Finance Director - CFO

Chief Financial Officer/County Auditor – Dunn County, WI (pop. 46,440) Dunn County, located in West-Central Wisconsin, is a largely rural county with several incorporated communities.  The City of Menomonie (pop. 16,700) serves as the County Seat and is located one hour from Minneapolis-St. Paul and thirty minutes from Eau Claire, WI on the I-94 corridor.  The County offers a high quality of life with numerous recreation opportunities, as well as two institutions of higher education, Chippewa Valley Technical College and University of Wisconsin-Stout (student pop. 6,914).

The County provides a full range of services including public safety, corrections, court services, health and human services, county buildings and parks, highway, transit, a County-owned nursing facility, environmental services, child support, and general administrative services.  The County has 641 FTEs. 

The Chief Financial Officer performs the duties as prescribed in Wis. Stat. § 59.47 and is responsible for developing, maintaining, implementing and reviewing the County's financial policies, records and systems including the County budget and all matters of financial and accounting management.  The County Auditor examines the books and accounts of County officers, boards, commissions, committees, trustees, elected officials and employees who are entrusted with receipt, custody, or expenditure of money or any funds appropriated by the County Board.   Work is performed under the general direction of the County Manager.  Supervision is exercised over all personnel within the Finance Division.

Primary Responsibilities

The following duties are primarily performed and are essential for this position.  Employees are expected to be able to perform each of these job duties satisfactorily and successfully to be qualified for the position.  Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Exercises authority as the County Chief Financial Officer performing the duties as prescribed in Wis. Stat. § 59.47. 
• Establishes and maintains county-wide accounting and reporting systems pursuant to Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) rules and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) standards, and provides for accurate and timely recording and processing of County fiscal and payroll transactions, including procedural controls to prevent unauthorized use of monies.

1. Develops countywide policies and procedures.
2. Directs the accounting functions of all county departments and ensures timely financial reporting internally and with external agencies.
3. Directs the operations of the Finance Division in performance of the duties, including responsibility for county-wide accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, general ledger accounting, and budgeting. 
4. Supervises the preparation of periodic financial reports for departments, committees, and various outside regulatory agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Federal and State governments.  
5. Directs activities and assigns responsibilities to staff to post, verify, and process fiscal transactions in accordance with established procedures and legal requirements.
6. Develops, revises, and implements an efficient cash management program for the County.

• Performs statutory duties of a County Auditor (Wis. Stat. § 59.47) examining the books and accounts of any County officer, board, commission, committee, trustee, elected official or employee entrusted with receipt, custody, or expenditure of money, or any funds appropriated by the County Board.  
  1. Prepares reports of deficiencies to the County Manager, Committee of Administration, the Standing Committee and County Board.
• Provides consultation, advice and staff support to the County Board, the Executive Committee, and Standing Committees, other Elected Officials, the County Manager and department Heads.
  1. Advises the Committee on Administration with regards to the requisite standards for maintaining the County's national credit rating are met on long-term debt and bond issues, organization, budget balancing, revenue collections, stability of tax levy, and maintenance of adequate fund balances.
  2. Provides financial and analytical data regarding the cost, effectiveness and impact of new and existing programs and County Board Resolutions.
  3. Assists the County Manager in development of long-range fiscal programs and financial management.
  4. Reviews and makes recommendations on the financial impact of employee benefit plans.
• Manages the annual financial and compliance audits for the county such as Annual Financial Audit, Single Compliance Audit, Enterprise audits, A-87 Audit and grant compliance.
• Collaborates with the County Manager, County Board, Committees and Department heads to develop the County’s annual budget, budget guidelines, strategy, and goals.
• Provides direction and represents the County providing financial information to various industry partners and consultants such as Financial Advisors, Standard & Poors, Moody's, Bond Counsel, the IRS, Wisconsin Retirement System, Bank & Investment Institutions, and news media, etc.
  1. Serves as the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) Agent.
  2. Serves as the grant administrator for the County.
• Develops long-term financing options and recommendations for the County's capital projects; ensures funds are being spent in compliance with the funding source regulations and adopted budgets; manages debt service payments, disclosure filings, arbitrage, and various compliance filings. 
• Serves as the Purchasing Agent for the County.
  1. Writes various RFP's and evaluates the responses; ie banking contracts, investment services, FA Services, different types of audit services, time keeping software, and the ERP system.
  2. Oversees the county's purchasing card program.
  3. Oversees the RFP process for multiple departments.
• Participates as a team member on the County's Investment Committee to develop investment strategies and performs investment activities.
• Analyzes and implements county-wide software changes to safe guard county assets and improve efficiency of resources; serves as the ERP System Administrator.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

