DNA of a Finance Director

DNA of a Finance Director:

The skill sets you need to be a Finance Director

Obtain experience in local government finance

What a City Manager is looking for in a Finance Director

Make your resume work for you

What can send your resume to the “no pile”

Preparing for the interview

What actions can hurt a candidate

What we have noticed in Finance Director recruitments

Your competition in the job market

Your first six months on the new job

Questions you were afraid to ask, but you need to know to survive

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The skill sets you need to be a Finance Director:

If possible, work toward obtaining a CPA. Keep your Florida CPA license current.

Take the CGFO exam offered by FGFOA or GFOA and keep it current.

Get as much education as you obtain. Most FD requires a bachelor’s degree. MBA or MPA from a recognized education institution is impressive on the resume.

Stay abreast of GASB statements, Florida law changes and other government issues.

Become an excellent communicator.

Follow a career path to show growth and responsibilities in your positions.

Develop variable skills.

Budgets

Obtain experience in local government finance:

Most City Managers are looking for someone with accounting skills but more importantly someone who is also comfortable with:

Debt Administration (and being able to talk with the bond rating agencies)

Treasury Management

Purchasing and Contract Management

Collective Bargaining

Risk Management (insurance workers comp, medical, liability)

Pension Administration

Utility Customer Services

Financial forecasting, both short and long term

Most City Managers are not looking for an accountant, but looking for someone with skills in:

Supervisory skills and experience

Continuing education - attend professional development seminars/training

Strong Leadership skills.

Technical skills, but not too “Techy”.

Ability to think outside the box.

Longevity.

What a City Manager is looking for in a Finance Director

Integrity with absolutely no issues in the past.

Presentational skills and the ability to ”think on your feet”.

Ability to manage the finances of the City completely.

Understanding political reality.

Innovations you have introduced to save budget $$.

Understanding the importance of finding new revenue for the budget.

Knowing your place in the organization as it relates to the CEO.

What a City Manager is looking for in a Finance Director

A positive attitude.

Fresh approach to city finances.

Make your resume work for you

Make sure your resume in designed for the job you are interested in.

Demonstrate career advancement.

Show your job history in reverse chronological order.

Show your achievements, the innovations and cost savings you have introduced with past employers.

. Highlight your education and certifications

.Do not exceed four pages.

What can send your resume to the “no pile”

Poor organization.

Too long and information gets lost.

Typos and obvious mistakes.

Too much information about past jobs.

Merely listing of duties from your prior job and no achievements shown.

Your personal life in detail.

What can send your resume to the “no pile”

Leaving off contact information, particularly your email address.

History of job turnovers / short tenures for unexplained reasons.

Questions raised by the resume, but left open to the reader.

Preparing for the interview

Come prepared.

Turn off the cell phone – better yet, leave it in the car.

Be pleasant and smile, a lot.

Look professional.

Know everything you can about the City.

Preparing for the interview

Do not look surprised by a question asked.

Demonstrate your communication skills.

Demonstrate your management skills.

Try not to get flustered.

Try to find out in advance who you will be interviewing with.

What actions can hurt a candidate?

Not having the skills set required by the job description.

Too many jobs over the last 15 years.

No enthusiasm in the interview and/or overly long answers. Be brief - to the point

Not being prepared for the interview.

A skeleton in the closet that appears from a Google search.

References that do not know you professionally or respect you professionally.

What actions can hurt a candidate?

Telling the interview panel about how friendly you are with the Mayor and Commission.

Expressing strong opinions

Management letter with too many comments and/or findings

Poor relationship with your peers

A questionable personal financial history

What we have noticed in Finance Director Recruitments

Good candidates are hard to find.

Finance Directors do not want to relocate.

Not willing to jump ship unless they have no other choice.

Not willing to look at a smaller city even if the salary is higher

Seem willing to stay as a deputy instead of seeking a new challenge

What we have noticed in Finance Director Recruitments

Have good job skills, kept themselves squeaky clean and high degree of ethics.

Really do their homework on the city they are applying for.

Are picky about their future boss.

Not normally interested in cities with bad financial positions.

Desire confidentially.

Started with another degree, but secured a second degree in finance related areas.

Your competition in the job market

An auditor from a CPA firm.

A recent or immediate future retiree from a cold state wanting to relocate to FL.

A friend of an elected official.

An in house candidate who may or may not be qualified

Your competition in the job market

A peer in another Florida or US city.

A government or agency employee not in local government finance.

A former City Manager.

A private sector employee who has never worked in local government.

Your first six months on the new job

Assess your department’s strengths and weakness.

Review the job performance of your key staff.

Communicate to your staff your expectations.

Ask the City Manager what he/she expects from your department.

Your first six months on the new job

Do not surprise the City Manager.

Get to know fellow department directors.

Talk to your auditors.

Questions you were afraid to ask, but you need to know to survive

Should I be nervous if the City Manager gets fired or forced out?

Should I have a contract with the City Manager?

How many job changes are acceptable?

What are signs from the City Manager that I should be looking for a new job?

Questions you were afraid to ask, but you need to know to survive

Does a new City Managers replace existing department directors?

My spouse has a great job, but mine is not. Should I push for a new job with a possible relocation?

Always wanted to be a City Manager¸ what should my career path be?

I am being forced out, what should I negotiate in a resignation package?

Thank You !