Deadline: June 30, 2023
Position Summary
POSITION: Finance Officer
BUREAU: Financial Administration
DEPARTMENT: Finance
SUPERVISOR: City Administrator
SALARY: $80,000
HOURS OF WORK:
- 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.; one (1) hour paid lunch period.
- Ability to work off hours and on weekends when required.
- Exempt employee under FLSA.
DUTIES:
- Supervision of finance and tax collection offices.
- Supervision of accounts payable, accounts receivable, and purchasing functions.
- Responsible for receipt/disbursement of all city monies collected by all departments; Administer said funds within the depositories designated by city council and oversee the temporary investment of excess city funds.
- Maintain general ledgers for all city activities on both cash and accrual basis.
- Oversee/perform monthly bank reconciliations for all city accounts.
- Oversee/assist in completion of the mayor’s annual general fund operating budget; Meet with department heads and administration to finalize proposed budget; Attend public budget hearings and meetings of city council for ratification of said budget.
- Oversee completion of other necessary special revenue fund and capital budgets.
- Generate cash flow projections for review with city administration; Manage cash flow to meet all financial obligations.
- Work with internal and external auditors to oversee completion of all city audits; Assist with preparation of related financial statements; Prepare year-end closing entries.
- Work with financial advisors to manage city debt service portfolio.
- Work with financial institutions to execute borrowing transactions and oversee treasury management functions.
- Maintain fixed asset register covering all city departments; Track contract balances for all major capital projects.
- Assist with personnel contract proposals as required; Provide data and analysis as requested.
- Work with health director to ensure accurate submission of monthly grant reimbursement packets; Verify accuracy of payments received.
- Compile/analyze data for calculation of city tax anticipation notes.
- Serve on various boards as directed (e.g., Aggregated Pension Trust, Non-Uniform Pension, Police Relief Pension, and Paid Police Pension).
- Field taxpayer complaints and attempt to adjudicate their problems amicably.
- Act as tax collector for all property taxes collected in Wilkes-Barre City.
- Furnish monthly/quarterly/annual reports to administration, council, and controller as required.
- Comply with city charter, code of ordinances, and other applicable federal and state laws.
- Oversee preparation of 1099 forms as required by the IRS.
- Oversee preparation of reimbursement requests to the sanitary authority.
- Track monthly cost of living payments made to police and fire retirees; Complete and submit form for Act 147 reimbursement.
- Speak to media as required.
- Respond to right-to-know/open records requests as required.
- Comply with city charter, code of ordinances, and other applicable federal and state laws.
- Performs other similar or related duties, as required or as situation dictates.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in finance, accounting, or business administration AND five (5) years of government accounting and budgetary experience.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of public fiscal administration.
- Knowledge of accounting principles and procedures.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of auditing and cost accounting.
- Knowledge of debt issuance, capitalized leases, tax anticipation notes, and construction financing.
- Knowledge and experience in tax collection and pension administration.
- Knowledge of the capabilities of electronic and automated data processing as it relates to fiscal operations.
- Familiarity with financial reports, trial balances, balance sheets and income statements.
- Ability to identify and analyze trends, and to provide fiscal and budgetary forecasts.
- Experience and ability to plan, assign, review, and supervise the work of a staff of professional, technical, and clerical employees.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city, county, state, and federal officials, public or private administrators, subordinates, associates and the general public.
- Ability to express ideas effectively, both orally and in writing. Planning and organizational skills are essential.
- Ability to maintain records and to keep records and information in a confidential manner.
- Proficiency with financial software and MS Office programs, particularly Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Ability to learn and use computer programs required by the department.
- Ability to physically perform the duties listed above.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Sedentary position which requires occasional standing, walking, bending, lifting and/or stooping.
- Positions require work within an office environment with minimal exposure to the outside elements.
OTHER:
- Employees shall be required to reside within the City or within 13.5 standard miles of City Hall, 40 East Market Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711.
How to Apply
The City will be accepting applications for the position of Finance Officer. Applicants who wish to be considered for this position shall submit a standard application, resume, references and cover letter to Nicole Ference, Human Resources Director and shall attach thereto any other data that would be helpful in determining their qualifications.