Executive Director of Finance

Position Summary: The executive director of finance is the City of Covington's chief financial officer and a member of the city manager's executive leadership team. The executive director of finance leads all financial operations of the city, including, but not limited to, budgeting, accounting and financial reporting, revenue and business-tax administration, treasury and investments, debt management, and procurement and serves as the principal financial advisor to the city manager and the board of commissioners.

The executive director of finance sets financial strategy, safeguards public resources, protects the city's credit standing, and ensures that Covington's financial practices meet the standards of the largest and best-managed cities in the region. Success in the role requires technical mastery of governmental finance combined with the judgment, communication skills, and leadership presence expected of a senior executive.

These tasks are typical for this position and may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Financial Strategy and Executive Leadership Chief financial advisor:
  • Advises the city manager, board of commissioners, and department directors on the fiscal impact of policy, operational, economic development, and labor decisions.
• Long-term Planning:
  • Develops and maintains multi-year financial forecasts, fiscal sustainability plans, and reserve and fund-balance policies.
• Executive Team Member:
  • Participates in city-wide strategic planning, labor negotiations, and major development and partnership agreements, providing financial analysis and modeling.
• Budget Development and Administration Annual budget:
  • Directs preparation of the annual operating budget and multi-year capital improvement program for adoption by the board of commissioners, consistent with Kentucky law governing municipal budgets (KRS Chapter 91A).
• Budget Monitoring:
  • Oversees expenditure controls, budget amendments, and quarterly budget-to-actual reporting to the city manager and board of commissioners.
• Performance and Cost Analysis:
  • Leads cost studies, fee and rate analyses, and evaluation of service delivery options.
• Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Audit Financial reporting:
  • Oversees general accounting, accounts payable and receivable, fixed assets, and preparation of the annual comprehensive financial report in accordance with GAAP and GASB standards.
• Audit:
  • Manages the annual independent audit and federal single audit; ensures timely resolution of findings and management-letter comments.
• Internal Controls:
  • Establishes and enforces internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures that protect city assets and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Recognition Programs:
  • Pursues and maintains GFOA certificates of achievement for financial reporting and distinguished budget presentation awards.
• Revenue and Business-Tax Administration Revenue Management:
  • Oversees collection and forecasting of property taxes, occupational license (payroll) fees, net profit fees, insurance premium taxes, and waste and stormwater fees.
• Tax Policy:
  • Analyzes revenue structure and recommends policy changes; ensures fair, consistent, and customer-focused tax administration.
• Treasury, Investments, and Debt Management Cash and Investments:
  • Directs cash management, banking relationships, and investment of city funds in accordance with the city's investment policy and state law.
• Debt and Credit:
  • Manages debt issuance and administration consistent with the city's debt management policy; works with municipal advisors, bond counsel, and rating agencies to protect and improve the city's credit rating; oversees continuing disclosure.
• Structures financing for capital projects, including…