Senior Director of Finance
Location
Philadelphia, PA | United States
Job description
A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.
As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.
What we offer
- Impact - The work you do here matters to millions.
- Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it?
- Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
- Benefits - We care about your well-being.
Agency Description
Agency Description
The Department of Commerce is the economic catalyst for the City of Philadelphia, working to help all businesses grow and thrive. Commerce creates equitable wealth-building opportunities through strategic investments and ecosystem partnerships to grow quality jobs, build capacity in historically underserved communities, and make it easy to launch and operate successful businesses in Philadelphia.
Our Strategic Priorities:
- Provide trusted guidance and a simplified process to establish, grow, and operate a business.
- Drive equitable neighborhood revitalization that contributes to vibrant commercial corridors.
- Attract and retain businesses through business resources and strategic investments.
- Connect talent to growth industries and to jobs that pay family-sustaining wages.
- Strive to build wealth in communities of color through more equitable access to capital and contracting opportunities.
- Leverage economic research to drive policy and strategy.
For more information about the Department of Commerce, visit .
Job Description
The Senior Director of Finance is a management position, leading all financial operations for the Department of Commerce. This includes managing a team of 6 finance, accounting, and contract professionals. Preparing and managing budgets, forecasting revenue and expenses, financial reporting, procurement of goods and services, payment processing, high-quality fiscal controls, identifying cost savings wherever possible, and ensuring quality assurances are in place at all levels of financial management and procedural compliance.
The ideal candidate will play a critical role in developing strategies to increase return on investment (ROI), provide financial transparency while minimizing risks for the department.
Essential Functions include:
- Leading a team of 6 professionals across financial planning and analysis, accounting, payroll, treasury management, procurement, risk management, and administrative tasks.
- Directly oversee the financial strategy, development, and execution of investments to drive economic growth and equitable opportunities in Philadelphia.
- Responsible for overseeing the day-to-day financial operations of the department, including payroll, programs and services, payment processing, supplies and equipment, hotel tax, grants revenue, capital projects, and contracts totaling $250M annually.
- Provide accurate financial information and make presentations for internal and external audiences such as the Mayor’s Office, Commerce Director and executive leadership team, Office of the Director of Finance, City Council, and economic development partners.
- Lead the annual operating and capital budget processes by assessing the department’s needs and priorities, working closely with internal and external units to ensure that financial goals align with broader business objectives, developing Commerce’s five-year plan, budget narratives, and justification requests in alignment with the Mayor’s priorities.
- Provide information to prepare the Commerce Director for City Council budget hearings, develop a timeline, and lead the preparation and mock sessions before budget hearings.
- Secure and manage federal, state, and local dollars, as needed, to support the Department of Commerce. This includes cross-collaboration amongst internal and external stakeholders such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), The Philadelphia City Fund, and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC).
- Work with PIDC and other quasi-city, non-profit, and private vendors to oversee the financial activity of the Economic Stimulus Program and all Commerce-related accounts, including budgeting, forecasting, payment approval, tracking, treasury management, contract development, quarterly reporting of expenditures, account reconciliation, special projects, and leading bi-weekly meetings.
- Serve as the primary contact for the Office of the Director of Finance, including the Budget Office, Accounting, and Grants Management, as well as the City Controller’s Office, Procurement, Risk Management, and Internal Controls. Represent Commerce in discussions of Citywide financial issues.
- Other duties may include Right-to-Know requests, record retention, and responding to audits and requests for information, among others.
Competencies, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Subject Matter Expertise in Budget/Fiscal Issues – The successful candidate should demonstrate an understanding of the City budget structure and financial planning, translate financial documents into materials that the Commerce executive team and staff can use to understand, make decisions, and provide analysis/recommendations on key fiscal issues. Proficiency in Microsoft 365, including Word, Excel, SharePoint, and PowerPoint, are essential.
- High-Quality Leadership Skills – The successful candidate must be confident in leading a small but mighty finance and administrative team and be a central point of contact for all financial-related matters. Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills are essential. Strong project (and time) management skills with demonstrated ability to remain organized, attentive to detail, and prioritize key responsibilities while managing multiple assignments (and people) to keep projects moving forward.
- Skilled Stakeholder Engagement/Political Savvy – The successful candidate should demonstrate the ability to manage stakeholder relationships with the Commerce Director, Executive Leadership Team and staff, branches of government including City Administration, City Council, City Controller’s Office, PICA, and other external partners such as PIDC, Philadelphia City Fund, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
Qualifications
- Minimum of 5 years of financial management experience. Government experience is a strong plus.
- Bachelor’s degree is required; Master’s in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or Public Administration is preferred and may be substituted for work experience. Certified Public Accountant or Certified Public Finance Officer is a plus.
- Experience with the City of Philadelphia's accounting systems and budgeting processes is preferred. Knowledge of FP&A, accounting concepts and principles, treasury management, bank account reconciliation, and financial reporting (quarterly and annual) is also required.
- Experience with supervision and managing a diverse team, with the ability to motivate teams to high-performance levels.
Additional Information
TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter and resume.
Salary Range: $110,000 - $116,000
Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:
- Transportation : City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
- Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
- We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
- Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
- Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
- Generous retirement savings options are available
- Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
- Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!
Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!
*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire
Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.
The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to [email protected].
For more information, go to: Human Relations Website:
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