Chief Administrative Officer (cao)

Job Description

Job Description

Essential Job Functions

A. Financial Management and Accounting

1. Prepare and present to the Commission the annual financial budget to include Fund balance projections, departmental operational spending projections, manpower and benefit cost projections, major clerical expenditures, projections for all forms and sources of revenue received by the county.
2. Responsible for developing the annual detailed departmental budget for the Commission Cost Center as well as the county supported cost centers not reporting directly to Department Heads.
3. Develop and present to the Commission recommendations for each departments annual operations spending.
4. On-going daily monitor of county –wide spending and revenues. In the event variances to budget occur that might impact the financial position of the county, propose alternate corrective spending actions.
5. Monitor the county’s daily cash balance. Identify projected cash shortages and make recommendations to the Commission for short-term borrowing in the event of projected cash flow problems.
6. Analyze, for Commission review and coordinate with bond companies, banks, and other lending institutions, the mid and long term financing needs of the county.
7. Managerial responsibility for accounting and purchasing records and systems that comply with state and federal guidelines.
8. Oversee the county’s daily banking partner selection.
9. Represent the county regarding financial information including interface with various financial rating agencies and loan institutes as required.

B. Managerial

1. Provide managerial guidance and direction as required for the following departments reporting to the CAO: Accounting, Purchasing, Sanitation Fee Collections, Water Lab, Rabies Control, Safety, IT, Maintenance, In Home Services. All departments are required to provide timely, accurate, professional, and policy/law compliant operations and activities adequate to support the needs of the Houston County Commission and the citizens that they provide services to.

C. Other Job Requirements

1. In addition to the annual budget, preparation of other financial reports as required. This list includes, but not limited to the Annual financial and Operations Report, Annual Financial Summary Report.
2. Serve on assigned committees and boards as required by the job or assigned by the commission.
3. Coordinate special projects as assigned.
4. Coordinate monthly legal meetings between the County Commission Chairman and the County Attorney. Maintain and active monthly status for each legal topic discussed and completes tasks as assigned for the resolution of certain legal matters.
5. Serve as the County Purchasing Agent and assure that all purchases are made in compliance with state, federal, and county guidelines while acquiring the most cost effective purchases for the county.
6. Coordinate with, or on behalf of, the Commission for daily operational issues that may arise.
7. Serve as the legal, formal and informal representative for the county as required.
8. Coordinate indigent burial arrangements.
9. Federal Funding and Grant Administration as well as completing and filing of any daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly or annual reporting requirements.
10. Acting as the County Program Director for all Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and/or other federally funded activities or expense reimbursement programs.
11. Represent the County as the authorized Purchasing Agent and be available, if necessary, during any weather or other emergency event expected to or actively impacting the County.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Financial knowledge of the Code of Alabama, County Financial Manual and GASB requirements as they relate to county activities.
2. The ability to work independently and exercise proper judgment in making decisions.
3. Excellent written and communication skills.
4. Must be able to maintain a good working relationship and coordinate with the Commission, elected officials, department heads, staff and others pertaining to county business related matters.
5. Must have a working knowledge of workers compensation, liability, property, life and unemployment insurance matters adequate to represent the county in such insurance matters and discussions.
6. Must have a working knowledge of safety prevention methods and corrective action strategies sufficient to coordinate with the Safety Director in developing a county government safety / accident reduction plan.
7. Must have a working knowledge of IT practices and procedures sufficient to provide managerial direction to the IT staff and discuss software development and hardware purchase proposals.
8. Must have a working knowledge of finances sufficient to obtain the most qualified and cost-effective banking and financial providers for the county.
9. Must possess strong managerial skills sufficient to achieve and implement the daily and special project directives and guidelines both formally and informally established by the Commission.
10. Must be able to develop goals and provide clear and concise directives to the reporting staff and to coordinate and motivate the staff to achieve such goals.
11. Must have a working knowledge and background in purchasing sufficient to develop and maintain a cost effective/legally compliant purchasing strategy.
12. Must have a working knowledge of general ledger accounting sufficient to manage daily accounting activities and to develop effective, legally compliant and streamlined accounting strategies.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Possess a minimum of a bachelor's degree in accounting, public administration or related field.
2. Minimum five years’ experience in general ledger-based accounting.
3. Must complete the requirements for Certified County Administrator within 36 months of employment.
4. Minimum five years’ experience in managing an administrative group of individuals whose goal is to achieve management directives in a cost effective, customer orientated, timely and effective manner.
5. Minimum of three years purchasing management experience.
6. Minimum of three years’ experience in managerial oversight of a work related safety program.
7. Must be willing to travel overnight business meetings as required.
8. Must be bondable.