We are searching for just the right person to be the next director of the St. Petersburg’s Finance Department. It is a very rewarding and challenging position in the center of one of the country’s most desirable places to live.
THE COMMUNITY AND LOCATION
St. Petersburg is simply a great place to work and play. To the west, the Gulf of Mexico beaches beckon while scenic Tampa Bay is to the east. Parks and recreational opportunities are plentiful and each year the City hosts over 900 events (including the St. Pete Grand Prix yacht race, major league baseball, cycling, cultural exhibits and music) that draw over 10 million visitors. With an average temperature of 74oF and 360 days a year of sunshine, the outdoors can be enjoyed year round.
St. Petersburg is an historic city dating back to 1875 when General John Williams bought 2500 acres on Tampa Bay. His vision was for a grand city with the graceful parks and broad streets that characterize St. Petersburg today. By the 1920s the City had become a tourist haven. With the advent of air conditioning in the 1950s, the retirees began to arrive in numbers. The 1960s brought the municipal marina, main library, the Mahaffey Theater and the Museum of Fine Arts. Progress has continued and St. Petersburg is now in its second golden age as its downtown core continues to be revitalized with new restaurants, shops and movie theaters.
Over the years, the City’s population has grown to exceed 250,000 and the City covers 133 square miles. Somewhat telling is the fact that 73 of those square miles are water. It was recently characterized as the Number 1 metro area in the U.S. for job growth, with a rate of twice the national average. But St. Petersburg is also a great place to raise a family. Housing prices are returning to reasonable levels and area schools are good. Higher education opportunities include St. Petersburg College and a campus of the University of South Florida.
THE GOVERNMENT
St. Petersburg is a strong mayor form of government with a Mayor and eight City Council Members who serve staggered four years terms. The City’s staff is professional, apolitical and does not change when the Mayor changes. The City strongly believes in accountability, performance is important and a good set of metrics monitor departmental activities. The Mayor has four direct reports, one of which is the City Administrator, to whom the Finance Department reports.
The City is financially stable and currently has a $562 million overall operating budget with a CIP of $49 million. The employee base is approximately 3,200 and has declined by 295 over the past nine years. The reductions have not been painful since the City has focused on implementing new technologies to improve productivity. The City is fiscally conservative and relies on sustainable revenues. All its fund balances and reserves are above stated goals and debt service is at a historic low. The City has an AA bond rating on utilities, and an A rating for general government issues.
THE FINANCE DEPARTMENT
St. Petersburg’s Finance Department’s principal duties include: Finance Administration, Treasury, Debt, General Accounting, Pension Accounting, Payroll, Fixed Asset and Project Reporting, and Financial Reporting. The City manages an investment portfolio totaling $484 million, with debt outstanding of $383 million. The City’s three (3) pension funds total approximately $690 million. The department prepares payroll weekly for a staff of 2,400 employees. The department controls all Oracle software system modules related to the above functions as well as the General Ledger module. The software is a unified web-based business platform that connects municipal departments including but not limited to Human Resources, Procurement, and Finance. The department is composed of nineteen (19) full time staff members. A separate Budget Department develops and administers the City’s budget.
THE ISSUES
Overall, the City is in a very good financial position. The reason is that historically it has been fiscally conservative and willing to live within its means. The department struggled through a difficult Oracle implementation, however. Over the last few years the department has stabilized and has successfully issued the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report on time and received the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting award. Continuing budget pressure on the City due to the downturn in the economy may affect staffing of programs within the Finance Department.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The ideal candidate will be a talented leader and manager. He/she will be a “big picture” person with vision, a calm demeanor, strong analytical skills and very strong interpersonal skills. The individual will have a “can do” attitude with a demonstrated track record of achievement. A clear, complete and thorough understanding of municipal finance and fund accounting as well as issuing debt and managing investments is mandatory. The City expects to win the GFOA’s annual award for Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting so it is important to demonstrate experience in that area.
Part of the Finance Director’s job is to work closely with the operating entities to ensure they have the resources they need. Another part is to work closely with the Mayor, the Mayor’s cabinet and the City Council to present and discuss financial strategy, investments, debt management and related financial items. The final part is to work with the City’s financial advisors, bond counsel, the citizen’s Investment Oversight Committee and a skeptical public. As such, the next Finance Director must have outstanding communications skills (that is, be able to explain complex financial matters in readily understandable terms) and to engender confidence while creating constructive and positive relationships. This job is not one for the shy or shrinking violets no matter how strong their technical skills may be. You will be in the spotlight. It is also a position where you should expect to roll up your sleeves and dive into the financial data. The City is simply not interested in a director who “manages” and who needs the support of six people in suits. The individual will enjoy and recognize the importance of staff development. She/he will take an active role in mentoring and ensuring the departmental staff members grow professionally. Finally, a good understanding of information technology, its applications and its benefits, will be a plus.
THE REquirements
A Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics or related field is required and a Masters degree preferred. Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation is highly desirable. Ten plus years experience in public sector financial management with the last five in a significant supervisory role is expected. Other degrees and experiences will be considered.
Compensation
The salary range is $96,600 to $133,300, DOQ. The City offers an excellent benefit package.
HOW TO APPLY
Resumes should be e-mailed to Recruit27@cb-asso.com by March 1, 2010. Faxed or mailed resumes will not be considered. Questions should be directed to Colin Baenziger at Colin Baenziger & Associates at 561-707-3537.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
St. Petersburg is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages minorities to apply. While we would be very surprised if the press took an interest in this recruitment, applicants need to be aware that, under Florida law, all resumes become public records upon receipt. Veteran’s preference will be awarded under applicable Florida law.
