Budget Finance Manager

Job Description:

Budget Finance Manager

Description

Position Description

The City of Tulare is currently recruiting to fill the position of Budget Finance Manager. This recruitment will remain open until filled. Qualified applicants are encouraged to apply for immediate consideration.

Tulare is a vibrant and steadily growing community with a population of 70,693 located in the heart of California's Central Valley. The organization, staffed with 389 full-time employees, enjoys a culture of fiscal conservatism, collaboration, teamwork and dedication to public service and our community.

To be considered for this position applicants must submit an application with detailed information in each section of the application: Education, Work Experience, Certificates and Licenses, and Skills.

In addition to submitting a detailed application, applicants are required to respond to the supplemental questions associated with the application. Your responses to the supplemental questions will be used to help us evaluate your qualifying knowledge, skills, and abilities. Resumes may be attached but will not be accepted in lieu of a complete, detailed application or in lieu of detailed responses to the supplemental questions

POSITION OVERVIEW

The successful candidate will plan, organize, and coordinate development and monitoring of the City’s budget; perform a variety of highly responsible and complex analytical, statistical, financial, and administrative duties; provide budgetary control for City funds and departments; develop financial policies; record financial transactions; prepare financial reports, including those required for preparation of the City’s audited financial statements; and perform other related duties as assigned. This position will also provide support in various functional areas of the Department of Finance, including payroll, contract administration, grant administration, regulatory compliance, and/or program management.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general direction from the Chief Financial Officer (Director of Finance / Treasurer). Exercises direct and general supervision over assigned professional, technical, and clerical staff. Coordinates and monitors the work of outside contractors, vendors, and consultants as assigned.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS

This is the mid-management classification in the Department of Finance that exercises independent judgment on diverse and specialized operations matters and has significant accountability and ongoing decision-making responsibilities associated with the work. Incumbent plans, organizes, and coordinates development and monitoring of the City’s budget; performs a variety of highly responsible and complex analytical, statistical, financial, and administrative duties related to the City’s budget; develops financial policies; and records financial transactions and prepares financial reports. This class is distinguished from the Utility Billing Manager in that it is responsible for highly complex analytical and programmatic functions. This class is further distinguished from the Assistant Finance Director and Chief Financial Officer (Director of Finance / Treasurer) in that the latter have overall responsibility for all finance and accounting functions and for developing, implementing, and interpreting public policy.

Examples of Essential Functions

Management reserves the rights to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Manages the development of the city’s annual budget and capital improvement budget; updates schedules, formats documents, provides input, coordinates the distribution, and ensures transparency across departments within the city.
• Coordinates, oversees, and/or performs professional-level administrative work in areas such as budget development, financial administration and reporting, grants, management analysis, and program evaluation.
• Performs research and analysis to resolve deficit budget; supports other departments by disseminating financial information and accounting analytics, generates reports, and provides financial and accounting feedback.
• Analyzes funds and individual accounts to verify availability of resources and consistency with the City’s budget.
• Monitors the City-wide budget and prepares internal monthly budget reports and quarterly City Council budget reports and projections; prepares and delivers budget presentations.
• Provides analysis of available funds at management request; prepares fund balance projections.
• Provides support services to management in the preparation, interpretation and monitoring of departmental budgets.
• Provides training to departmental staff in budget entry, reporting, revenue and expenditure projection, and other financial areas.
• Prepares revenue and expenditure estimates and forecasts; develops personnel cost estimates; performs labor cost analysis.
• Ensures compliance with established budget guidelines, using automated budget and fund accounting systems to monitor expenditure reports and other accounting records of assigned departments; works with departmental representatives to implement budget requests, resolve discrepancies, irregularities, and potential over-expenditures.
• Investigates, interprets, analyzes, and prepares recommendations related to improvements to budgeting, management, and fiscal information systems.
• Evaluates, supports, and implements new technologies related to budget, payroll and enterprise resource planning strategies and programs, to help increase efficiencies and reduce operational costs.
• Communicates orally, in writing, or through graphic representations and statistical summaries with colleagues, managers, employees, the public, organized employee groups, and representatives of various organizations.
• Provides assistance to assigned management staff; prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary correspondence.
• Assists with the preparation and completion of monthly balancing and reconciliation of the general ledger and subsidiary accounts; provides departmental monthly reports for project accounting and cash balances.
• Assists with the preparation, creation, and submission of daily financial transactions.
• Participates in the preparation of the City’s annual financial statements and annual state reports, including preparing audit schedules and other documents.
• Tracks transient occupancy tax, cannabis tax, and other revenues; processes City’s quarterly reimbursements to outside agencies as applicable.
• Develops charges and fee schedules City-wide, including internal services charges and cost allocation plans.
• Prepares various reports and other documents for federal, state, and other outside agencies.
• May assist and/or provide backup support with major finance functions and activities including accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchasing, business licensing, payroll, utility billing, and cashiering.
• May direct the work activities of assigned clerical and technical personnel, including prioritizing and coordinating work assignments; reviewing work for accuracy; recommending improvements in workflow, procedures, and use of equipment and forms.
• Identifies opportunities for improving service delivery methods and procedures; reviews with appropriate management staff; implements improvements.
• Oversees, coordinates, and administers department-specific programs and projects.
• Responds to and resolves difficult inquiries and complaints.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Requirements