In evaluating candidates for this position, Dunn County may consider a combination of education, training, and experience which provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the duties of this position.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Associate's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field AND a minimum of eight (8) years of finance or accounting experience.

• Two (2) years of experience in at least three (3) of the following areas:
  • Working in governmental finance and accounting, including knowledge of fund accounting, government reporting requirements, and public sector financial management practices
  • Advising executive leadership and governing bodies on financial strategy and long-term fiscal planning
  • Leading complex projects or initiatives involving cross-departmental collaboration
  • Contributing to or overseeing policy development, implementation and enforcement 
  • Presenting financial results, forecasts, and recommendations in a way that informs decision-making

• Valid driver’s license or the ability to travel between work locations. 
• Prior to hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted.  Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position.

• Comprehensive knowledge of general accounting principles and procedures and the ability to apply them to the maintenance of fiscal and accounting records.
• Knowledge of modern data processing and integrated accounting software, hardware and affiliated equipment and procedures as well as considerable knowledge of governmental accounting and related systems and procedures.
• Comprehensive knowledge of and ability to formulate and install accounting methods and procedures; comprehensive knowledge of the applicable laws and administrative policies governing public finance practice and procedure in order to maintain compliance with federal, state, and local law; comprehensive knowledge of annual audit reports, annual budget and financial reports for internal and external purposes.
• Considerable knowledge of GASB, GAAP, FASB and best practices for budgeting and financial management.
• Ability to assess needs, perform fiscal planning, target available resources, and implement effective budget and financial management programs.
• Knowledge and experience designing, monitoring, and enforcing internal controls to safeguard assets and ensure regulatory compliance.
• Comprehensive knowledge of modern office procedures, practices, and techniques.
• Ability to provide financial leadership and strategic direction to the organization.
• Ability to plan, organize, and direct comprehensive financial programs.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders, including elected officials, department heads, and the public
• Ability to mentor, guide, and develop staff or teams.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, other staff, subordinates and the public through effective oral and written communication.
• Ability to maintain confidential information.
• Ability to follow Dunn County policies and procedures including those pertaining to confidentiality.
• Ability to prioritize and organize job assignments.
• Ability to manage time effectively, manage multiple projects, and complete work within established deadlines.
• Ability to work the allocated hours of the position.

• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with other staff members, supervisors, and community members in written and verbal form. 
• English skills (oral, written and comprehension) sufficient to effectively communicate with all internal and external customers.

• Ability to understand and effectively carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Must have ability to work accurately with attention to detail.
• Ability to prepare and maintain accurate and concise records and reports.

• Ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
• Ability to compute rates, ratios and percentages.
• Ability to understand and apply governmental accounting practices in maintenance of financial records.

Physical and Work Environment

The physical and work environment characteristics described in this description are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions or as otherwise required by law.  Employees needing reasonable accommodation should discuss the request with the employee’s supervisor or Human Resources.  
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Physical effort will typically require infrequent exertion of objects weighing up to 10 pounds.

• Continuous speaking, hearing and using hands dexterously; work frequently requires sitting; and work occasionally requires standing, walking and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work has standard vision requirements.
• The physical and environmental hazards and risks associated with the job can be characterized as minimal.

• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, moderate traffic).