Finance Director

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Waukee, IA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: Fin Dir 2026
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 08/07/2025
Closing Date: 9/8/2025 4:00 PM Central
JOB PURPOSE
The City of Waukee is looking for a smart, steady and forward-thinking leader to serve as our next finance Director. This role is more than just managing budgets and balance sheets, it's about guiding one of Iowa's fastest-growing cities with fiscal responsibility, strategic foresight and a collaborative spirit.
The Director of Finance holds full responsibility to maintain the integrity of all financial and accounting systems in accordance with state and local standards, laws and generally accepted accounting principles, assuring that all financial transactions are recorded, accounted for and acted upon in a complete and timely manner.
TO APPLY:
Submit cover letter, resume and salary history by 4:00 pm (Central Time), September 8, 2025, to:
Jeff Cayler
Cayler Consulting, LLC
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & SUCCESS FACTORS
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
(Order of Essential Functions does not indicate importance of functions.)

• Leads and directs the Finance Department staff through selection, orientation, training, performance management and discipline according to standard operating procedures and City policy.
• Directs activities of the Finance Department including responsibilities of budgeting, central accounting system, revenue collection, charges and levies, utility billing and collections, debt issuance management, cash and investment management, special assessment records, risk management, and payroll administration.
• Develops a proposed budget per elected officials' policy direction for consideration and, following approvals, supervises preparation of the official document, and implements the budget.
• Coordinates the issuance of bond indebtedness, and assists the financial management firm to develop debt modeling, bond rating presentations and ensure compliance with debt policies, bond covenants, post issuance compliance and federal restrictions.
• Develops and executes a strategy for the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF), including management of TIF debt, financial incentives, rebate programs, state certifications and annual reporting requirements.
• Manages the City's cash and investments, including cash flow analysis, banking operations, investment of funds and merchant card services.
• Oversees the reconciliation of bank statements for all City investments and certifies the balance of cash and investments of each fund. Generates various monthly reports, including financial statements and Treasurer's report.
• Monitors fixed asset inventories to ensure sufficient internal controls for protection of the City's assets.
• Oversees preparation of required state and federal reports and generates reports and analyses for developing and implementing policies that assist elected officials and staff in decision-making.
• Manages the annual financial audit and audits of compliance issues for federal, state and local laws and regulations.
• Performs other duties or assumes other responsibilities as apparent or assigned.

SUCCESS FACTORS:

• Take action in solving problems while exhibiting judgment and a systematic approach to decision making; identify the important dimensions of a problem, determine potential causes, obtain relevant information and specify alternate solutions that result in effectiveness.
• Actively support all efforts to increase cooperation, communication and collaboration between and among co-workers, departments, City officials, other jurisdictions, the business community and the general public.
• Train, motivate and monitor the effective work of staff.
• Safeguard confidential information and use it or disclose it only as expressly authorized or specifically required in the course of performing specific job duties.
• Contribute to overall City effectiveness by providing critical staff support to task forces and by participating, as necessary, in assisting all other teams.
• Attentive to the City's standards for customer service, accuracy, quality, efficiency and all City policies and procedures ensuring that all work performed and all staff members meet those standards while exhibiting consistent treatment of all staff.
• Excellent knowledge of current municipal, state and federal codes, laws and ordinances as related to finance and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office as well as considerable experience and ability to adapt to computerized accounting systems.
• Ability to read, analyze and clearly interpret professional publications, technical manuals and complex regulations and to communicate these in understandable terms.

• Able to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of directors, staff, colleagues, elected officials and the general public in a friendly tactful manner.

• Able to prepare and present accurate and reliable reports containing findings and recommendations.

QUALIFICATIONS
QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's Degree in accounting, financial management or closely related field. Master's preferred.
• Five (5) years of work experience in financial management. Public sector experience preferred.
• Five (5) years supervisory/leadership experience with increasing responsibility in a related field.
• Advanced accounting certificate including CPA and/or CPFO preferred.
• Access to transportation with insurance at required state levels to conduct business throughout the assigned area.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORKING CONDITIONS
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand and move about the office; use hands to finger, handle or feel objects, tools or controls; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is required to speak, hear and see in order to share information, receive instructions and complete tasks using a computer screen. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Climate controlled office with hazards typical to that environment.
• Position requires travel within and outside of the City which imposes common travel hazards.
• Standard work hours are Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM and position will often include meetings, presentations and events during weekends and evenings.
• There is no residency requirement for this position.

The City of Waukee offers a complete benefits package to full-time employees including: health, dental, vision, flexible spending account, life insurance and AD&D, long-term disability insurance, pension, holidays, vacation, sick leave and deferred compensation plan.
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