DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF THE CLASS: This is professional accounting work involving responsibility for development, maintenance and auditing of a town’s financial records. Incumbent performs complex accounting and financial auditing work in accordance with standard professional accounting procedures, including preparation of financial statements and analyses. Incumbent acts as financial advisor to the Town Board and Town Supervisor relative to investments, debt management, bonds, contracts, insurance, pensions, budgets, and other financial concerns. Additionally, work involves responsibility for managing and administering a town’s payroll services, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing, as well as compliance with tax laws, garnishment procedures, and other regulations. Per NYS Town Law §52, the work is performed under the general supervision of the Town Supervisor, with considerable leeway for the exercise of independent judgment.  Supervision may be exercised over the work of subordinate employees. Performs related work as required.

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES: (Illustrative Only)

• Manages all funds for the Town, including income and revenue, budget appropriations, investments and bank accounts;
• Prepares and manages debt service schedule, including processing of debt payments;
• Reviews and consolidates all budget estimates and requests, processes anticipated revenues and appropriations, and prepares town’s annual fiscal budget (tentative, preliminary and final);
• Supervises the auditing of Town payroll to ensure compliance with tax requirements, tax changes, garnishment, and Federal and State laws;
• Manages and administers all payroll production and reporting for non-contractual and labor union annual salaried and seasonal hourly employees including all tax deductions, union dues and credit union, garnishees, direct deposit, etc., to ensure timeliness and accuracy;
• Administers all payroll distribution, correction, reconciliation, and required reporting and disbursement to Federal and State agencies;
• Confers and consults with Town officials on fiscal matters such as Town investment policies and capital plans;
• Acts independently to resolve all payroll inconsistencies in a timely and accurate fashion;
• Manages and administrates fiscal processing of all investments and financial accounts including bonds;
• Manages quarterly and year‑end activities including wage reconciliation and W‑2 production;
• Prepares required monthly, quarterly and annual reports to outside agencies such as the Internal Revenue Service, the State Pension System, etc.;
• Manages and administrates fiscal processing of health and dental insurance, pensions, authorized retirement incentives, paid absences, worker’s compensation, etc., ensuring compliance with all laws and regulations including those relating to protected information and privacy;
• Provides information to the Town Supervisor and Town Board, as required or requested;
• Prepares, processes, and may participate in negotiation of service contracts and rental agreements between the Town and other parties;
• Prepares and files quarterly and annual taxes;
• May oversees and issues purchase orders;
• Performs a variety of related activities as required.

Typical Work Activities are intended only as illustrations of possible types of work that might be appropriately assigned to an incumbent of this title. Work activities that do not appear above are not excluded as appropriate work assignments, as long as they can be reasonably understood to be within the logical limits of the job.

FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Good knowledge of modern accounting principles, procedures, terminology, reports and records, particularly as they relate to governmental accounting; good knowledge of payroll, payroll tax issues, and automated compensation systems and procedures; good knowledge of the principles of payroll auditing; good knowledge of Federal and State laws such as Fair Labor Standards Act, ERISA, Social Security Act, and Unemployment Insurance; good knowledge of benefit programs and their deduction rules; good knowledge of office terminology, procedures and practices; ability to prepare and analyze complex statistical and financial reports; ability to identify, analyze and resolve complex payroll and related issues; ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships; integrity; accuracy; thoroughness.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

1. Master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting or closely related field and four (4) years of experience in accounting and/or auditing which included maintaining or auditing double entry books, general ledger, as well as experience with automated payroll systems and benefits administration; or
2. Bachelor’s Degree in business administration, finance, accounting or a closely related field, and six (6) years of experience as described above.

PLEASE NOTE: Your degree must have been awarded by a college or university accredited by a regional, national, or specialized agency recognized as an accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education/U.S. Secretary of Education.

IN TOWN OF KENT: Director of Finance is exempt class, and therefore qualifications are determined by the appointing authority (the above qualifications are recommended, but not required).

11/06; 12/12; 4/15; 7/21

Competitive Class

[Exempt Class T/Kent, T/PV]