ASSISTANTFINANCE

DIRECTORCity of San Leandro, CA

The City of San Leandro is one of the most diverse cities in the nation located at the center of the dynamic San Francisco Bay Area. A well-established community of close to 90,000 residents, San Leandro is proud of its well-maintained neighborhoods, excellent public libraries, twenty-one public parks, quality local schools, and a wide range of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

San Leandro businesses enjoy multiple advantages including close proximity to the Oakland International Airport and Port of Oakland, two major freeways, two BART stations and access to a large and well-educated workforce. The City also encompasses a large industrial area that is home to a thriving advanced manufacturing industry.

San Leandro is also well-known for its quiet, well-defined neighborhoods full of charming and unique older houses on tree-lined streets where residents are proud of both their neighborhoods and their City. This is reflected by their active involvement in the City’s numerous neighborhood and homeowner’s associations. This East Bay city celebrates a long history and embraces a diverse population while still enjoying a “small town” feel in a larger metropolitan region. For more information regarding the City of San Leandro visit: https://bit.ly/30yPNQd.

The C O M M U N I T Y

Incorporated in 1872, the City of San Leandro, a Charter City operates under a Mayor/Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is made up of members nominated from each of the six districts and elected at large. The Mayor is also nominated and elected at large. The Mayor and Council Members may serve for two consecutive four-year terms. The Mayor and City Council appoint members of the community to sit on the City’s various advisory Boards and Commissions, ensuring that a wide cross-section of the community is represented in City government.

The City Council appoints the City Manager and City Attorney. In addition, the Mayor and City Council Members serve on a variety of intergovernmental committees and commissions.

The City maintains a biennial budget and the total adopted budget for FY2020-21 is $190 million (General Fund $120 million). City services are delivered by a workforce of 432 full-time equivalent employees. San Leandro provides the full range of municipal services and is organized across eight departments: City Manager, Community Development, Engineering and Transportation, Finance, Library, Police, Public Works, and Recreation and Human Services. Fire protection services are provided contractually by the Alameda County Fire Department. The City has a healthy financial base due to strong industrial/commercial sectors and a focus on technology and innovation. Like many cities in California, the City continues to look for ways to creatively address rising costs and unfunded liabilities related to PERS and the most recent financial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

City G O V E R N M E N T

City Council Goals for 2019-2021

• Place San Leandro on a firm foundation for long-term fiscal sustainability

• Advance projects and programs promoting sustainable economic development, including transforming San Leandro into a center for innovation

• Provide quality public safety service and grow our partnership with the community to keep San Leandro safe

• Maintain and enhance San Leandro’s infrastructure

• Support and implement programs, activities and strengthen communication that enhances the quality of life and wellness, celebrates the arts and diversity and promotes civic pride

• Maintain and support a strong positive relationship between the City, schools and the educational community

• Promote and maintain an inclusive work environment that values employee and volunteer contributions, supports professional growth and development, and fosters a culture of kindness and collaboration in the delivery of services to our community

The ideal candidate will be an experienced finance professional with outstanding technical and interpersonal skills. They will have a strong customer orientation with exceptional problem-solving skills and be viewed as a collaborative business partner who is genuinely interested in helping staff and colleagues. With lead responsibility for managing day-to-day accounting operations and grants management, this individual will be adept in optimizing use of the financial system, streamlining processes and helping departments access financial information and data needed to effectively manage their own operations.

The Assistant Finance Director will be a flexible and accessible leader with the ability to develop and motivate staff to provide exceptional customer service and impeccable financial reports and documentation. This adaptive leader will mentor staff and build a cohesive team dedicated to providing proactive solutions and eliminating obstacles for departments and customers. The ideal candidate will be able to effectively delegate work while holding staff accountable for results and, at the same time, be able to lean in and assist with challenging matters as needed to bring tasks and projects to completion.

This unique individual will have an eye for detail, with the ability to identify idiosyncrasies in a report or financial system calculation, while at the same time be able to explain complex concepts and transactions in an understandable manner to City staff and external customers. They will be experienced with governmental accounting and financial reporting preferably with prior experience producing financial statements and taking a lead role in producing a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The automation and modernization of current operations and improved efficiency will be priorities for the candidate selected. Familiarity with technology and tools that maximize individual and organizational capacity and prior experience with a financial system upgrade or conversion are desirable. Experience with budget preparation and/or grants management are also highly desirable.

