Chief Financial Officer

Job Title

Under limited supervision, this position performs high-level leadership, managerial and financial responsibilities over the city's financial operations. This position is an appointed position and serves at the pleasure of the City Manager. Reports to City Manager or designee.

Job Description

Responsible for the overall management of the city's fiscal operations, budget administration and monitoring. Ensures purchasing and financial transactions are properly conducted in accordance with city administrative policies and procedures; participates on the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Committee, and coordinates preparation of documents for bond issues; conducts periodic internal audits or review of all funds and departments.

Responsible for providing oversight over the areas of accounting, budget, payroll, workers compensation, procurement and risk management, and leads and coordinates long-range fiscal planning, the preparation of annual budget, and capital improvement and financial planning.

Provides leadership and strategic direction for developing, administering and communicating city financial and department policies and procedures to meet overall city goals and objectives, to meet legal requirements, promote cost effectiveness, responsiveness to both management and employees, and to attract, retain, and develop a highly qualified, motivated and effective workforce.

Responsible for preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) in a timely manner.

Plans and directs the city's debt management program, to include determining the structure of special financing; selects and works with underwriters as needed, and provides assistance to the city's bond counsel to ensure compliance with the Virginia Public Finance Act bond covenants and MSRB; establishes and maintains relationships with the city's financial advisor(s) and rating agencies; serves as an ex-officio member of the city's Retirement Board; may serve as the custodian of all retirement funds; manages relationships with retirement money managers and actuary and retirement system advisors, authorizes and manages cashflow and disbursement of city funds in accordance with officially established procedures.

Develops proposals and reports as requested by the City Manager, and ensures reports, studies, presentations and plans are appropriately processed in accordance with federal, state, and city laws and ordinances.

Performs other related work as required. Individual assignments will be determined by supervisor based on current workload and department needs.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Has extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of accounting and auditing including modern city financial administration. Has extensive knowledge of federal, state and city laws and policies concerning city fiscal operations. Has extensive knowledge of the operations of city government. Has considerable knowledge of the principles of supervision, organization and administration. Is able to maintain standard accounting and control measures for city government. Is able to plan, direct and coordinate the work of other employees. Is able to prepare clear and concise reports and to compile and analyze financial statements and reports. Is able to operate standard office machines and computer-driven word processing, spreadsheet and file maintenance programs. Is able to express ideas clearly orally and in writing. Is able to establish and maintain effective working relationships as necessitated by work assignments.

Education, Experience & Special Requirements

Requires a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or a related field, 10+ years of progressive financial management experience in a government setting; and 3 - 5 years of managerial supervisory experience.

Designation as a Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) by Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) and/or a designation as a Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) by Association of Government Accountants (AGA) is preferred.

An acceptable general background check to include a local, state and federal criminal history check.

Physical Demands

Must be physically able to operate a variety of automated office machines which includes computers, calculators, etc. Must be able to lift and/or carry weights of 20-50 lbs. Must be able to exert up to ten pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for periods of time.

Requires the ability to compare and/or judge the readily observable, functional, structural, or compositional characteristics (whether similar to or divergent from obvious standards) of data, people or things.

Requires the ability of speaking and/or signaling people to convey or exchange information. Includes giving assignments and/or directions to subordinates and assistants. Includes receiving instructions from immediate supervisor.

Requires the ability to read a variety of informational documents, budget summaries, annual audits, budget worksheets, minutes, and related departmental records and reports. Requires the ability to prepare financial statements, budget ordinances, budgets, depreciation schedules, revenue projections, assessed valuation projections, tax rate projections, fund balance projections, revenue and expense reports, and various related financial reports and information, using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style. Must be able to speak before an audience with poise, voice control and confidence.

Requires the ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions; to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagrammatic form; to deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

Requires the ability to record and deliver information, to explain procedures, and to follow oral and written instructions. Must be able to use and interpret various medical, legal, computer and government accounting terminology and language.

Requires the ability to utilize mathematical formulas; to add and subtract totals; to multiply and divide; to determine percentages and decimals; to utilize basic systems of algebra; and to utilize statistical theories and inference.

Requires the ability to inspect items for proper length, width and shape.

Requires the ability to coordinate hands and eyes rapidly and accurately in using automated office equipment.

Requires the ability to handle a variety of items, office equipment, control knobs, switches, etc. Must have minimal levels of eye/hand/foot coordination.

Does not require the ability to differentiate between colors and shades of color.

Requires the ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under moderate to high levels of stress.

Requires the ability to talk and/or hear: (talking: expressing or exchanging ideas by means of spoken words; hearing - perceiving nature of sounds by ear).

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements

The City of Portsmouth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. ADA requires the City to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Prospective and current employees are invited to discuss accommodations.