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public agency finance, including general and governmental accounting, auditing principles, reporting functions, budget development and administration.
• Principles and techniques of statistics, data collection and summary reporting, including graphic presentation.
• Principles and practices of employee supervision, including work planning, assignment, review and evaluation, and the training of staff in work procedures.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations, including standard accounting practices regarding public agency accounting operations.
• Methods and techniques for the development of presentations, business correspondence, and information distribution; research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Financial accounting systems and Microsoft computer applications.
• Techniques for effectively representing the city in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for dealing effectively with the public, vendors, contractors, and city staff, in person and over the telephone.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Computer applications related to work.
• Safe driving principles and practices.

Ability to:

• Assist in preparing and administering large and complex budgets and financial operations.
• Coordinate, review, evaluate, and participate in a comprehensive public agency financial management program.
• Conduct complex research, evaluate alternatives, make sound recommendations, and prepare effective technical reports.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Interpret, apply, and explain applicable federal, state and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations related to area of assignment.
• Perform complex, specialized analytical studies, and financial audits.
• Analyze situations and identify pertinent problems/issues; collect relevant information, evaluate realistic options, and recommend/implement appropriate course of action.
• Present complex information orally and in writing in an easy-to-understand way for employees, community groups and decision-makers.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Supervise, select, train, motivate, and evaluate the work of staff.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of the work.

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience which would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be: Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business or public administration, accounting, finance, or a related field, and four (4) years of increasingly responsible professional administrative and analytical experience in accounting, budget preparation and administration, auditing, and/or financial management. Experience in municipal government is highly desirable.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid Class C California driver’s license.

Additional Information

Physical Demands

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle and to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, typewriter keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Positions in this classification frequently lift and carry reports and records that typically weigh less than 20 pounds.

Environmental Elements

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures.

• Members of the California Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). In accordance with the California Public Employees Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA), the City of Tulare will offer the following retirement benefit (2.0% at 62)to new PERSmembers beginning January 1, 2013 with three (3) years final compensation.Existing PERSmembers with no break in service will receive the 2.5% at 55formula with single highest year.
• City pays a portion of the employee and dependent coverage costs of group medical, dental and vision insurance. An opt-out plan is also available.
• Life insurance -Based onsalary.
• Shortandlong term disability insurance.
• 10 working days vacation per year. Additional days based on years of service.
• 12 days sick leave per year.
• 15 holidays annually: 12 city observed holidays, plus birthday credit and 2 in-lieu holidays.
• Management leave - 64 hours per year.
• Flexible benefit program - IRSSection 125 Plan.
• Deferred compensation plan - 457 Plans available.

Salary:

$87,897.36 - $106,839.84 Annually