Finance Manager

Mojave Water Agency•Apple Valley, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Finance Manager is the Agency’s senior accounting leader and the primary point of accountability for the integrity, compliance and timeliness of MWA’s financial operations. Reporting to the Director of Finance, this role directly manages a team of four accounting professionals and serves as the operational financial lead, supporting the Director of Finance on strategic financial matters and functioning as the day-to-day financial decision-maker when the Director of Finance is unavailable. This is a hands-on management role that balances technical oversight of accounting operations with people leadership, process improvement and cross-departmental partnership.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, finance, business, or business administration is required.
5 years of governmental accounting or auditing experience is required, including 3 years of supervisory experience of accounting staff.

Nice To Haves

CPA, CPFO or CGFM is preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

Establishes and maintains GL structure, chart of accounts and transaction policies.
Reviews journal entries and financial transactions for compliance and consistency.
Trains staff on transaction standards and best practices.
Reviews and signs off on the ACFR; accountable for its accuracy and timely submission.
Monitors capital asset accounting activities, including asset capitalization, depreciation, inventory tracking, and financial reporting in compliance with accounting standards.
Reviews and approves complex reconciliations prepared by the team; holds staff accountable for accuracy and timeliness.
Oversees the financial reporting calendar and ensures adherence to deadlines.
Reviews and validates financial data across departments before it reaches the Director of Finance or leadership.
Analyzes key metrics and synthesizes trends and anomalies into concise findings for leadership decision-making.
Prepares and presents routine and complex financial reports and presentations to committee and Board, ensuring accurate and timely communication.
Leads the agency-wide budgeting process.
Reviews and approves forecasts and variance analyses prepared by team.
Aligns budget cycles with strategic initiatives.
Presents budget materials and recommendations to the Director of Finance.
Monitors reserve accounting, ensuring accurate tracking, reporting and compliance with applicable policies and requirements.
Supports rate studies by providing cost-of-service data and analysis, in coordination with consultants and legal counsel.
Manages investment and cash management operations, including cash flow monitoring, banking activities and compliance with governmental financial policies and procedures.
Oversees day-to-day debt administration, including debt servicing, compliance monitoring, reporting and coordination with lenders and regulatory agencies.
Oversees agency procurement activities and vendor relationships.
Develops and maintains contract templates and administrative procurement guidelines.
Trains staff on contract and procurement compliance.
Serves as the management escalation point for procurement exceptions, disputes and policy interpretation.
Designs, documents, implements and maintains the agency’s internal control systems; accountable for control environment integrity.
Serves as the primary day-to-day liaison with external auditors; leads audit coordination and ensures findings are addressed and closed.
Reviews audit-ready materials prepared by the team; ensures management letter findings are addressed.
Ensures team-wide training on and compliance with GAAP, GASB, and applicable regulations.
Co-signs the management representation letter with the Director of Finance as part of the annual audit.
Manages grant accounting activities, including budget monitoring, financial reporting, reimbursement processing and compliance with grant and regulatory requirements for state and federal grants.
Leads process improvement and system enhancement initiatives across the accounting function.
Oversees system testing, adoption and troubleshooting.
Partners with IT and vendors to ensure system reliability.
Makes the business case to the Director of Finance for system investments and improvements.
Supervises a team of accounting professionals; sets clear performance expectations, provides regular coaching and feedback, and conducts performance evaluations.
Builds team capability by identifying development needs and supporting growth opportunities for each team member, including cross-training and succession readiness.
Assigns work and adjusts workload distribution during high-demand periods.
Participates in recruiting and onboarding of new staff.
Fosters a team culture of accountability, accuracy and continuous improvement.
Listens actively and asks clarifying questions.
Communicates clearly, concisely and respectfully to coworkers and customers.
Manages emotions constructively in routine and stressful situations.
Demonstrates empathy when listening and responding to staff.
Facilitates productive conversations, including feedback and difficult discussions.
Follows through on commitments and updates others when plans change.
Adheres to policies, safety standards, and procedures.
Owns mistakes and takes corrective action.
Sets clear expectations, responsibilities, and standards.
Holds self and others accountable, addressing performance and safety issues promptly.
Shares information and resources proactively.
Recognizes and values others’ expertise and responsibilities; seeks input when needed.
Offers and requests help during high-demand or cross-team tasks.
Leverages team strengths and resolves conflicts constructively.
Builds trust across the Agency and models cooperative behavior with other managers.
Adapts to new processes, technologies, and priorities.
Identifies, suggests and helps implement improvement opportunities.
Champions change by communicating the “why” and preparing staff.
Encourages and supports employee-driven improvement ideas.