Finance Manager at City of West Fargo – West Fargo, North Dakota

The Finance Manager will provide accounting and financial control work for the Finance Department. Working within established policies, the incumbent will apply advanced knowledge and professional experience to manage projects and make key decisions . This position supervises and guides assigned staff while managing priorities and ensuring accuracy. The Finance Manager also plays a key role in setting goals, maintaining standards, solving complex issues, and driving the success of the department.

Supervisory Responsibilities
• Direct reports include: Senior Accountant(s), Financial Analyst(s)
• Indirect reports include: Staff Accountant(s)
• Hire and train new employees in the finance department.
• Supervises and manages the finance department’s assignments and priorities.
• Assigns financial responsibilities in consultation with the Director of Finance.
• Responsible for approving leave requests and employee’s timesheet by given deadlines.
• Conducts performance evaluations that are timely and constructive.

Essential Duties
• Administers and directs the fiscal management of the City, including revenue forecasting, collection and disbursement of funds, payroll, accounting, financial reporting, auditing and investment of funds.
• Processes payroll on a bi-weekly basis and provides city staff with information and troubleshooting services, such as changes to pay. Processes W-2 annual statements and other reporting using the payroll software.
• Plans, directs and coordinates the administration of the City’s finance and accounting services.
• Prepares internal control policies and implementing procedures to conduct activities; ensuring that activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws, ordinances, rules and regulations.
• Develops comprehensive plans to satisfy future needs for departmental services.
• Assist the Director of Finance and City Administrator in preparation of the operating and capital improvement budgets for the City; estimates anticipated revenues and expenditures, including staffing costs; assists in reviewing proposed budget allocations; conducts complex fiscal analysis and prepares related reports.
• Prepares the splits of special assessments and provides them to the City Engineer for review; after approval, updates the special assessments software.
• Reviews posting, balancing and reconciliation of accounting transactions to ensure conformance with generally accepted accounting principles and standards.
• Manage and participate in the City’s annual financial audit. To include but not limited to: working with the City’s independent auditor; assuming responsibility for the development and coordination of the annual Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and Single Audit.
• Provides financial data and analysis for the Engineering department for the levy of special assessments.

Key Responsibilities
• Prepare, present and be knowledgeable about City Commission agenda items on financial matters.
• Assists the Director of Finance in managing the investments of the City; Prepares all documents necessary to transfer funds and document all transactions.
• Prepares monthly financial reports for City Commission.
• Performs other duties as required or assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or closely related field and/or five years of increasingly responsible experience in municipal finance and accounting, including two years of experience in a supervisory or management capacity in a governmental agency.
• Equivalent combination of education and/or experience is acceptable.
• Valid driver’s license.

Required Skills/Abilities
• Ability to create and maintain effective and positive working relationships with peers, superiors, other city departments, vendors, contractors, external government agencies and organizations.
• Strong attention to detail while providing timely customer service.
• Strong communication skills, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to manage workload to meet deadlines.
• Advanced knowledge in Microsoft Office Excel and Word.

Preferred Qualifications
• Knowledge of various accounting software.
• Governmental fund accounting experience.
• Working knowledge of NEOGOV Payroll and Time and Attendance modules or like-kind software.
• CPA certification, GFOA’s CPFO certification, or MBA or equivalent.