Highway Department Finance Manager

Position Objective

The Highway Department Finance Manager reports directly to the County Engineer with additional reporting responsibilities to the Finance Director. The incumbent serves as a key leadership resource for the highway department by providing reporting and analysis on a broad range of financial, performance and regulatory matters. Work will require a strong accounting background, customer responsiveness, excellent communication skills, resourcefulness, ability to work well with others, sound critical thinking and problem solving skills, project coordination, data management and supervisory skills.

From a financial perspective, the position is responsible for all department accounting functions including producing and managing the annual budget and capital improvement plan as well as managing the daily accounting, payroll and personnel processing for the assigned department. In this role, the incumbent is accountable for financial forecasting and analysis, recommendations of resource allocation needs and ultimately guiding the operation to ensure financial performance targets are achieved. There is an interdependent relationship between this role and central finance, with accountability for providing information and reporting and analysis to ensure alignment with organizational financial objectives.

Programmatically, the position is accountable for performing research, analysis, reporting and communications on a wide range of policy, programmatic and performance matters related to departmental operations and services. Work includes the collection of relevant data; analysis of the data and application to business performance, process and procedure. This includes developing, documenting and presenting public policy analysis, options and recommendations to department leadership and county officials for use in establishing department and county policies. The position is also accountable for the analysis of regulations, emerging trends and statutes; managing complex projects and the assessment of current business processes.

Technology and process improvement accountabilities include shared responsibility for the identification and deployment of technology solutions and the assessment of performance and process improvement opportunities. Within this area responsibilities include data mining and reporting, developing standard and specialized reports, documenting and presenting analysis, as well as options and recommendations to department leadership for use in establishing process improvements, department objectives and key performance measures.

Compliance accountabilities include the production of financial reports, project and cost accounting, payroll and time reporting, management of state and federal grants, management of state and federal audits, preparation of state and federal reports, analysis and reporting of regulations, emerging trends and statutes.

Labor relations accountabilities include labor cost modeling, grievance and arbitration preparation, internal investigations, evaluating contractual impacts and requirements, recommending proposals to enhance operational effectiveness and serving as a member of the negotiating committee.

Leadership accountabilities include direct supervision of administrative/customer service staff, project management and workgroup leadership. When assigned, work will include directing resources, managing individual performance and productivity, participating in staff selection, training and evaluating staff members, providing performance feedback and coaching as required to address developmental, operational or project related needs.

Stakeholder communications may include internal and external through a variety of sources including traditional and social media, policy briefs and presentations. The incumbent will have frequent contact with a variety of stakeholders including department personnel, commissioners, contractors, vendors, other agencies and members of the public.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Financial Responsibilities

Responsible for all accounting functions of the Highway Department.
Develop and manage the Highway Department's annual budget and capital improvement plans, ensuring accomplishment of budgeted objectives and compliance with all county, state and federal guidelines.
Monitor and analyze actual performance versus approved budget and recommend alternative courses of action to ensure achievement of department financial performance objectives.
Prepare financial reports that accurately represent revenues and expenditures and provide projections and analysis to various stakeholders as assigned or requested.
Prepare and submit financial reports required by county and local state and federal agencies, ensuring compliance with all reporting guidelines.
Program Responsibilities
Conduct research; policy analysis; strategic planning, management, program development and evaluation studies on topics related to all areas of department operations.
Write reports recommending solutions or alternatives for action relating to assigned research and analysis, setting forth facts in a clear and concise manner, including rationale for the recommendation.
Analyze and communicate, in written and oral presentations, options for improving programs and processes, including options for cost reduction and improved work management practices, including the establishment and continual improvement of objective and meaningful performance standards and measures.
Create methods and practices to regularly collect and clearly report objective facts regarding the performance of department programs and services.
Completes environmental scans at a local, regional and national level to inform department leaders on opportunities to improve processes, outcomes and efficiencies.
Addresses and makes presentations to staff, division heads, department directors, policy makers and community partners/groups on proposed changes and or new systems.
Coordinate proactive customer communication efforts including preparing and/or editing press releases, opinion editorials, newsletters, surveys, web pages, annual reports and other communication venues such as public forums and community events.
Lead and participate in Continuous Improvement initiatives, pursuing certifications and trainings to maximize impact and proactively identify process improvement opportunities for discussion and review by department leadership.
Technology Responsibilities
Participate in the identification, selection and implementation of accounting systems and technology, ensuring the achievement of user and financial objectives.
Serve as project manager and/or participant for technology projects and ensure accomplishment of project objectives as assigned.
Develop reporting and analysis tools to maximize business intelligence and performance.
Troubleshoot financial systems, develop user support materials and training to maximize application effectiveness.
Evaluate technology performance and identify continuous improvement opportunities to maximize business effectiveness and outcomes.
Supervisory Responsibilities
Maximize staff/team capability and performance through effective training, coaching and performance management.
Ensure effective staff/team relations; create an ethical, non-discriminatory and safe environment; establish effective communication methods; identify and resolve problems, manage conflict and promote engagement and collaboration within and outside of the programmatic areas.
Manage, monitor and measure the work of employees through application of existing and/or development of new performance measures, data collection and analytics systems to ensure effective resource utilization and accomplishment of performance targets.
Evaluate resource requirements, assign and direct resources to ensure achievement of performance and productivity objectives
Prepare performance reviews, conduct performance discussions, and provide developmental feedback and coaching to ensure effective performance.
Participate with department leadership in hiring selections and disciplinary decisions.
Project Management Responsibilities
Participate in various projects as assigned as project manager and/or participant.
Ensure application of effective project management practices.
Ensure effective achievement of project goals and objectives.
Leadership Responsibilities
Ensure self and staff are in alignment with the mission, vision, values and strategic priorities of the programmatic areas, department and organization; ensure compliance with department and organization policies regulations and contracts.
Provide effective leadership within assigned programmatic areas; make decisions; solve problems; develop procedures; develop records/files; conduct meetings; represent unit within and outside of the organization.
Other
Perform all other duties as assigned in a highly effective and professional manner.

Minimum Qualifications

A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university in accounting or a related field. Closely related experience in a similar position would be considered in lieu of degree requirements.
Four or more years of related experience.
Demonstrated knowledge of the theories, principles and techniques of accounting practices, research, analysis and evaluation and budget analysis.

Desirable Qualifications

Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) certificate or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license.
Demonstrated knowledge of financial systems including Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and ability to operate financial databases and spreadsheet software efficiently and to develop basic systems.
Ability to gather and analyze data and information, design and test solutions to problems and formulate logic based and well-reasoned plans.
Knowledge of research and planning techniques and of basic evaluation and statistical principles.
Knowledge of business analysis and project management principles in techniques sufficient to serve as a project manager for large projects.
Knowledge of and ability to effectively operate and analyze computer applications within program areas.
Skill in communicating in written and verbal form including presentations, reports, manuals and general correspondence.
Ability to analyze problems, develop solutions and contribute to policy and procedure development.
Ability to manage and measure work, establish measurable objectives and evaluate outcomes.
Ability to use analytical tools effectively.

Work Location: In person