Division Director - Finance and Accounting

Under the general guidance and direction of the County Clerk/Auditor, the Division Director of Finance and Accounting oversees the County’s core accounting functions including financial reporting, payroll processing, accounts payable, grants, and balance sheet reconciliations. The position ensures that countywide financial operations comply with state and federal laws, accounting standards, and best practices. This position plays a key role in internal control and audit readiness and provides leadership and training to assigned staff.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Prepares the County’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), including all required schedules and disclosures.

Produces quarterly financial reports and supports external audit processes.

Supervises the accounts payable function, ensuring compliance with county policy, contract terms, and budget constraints.

Monitors department spending for compliance with approved budgets.

Manages general ledger maintenance and balance sheet reconciliations across all county funds.

Oversees day-to-day payroll processing, working closely with HR and departmental staff.

Coordinates all grant accounting, including ARPA, opioid settlements, and other state and federal grants.

Designs, evaluates, and strengthens internal controls across all financial processes.

Mentors and supervises assigned staff, conducting performance reviews, identifying training needs, and fostering cross-training and professional development.

Implements and refines financial systems and tools; liaises with IT as needed for upgrades or troubleshooting.

Supports departments with financial reporting, budget-to-actual analysis, and audit preparedness.

Other duties as assigned.

Any one position may not include all of the duties listed, nor do the listed examples include all duties which may be found in positions of this class. Applicants must be prepared to demonstrate the ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

As assigned, manages and supervises accounting staff including accounts payable, contracts/invoices, and payroll; plans and organizes workloads and staff assignments; trains, motivates and evaluates assigned staff; reviews progress and directs changes as needed.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

Education: Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field. A Master’s degree, CPA, or certification listed in the “Your Special Qualifications” section is required.

Experience: Seven (7) years of full-time paid professional accounting experience, with at least three (3) years in a supervisory or managerial capacity. Experience in governmental accounting is required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES (KSA):

Knowledge of: Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and auditing standards as applied in a governmental environment; thorough knowledge of the proper design of internal controls; working knowledge of federal grant regulations and circulars; considerable knowledge of research methods and statistical techniques; working knowledge of computer database programs and data extraction methods; working knowledge of supervisory practices. Thorough knowledge of GAAP and GASB standards.

Skills and Abilities to: Skill in operating a computer and various software applications, especially Word, Excel, Access, and Adobe Acrobat programs; proficient in accounting software and ERP systems; skill in operating a ten-key adding machine or calculator. Ability to apply accounting principles and standards to a public sector environment; ability to assign and monitor the work of others; ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with employees, other departments, and the general public.

YOUR SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS:

You must have at least one of the following certifications:  Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or similar designation, such as CGFM, CPFO, CMA, CGMA, CIA, CISA, CFE, CA, CFA, CGAP.  CPA, CGFM, and CPFO designations are the most relevant and preferred.

Due to the nature of this position, the successful candidate may be required to complete a pre-employment background check prior to starting the position.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls, and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.