Director of Finance

Classification: Director of Finance

Supervisor: Chief Executive Officer

Department: Finance

Status: Exempt Pay Grade/Range: 3 – Senior Director

Summary

The primary purpose of this position is to perform professional finance work of considerable difficulty and supervises staff members engaged in all facets of finance for Spartanburg Housing. This position establishes finance policies, procedures, controls and reporting systems. This position is responsible for the overall integrity and accuracy of the finance system in accordance with generally accepted finance principles. This position analyzes operating performance against plans, trends, budgets, or other standards and provides advice to management deemed appropriate or requested.

All activities must support Spartanburg Housing mission, strategic goals, and objectives.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following is a listing of the key duties and responsibilities of this position, and the skills, experience and knowledge required for the employee in this position. The listed duties are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities, but a representative listing of the key duties of the position. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate. Spartanburg Housing reserves the right to assign work in other areas to equalize or balance the workload, cover absences, or for other business needs of Spartanburg Housing.

This position works frequently with other Spartanburg Housing staff.
This job requires absolute confidentiality of sensitive information of employees and clients.
Manages the work of staff including: assigning, planning, and reviewing work, evaluating work performance, and completing performance evaluations, coordinating activities, maintaining standards of professionalism, integrity and ethics, delegation of work to personnel, hiring new employees, training employees, timely response to employee problems, providing constructive feedback to employees and recommending and implementing discipline.
Provides financial feasibility or other analyses regarding development projects.
Utilizes knowledge of Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) subsidizes to provide guidance for the acquisition, construction, and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing for low- and moderate-income tenants.
Oversees revenues & expenditures, general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, cash receipts, cash management, fixed asset management, balance sheets, grants and contracts reporting, and fiscal period closings.
Monitors and controls an effective accounting system which provides various levels of management with appropriate and accurate financial reporting in accordance with generally accepted finance principles and practices.
Oversees month-end/quarter-end/year-end financial closings for Spartanburg Housing and all related or managed entities.
Maintains primary responsibility for preparation of financial statements for Spartanburg Housing and all related or managed entities.
Maintains primary responsibility for completion of required financial reports for funding and oversight agencies.
Coordinate the preparation of all applicable financial and budget reports as well as any other reports deemed necessary.
Coordinate external audits and all compliance reporting.
Prepare and maintain compliance with annual cost allocation plans.
Maintains primary responsibility for preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for Spartanburg Housing and timely annual submission to the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for certification.
Coordinate the preparation of the Schedule of Federal Financial Assistance for d inclusion in annual audit.
Provides analyses for monthly analytical reviews of balance sheets and budget vs. income variances.
Maintains primary responsibility for preparation, oversight, review, and verification of accuracy of audited financial statements, explanatory notes, and schedules for audit use for Spartanburg Housing and all related or managed entities.
Assists in managing the relationship with internal and external auditors, consultants, federal regulatory agencies, suppliers, and other entities necessary for the cordial business functions of Spartanburg Housing and all related or managed entities.
Maintains compliance with Spartanburg Housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), GAAP and GASB regulations. .
Responsible for the timely submission of the unaudited and audited financial data schedule (FDS) submissions.
Maintains primary responsibility for adherence to financial internal controls, accuracy, and timeliness of required financial information in all other federal reporting systems including, but not limited to, the Voucher Management System (VMS) and the Electronic Line of Credit Control System (ELOCCS).
Creates recommendations for maximization of FASS and MASS scoring.
Oversees the preparation of the annual operating budget and budget revisions. Reviews supporting documentation and justification for the budget and budget revisions.
Responsible for identifying and implementing full capabilities of the finance software to gain maximum efficiencies from the system.
Assesses finance employees needs for technical training and software training and provide training in those areas.
Develops goals and objectives related to efficiency of finance systems and procedures. Reviews and develops improvements to finance internal control systems.
Displays capability of maintaining computerized financial information system.
Ensures proper documentation and audit trails for all finance transactions.
Establishes internal control systems to assure the protection of assets.
Maintains a team-oriented environment, encourages a strong work ethic, and commits to improving the educational opportunity of the staff consistent with Spartanburg Housing policies and directives.
Displays leadership quality and the ability to manage all situations.
Maintains responsibility for cross-training and technical assistance to other finance staff, as required.
Directs finance staff in accurate and timely collection of revenues, payment of obligations and investment of idle funds consistent with HUD cash management regulations.
Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the public.
Conducts preparation of written discussion and decision documents for use in internal decision- making and external communication, as requested.
Coordinate the maintenance responsibilities for management of short-term operational cash balances in coordination with the Chief Operating Officer.
Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of Spartanburg Housing rules, policies, and safety procedures.
• Must be proficient using all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and Power Point) to produce documents, spreadsheets and reports and effectively use email, internet, and other applications.
• Strong project management skills.
• High organizational skills.
• Effective communication, verbally, in writing, and interpersonal.
• Accuracy and detail-orientation.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Ability to maintain high confidentiality.
• Ability to independently manage multiple tasks in a professional manner.
• Ability to maintain a professional demeanor.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
• Ability to research and share new information and approaches to meet changing needs of the organization.
• Ability to coordinate and perform multiple functions simultaneously.

