Director of Financial Services

Director of Financial Services

City of Fort Myers, FL

Under the general supervision of the City Manager, serves as the City's chief financial officer and provides executive leadership and strategic direction for the Financial Services Department. Directs the City's budgeting, accounting and financial reporting, treasury and investments, debt management, revenue administration, and long-range financial planning. Advises the City Manager and elected officials on fiscal policy, financial risks, economic trends, capital financing, and strategies necessary to maintain the City's long-term financial sustainability. Ensures timely, accurate, transparent, and understandable financial information; strong internal controls; compliance with applicable laws, regulations, contracts, bond covenants, and professional standards; and stewardship of public resources consistent with City Council policy direction.

Responsibilities and Reporting During an Emergency Situation:

May be required to work during a declared emergency. Depending on the nature of the emergency, this may require working around the clock for several days on short notice.

Provides executive leadership for the Financial Services Department and carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with City policies and applicable laws. Establishes clear expectations and accountability; develops succession and workforce plans; recruits, develops, evaluates, and retains high-performing staff; promotes collaboration and customer service; and ensures appropriate segregation of duties and continuity of critical financial operations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Annual Operating and Capital Budget Preparation, Administration, and Performance Management: Lead development, implementation, and monitoring of the City's annual operating and capital budgets and multi-year financial plan. Develop budget assumptions, revenue estimates, fixed-cost projections, allocations, and guidelines consistent with City Manager and City Council policy direction. Present budget recommendations and periodic financial and performance reports; monitor results and forecasts throughout the year; identify variances and corrective strategies; and guide departments in responsible administration of programs and fiscal resources.
• Centralized Accounting, Annual Audit, and Financial Reporting: Direct accounting and financial reporting in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and applicable governmental accounting standards. Ensure timely reconciliations, accurate financial statements, completion of the annual external audit and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, and effective citywide internal controls. Establish procedures to safeguard assets, reduce fraud and financial reporting risk, and ensure departments accurately and timely record financial transactions.
• Treasury, Cash Management, and Investments: Direct cash-flow planning and investment of public funds in accordance with the City's investment policy and Florida law. Maintain adequate liquidity, safety of principal, appropriate diversification, segregation of restricted funds, and timely funding of payroll, debt service, and disbursements. Monitor banking relationships, investment performance, and treasury controls and recommend improvements to maximize effectiveness while prudently managing risk.
• Debt and Capital Financing Management: Develop and maintain the City's debt management strategy and policies; evaluate financing alternatives; and lead the planning, structuring, coordination, and execution of debt issuances approved by City Council. Ensure timely debt service, continuing disclosure, arbitrage and tax compliance, and compliance with bond covenants and financing agreements. Maintain effective relationships with bond counsel, financial advisors, underwriters, investors, and rating agencies, and communicate the City's financial position and capital plan clearly and credibly.
• Revenue Administration and Collections: Oversee billing, receivables, collections, liens, cash handling, and related revenue-control processes. Establish citywide standards and internal controls that promote timely collection, accurate accounting, customer service, and compliance with laws, ordinances, contracts, and adopted policies. Monitor major revenue trends and collection performance and recommend corrective action when appropriate.
• Long-Range Financial Planning and Forecasting: Maintain multi-year financial forecasts and financial models using economic conditions, growth projections, service demands, labor and operating cost trends, revenue assumptions, debt obligations, reserves, and capital needs. Conduct scenario and sensitivity analysis, identify emerging fiscal risks and opportunities, and recommend strategies that support structural balance, appropriate reserves, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Executive and City Council Support: Prepare, review, and present agenda items, resolutions, ordinances, contracts, financial policies, financing documents, and other proposals. Provide clear, objective, and timely financial analysis and recommendations to the City Manager, City Council, departments, and stakeholders. Communicate complex financial information in a manner understandable to technical and non-technical audiences.
• Leadership and Development of Financial Services Staff: Build and sustain a high-performing financial organization through clear performance expectations, delegation, cross-training, succession planning, professional development, regular communication, and performance management. Develop organizational capacity and business processes that support accuracy, accountability, responsiveness, innovation, and continuity of operations.
• Financial Policy, Risk, and Internal Control Leadership: Develop, recommend, implement, and periodically review citywide financial policies, reserve policies, internal controls, and financial governance practices. Proactively identify material fiscal, compliance, fraud, cybersecurity-related financial, and operational risks and coordinate appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Continuous Improvement and Transparency: Promote continuous improvement in financial processes, reporting, customer service, data quality, and technology. Establish meaningful performance measures and dashboards and support transparent communication of the City's financial condition, budget performance, capital program, debt, and long-range outlook.
• Perform duties as assigned by the City Manager.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Advanced proficiency with financial management and enterprise resource planning systems, spreadsheet and data-analysis tools, and standard office and presentation software; ability to use technology and data to improve financial reporting, forecasting, controls, and decision-making.
• Comprehensive knowledge of governmental accounting, budgeting, financial reporting, treasury and investment management, debt and capital financing, internal controls, revenue administration, and long-range financial planning.
• Knowledge of Florida local government finance and experience working effectively with elected officials in a public, transparent environment, including applicable public records and Sunshine Law requirements.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, organizational, and executive decision-making skills, including the ability to assess financial and operational risk and recommend practical solutions.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present complex financial information clearly and persuasively to elected officials, executive leadership, employees, residents, rating agencies, investors, auditors, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to provide independent professional advice while implementing the policy direction and organizational priorities established by the City Manager and City Council.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and to lead collaboratively across departments and with external partners.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex governmental, financial, legal, contractual, and administrative requirements.
• Ability to lead implementation and effective use of financial systems, reporting tools, automation, and process improvements.
• Ability to manage multiple complex priorities, deadlines, and major projects in a high-accountability environment.
• Ability to exercise initiative, sound judgment, professional independence, discretion, and integrity in analyzing and resolving complex financial and organizational matters.
• Ability to interact effectively with elected officials, residents, business and community interests, other governmental entities, employees, auditors, financial professionals, and other stakeholders.

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
• Ten years of progressively responsible professional experience in accounting, finance, budgeting, or governmental financial management, including at least five years of significant management or executive leadership responsibility. Substantial experience with governmental budgeting, financial reporting, audits, internal controls, and long-range financial planning is required. An equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the required competencies may be considered.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Government Finance Officer (CGFO), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM), or comparable public finance credentials.
• Florida local-government finance experience; experience with municipal debt issuance and rating agencies; and experience leading an enterprise financial system implementation or major financial process modernization are highly desirable.

CERTIFICATION, LICENSE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must possess or obtain a valid Florida Driver's License with an acceptable driving record in accordance with City policy.