The successful candidate will possess any combination of experience and education that provides the knowledge and abilities necessary to be successful in the position with ideal candidates offering five or more years of progressively responsible experience managing in a governmental finance department or private sector financial agency, including at least three years of supervisory experience. Qualifications also include a Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business administration or a closely-related field. Possession of a Master’s degree, CPA and municipal experience are highly desirable.

The I D E A L C A N D I D AT E

The Finance Department is responsible for safeguarding the City’s financial assets and administering the financial activities of the City and the Economic Development Agency, the Public Financing Authority and the Parking Authority. The Department’s primary objective is to uphold the highest accounting and ethical standards to ensure the City’s financial activities are conducted in accordance with industry best practices and standards. The Finance Department Budget for the 2020-2021 Fiscal Year totals $6.6 million and is supported by 15 full-time staff. The Department is currently organized among three divisions: Administration, Budget and Compliance and Accounting Operations.

The Administration Division is responsible for the oversight of the City’s financial activities and provides direction and support to the Department. The division monitors internal controls and performs internal audits to safeguard City assets. The division also manages the City’s investment portfolio, debt issuances and obligations, and oversees purchasing.

The Budget and Compliance Division is responsible for the budget, revenue management, compliance, and risk management functions. This division leads development of the City’s biennial budget and conducts multi-year fiscal analyses, issues business license renewals, processes utility billings and manages the City’s Risk Management Program.

The Accounting Operations Division administers and maintains the City’s general ledger and prepares internal and external financial reports and statements including managing the City’s banking and bank reconciliation. The division also oversees accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll functions.

In 2019, the City engaged a consultant to review the structure of the Finance Department and recommend strategies and recommendations for improving efficiencies in the future. Working in coordination with the new Finance Director, the Assistant Finance Director will have an opportunity to assist in developing an implementation strategy for the future management of the Department. Susan Hsieh, who took over as the new Finance Director this past June, with over 15 years of public finance experience, is building a strong team dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and supporting departments in finding solutions that assist in providing outstanding service to the community.

The F INANCE DEPARTMENT

Suzanne Mason • 562.631.2500 Teri Black • 424.296.3111

TERI BLACK & COMPANY, LLCwww.tbcrecruiting.com

Following the closing date, applicants with the most relevant qualifi cations will be granted preliminary interviews by the consultants. Candidates deemed to be the best qualifi ed will be expected to participate in panel interviews scheduled in late September, followed by additional meetings with City representatives. The City anticipates making an appointment shortly thereafter, following the completion of negotiations and extensive background and reference checks. Please note that references will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.

The City of San Leandro reserves the right to alter the interview and selection process in response to public health orders associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Compensation &B E N E F I T S

The salary range for the Assistant Finance Director $131,820 - $160,236 annually; placement within the range will be dependent upon qualifi cations and experience. In addition to salary, San Leandro offers a competitive benefi ts package that includes but is not limited to:

Management Incentive Pay: 80 hours per year, which is received as pay equivalent to 3.846% of salary.

Retirement: CalPERS 2% @ 55 formula for Classic employees; 2% @ 62 formula for New Members. San Leandro participates in Social Security with a 6.2% contribution for the employee and the City.

Medical Plan: Choice of health insurance plans with monthly City contribution up to $1,824.07. Generous in-lieu payment to employees who show proof of health insurance coverage.

Dental Plan: Up to $142.55 monthly City contribution.

Paid Leave and Holidays: Vacation Leave accrues at the rate of 15 days for the fi rst fi ve years and progresses to a maximum 25 days. Sick Leave at 12 days per year with unlimited accrual. There are 12 paid holidays per year, plus two fl oating holidays.

Dependent Care and Medical Spending Accounts: Contribution on a voluntary basis.

Life/LTD and Disability Insurance: $50,000 Life/AD&D and 40% long-term disability insurance with option to purchase additional coverage.

Optional Benefi ts: Voluntary deferred compensation (457 Plan), vision care, short-term disability insurance and others.

Flexible Work Week: 9/80 workweek option.

APPLICATION &SELECTION PROCESS

The closing date for this recruitment is midnight, Sunday, August 30, 2020. To be considered for this opportunity, upload a compelling cover letter, resume and list of six professional references using the “Apply Now” feature at www.tbcrecruiting.com. This is a confi dential process and will be handled accordingly throughout the various stages of the process.