Finance Manager

Overview of Accounting and Finance Department
SANDAG has great pride in being a fiscally responsible public agency and has implemented rigorous accounting processes and financial reporting procedures to monitor expenses, encumbrances, grant funds, and project budgets, and accurately document various types of financial transactions. 

Role/Responsibilities

This position will manage a large and complex range of accounting and finance functions that support the delivery of SANDAG strategic financial objectives. This position will be offered as a Regular At-Will position. The final candidate selected for this position must successfully pass a pre-employment criminal background check and credit check.

This is a three-year Limited Term opportunity. 

• Oversee and coordinate financial operations including accounts payable, investment management, cash flows, treasury and banking relationships and reconciliations; review and evaluate work products, methods, and procedures; develop finance objectives, policies, and priorities; establish, within SANDAG policy, appropriate service, resources, and staffing levels.
• Evaluate and enhance current accounting and accounts payable processes to improve efficiency and adherence to protocols, ensuring timely and accurate payments to vendors.
• Manage and coordinate investment activities and matters including working with external investment managers to make investment decisions, monitor investment performance, monitor cash flows, and deposit funds to investment accounts, or withdraw funds to cover operational needs based on the Board of Directors’ Investment Policy and California Government Code regulations, and the objectives of safety, liquidity and return.
• Monitor and evaluate internal controls and reconciliation procedures used for accounting and financial record-keeping and reporting; recommend and implement enhancements to ensure effective systems are in place and are in accordance with federal and state regulations, GAAP, and agency procedures.
• Maintain financial management systems and records; ensure that financial records are accurate and comply with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and regulations, codes, policies, rules, and procedures.
• Conduct a variety of operational studies, investigations, audits, and reviews; recommend modifications to Finance and Accounting programs, policies, and procedures, as appropriate.
• Meet with staff to identify and resolve problems; assign projects and programmatic areas of responsibility; review and evaluate work methods and procedures; review staff work when issues or challenges arise.
• Reconcile multiple accounts; analyze complex financial data; coordinate year-end closing procedures; prepare multiple financial reports and required disclosures.
• Coordinate, plan, manage, and review accounting, audit, and financial responsibilities for various SANDAG units, such as the San Diego County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) and SR 125 Toll Road and TransNet and Transportation Development Act compliance audits.
• Develop Requests for Proposals, scopes of work, project deliverables, budgets, and schedules for finance and accounting services such as banking services and investment advisors; participate in the selection of consultants and vendors; administer contracts and ensure projects progress on schedule, within the approved budget, and at a consistently high level of quality; ensure projects are completed in adherence to funding agency requirements.
• Supervise, mentor, coach, and train employees; provide career development opportunities for employees.
• Prepare and present written, oral, and visual reports to the Board of Directors, policy and stakeholder committees, member agencies, private organizations, and members of the public.

• Bachelor's degree with major course work in accounting, finance, or a related field and seven years of increasingly responsible, professional finance and accounting experience, including two years of supervisory experience. CPA license is preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, extensive experience in governmental financial reporting, and good understanding of federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to Finance and Accounting. 
• Experience providing administrative, management, and professional leadership for accounting and finance programs. 
• Knowledge of organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of Finance and Accounting programs, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated experience preparing complex financial reports that conform to accepted auditing standards and accounting principles. 
• Experience coordinating internal and external financial, compliance, and performance audits, and researching and responding to audit requests and questions.
• Experience directly supervising and evaluating the work of professionals; experience selecting, scheduling, training, evaluating, and motivating employees; experience building strong teams and supporting employee development. 
• Experience with long-term and short-term debt financing processes and procedures and bond covenant restrictions. 
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work including agency staff, member/ subrecipient agencies, government officials, auditors, and members of the public.