Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer for the City of Amesbury is responsible for the overall management and direction of the financial affairs for the City. The employee will provide leadership on matters including, but not limited to, financial administration, budgeting and reporting, and internal control.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as examples of the various type of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

• Assumes full management responsibility for all finance department services and activities.

• Maintains the accounting and financial records in accordance with UMAS accounting system, Massachusetts general laws, and DOR rules and regulations.

• Ensures the City's financial statements are presented in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

• Prepares Schedule A, Balance Sheet and all other required reports and assists in preparing the tax recap sheet.

• Approves payroll and vendor warrants and performs all other required duties of the City Auditor.

• Spearheads the City's entire appropriation budget; develops priorities in partnership with and as an advisor to the Mayor, guides department heads through the budget process, and collaborates with Communications Director on the budget book.

• Reviews, updates, and revises the City's multi-year Capital Improvement Plan.

• Coordinates activities relating to City borrowing, including periodic meetings and discussions with bond rating and state agencies.

• Develops and reviews financial policies and best practices and oversees internal and external auditing activities.

• Oversees accounting and preparation for the annual internal and external audits; selects and coordinates efforts of external auditors.

• Recommends and administers financial policies and procedures across City government; evaluates departments budgets in comparison to actual spending.

• Performs analysis and conducts research into financial related matters before the City.

• Oversees and manages the compilation of financial and statistical information for financials, bond issues, debt projects, and payment schedules.

• Manages the development and implementation of department goals, objectives, written policies, priorities, and internal controls.

• Plans, directs, and coordinates the work plan for the Finance and Administration department, assigns projects and programmatic areas of responsibility, reviews and evaluates work methods and procedures, and meets with staff to identify and solve problems as necessary.

• Creates and establishes accounting for monies received by and paid from the City; maintains accurate records, internal controls, and balances, and guides budget appropriations.

• Reviews and audits all state and federal grants, including but not limited to ARPA funding.

• Provides sound financial advice to the Mayor, City Council, and other staff as required.

• Compiles the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report & quarterly reports in accordance with the City Charter.

• Attends and presents regularly before the Amesbury City Council as required by the Mayor.

• Serves as the Ex-Officio member of the Retirement Board.

• Other duties as assigned and required.

Supervision Exercised:

The Chief Financial Officer coordinates and oversees the Assessors, Finance and Administration, Treasurer/Collectors. The CFO serves as an Ex-Officio member of the Retirement Board.

Nature and Purpose of Relationships:
The employee must have the ability to establish and maintain highly effective working relationships with the Mayor, City Council members, other elected officials, committee members, department heads, staff, residents, representatives of civic and community groups, the media, the public, and others encountered in the course of performing job duties.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education:

Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of seven (7) years of work experience in the field of municipal finance. Master's Degree preferred; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and…