The purpose of this position is to supervise, direct, be responsible for the overall accounting and coordination of the financial activities of all City departments, serving as comptroller with duties as outlined in 62.09(10) Wis. Statutes and City ordinances. This position provides high level financial oversight of the City’s accounting activities, support to the Mayor, City Council, and City departments in their financial management, budgeting, and reporting responsibilities, presentation of issues and recommendations to the Mayor and City Council for strategic direction of fiscal policy matters to maintain and enhance the financial health of the City and performance of a variety of administrative functions as delegated by the Mayor and City Council that do not create conflicts with his/her core duties and responsibilities as outlined below or jeopardize critical segregation(s) in duties.

• Directs, coordinates, and supervises all Finance department staff regarding the financial and accounting activities of the City of Stoughton.
• Directs the preparation of the annual City budget, including advising the Mayor, City Council, and City department directors in the review of estimates and the preparation of individual departmental budget requests.
• Reviews and oversees the annual City audits and submits all required regulatory/statutory reports.
• Reviews, directs, coordinates, and supervises Special Assessment procedures.
• Reviews tax roll special charges, delinquencies, and assessments.
• Reviews tax roll prior to submission to the County Treasurer.
• Oversees the preparation of Statement of Taxes, Levy Limit worksheets and Expenditure Restraint reporting.
• Assists with the preparation of salary and benefit data for the annual budget process in conjunction with the Director of Human Resources & Risk Management and Personnel Committee.
• Performs Comptroller functions as required by State Statutes 62.09(10) and City ordinances.
• The comptroller shall monthly report in writing to the council at its first meeting the condition of outstanding contracts and of each of the city funds and claims payable therefrom, and shall each year on or before October first file with the clerk a detailed statement of the receipts and disbursements on account of each fund of the city and of each aldermanic district or other financial district during the preceding fiscal year, specifying the source of each receipt and the object of each disbursement, and also an estimate of the receipts and disbursements for the current fiscal year.
• The comptroller shall each month and as often as reported examine the treasurer's accounts as reported and as kept, and attach thereto a report to the council as to their correctness and as to any violation by the treasurer of the treasurer's duty in the manner of keeping accounts or disbursing moneys.
• The comptroller shall examine each claim presented against the city, and determine whether it is in proper form, and if it is on contract, whether authorized and correct. For these purposes, the comptroller may swear witnesses and take testimony. If the comptroller finds no objection, the comptroller shall mark his or her approval on the claim. If the comptroller disapproves in whole or in part, the comptroller shall report the reasons for that disapproval to the council. The comptroller shall in all cases report evidence taken. No claim shall be considered by the council or be referred to a committee until it has been so examined and reported on.
• The comptroller shall countersign all contracts with the city if the necessary funds have been provided to pay the liability that may be incurred thereunder, and no contract shall be valid until so countersigned.
• The comptroller shall each year make a list of all certificates for the payment of which special taxes are to be levied, in time for the same to be inserted in the tax roll, and certify its correctness.
• Maintains an accounting system for the City government and its agencies in a manner consistent with established and accepted municipal accounting principles and procedures, and in sufficient detail to produce adequate cost, financial, and statistical data for City and department management purposes and to meet statutory requirements.
• Directs, coordinates, and supervises processing of accounts payable and accounts receivable, auditing of purchase orders, receipts, and disbursements, reconciling accounting records with various departments, and allocating payments to various accounts.
• Functions as a resource and support to enhance department’s financial management capacity.
• Maintains a system of budgetary control to ensure that expenditures do not exceed appropriations, and that sufficient revenues are available to meet anticipated needs.
• Directs the development and update of a Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan, a Five-Year Financial/Operating Budget Forecast, and accompanying financing plans.
• Provides the Mayor, City Council, and Finance Committee with timely and informative financial reports, statements, financial analysis and fiscal projections on major issues requiring policy direction.
• Analyzes City debt structure and prepares recommendations for restructuring thereof; advises the Mayor and Finance Committee regarding debt management.
• Coordinates a variety of special administrative projects as assigned, which include but are not limited to the negotiation of contracts, leases, purchases, land acquisitions, and others of a similar nature.
• Initiates proactively and participates collaboratively with department efforts to streamline operations, increase operational efficiency and effectiveness, and address issues and opportunities of current concern.
• Proposes recommendations to streamline and consolidate budget and accounting functions in a continuous improvement effort.
• Coordinates activities of City Assessor contract compliance.
• Administers the CDBG – Community Development Block Grant program.
• Represents and oversees the City in all fiscal matters.
• Administers the investment of surplus City funds and documentation relating to the sale or renegotiation of notes and bonds.
• Administers Firefighters’ Pension Fund and serves on the Firefighters’ Pension Board.
• Attends all City Council meetings and committee meetings as deemed necessary by the Mayor and other City of Stoughton authorities.
• Serves on the Board of Trustees – Riverside and Wheeler Prairie Cemeteries.
• Provides administrative oversight and reviews financial activities of duly authorized volunteer organizations.
• Keeps informed of new trends, developments, laws, and regulations that impact the activities of the finance and treasury functions of the City.

