Finance Director

The Town of Signal Mountain is seeking applicants for the position of Finance Director/Recorder. This position manages the operations of the Finance Department, including financial planning, budgeting, disbursement of and accounting for municipal funds, billing, payroll, auditing, grant administration, and the preparation of reports. The position serves as the Town Recorder and keeps the minutes of the meeting and oversees the records of the Town. The position also supervises the employees in the Finance Department and works with budgets of approximately $13.8 million in governmental funds and $3.7 million in proprietary funds. This position works under the direction of the Town Manager.

The Town of Signal Mountain is located on Walden's Ridge at the southern end of the Cumberland Plateau. Signal Mountain is home to a progressive community of 8,852 citizens and is surrounded by natural beauty. Residential in nature, the Town of Signal Mountain is approximately ten miles from downtown Chattanooga.

The minimum qualifications for this position are a bachelor's degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, or finance; previous experience and/or training that includes governmental financial management, with supervisory experience; records management experience or management certification and a minimum of three years experience is required. Certified Municipal Finance Officer (CMFO) or the ability to obtain within the first two years of employment required.

Qualified applicants must submit a completed application, along with a cover letter and resume to:

Mitchell Moore, Interim Town Manager
Town of Signal Mountain
1111 Ridgeway Avenue
Signal Mountain, TN 37377

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. The Town of Signal Mountain is an EEOC employer and a drug-free workplace. An application may be obtained at: www.signalmountaintn.gov (appl. is under Employment Opportunity on the right) or call (423) 886-2177 for additional details.

Position Description

Title: Finance Director/Recorder

Division/Department: Finance Administration

Purpose:
The Finance Director functions as the Town treasurer and is responsible for providing technical expertise and supervision of the Town’s financial and operational activities, including accounting, budgeting, paying Town vendors and employees, assessing and collecting taxes, fees, and charges, and coordinating the annual financial audit.

The Recorder is responsible for maintaining the Town Code, maintaining the Town Seal, and ensuring accurate documentation of Town government activity, through the support of and recording of Town Council meetings and various citizens’ committees and commissions, and the management of public records and archives.

Employee also directs and supervises clerical staff of the Judicial Department and is responsible for the Town’s insurance programs.

This combined position is under the supervision of the Town Manager.

Essential Functions of the Job:

Essential functions are fundamental job duties. They do not include marginal tasks, which are also performed but are not incidental to the primary functions. The omissions of specific statements of duties do not exclude them from the position nor does every position allocated to the job necessarily perform every duty listed.

Attend all Town Council meetings and work sessions, or delegate attendance in absence, to assure recording of proceedings for transcription by Administrative Staff Assistant.

Review and edit Town Council minutes, recollections and transcripts for accuracy before submission to Council for approval and entry into permanent record.

Serve as custodian of official records and archive town records including codes, ordinances, resolutions, contracts, agreements, deeds, reports, elections, and claims against the town. Receive and certify official documents.

Maintain up-to-date town codes, properly indexed and referenced; research town files, documents, archives, and other materials to provide information to general public and Town departments.

Certify official town documents as to authenticity for staff, other jurisdictions or citizens, with appropriate verification; attest to Town Manager and/or Council’s official signatures on official documents and apply the Town Seal as necessary.

Serve as town treasurer to collect or supervise the collection of taxes, customer fees and all other revenue and disbursements, including payment of town employees and vendors in a timely and accurate manner.

Direct and supervise Finance Department staff and the clerical staff of the Judicial

Department, selecting or recommending selection; organizing, assigning and evaluating work; training, motivating, counseling, and recommending termination.

Write comprehensive job description for any new position or change in an existing position to submit to Town Manager for review and/or recommendation to the Town Council for approval.

Maintain all types of insurance coverage, including risk management program concerning general liability, automotive, and property coverage, and personnel benefit programs.

Review town’s daily bank balances and if needed, recommend appropriate transfer authorization; initiate appropriate actions to pay town’s debt service on outstanding bond issues; and, approve all payment requests. Prepare and have general oversight of bids for purchases over $1500.

Coordinate the annual financial audit; oversee the preparation of detailed accounting schedules and other reports; reconcile monthly accounts; develop fiscal impact statements for other departments when preparing complicated financial transactions for Town Council approval.

Assist the Town Manager and various department heads with grant applications, monitor grant progress; ascertain that grant funds received are accurate and timely; undertake accounting and record keeping.

Interface with other town departments, Town Council, town organizations, other local, state, and federal agencies and citizens. Receive inquiries from citizens, employees, vendors, Town Council members, etc., and respond or delegate response to appropriate staff.

Assist Town Manager with purchasing; assist in preparing and advertising bids and requests for proposals.

Assist Town Manager with budget preparation.

Prepare for and make presentations when necessary.

Assist in basic accounting processes; perform other duties as necessary.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, town ordinances, State and Federal laws especially those pertaining to the office of the Recorder, the Court and the Town Council as well as purchasing and/or bid requirements in accordance with State and Federal regulations.

Knowledge of the principles and application of modern municipal accounting, budgeting and finances as well as office procedures.

Knowledge of the Town’s data processing equipment and accounting software.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationship with public, subordinates and other employees and interact with the public and media in a variety of situations.

Equipment:

Computer, fax, copies, scanner, recording equipment.

Educational Experience:
Minimum Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, accounting, or finance; previous experience and/or training that includes governmental financial management, with supervisory experience; records management experience or management certification; or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Experience Required:
At least three (3) years.

Problem Solving Requirements:
Solve a wide range of complex, multi-disciplinary problems, which require long-term organization-wide planning.

Writing Skills Required:

Compose moderately complex documentation of a routine nature, i.e., documenting complex studies or summarizing annual department/section results.

Compose sensitive, non-routine correspondence requiring tact and diplomacy and/or compose reports or summaries for which established formats generally do not exist.

Compose major reports, policy or procedure manuals, proposals, and brochures.

Speaking/Presentation Skills Required:

Interview or discuss detailed information, frequently involving customer/citizen problems or complaints.

Negotiate with outsiders in sensitive and complex situations.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Physical Setting:

• Office

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday

Work Location: One location