City of Blue Island Think Outside the Loop
Title: Director of Finance
Position: Permanent, Full-Time
Supervised by: Mayor
Status: Exempt
Supervises: Finance Department
Date: 06/25/21
Rate of Pay: $52,000/Yr
General Summary:
The Director of Finance administers, supervises, and performs highly technical financial and accounting analysis of the City’s assets, liabilities, and funds. This position administers the city’s debt portfolio, including new issuances, re-fundings and annual debt service.
Class Characteristics:
The Director of Finance will originate and lead the financial practices and objectives of the City at the direction of the Mayor and City Council, and by utilizing independent judgment and initiative. The Director of Finance is responsible for exercising direct, technical, and functional supervision over project groups, outside consultants, bond counsel, and financial advisors.
Essential Key Duties for Position: (Duties are illustrative and not inclusive and may vary with individual assignments. They are subject to change at any time.)
• Develop citywide budget and monthly revenue and expenditure monitoring and variance reporting;
• Structure, plan and coordinate capital financing alternatives and development of plans of finance for various projects or programs;
• Administer debt service including bond sales; take advantage of interest rate changes; prepare and present rating agency presentations;
• Oversee compliance to bond covenants and post issuance compliance procedures and the fiscal implications of other contractual obligations of the City, such as development agreements and improvement districts;
• Research, compile, and present various technical advice including council reports, resolutions, bond offering statements, and complex administrative reports for upper management, council, staff, rating agencies, advisory boards, commissions, and citizen groups;
• Represent the City to other agencies, developers, consultants, and the public in the development, formation, and maintenance of various districts such as TIFs, ensuring compliance with state and municipal ordinances;
• Review state and federal legislative bills affecting the City’s finances and advise management about the impacts and alternatives associated with those bills;
• May represent the City Treasurer by attending meetings, making decisions and providing department leadership as assigned;
• Coordinate the financial management and financial planning of water, sewer, and solid waste operations;
• Perform rates analysis in the context of current and expected future operating environments;
• Supervise annual reviews of all enterprise rates and water/sewer impact fees, prepares recommendations and communicates to management, citizens and council;
• Prepare multi-year financial models, revenue forecasts and financial trend analysis;
• Prepare and/or review the citywide cost allocation plan and indirect cost rate to be applied to water, sewer, and solid waste fund operations in conformance with federal regulations and City policy;
• Prepare economic impact analysis or other feasibility studies in order for management to make econometric projections;
• Supervise TIF fund budget development and expenditure monitoring;
• Prepare periodic reports such as the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Financial Trends Analysis, grant, investment, revenue, expenditure or other operational reports;
• Coordinate data acquisition, review and analysis of information to determine financial impact on special projects, such as major equipment purchases, capital improvements, annexation and legislation as they relate to the water and sewer fund operations;
• Perform research studies, feasibility studies, benchmarking studies, needs assessments, cost/benefit analysis, cross impact analysis and management studies; make inferences and projections from written material and statistical data; prepare comprehensive detailed recommendations and reports on various computer software;
• Perform program evaluation and organizational analysis;
• Supervise employees and coordinate personnel-related activities to include, but not limited to: training, approving work schedules, recommending/approving personnel actions, coaching and counseling, establishing performance goals, and writing performance evaluations;
• Performs all other duties which may be assigned by the Mayor and/or City Council.
Qualifications:
Education and Experience:
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration from an accredited educational institution. Master’s Degree in Finance or Business Administration preferred.
• Five years’ professional finance experience.
• One year lead or supervisory finance experience.
• Certification as a public accountant (CPA) or financial analyst (CFA) preferred.
Knowledge of (at entry):
• Modern office management practices and procedures
• Municipal finance administration and governmental accounting/financial reporting standards and principles
• Debt management including, bond sales, utility accounting and budgeting.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, ordinances, and regulations related to municipal finance
• Organization and functions of municipal government
• Computer applications related to the work
• Techniques for dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds, in person and over the telephone
Ability to (at entry): (Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions)
• Perform all duties required
• Work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer
• Present facts and recommendations in a clear, concise, logical manner, verbally and in writing to the City Council, subordinates, other City staff and the public
• Lead and organize activities related to efficiently structuring and issuing bonds to finance City activities
• Act as contract administrator for such contracts as bond counsel, financial advisor
• Serve as the City’s principal liaison to the debt rating agencies
• Evaluate and analyze complex financial data and prepare statistical reports
• Handle multiple projects simultaneously and use good judgment in prioritizing work assignments
• Listen, communicate and deal effectively with management, subordinates, representatives of other government agencies and the general public, researching as necessary to provide requested information
• Supervise 5 to 15 employees
• Maintain City financial records, including filing, storage, retrieval, and disposal
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions
• Perform other duties as assigned.
If you are interested in applying, please submit your cover letter, detailed resume, and completed job application to employment@cityofblueisland.org. You can also apply in person at City Hall, which is located at 13051 Greenwood Avenue, Blue Island, IL 60406.
The City of Blue Island is committed to equal opportunity in employment and education and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or ethnic origin, age, veteran’s status, or against qualified disabled persons.