Education/Training/Certifications

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Financial Management, Public Administration or related field.
• Minimum of eight to ten years of progressively responsible supervisory or management position related experience in accounting and financial management, preferably in a municipal environment serving as a finance director or assistant finance director. Specialization in municipal accounting may be substituted for municipal accounting/finance experience.
• The ability to independently initiate analysis and solve a variety of accounting and fiscal issues from both long-term and daily operational perspectives.
• Significant knowledge of computer hardware and software used in the municipal environment, including experience with automated accounting, financial and billing systems. Advanced user of Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint) preferred.
• Knowledge of municipal accounting and auditing including enterprise funds; considerable knowledge of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS); considerable knowledge of Generally Acceptable Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Knowledge on new Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards and ability to implement and maintain books in accordance as such.
• Familiarity with State and Federal rules and regulations.
• Proven success and experience in teambuilding and collaboration and experience with effective supervisory/management and human resource principles and techniques.
• Understanding of effective customer service principles and techniques.
• Background check, physical/drug screen & reference checks required.

Supervisory Skills

• Proven skills in the area of supervision and management, including participative management.
• Ability to supervise the work of departmental staff including; coordinating, assigning, monitoring, and evaluating work; and hiring, training, counseling, and disciplining staff.
• Ability to positively motivate employees and create a teamwork-oriented, effective, and efficient work environment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the Mayor, City Council members, department directors, staff, and the public.

Language Skills

• Ability to act as a staff advisor to the Mayor, City Council, and department directors.
• Skill in effective, clear, and objective oral and written communications about the City’s finances to individuals and groups.
• Ability to comprehend and interpret a variety of documents including municipal and business financial statements, invoices, contracts, insurance policies and claims, tax rolls, budget requests and amendments, audits, bank statements, budget documents, service contracts, State statutes, City ordinances and policies, etc.
• Ability to prepare a variety of documents with clear, comprehensive explanatory narrative to accompany budget documents, financial statements, fiscal analysis relating to special projects, letters and other correspondence with the Mayor, City Council, department directors, or parties external to the City, etc. using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style.
• Ability to record and deliver information, explain procedures, and follow instructions.
• Ability to use and interpret legal and accounting terminology.
• Ability to communicate effectively with Mayor, City Council, Finance and Personnel Committee members, department directors, legal counsel, other City personnel, State and County personnel, insurance representatives, and others verbally and in writing.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, calculate decimals and percents, and make use of the principles of descriptive statistics.
• Ability to design and produce graphical representations of complex financial and performance data.
• Ability to prepare accounting and financial data projections.
• Knowledge of municipal accounting and auditing including enterprise funds; considerable knowledge of Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS); considerable knowledge of Generally Acceptable Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Knowledge on new Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards and ability to implement and maintain books in accordance as such.

Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Position Functions

• Ability to operate a variety of office equipment.
• Ability to develop manual and computerized financial systems.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office.
• Advanced skill set – Excel.

Environmental Adaptability

• Understanding of the City’s political environment and sensitivities; ability to function effectively within that environment.
• Ability to work effectively in an office environment.
• Ability to work under generally safe and comfortable conditions.