About the Department

A successful candidate will play an active role in the City of College Park’s existing operational success. The purpose of the position is to be accountable for the accuracy and professional integrity of the City of College Park's compliance requirements and financial reports. Work is performed according to detailed and complex policies, regulations, and/or accounting principles requiring some independent judgment in interpretation and application.

Position Duties

Independent judgment is required to identify, select, and apply the most appropriate of available guidelines and procedures, as well as interpret precedents. This position is responsible for performing general budgeting and analytical work. Duties include the reporting and procedural documentation of financial transactions involved in the City of College Park.

• Development of the annual budget and strategic plan, and working with the Council, Mayor, and City Manager to manage the various initiatives and tasks throughout the year.
• Monitoring of the budget, including revenue analysis and trend assessment, and management of citywide personnel cost updates and review of interdepartmental direct cost charges.
• Reviews all changes to the budget and provides budgetary control and analysis to departments on an ongoing basis.
• Synthesizing preliminary budget proposal decisions to review with the City Manager and then writing/facilitating the main City Manager budget message released as part of the Budget Book.
• Development of key budget presentations to City Council throughout the budget process, including a fiscal outlook presentation early in the process and the proposed budget overview later in the process.
• Oversee the community engagement efforts related to the budget throughout the year, including meetings, surveys, and synthesis and reporting out of community feedback.
• Work with Finance staff to analyze General Fund revenue and expenditure trends, and develop strategies for year-end, culminating in an in-depth year-end performance report.
• Work with Finance staff to analyze all the other funds and develop in-depth proformas on key funds as necessary, as well as implementation of any actions needed to maintain the health of funds.
• Oversee, validate, and synthesize analysis on costings requested by Human Resources Department as it relates to negotiations with the City’s labor groups and prepare slides for updates to City Council.
• Monitor and identify key strategic issues for discussion and decision-making and raise them with the City Manager on a regular basis.
• Developing and providing professional growth opportunities for Finance staff.
• Plans and schedules the time frame for budget process and administers the distribution of all budget materials. Instructs and assists departments, City staff, and agencies in compliance with established guidelines and completion of budget forms.
• Evaluates submitted departmental and agency proposals as to fiscal impact and prepares reports of findings for administrative review.
• Meets with various departments and agencies to review plans, goals, objectives, and purchasing needs as required.
• Performs professional fiscal analysis and research in support of the preparation and administration of operating and capital budgets, including compilation of data based on statistical studies and analysis of past and current years.
• Prepares multi-year forecasts of revenues and expenditures and advice on bond issues and debt services. Reviews operating and capital budgets periodically to analyze trends affecting budget needs.
• Assists in developing long-range capital and financial planning strategies, recommends goals and objectives; assists in the development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Identifies and prepares written budgetary controls.
• Acts as primary support to the Finance Director in the financial administration of the City.
• Assist with grant applications, evaluate financial proposals, and develop long-term strategic plans.
• Prepare other ad hoc reports as requested. 
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• The omission of specific duties does not preclude the supervisor from assigning duties that logically relate to the position.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of modern principles and practices of governmental budgeting and accounting administration and its application to basic budgeting and accounting transactions, with an emphasis on generally accepted accounting principles and auditing standards.
• Knowledge of modern office procedures, practices, and equipment.
• Knowledge and application of computer hardware and software operations as they pertain to accounting and financial functions.
• Knowledge of Federal and State accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
• Knowledge of the functions, organizations, staffing, and operating procedures of the City departments.
• Skill in communicating detailed accounting information clearly and concisely;
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality.
• Ability to use independent, professional judgment to interpret laws and regulations, assure accounting procedure and practices compliance, make sound recommendations, and/ or implement appropriate accounting mechanisms.
• Ability to accurately assess financial system needs and implement procedures for efficient financial management.
• Ability to perform complex financial, statistical, budgetary, and cost analyses.
• Ability to understand, interpret, and apply legal and financial documents, rules, and Regulations.
• Ability to perform a variety of mathematical and statistical calculations quickly and accurately.
• Ability to maintain sustained attention to detail and to work under the pressure of rigid deadlines.
• Ability to work independently from general instructions and broad work expectations.
• Ability to organize work for maximum efficiency.
• Must be able to use tact and courtesy in dealing with the public.
• Must be able to analyze and evaluate procedures and work processes, and to exercise appropriate judgment in establishing priorities and work methods.
• Must be able to establish and maintain effective working relationships to deal effectively and courteously with others, and to work independently and in team settings.
• Must be able to type or use a personal computer with word processing and related software, and to enter and retrieve information with reasonable speed and accuracy. 
• Moderate physical activity. Requires handling objects of average weight up to fifty (50) pounds, standing and/or walking for more than four (4) hours per day.
• Note: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), those functions of the job that are identified as essential are required to be performed with or without reasonable accommodations. Requests to facilitate the performance of essential functions will be given careful consideration.

Other Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in  Business Administration, Accounting, Auditing, or a business-related field.
• Five (5) years of governmental/professional accounting experience are required.
• Budgeting and accounting experience preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Experience in communicating with diverse communities and in establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, as well as knowledge and understanding of the organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures.
• Extensive hours and weekends will be required at times.
• Pre-employment screening is required: criminal background check and drug testing.