Chief Financial Officer
JOB OBJECTIVE: To plan and direct all activities, programs, and operations of the Department of Finance; to develop and implement guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure that the Department of Finance activities and operations are in compliance with all applicable federal, state, local laws, guidelines, and regulations; advises the Mayor, City Manager, and Non-Uniform Pension Board Trustees regarding financial and investment issues.
Job Objective and Essential Job Functions
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Plans and directs the activities and operations of the Department of Finance to include accounting and reporting, accounts payable, budget, grants management, internal audit, payroll, procurement, printing services, small business development, and treasury management; develops and implements guidelines, policies and procedures to ensure activities and operations are in compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, guidelines and regulations; advises the Mayor, City Manager, and Non-Uniform Pension Board Trustees regarding financial and investment issues.
- Develops long-range plans for the City's financial operations, including revenue growth, taxation, borrowing, and capital improvement programs.
- Serves as Treasurer for City funds; determines the amount of money from each fund available for investment and the term of the investment; consults with the Mayor as necessary.
- Serves as trustee for the City’s Non-Uniform Employee Pension Funds and the other post-employment benefit plans.
- Plans and directs the fiscal aspects of City bond issues; develops bond issues by determining methods of financing, recommending method of sale for bonds, and working with bond counsel and financial advisors to prepare required documentation; provides information required by bond rating services to ensure City bond issues are rated.
- Plans and administers, directly and through Departmental staff, the Departmental annual work plan; meets with senior staff to identify and resolve problems to accommodate Departmental needs and other related areas; assigns and monitors projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; reviews, evaluates, and monitors work methods and procedures; approves annual internal audit work plan; implements procedural changes as needed to correct any problems identified; provides the highest level of confidentiality relating to financial matters, organizational and employee information.
- Directs activities required to administer and collect payment in lieu of tax and administrative fees for industrial development, tourism, and related revenue bonds.
- Develops, implements, and administers Departmental policies, procedures, internal auditing objectives, goals, strategies, methodologies and operational controls for financial activities that may impact the City of Little Rock’s financial records; reviews, analyzes, evaluates and monitors the efficiency and effectiveness of Departmental service delivery methods designed to safeguard the financial assets of the City of Little Rock; identifies opportunities for improvement; establishes appropriate service and staffing levels and allocates resources accordingly; directs the implementation of changes.
- Oversees and participates in the development and administration of the Departmental budget; directs the forecast of additional funds needed to ensure adequate staffing levels, funding for projects, equipment, materials, and supplies; monitors and approves major departmental expenditures, purchases, and account transfers; directs the preparation and implementation of budget adjustments as necessary; ensures compliance with adopted budget by reviewing reports of expenditures and reallocation of resources.
- Coordinates efforts with the Mayor and City Manager to prepare, develop and implement the annual city budget; directs the preparation of the annual budget document to include annual revenue estimates, budget summaries, schedules, and related information; presents information regarding budget requests and revenue estimates to the Mayor and City Manager as required; ensures that the annual budget is compiled and presented to the Mayor and City Manager by established deadlines.
- Directs and reviews preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) in compliance with the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) Program requirements for a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
- Directs the oversight of the various debt instruments of the City to ensure that the City and all of the City's component units are in compliance with financial documents, continuing disclosure agreements, and related federal, state and local laws, statutes and guidelines; directs management of the City’s investment portfolio and debt issuance.
- Reviews and monitors changes in federal and state laws affecting Departmental best practices; makes recommendations for changes in policies and established programs for compliance with legal requirements.
- Receives, investigates and resolves operational and administrative problems and complaints; conducts program evaluation and feasibility studies on Departmental operations and recommends course of action for improving efficiency and effectiveness of Departmental programs; reports findings and recommends solutions to the Mayor.
- Assigns, prioritizes, monitors, and reviews the work activities of assigned staff; ensures Departmental staff completes training as required.
- Confers with and advises the Mayor, City Manager, City boards and commissions, and City Department Directors regarding fiscal operations, budget administration and fiscal aspects of contracts; prepares and interprets financial reports, cost analysis, and statistical data for the Mayor and City Manager.
- Attends City board meetings to answer questions, present and provide various financial-related information; compiles and presents accounting and financial related data to residents, the Board of Directors, Mayor, City Manager and Department Directors.
- Testifies in court cases regarding finance-related activities and operations.
