• Skill in financial forecasting, modeling, and analysis, and in translating complex financial information for non-financial audiences.
• Ability to lead and develop a professional team, build trust with elected officials and peers, and exercise sound, independent judgment.
• Ability to act with integrity, engage in ethical conduct, and support transparency and public service.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common financial reports and legal documents, and write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to communicate and present information effectively to all levels of the organization.
• Ability to perform arithmetic calculations involving whole numbers, fractions, and decimals; compute rates, ratios, and percentages; and create and interpret graphs.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, draw valid conclusions, and apply common-sense understanding to instructions.
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Attendance at evening Board of Commissioners meetings, budget hearings, and community meetings is required; periodic extended hours and evening, weekend, or adjusted hours may be required.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds; regularly talk or hear; frequently stand, walk, sit, and use hands to handle or feel; and occasionally reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in public administration, finance, accounting, or business administration.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), and/or Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM).
• Experience with Kentucky municipal finance, including occupational license fee administration and state reporting requirements.
• Experience with bond issuance, rating agency presentations, and development finance tools such as TIF.
• Experience implementing or optimizing an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system.

Responsibilities

• Advise the City Manager, Board of Commissioners, and department directors on the fiscal impacts of policy, operational, economic development, and labor decisions.
• Develop and maintain multi-year financial forecasts, fiscal sustainability plans, and reserve and fund-balance policies.
• Participate in City-wide strategic planning, labor negotiations, and major development and partnership agreements, providing financial analysis and modeling.
• Direct preparation of the annual operating budget and multi-year capital improvement program for Board of Commissioners adoption, consistent with Kentucky municipal budget law.
• Oversee expenditure controls, budget amendments, and quarterly budget-to-actual reporting.
• Lead cost studies, fee and rate analyses, and evaluation of service-delivery options.
• Oversee general accounting, accounts payable and receivable, fixed assets, and preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report in accordance with GAAP and GASB standards.
• Manage the annual independent audit and federal Single Audit, and ensure timely resolution of audit findings and management-letter comments.
• Establish and enforce internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures to protect City assets and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Pursue and maintain GFOA Certificates of Achievement for financial reporting and Distinguished Budget Presentation awards.
• Oversee collection and forecasting of property taxes, occupational license fees, net profit fees, insurance premium taxes, and waste and stormwater fees.
• Analyze the revenue structure and recommend policy changes; ensure fair, consistent, and customer-focused tax administration.
• Direct cash management, banking relationships, and investment of City funds in accordance with City policy and state law.
• Manage debt issuance and administration; work with municipal advisors, bond counsel, and rating agencies to protect and improve the City’s credit rating; oversee continuing disclosure.
• Structure financing for capital projects, including bonds, leases, tax increment financing, and other development finance tools.
• Oversee purchasing, bidding, contracting, and surplus property processes to ensure competitive, transparent, and compliant procurement.
• Ensure financial compliance and reporting for federal and state grants, including Uniform Guidance requirements.
• Coordinate with Human Resources and Legal on insurance, risk financing, and claims-related financial exposure.
• Lead, develop, and evaluate the Finance Department leadership team and staff; build succession depth and cross-training.
• Direct use and improvement of the City’s ERP and financial systems; partner with the Data Analytics Division on financial dashboards, transparency, and performance reporting.
• Present complex financial information clearly to elected officials, the public, the media, auditors, and rating agencies.
• Demonstrate ethical conduct, lead by example, and work effectively with colleagues to meet community and organizational needs.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision reimbursement plan
• Retirement plans
• Paid time off
• Paid sick leave
• 12 paid holidays
• Meaningful impact through work that contributes to Covington’s services and employee satisfaction
• Collaborative environment with a dedicated and supportive team and a culture that values communication, respect, and continuous improvement

What This Job Offers

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