Public Works Finance Administrator bei Spokane County, WA

About the Department

This position works 40 hours per week. 

The position allocated to this class performs leadership, management, and professional work as the head of the County’s Financial Division. The Public Works Finance Administrator is responsible for the planning, organizing, and directing of all activities related to the County’s Public Works department.  Key positions reporting to this position include the Utility Billing Manager, Accountants, and department payroll personnel.

Management responsibilities include planning, organizing accounting and financial activities of the Public Works department.  Work may include regional districts/agencies served by the respective department.  Develops and implements process for fiscal accounting policies and procedure related to internal controls.  developing major divisional policies and procedures and performing long-range planning and programming of public facilities.  The position requires considerable exercise of independent judgment, discretion and initiative and a high degree of contact with city, county, state and federal agencies; engineering and construction firms; private individuals; developers; attorneys; and elected officials.  Work is performed under the guidance and supervision of the County’s Public Works Director who reviews the work through regular contact, conferences, reports and overall evaluation of results achieved.  In addition, the Environmental Services Administrator makes presentations to the Board of County Commissioners regarding the activities of the division and proposed official actions to be taken by the Board.

TOTAL COMPENSATION: $114,702 - $160,540 annually. Total compensation is an estimate based upon base compensation, median retirement fund contributions, and current employer-paid health and related benefit contribution rates (including medical, dental, life insurance, long term disability, and leave). The actual total will vary depending upon each employee's enrollment choices.

Position Duties

• Provides strong leadership for the Division, emphasizing adherence to core values and embracing the principles of continuous improvement and fostering employee development.
• Develops, implements and ensures compliance with comprehensive accounting and financial policies, controls and procedures for use internally., 
• Manages and supports a variety of accounting and financial reporting systems, including accounts receivable, cash management, investment, debt, etc., that impact the financial performance and reporting for the County and the regional districts/agencies, where applicable.  
• Assists in the hiring of staff; trains staff, assigns work, and evaluates the performance of staff.  Administers or recommends appropriate corrective and/or disciplinary action.
• Analyzes, designs, and manages new and modified computer applications.  Works with the Information Systems Department to develop and maintain automated accounting systems.
• Analyzes, designs, develops and maintains financial statements.  
• Supervises staff in the preparation of financial statements. 
• Research legislative actions and RCW’s as they relate to and impact the financial responsibilities of the assigned department.  
• Advises elected official/department head and other agency officials on fiscal issues.
• Assists other departments and regional districts/agencies in the design, development and implementation of financial and accounting systems.
• Ensures effective communication of accounting and financial policies and procedures to staff in the assigned department, other County departments and regional districts/agencies.
• Reviews and works with the Grant Manager on FEMA and CARES rules and reporting.
• Works with County and regional officials to ensure financial policies and procedures are implemented and adhered to.
• Directs and provides leadership for the preparation of annual budgets and for financing of programs.
• Monitors and provides leadership on employee development and personnel matters for the division to ensure consistent application of County policies and procedures. 
• Under the guidance of the Public Works Director, coordinates the divisions efforts with other County departments, and city, state and federal agencies.
• Interfaces as appropriate with the Board of Commissioners and other boards, City Councils, agencies, regulatory agencies, and the general public. 
• Performs other related duties, as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in finance, business administration, accounting, economics, or closely related field 
• Five (5) years of administrative accounting experience which involved the application of advanced accounting principles and theories to an accounting operation in a governmental agency, banking, CPA firm or related area.  
• Proven experience with administration and development of automated financial or accounting applications and systems. 
• Graduate degree in business, accounting, finance or information systems is preferred.  
• Certified Public Accountant preferred.
• NOTE: This position must successfully pass appropriate background check and is required to be bondable.

Other Qualifications

• Knowledge of the advanced principles, practices and methods of accounting, finance, cash control and investing as they relate to banking or local government.
• Knowledge of modern, complex automated financial reporting and management information systems.
• Knowledge of management procedures and practices as applied to accounting, finances and investments.
• Knowledge of innovations in cash management tools and practices for the effective management of funds.
• Knowledge of design, implementation and utilization of computer and on-line technology in accounting and banking.
• Knowledge of pertinent Federal, State and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Knowledge of the principles of hiring, supervision, training and performance evaluation.
• Knowledge of local Improvement District bonds, General Obligation, Limited Tax General Obligation and Revenue bonds and other financial instruments.
• Skilled in communicating effectively both orally and in writing, sufficient to exchange or convey information and to give and receive work direction.
• Skilled in establishing and maintaining effective working relations with elected officials, department heads and employees.
• Skilled in the use of computers and programs related to the job.
• Ability to analyze and interpret fiscal and accounting records and to supervise the preparation of accurate and complete financial statements and reports.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques.
• Ability to plan, layout, supervise and review the work of others.
• Ability to analyze, design, implement, and maintain complex accounting and reporting computer systems.
• Ability to develop procedures and systems for preparing and maintaining accounting and financial information and internal controls.