Description

General Statement of Duties

Performs complex, professional work in the accountability of the financial planning, analysis, monitoring and reporting necessary to support the County’s annual budget, multi-year Capital Improvement Plan, major capital construction program, debt-funded projects, capital asset lifecycle and long-range fiscal sustainability. The position integrates accounting, budgeting, capital finance, forecasting, and executive decision support and serves as a primary financial advisor on the affordability, timing, funding, operating impact, and financial risk of major County initiatives.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

An employee in this class is responsible and accountable for the financial planning, analysis, monitoring and reporting necessary to support the County’s annual budget, multi-year Capital Improvement Plan, major capital construction program, debt-funded projects, capital asset lifecycle and long-range fiscal sustainability. Work integrates operating budgets, capital plans, debt financing, cash flow, construction schedules, accounting treatment, economic assumptions, grant requirements and policy priorities. Decisions are interdependent and often extend across many fiscal years. The position must account for financing documents, debt restrictions, budget requirements, grant conditions, procurement and project approvals, capital asset standards, County policy and applicable accounting and reporting requirements. Faulty assumptions, inadequate monitoring or incorrect financial treatment may contribute to project funding shortfalls, improper use or reimbursement of debt proceeds, inaccurate budgets, weakened reserves, debt covenant or grant issues, audit findings, inaccurate capital assets, avoidable borrowing or long-term structural imbalance. Recommendations influence major capital investments, annual appropriations, long-term debt service, future operating costs, reserve levels, and the County’s ability to sustain services and maintain financial flexibility. Work is performed under the general supervision of the Deputy Finance Director and is evaluated by discussion, reports, observation, and feedback from department heads, managers and employees.

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Job Functions

• Accountable for the financial management framework applied to major capital projects, including project budgets, funding plans, debt proceeds, cash flow, financial reporting, cost monitoring and closeout
• Accountable for ensuring capital project expenditures and funding transactions are properly authorized, classified, documented, reimbursed and coordinated with construction-in-progress and capital asset accounting.
• Accountable for the quality, consistency and long-range usefulness of the County’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan and related funding strategies.
• Accountable for developing reliable multi-year revenue, expenditure, fund balance, debt service and operating-impact forecasts used by executive leadership and the Board of Commissioners.
• Accountable for identifying fiscal risks, affordability constraints, funding gaps, cost escalation, timing issues and long-term operating consequences before decisions are made.
• Accountable for providing objective, well-supported financial recommendations concerning capital priorities, debt affordability, project sequencing and resource allocation.
• Establishes and maintains the financial management structure for major capital projects, including project budgets, funding sources, financial controls, cash flow forecasts, expenditure monitoring, draw schedules, reporting and closeout. Coordinates financial information among Finance, project departments, architects, engineers, contractors, bond counsel, trustees and other parties.
• Administers or oversees drawdowns, trustee reimbursements, requisitions, debt proceeds, financing-related records and supporting documentation. Evaluates expenditure eligibility and timing and ensures transactions are consistent with financing documents, reimbursement resolutions, accounting requirements and County approvals.
• Ensures capital project costs are tracked by project and asset component; coordinates construction-in-progress records; evaluates capitalization timing and cost inclusion; and, ensures completed projects transition accurately to capital asset records.
• Leads key components of annual budget development, including department guidance, financial analysis, revenue and expenditure projections, budget recommendations, balancing strategies and presentation materials.
• Directs preparation and continuous refinement of the five-year Capital Improvement Plan. Evaluates project scope, timing, funding sources, debt service, operating impacts, replacement cycles, affordability and alignment with County priorities.
• Develops multi-year financial models for revenues, expenditures, debt service, capital funding, reserves and fund balance. Performs sensitivity analysis and evaluates alternative assumptions, economic conditions, cost escalation, timing and policy choices.
• Prepares concise analyses and recommendations for the Finance Director, Deputy Finance Director, County Manager, departments and Board of Commissioners. Translates complex financial information into understandable options, risks and long-term consequences.
• Develops policies and procedures for capital financial management, forecasting, CIP development, project reporting and financial review. Collaborates with the Director of Financial Systems to automate workflows, strengthen data quality and improve management reporting.
• Evaluates whether proposed capital plans are affordable under current and projected financial conditions.
• Determines appropriate financial assumptions, modeling methods, project cash-flow timing and presentation of forecast uncertainty.
• Assesses funding alternatives, debt capacity, use of reserves, grant opportunities, reimbursement timing and long-term operating impacts.
• Identifies when project cost changes, schedule changes or funding constraints require corrective action, reprogramming, additional financing or executive escalation.
• Evaluates capitalization and construction-in-progress issues in coordination with accounting personnel.
• Recommends project sequencing, funding strategies, budget adjustments and financial policies that may affect multiple fiscal years.

Additional Job Duties  

•  Performs related duties as required.

Recruitment and Selection Guidelines

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of governmental budgeting, governmental accounting, capital finance, debt-funded project administration, capital asset accounting and long-range financial planning.
• Ability to build and validate multi-year financial models and clearly explain assumptions, limitations, risks and alternatives.
• Ability to analyze large capital programs, identify funding gaps and cost pressures and connect project decisions to operating budgets and long-term fiscal capacity.
• Knowledge of internal controls, audit documentation, financing documentation, project reporting and public-sector decision processes.
• Ability to coordinate multiple departments and external parties while maintaining financial discipline, documentation and deadlines.
• Advanced spreadsheet, ERP, budgeting, reporting and data-visualization skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Considerable knowledge in preparing a variety of correspondence and complex reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with peers, supervisors, employees in other County departments and the general public. 

Physical Requirements

• Work requires the exertion of up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and a negligible amount of force frequently to move objects.
• Work requires climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, standing, walking, and fingering, grasping, and repetitive motions.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Hearing is required to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound.
• Work requires standard vision requirements.
• Visual acuity is required for close vision, distance vision, ability to focus, peripheral vision, preparing and analyzing written or computer data and determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work.
• Worker is not subject to outside environmental conditions.
• Work is performed in a moderately noisy environment (e.g. business office with typewriters and/or computer printers, light traffic).

Desirable Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field, and three (3) or more years of progressively responsible experience in governmental accounting, budgeting, capital project financial management, financial planning, debit administration or related work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Special Requirements

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and/or Master’s degree in Accounting, Public Administration or related field with substantial accounting coursework preferred.
• North Carolina local government budget, debit and capital planning experience preferred.
• Experience managing the financial aspects of large, multi-year debt-funded capital projects preferred.
• Advanced governmental budgeting, debt or capital planning training preferred.

Requirements

Desirable Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field, and three (3) or more years of progressively responsible experience in governmental accounting, budgeting, capital project financial management, financial planning, debit administration or related work; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Special Requirements

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and/or Master’s degree in Accounting, Public Administration or related field with substantial accounting coursework preferred.
• North Carolina local government budget, debit and capital planning experience preferred.
• Experience managing the financial aspects of large, multi-year debt-funded capital projects preferred.
• Advanced governmental budgeting, debt or capital planning training preferred.