Director of Finance and Administration

Status: Full Time, ExemptStarting Wage Range: $61.86/hr. - $68.19/hr. Position Open Until Filled Please submit Cover Letter & Resume with application *Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm (some evenings)*

Dodge County offers a generous benefits package including:

• Paid Time Off (PTO) - available for use after 30 days of employment
• 10 observed paid holidays
• Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) - with employer contributions - HRA
• Life insurance, Long-term disability and Flex spending
• Participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) - an exceptional pension plan with employer match (upon vesting) and lifetime retirement payment.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Provides leadership in attracting, retaining, and developing an engaged workforce in the delivery of superior services to County residents and businesses.
2. Directs the work of and manages the staff of the Finance Division and other divisions of general Administration, as assigned. Interviews and selects new employees. Provides training, instructions, and ongoing training needs. Assigns tasks, reviews work and prepares performance evaluations. Recommends employee transfers, promotions, disciplinary action, and discharge.
3. Provides leadership and management to all assigned staff. Directs staff on difficult projects and interpreting the application of accounting practices, policy, and procedure.
4. Manages and directs the operations of the Finance Department, including financial forecasting, budget development and monitoring, central financial management and administration, administration of the County's debt program and administering a County-wide financial system, and analyzing all aspects of County finances.
5. Serves as management council to the County Administrator and all departments on financial matters for the County. Assists County Administrator in developing, implementing and maintaining County administrative, legislative, fiscal and managerial principles and strategies as well as general overall leadership and management support and facilitation to Finance and other divisions of General Administration.
6. Advises and assists the County Administrator in preparing budget documents and makes related budget recommendations. Collaborates with County Administrator, department heads and related staff to review, analyze, and clarify budget document submissions and related budget entries on the financial system. Prepares required budget documents and attends budget hearings. Ensures proper tax apportionment as delegated by the County Clerk, ensures that tax levy adheres to current levy limit statutes, and calculates county tax rates. Prepares publication of annual budget. Prepares publication of Notice of Public Hearing for the annual recommended budget.
7. Monitors and reports to Administrator monthly department expenditures
8. Manages, maintains, and directs the County-wide accounting functions (including general ledger, accounts receivables, accounts payable, payroll and fixed assets; develops cash management and internal control requirements; develops debt management activities including sale of bonds/notes and record keeping; and debt rating) and reporting systems pursuant to Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) rules and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) to provide for timely and accurate financial recording and reporting both internally and with outside agencies of County fiscal and payroll transactions, including procedural controls.
9. Serves as County Wisconsin Retirement Agent.
10. Develops, recommends, and implements accounting policies and procedures, reporting, and accounting methods for all departments.
11. Provides professional consultation and staff support to the Dodge County departments under the direction of the County Administrator. Provides professional advice. Provides financial, statistical, and analytical data.
12. Recommends and assists the County Administrator in development of long-range fiscal programs and financial management including maintaining capital improvements plan and sales tax plan.
13. Advises County Administrator and County Board as directed regarding fiscal impact of County Board resolutions, ordinances, contracts, and staffing or program changes. Gives advice regarding budget variations.
14. Assists in ensuring the requisite standards for maintaining the County's national credit rating are met on long-term debt and bond issues organization, budget balancing, tax collection delinquency, stability of tax levy, and maintenance of adequate fund balances.
15. Develops and maintains annual and long-term debt management plan that is in accordance with Federal, State and County regulations and that provides a consistent source of funds for capital improvements. Prepares required documents and analysis for bond and other long-term debt issuance.
16. Oversees the design, selection, and implementation of all manual and automated systems for the County's centralized financial systems.
17. Prepares and presents financial reports as directed by Administrator regarding department budgets, operating funds, special grants, fixed assets and related data.
18. Performs special financial studies as directed.
19. Performs statutory duties of a County Auditor. In coordination with the Assistant Finance Director and other county fiscal staff, ensures fulfillment of all statutory duties of a County Auditor, including examination of the book of accounts of any County officer, board, commission, committee, or other officer or employee entrusted with receipt, custody, or expenditure of money, or by, or on whose certificate any funds appropriated by the County Board are authorized to be expended.
20. Exercises financial audit control over County financial records. Assists outside auditors and consultants and provides pre-audited financial reports. Performs internal audits of County Departments as directed. In coordination with fiscal staff around the County and external audit firm, is responsible for the timely issuance of either Basic Financial Statements or Comprehensive Annual Financial Report as well as submission of Form A to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.
21. In coordination with fiscal staff around the County, ensures that the annual financial audit and Single Audit (Schedule of Expenditures for Federal and State Awards) is completed on a timely basis.
22. Manages the acquisition of capital assets and ensures that assets are properly recorded, and depreciated amortized.
23. Serves as a member of the administration leadership team.
24. This position may serve as acting County Administrator in the Administrator's absence.
25. .Other duties as assigned.

