Range: 30
FLSA: Exempt
Date: October 2025

DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.

DEFINITION

Plan, direct, manage and oversee the activities and operations of the Finance Department including accounting, revenue administration, treasury management, financial planning and budgeting; and to provide highly responsible and complex administrative support to the Deputy City Manager.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general administrative direction from the Deputy City Manager.
Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical and clerical staff.

ESSENTIAL AND MARGINAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS--Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

1. Responsible for all Financial Services Department activities including the maintenance of accounting systems, the annual audit and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), accounting controls, development of the annual operating and capital budgets, billing, customer service, and financial policies and procedures.
2. Fully invested in the Financial Services Team. Responsible for hiring, training, evaluation, motivation, and morale of the Team. Ensure that the Team has access to professional development opportunities, and support Team members in their individual development goals, including higher education, training, seminars, and conferences. Address challenges and provide corrective direction with encouragement and compassion.
3. Represent the Financial Services Department on the City Leadership Team. Develop positive working relationships with colleagues, elected officials and outside agencies; negotiate and resolve sensitive, significant, and controversial issues.
4. Communicate effectively with the City Manager’s Office, colleagues, customers, the City Council and the Financial Services Team.
5. Monitor and evaluate workloads, administrative and support systems, and internal reporting relationships. Identify opportunities for improvement and direct the implementation of changes.
6. Plan, direct and coordinate the Department's work plan; meet with the Team to identify and resolve problems; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods and procedures.
7. Direct and participate in the development and administration of the City’s annual budget, working with the Budget Division in the development of the long-term forecast of revenues and both operating and capital expenditures, including scenarios based on changes to the local, regional, state and national economy; present forecasts and budget recommendations to the City Manager and City Council.
8. Work with the Communications Team to encourage public participation in the Citizens’ Budget Work Group (CBWG); develop presentations to teach the Group about the budget, budgeting process, Arizona laws that apply to cities, and Home Rule. Lead budget development discussions with the Group and provide Group recommendations to the City Manager and City Council.
9. As necessary, conduct organizational studies, investigations, and operational evaluations; recommend changes to programs, policies, and procedures as appropriate.
10. Actively engage with professional organizations including the Government Finance Officers’ Association (GFOA) and the Government Finance Officers’ Association of Arizona (GFOAz); stay abreast of new trends and innovations in the fields of finance: budget, accounting, payroll, accounts payable and receivable, treasury, and auditing.
11. Ensure that the City implements all new GASB statements as required.
12. Review, evaluate and recommend improvements to the City's administrative and financial internal control systems and procedures.
13. Periodically review internal controls and software permissions to ensure separation of duties.
14. Prepare a variety of financial reports and statements for the City Manager, City Council, and the public; prepare revenue, expenditure, debt, cost and other statements; prepare various financial reports and analyses requested by the City Manager’s Office and City Council.
15. Act as treasurer for the City: review treasury management and investment recommendations, ensure the timely deposit and investment of all City monies, and direct the recording and use of bond proceeds.
16. Maintain all special assessments and restricted fund records including Community Facility Districts and Development Impact Fees (DIF).
17. Work with the City’s DIF consultant and the Community Development Department to ensure that new DIF rates are properly calculated, adopted and applied.
18. Respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
19. Act as the City’s Chief Fiscal Officer (CFO) for the purposes of certifying the accuracy of the annual expenditure limitation report and submitting the report to the Arizona Auditor General’s Office.
20. Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge of:

• Principles of good leadership.
• Principles of governmental finance administration.
• Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• GFOA Best Practices.
• Government Accounting Standard Boards (GASB) Statements.
• Economic analysis and long-range forecasting.
• Financial research and report preparation.
• Principles and practices of labor relations and personnel administration.
• Enterprise Resource Planning systems.
• Microsoft Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
• Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes and regulations including laws regulating the financial administration of City government.
• Cash flow management.
• Organization and leadership practices.
• Complex principles and practices of program development and administration.

Ability to:

• Work in organized team efforts and assist in problem-solving work-related issues for continuous improvement, cross-training and development.
• Engage in active listening with direct reports, colleagues, and others.
• Foster a positive work culture of mutual respect, and open communication.
• Engage in the open discussion of ideas, plans, and problems, including encouraging team members to respectfully challenge the director and each other when they disagree.
• Foster an environment of growth and learning.
• Ability to work with the Financial Services Team and the Leadership Team to collectively solve problems and focus on continuous improvement.
• Effectively manage change.
• Use high emotional intelligence in day-to-day interactions.
• Ensure that Financial Services Team members are supported in the organization, planning, and coordination of work.
• Delegate authority and responsibility as appropriate.
• Hire, develop appropriate training, evaluate, encourage, and motivate team members.
• Communicate performance deficiencies with compassion. Develop performance improvement plans that are focused on retention, with achievable goals and expectations.
• Identify and respond to community and City Council issues, concerns and needs.
• In collaboration with direct and indirect reports, develop, implement and administer broad goals, objectives, and procedures for providing effective and efficient finance services.
• Develop and administer large and complex budgets.
• Ensure good stewardship of public assets: allocating limited resources in a cost-effective manner, emphasizing transparency and accountability.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, consider consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures and techniques.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing. Prepare clear, concise, and accurate financial and administrative reports.
• Develop and implement GFOA Best Practices as appropriate.
• Prepare and review complex financial statements, reports and analyses.
• Interpret and apply federal, state and local policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including City and other government officials, community groups, the public, and representatives of the media.
• Capable of making sound decisions and demonstrating intellectual capabilities necessary for the role.
• Maintain effective audio/visual discrimination and perception to the degree necessary for the successful performance of assigned duties.
• Maintain physical condition appropriate to completion of assigned duties and responsibilities.

EXPERIENCE AND TRAINING GUIDELINES
Other than minimum requirements specified below, any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities to successfully act as the Director of Financial Services is considered qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience:
Five years of increasingly responsible experience in governmental accounting, budgeting and treasury management. Three years in leadership (minimum requirement), preferably at a manager or director level.

Training and Education:
A bachelor’s degree (minimum requirement). Candidate should have completed course work in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field.

A master’s degree is preferred.

Experience in the implementation of ERP system and/or the Tyler Technologies ERP is desirable but not required.

Certifications:
CPA or GFOA Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) is preferred.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Environmental Conditions:
Office environment utilizing computers.

Physical Conditions:
Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may require maintaining physical condition necessary for sitting for prolonged periods of time and working closely with others.

The City of Sedona is an EEOC employer.