E.P. Finance Advisor Search Starts

The position of Municipal Finance Advisor for East Providence has been posted in two employment sites, according to Christy Healey of the RI revenue department and a member of the East Providence Budget Commission.

The locations: the State of RI State Jobs website and the City of East Providence website. 

The deadline for applications is Friday, Aug. 23, at 4 pm. Here is the complete information about the position and the job description: 

Municipal Finance Advisor, City of East Providence

The Department of Revenue is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Finance Advisor for the City of East Providence. The position of Municipal Finance Advisor was created by statute, and the duties and responsibilities are defined in Rhode Island General Law § 45-9-10 as amended during the 2013 Legislative Session. The Advisor is responsible for monitoring the overall budgetary and financial administration and fiscal health of the city or town following the abolition of a state appointed fiscal overseer, budget commission or a receiver to a city/town where the receiver has not filed a petition for Chapter 9, Title 11 of the United States Code. The Advisor will be appointed by and report to the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, and will be an employee of the City of East Providence. It is possible that the position could provide services to another community under RIGL 45-9-10 at the discretion of the Director of Revenue, with the appropriate cost sharing between state and local governments. The person will be appointed solely on the basis of administrative and executive qualifications and must be a person especially fitted by education, training, and experience to perform the duties of the office. For details on responsibilities and qualifications, please see the attached job description. The successful candidate need not be a resident of the city, town, or state. The salary for this position will be $90,000 annually. Submit resume by mail to Rosemary Booth Gallogly, Director, Department of Revenue, 1 Capitol Hill, Providence, RI 02908.

Applications must be submitted by no later than Friday, August 23, 2013 at 4:00 PM. The State of Rhode Island and the City of East Providence are EEO/AA employers. MUNICIPAL FINANCE ADVISOR GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES: The position of Municipal Finance Advisor was created by statute, and the duties and responsibilities are defined in Rhode Island General Law § 45-9-10 as amended during the 2013 Legislative Session. The Advisor is responsible for monitoring the overall budgetary and financial administration and fiscal health of the city or town following the abolition of a state appointed fiscal overseer, budget commission or a receiver to a city/town where the receiver has not filed a petition for Chapter 9, Title 11 of the United States Code.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED: The officer shall be an employee of the city or town but shall report to and be under the charge and direction of the director of revenue.

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED:

The duties of the officer include the following:

(1) Recommend to the elected chief executive officer, city or town council and school committee sound fiscal policies for implementation and monitor implementation;

(2) Monitor and oversee all financial operations and activities including the city’sor town’s operating and capital financial plans to maintain fiscal stability;

(3) Review operational results of various city or town funds and evaluate thestructural soundness of each;

(4) Advise the assessor, director of finance, city or town treasurer, purchasingagent and employees performing similar duties but with different titles;

(5) Provide assistance in all matters related to municipal financial affairs;

(6) Review and approve the development and preparation of the annual municipal budget, all department operating and capital budgets and spending plans;

(7) Review and approve all proposed labor contracts and obligations to determineif consistent with a structurally balanced five year plan;

(8) Monitor the receipt of revenues and expenditures of all funds with the assistance of city/town staff;

(9) Participate in rating agency calls pertaining to the city or town;

(10) Determine compliance with the various ordinances, laws (federal and state) and rules and regulations related to receipt and expenditure of city funds;

(11) Provide comment to the local governing body on the annual or supplemental municipal budgets of the city or town and all of its departments; 

(12) Report quarterly to the chief elected officer, city or town council, director of revenue, the auditor general, the governor and the chairpersons of the house finance and senate finance committees on the progress made towards maintaining fiscal stability and all financial operations of the city or town; 

(13) Make recommendations to the elected chief executive officer, city or towncouncil, school committee, and the director of revenue, as appropriate, to begin to address any operational and/or structural deficit;

(14) Make recommendations to the elected chief executive officer, city or town council, and school committee, as appropriate, to have operational, performance, or forensic audits, or similar assessments conducted;

(15) Report any (i) inappropriate expenditure, (ii) any improper accounting procedure, (iii) all failures to properly record financial transactions, and (iv) otherinaccuracies, irregularities, and shortages, as soon as practical to the elected chief executive officer, or in the case of a municipality without an elected chief executive officer, the city or town council;

(16) Notify in writing as soon as practical, the elected chief executive officer orthe city or town council; if the finance advisor discovers any errors, unusual practices, or any other discrepancies in connection with his or her work; and

(17) Other related work as required. 

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT:

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND CAPACITIES: A thorough knowledge and understanding of the principles and techniques of public administration; a thorough knowledge of accounting procedures and practices of sound financial management; the ability to prepare, analyze and present municipal budgets and estimates of anticipated expenditures and receipts; the ability to identify problems and work interdependently with other staff in the city/town, with members of the public, and state departments; the ability to review and analyze the work of a staff engaged in financial management and budget preparation; and related capacities and abilities. The successful candidate need not be a resident of the city, town, or state.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: 

Education: Such as may have been gained through: possession of a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or other closely related field; and

Experience: Such as may have been gained through: employment in a responsible administrative position involving overall management of fiscal services, including budget development, financial control and reporting;

Or, any combination of education and experience that shall be substantially equivalent to the above education and experience.