- Oversees the compilation of Departmental freedom of information requests to ensure requests are in compliance with Arkansas Freedom of Information statutes; ensures all information relative to the response of FOIA requests are in compliance with all applicable guidelines, laws, policies, and procedures.
- Attends and participates in professional group meetings and trainings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations relative to finance activities and operations.
- Operates a computer utilizing database, spreadsheet, and word processing software in the performance of essential job functions.
- Operates an automobile in the performance of essential job functions.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Deputy Director of Finance, Grants Manager, Procurement Manager, Treasury Manager, and Office Assistant II.
Minimum Qualifications and Additional Requirements
These knowledge, skills, and abilities are usually, although not always, acquired through completion of Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Finance, or a related field (Master’s degree is preferred); eight (8) years of professional level experience in planning, organizing and directing comprehensive level financial management, accounting, budgeting and reporting functions; two (2) years of investment experience; and five (5) years of experience supervising professional-level employees. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be a resident of the City of Little Rock within ninety (90) days of employment; must maintain residency for the duration of employment in this position.
- Must possess a valid Arkansas Class D (Non-Commercial Vehicle) Driver’s License before employment and maintain licensure for the duration of employment in this position.
- Must be available to work outside of regular business hours including evenings, weekends and holidays.
PREFERRED CERTIFICATION(S) AND LICENSE(S): - Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
- Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) Certification from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
- Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM) Certification from Advance Grow Accelerate (AGA) Association.
Application Requirements
- Online applications only
- Applicant’s answers to supplemental questions will be used to screen for minimum qualifications electronically.
- Please include a complete work history when completing application. Work history may impact initial salary offer amount for the successful candidate.
- List of qualified applicants will be considered active for up to six (6) months and may be used to fill future openings with same or similar minimum qualifications.
- All communication regarding application status will be sent to candidates via text message/ email address listed on account.
- You may check your NeoGov inbox to review all notices sent to the email address associated with your applications.
- Applicants may check application status for any position by logging into their account at or contacting Human Resources at (501) 371-4590 if they are having computer difficulties.
Secondary Duties
- Performs other related duties as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Knowledge of accounting and auditing principles and practices.
- Knowledge of principles of finance related to public agencies to include Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements, General Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting, Auditing, and Financial Reporting (GAAFR), and Statements of Auditing Standards (SAS).
- Knowledge of the budget administration and processes.
- Knowledge of procurement principles and practices.
- Knowledge of state and local tax and privilege license fee laws and ordinances.
- Knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning System Financial and Procurement applications.
- Knowledge of operational and capital budget processes.
- Knowledge of investment accounting, processes and available investment options.
- Knowledge of research methods and techniques.
- Knowledge of management reporting practices.
- Knowledge of hard copy and computer files and record-keeping systems.
- Knowledge of cost/revenue projection methods and techniques.
- Knowledge of computer fundamentals and business software, including accounting, database, spreadsheet, and word processing software.
- Skill in the operation of a computer, utilizing accounting, database, spreadsheet, and word processing software.
- Skill in the operation of an automatic transmission automobile.
- Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in applying and interpreting laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
- Ability to communicate with tact, skill and diplomacy when engaging in difficult and sensitive problem solving and issues with officials, department directors, and employees.
- Ability to interpret, apply, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
- Ability to read, prepare, maintain, analyze, and interpret financial statements and accounting records and reports.
- Ability to develop, recommend and implement innovative programs and strategic initiatives to accomplish data driven short and long-range goals and plans.
- Ability to evaluate and monitor the efficiency and effectiveness of Departmental service delivery methods and procedures.
- Ability to maintain confidential information in the performance of essential job functions.
- Ability to direct the preparation of the annual budget and various financial reports.
- Ability to read, interpret, and apply regulations related to public sector finance and accounting.
- Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures to ensure all accounting and financial transactions and record-keeping functions comply with applicable state and federal laws, City ordinances, and accounting principles.
- Ability to conduct research and analyze and compile data.
- Ability to maintain complex financial records.
- Ability to compile information and prepare various regular and special narrative and statistical reports regarding City finances and financial conditions.
- Ability to speak effectively, before groups or employees.
- Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures related to financial operations.
- Ability to plan and direct the work activities of professional and managerial-level staff members.
- Ability to communicate effectively in the English language, both orally and in writing to diverse individuals, ethnicities, and knowledge-levels.
Pre-Employment Screenings Required Before Employment