** Please include Cover Letter (addressed to Moraine City Council) and Resume to be considered **
The Position
The City of Moraine is seeking a Finance Director who is not only focused on ensuring the City continues its award-winning fiscal management practices but also someone to support and facilitate initiatives throughout the organization. The next Finance Director will play a strong role in supporting economic development, major capital reinvestments, and solidify long-term financing on several new City-developed single-family housing subdivisions. In addition to managing a staff of seven, the Finance Director will support the City Manager in his day-to-day operations of an effective organization. The City has a history of good government with stability in many of its leadership positions and strong leadership from its elected officials. The current Finance Director is retiring after serving the City for five years.
The City is fiscally sound and business-friendly, with room for future development and one of the largest automotive glass manufacturers in the U.S. headquartered there. Moraine prides itself in providing outstanding services to its residents with low taxes, including no fees for refuse collection and no assessments or levies. The organization has a stable, committed, and responsive workforce with low employee turnover. The City weathered the recession through strong collaboration between the elected and appointed officials and has come out financially strong. City officials are active in regional organizations, providing leadership and working closely with other governments in the region.
Appointed by the City Council, the Finance Director serves as the chief fiscal officer, who implements council policies, provides organizational leadership for their department and offers financial support and guidance employees regarding the day-to-day business of government operations. Those operations include the departments of Administration, Police, Fire, Clerk of Courts, Community Development, Building Maintenance, Information Technology, Streets, Parks and Recreation, and Volunteer Programs. The Law Director and City Manager also report directly to the Council but work closely with the Finance Director. The Finance Department also support the City Manager in his role as the City’s Human Resources Director.
The Organization
The City of Moraine operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The Moraine City Council consists of seven members – an elected Mayor and six Council members. Two Council members are elected on an at-large basis, while four are elected to represent each of the City’s four wards. The Mayor and City Council serve four-year terms.
Moraine’s adopted Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Budget was $32.4 Million, with approximately 85% of the total budget dedicated to core services including public safety, public works, and support service functions. The approved Capital Improvement Budget for Fiscal Year 2019 totals nearly $10.2 Million; with 45% dedicated to traditional capital asset expenses and 55% assigned to subdivision costs. Currently the organization has 103 full-time employees and 53 part-time employees.
In 2014, Moraine residents passed a temporary half percent income tax rate increase, which has had a positive impact on Moraine. This increase, along with continued growth of Moraine businesses and regional economic recovery improvements, has led to significant growth in the City’s financial numbers and cash flows. Income tax revenue for 2016 topped the previous year by 18% and exceeded $18 million in annual receipts, the highest amount seen since 2007. The temporary half percent income tax rate increase expires in 2019.
Continued increases in the City’s income tax revenues have ultimately resulted in the General Fund cash reserve balance doubling in just over two years. At the end of Fiscal Year 2017, the reserve balance was over $10.7 million.
Experience and Education
Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree (Master’s degree preferred) in accounting, finance, business or public administration, or a closely related field, and five years of progressively responsible municipal finance work, and equivalent training or experience that provides the following knowledge, skills and abilities.
The candidate’s relevant experience must clearly demonstrate considerable knowledge of modern government accounting theory, principles, and practices; to include internal control procedures and management/financial information systems; public finance and fiscal planning; and payroll and accounts payable functions.
Notary Public preferred or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment.
The Ideal Candidate
Moraine’s next Finance Director will be a personable, hardworking, and ethical local government management professional. He or she will be a strategic thinker and visionary, helping Council prioritize goals while assisting the City Manager with the day-to-day operations to ensure the future success of the community. The Finance Director will be a strong leader who can balance conflicting interests and priorities, yet be decisive and provide clear and concise recommendations when needed. He or she will be a collaborative team leader and comfortable giving direction.
The Finance Director will be an effective listener and communicator comfortable speaking with a variety of audiences. The Finance Director will be an approachable leader with a track record of engagement and building partnerships both inside, as well as outside, the organization.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate prior success in handling important fiscal municipal operations and task. Additionally, knowledge and experience in deploying creative and innovative funding tools and incentives to stimulate economic development is desired. He or she should be a skilled negotiator, able to negotiate with outside entities on behalf of the City.
The Finance Director should be comfortable handling human resource, employee relations, labor relations, and other personnel related issues. He or she will be financially and politically savvy and open to ideas from staff, residents, and elected officials that will help the City deliver high-quality services within its financial constraints. The ideal candidate will be energetic, personally invested in promoting Moraine.
The Community
Moraine is located south of Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County along the Great Miami River. Considered part of the Dayton metro area, it is approximately 9.52 square miles and has an estimated population of 6,353, which nearly doubles during the daytime.
The region provides residents a wide variety of cultural amenities, special events, and recreational activities, as well as a diverse array of shopping and dining options. For those who enjoy the outdoors, Montgomery County offers 2,400 acres of forests, nature preserves, and wildlife areas for exploration. Moraine also has an excellent Parks and Recreation Department that includes the Payne Recreation Center, Gerhardt Civic Center, recreation programs, bike trails, walking trails, and 14 neighborhood parks. The City has a rich heritage of aviation, including the first seaplane base and Moraine Airpark.
The City of Moraine sits just south of the intersection of I-70 and I-75, one of the most highly traveled intersections in the United States. The Dayton International Airport is one of the nation's 10 fastest growing airports. Recovering from the exit of General Motors, the City has built a strong business base and the Fuyao Group, one of the largest glass manufacturers, continues to invest in the community.
Two new housing developments are in the pipeline and will begin construction in 2018 on land previously owned by the City. A third housing development will go through the approval process in 2018.
The Dayton Region is nationally competitive when it comes to education and has a 90% high school graduation rate. For education and training beyond high school, the region offers more than a dozen nationally recognized colleges and universities with such schools as Cedarville University, Central State University, Miami University, Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton, Wittenberg University, and Wright State University. Access to healthcare ranks as a top feature of Moraine and the Dayton Region, with Kettering Medical Center and other healthcare facilities nearby.
Compensation
The salary will be dependent on qualifications with an excellent benefit package.
Questions
Please direct questions to City Manager Bryan RH Chodkowski via email (brhchodkowski@moraineoh.org, Subject Line: FINANCE DIRECTOR SEARCH) or phone (937-535-1002).