Behavioral Competencies

This position requires the incumbent to exhibit the following behavioral skills:

Leadership: Provides direction by clearly and effectively setting course of action for department and subordinates. Manages performance by providing regular feedback and reinforcement.

Job Knowledge: Exhibits requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the position effectively. Demonstrates knowledge of policies, procedures, goals, objectives, operational entities, requirements, and activities as they apply to the assigned organizational entity of the Spartanburg Housing. Uses appropriate judgment & decision making in accordance with level of responsibility.

Customer Service: Provides timely, courteous, and quality service to all internal or external customers by anticipating individual needs, following through on commitments and ensuring that our customers have been heard.

Communication: Employee is prepared, clear, concise, and organized in all facets of communication in order to fully establish understanding. Actively listens and understands the audience to adapt message appropriately. Communicates information with appropriate personnel in a timely manner.

Teamwork: Actively participates and collaborates across boundaries and works toward the achievement of common goals. Employee is adaptable and open to new ideas and/or approaches. Employee is aware of changes that impact internal and external customers and effectively communicates the impact when working as a team.

Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrates a high level of conscientiousness. Holds oneself personally responsible for one's own work and does fair share of work.

Safety Awareness: Employee is cognizant of his/her surroundings. Follows proper safety procedures and considers the safety of self and others. Identifies, communicates, and assists in the correction of any safety concerns where appropriate.

Supervision

The employee receives instructions from the Chief Executive Officer. Guided by established Spartanburg Housing & HUD policies and guidance, the employee plans and carries out work activities with a high level of independence resolving problems that arise. Routine duties are initiated and completed by the employee without supervisory direction and within established Spartanburg Housing policies, trade and industry standards, and health, safety, and city and state codes and ordinances. Instructions to the employee may be general or specific in nature. Complex problems or situations not covered by instructions are usually referred to the supervisor. The employee’s work is reviewed periodically for accuracy, completion, and compliance with policies and procedures.

Minimum Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in finance/accounting or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred. An equivalent combination of education and direct experience may be considered in lieu of advanced education requirements.
• Experience preferred in financial reporting and accounting practices associated with the receipt and expenditure of HUD funds for the Housing Choice Voucher program.
• Ability to plan and implement accounting practices and procedures to insure the accurate and timely submission of financial records and reports.
• Ability to compile statistical information, analyze detailed financial information, and prepare reports as required or upon request.
• Extensive knowledge of accounting practices and procedures including generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and acceptable internal controls.
• Ability to lead and supervise the activities of subordinate staff.
• Ability to deal with detailed and complex information in a consistently accurate and organized manner insuring proper attention to detail.
• Requires strong skills in organization, concentration, time management, initiative, and attention to detail. Must be able to deal with frequent interruptions and possess the ability to successfully work with a variety of populations.

Language Skills

Must be proficient in spoken and written English (bilingual is a plus). English standards include: Ability to understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts, and recognize implicit meaning; express self fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for expressions; use language effectively for social, academic, and professional purposes; produce clear, well-structured writing and speaking skills; communicate effectively with a diverse population one-to-one or in groups.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Technical Skills

Must be proficient using all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and Power Point) to produce documents, spreadsheets and reports and effectively use email, internet, and other applications. Must have the ability to learn other computer software programs as required by assigned tasks.

Special Requirements

• Must possess a valid South Carolina license, reliable transportation and be insurable under Spartanburg Housing’s automobile insurance plan.
• Local, state, and out-of-state travel required.
• Criminal background checks will be performed on all applicants.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is primarily stationary, but is regularly required to move throughout the office. The ability to move, transport, or position small objects around the office, such as books, binders, files, documents, and supplies is required. The employee must be able to exchange information in person, in writing, and via telephone. The employee must be able to operate a computer and standard office machinery. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 20 pounds.

Working Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To ensure the greatest possible protection for employees in the workplace, Spartanburg Housing requires cooperative efforts of all employees with help in establishing and maintaining a safe and healthful work environment. Office environment. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.