REQUIRED JOB COMPETENCIES

• Knowledge of accounting, budgeting, and auditing principles
• Extensive knowledge of and experience with budget preparation and procedures for a multi-department organization.
• Extensive knowledge of governmental accounting, financial management and auditing, procedures, and financial practices.
• Knowledge of laws and regulations relating to property tax assessments, collections, and tax delinquency procedures.
• Knowledge of County programs, funding sources, and specific regulations governing expenditures and revenues.
• Knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques of public administration, with particular reference to governmental budget and finance administration.
• Knowledge of the County and Department's operating requirements, policies, procedures, and practices; and local, State, and Federal regulations related to department programs and operations.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of budgeting, fiscal management, project management principles and techniques.
• Ability to effectively utilize the principles of strategic and long and short-range planning.
• Skill in analyzing complex administrative information and issues, defining problems and evaluating alternatives and recommending methods, procedures and techniques for resolution of issues.
• Ability to research and analyze detailed information and make appropriate recommendations.
• Ability to develop department goals and objectives.
• Ability to plan, develop, implement, and evaluate projects and programs.
• Ability to develop, interpret and implement regulations, policies, procedures, written instructions, general correspondence, and other department-specific documents.
• Ability to prepare, recommend and monitor an operating budget, including line-item budgeting.
• Knowledge of management and supervisory practices & principles, including the ability to make final employment recommendations, preparing performance evaluations, managing time-off, and maintaining personnel records.
• Ability to adapt and take control of situations, dictating subordinate activities in a responsible manner.
• Ability to instruct and train in methods and procedures.
• Ability to organize, assign, and modify the work assignment of others, and (re)-establish priorities to meet deadlines.
• Ability to establish and maintain accurate records of assigned activities and operations.
• Ability to interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Skill in organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.
• Ability to perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits requiring minimal direction and supervision.
• Ability to think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
• Knowledge of current office practices and procedures and knowledge of the operation of standard office equipment and software.
• Knowledge of computer software including word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications consistent for this position.
• Ability to perform mathematical calculations required of this position.
• Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively in English in both written and verbal form.
• Skill in researching and understanding complex written materials.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.
• Ability to apply sound judgment and discretion in performing duties, resolving problems, and interpreting policies and regulations.
• Ability to communicate detailed and often sensitive information effectively and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Ability to handle sensitive interpersonal situations calmly and tactfully.
• Ability to maintain professionalism at all times.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with individuals within and outside the organization.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports, and conversations, within the provisions of open records laws and other applicable State and Federal statutes and regulations.

PHYSICAL AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 25 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to handle or feel and repetitive motions and occasionally requires walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data and observing general surroundings and activities.
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy office setting.

Dodge County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are a job seeker with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to apply for one of our jobs, you will find the contact information to request the appropriate accommodation by visiting the following page: Accessibility Accommodation for Applicants

Bachelors of Public Administration (required)

10 years: Work experience in state or local government (preferred)
2 years: Department Head experience in local government (preferred)
Master's Degree in Public Administration (preferred)
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or completion of the Certified Public Finance Officers Program of GFOA. (preferred)
5 years: Previous supervisory experience. (required)
Appointment will be conditional upon successful completion of a criminal background check. (required)
Experience in policy development and implementation. (required)
5 years: Experience in state or local government. (required)
Demonstrated knowledge of public sector fiscal and administrative practices and principles preferred. (required)
Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Finance, Accounting or closely related field. Equivalent combination of education and experience which provides necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered. (required)