MONTGOMERY COUNTY GOVERNMENT Code No. 0207

ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND Grade 27

CLASS SPECIFICATION

FINANCIAL PROGRAMS MANAGER

DEFINITION OF CLASS:

This is financial management work supervising the activities of a section of a division with responsibility for administering complex financial programs covering a wide range of practices and procedures such as accounts payable, payroll, insurance, auditing, state funding, cash management, accounting records, or revenue collection for the entire County; or the direction of all financial activities for a major department/agency; or supervising an insurance program for the County Government and component agencies. Contacts require highly developed communications skills because they involve the public over sensitive matters such as taxation, or with current or former employees over payroll or retirement benefit issues. They also require contact with others to provide subject-matter advise based on area of expertise, or to solve problems encountered in project assignments; and with banking officials, officials of County-funded agencies, or attorneys for purposes of determining County bank balances, researching and explaining assessment bases, or obtaining legal interpretations. Contacts are also with department directors of the County Government who have property or casualty liability exposure, as well as with the County Attorney's Office on insurance issues and routinely involve insurance underwriters and claims adjusters, as well as component agencies who share insurance risks with the County (Board of Education, MNCPPC, City of Rockville, Housing Opportunities Commission, Town of Somerset, Housing Authority of the City of Rockville) for the purpose of obtaining risk and underwriting information and to explain the insurance program. This class of work may entail some public service/assistance, but it is incidental to the primary focus of the work performed.

An employee in this class develops the deadlines, projects and work to be completed in consultation with a Division Chief or equivalent. Supervisory controls are moderate, in that the employee is considered highly proficient in a specific financial area. Ample guidelines exist in the County Charter, County Code, Federal and State tax law, opinions of the County Attorney, generally accepted accounting principles and in terms of insurance law, risk financing and claims administration, but the self-insurance program developed by the County requires the development of unique guidelines to solve insurance-related problems. The employee develops and recommends new guidelines and procedures, e.g., for special reporting or tax collection, or automation of a system (payroll, taxation). Job complexity derives from the wide range of different procedures included in the particular financial area, e.g., all employee payroll transactions, most assessment and taxation procedures, or all general accounting reporting procedures. For other positions in this class, complexity results from the fact that performance of the work involves new or special (exceptional) reporting or taxation requirements, where the employee must interpret and apply new rules and regulations, and develop and/or revise applicable procedures; by an increasingly litigious society and resultant unrealistic insurance market, requiring innovative solutions such as the County's self-insurance program where the employee must accurately estimate and plan for the financing of risk requiring the use of actuarial models run on a computer. The scope and effect of the work are substantial in that they involve supervising a major financial service or function for the County, or affecting the County's ability to obtain economical insurance coverage while minimizing unanticipated losses which could jeopardize the County's bond rating, or the direction of all financial activities for a major department. Employees in this class have daily operational responsibilities of immediate impact. The work is primarily sedentary, performed in a typical office setting, and presents no significant hazards.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES: (Illustrative Only)

Directs a major financial program for the County, such as payroll, tax collection, insurance, or general accounting report generation.
Plans, assigns, coordinates, reviews, and evaluates the work of a staff consisting of professional and clerical personnel.
Instructs subordinate employees on technical financial problems and in the interpretation and application of financial management office rules, regulations, and procedures.
Provides subject-matter input expertise and advice in developing and maintaining accounting and financial-oriented data processing systems.
Provides periodic reports on status of Section's activities and confers with higher level management on unusual problems.
Directs and supervises the maintenance of various accounting ledgers, reviewing trial balances to insure they are properly reconciled.
Reviews contracts for compliance with insurance requirements to determine whether they contain the necessary coverage to protect the County from economic loss resulting from damage to property, injury to personnel and the financial consequences of suits due to negligence.Recommends changes and improvements in existing financial and program policies and procedures.
Participates in the development and preparation of a department's operating budget and capital improvements program by providing financial information, projections, and related recommendations.
Supervises and participates in the preparation of financial statements and reports required for year-end financial report and outside auditors.
Confers with department/agency personnel to obtain information and/or explain risk and insurance procedures that may impact on their programs.
Ensures that the requests for insurance solicitations are issued appropriately and in a timely manner.
Evaluates the proposals for the procurement of insurance contracts and services and makes award recommendations.
Oversees the complete documentation of insurance policies and service contracts.
Develops and maintains a cost effective in-house Insurance Program.
Analyzes property and casualty insurance policies and retrospective adjustments including terms, conditions, coverage, endorsement, limits, premium and audits. Prepares correspondence in response to requests for financial information from the general public.
Performs related duties as required.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience:
Thorough (5 years) applicable experience in the financial or business administration field or in the specialized area to which the position is assigned, including one (1) year of supervisory experience.
Education:
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business or Public Administration, or related field with a major in Accounting; or graduation from a recognized school of accounting.
Equivalency:
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Thorough knowledge of accounting principles, practices, and procedures.
Thorough knowledge of, or the ability to rapidly acquire thorough knowledge of, County, State, and Federal rules and regulations and the laws pertinent to the activities of the organization.
Thorough knowledge of computerized government financial systems (FAMIS) and of PC software applications to include spreadsheet, LOTUS 1-2-3, and Database as appropriate for position assignment.
Ability to supervise and train subordinate personnel.
Ability to plan, direct and administer commercial and self-insurance coverage.
Ability to prepare/supervise the preparation of and interpret financial reports and statements.
Ability to develop and make improvements in accounting systems, procedures, forms, and records.
Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to deal tactfully, effectively, and equitably with people.
Ability to attend meetings or perform other assignments at locations outside the office.

PROBATIONARY PERIOD:

Individuals appointed to a position in this class will be required to serve a probationary period of twelve months and, if promoted to a position in this class, will be required to serve a probationary period of six months. Performance will be carefully evaluated during the probationary period. Continuation in this class will be contingent upon successful completion of the probationary period.

MEDICAL PROTOCOL:

Medical History Review

Class Established: August, 1976
Revised: March, 1987
May, 1991 (M)
August, 1994 (M)