Finance Director ($9,439 – $13,151 per month)

The Finance Director (Finance Officer) for the City of Norfolk, Nebraska serves as the organization’s chief financial leader, overseeing the full scope of the City’s financial operations and ensuring strong fiscal stewardship. Under the direction of the City Administrator, this role manages key functions including accounting, financial reporting, cash management, debt management, grant administration, retirement plan administration, and the annual budgeting process. The position provides both strategic oversight and hands-on leadership, ensuring that financial systems, policies, and practices support the City’s operational goals and long-term financial sustainability.

In addition to leading the department’s day-to-day operations, the Finance Director directly supervises the Office Manager and Senior Accountant, fostering a high-performing and accountable team environment. The role also serves as Treasurer for the City, the Community Development Agency of Norfolk, and the Northeast Nebraska Solid Waste Coalition, reflecting its broad organizational impact and regional involvement. Appointed by the Mayor, this position works closely with City leadership, elected officials, and external partners to maintain transparency, ensure compliance, and provide trusted financial guidance in support of the community’s continued growth.

Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are illustrative of the responsibilities associated with this position and are not intended to be all-inclusive:

• Oversee the accounting activities of the City, including preparation of the City’s
• Annual Comprehensive Financial Report.
• Serve as Treasurer of the Community Development Agency, working with
• Economic Development, Planning, Engineering, and Redevelopers on various tax increment financing projects.
• Attend meetings of the Business Improvement District and Rural Workforce
• Housing Fund Committee
• Evaluate, monitor, and improve internal controls
• Work with Economic Development and other staff to attract new development to the area.
• Serve as Treasurer of the Northeast Nebraska Solid Waste Coalition with responsibility for:
  • Budget
  • Financial statements and auditing
  • Annual meeting of the members
  • Board meetings
• In conjunction with other staff, select the landfill operator and monitor the operations of the closure/post-closure funding
• Serve as one of the Pension Plan Administrators for the City’s four retirement plans, monitoring the administration of the plans by Ameritas and the investment performance of the plans. and providing employee education.
• Chair the Police, Fire, and General Employees’ Retirement Committees.
• Work with bond counsel and fiscal agent to issue debt to finance City operations.
• Serve as Registrar and Paying Agent for the City’s debt issues.
• Assist with the audit of the City’s financial statements, including selection and monitoring of the auditors and answering auditor inquiries.
• Supervise collection of receivables, including special assessments, loans, utility billing, and miscellaneous accounts receivable.
• Supervise investment of City funds and selection of depository bank.
• Supervise the budget process.
• Other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Knowledge of:

• Generally accepted accounting principles, practices, and procedures, and their application to a variety of accounting transactions and problems.
• Principles and practices of municipal budgeting.
• Pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, codes, and regulations.
• Cash management principles.
• Investment of retirement plan assets.
• Debt management principles.

Ability to:

• Make presentations at various levels of complexity depending on the audience.
• Conduct research, prepare comprehensive reports, and present complex financial and statistical information in a clear and succinct fashion.
• Work well with all levels of officials and employees and establish effective working relationships with others.
• Analyze and interpret financial and accounting records.
• Examine and verify financial documents and reports.
• Prepare a variety of financial statements, reports, and analyses.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Work with redevelopers and their attorneys, engineers, and bankers.

Education & Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field. Minimum of ten years of increasingly responsible professional accounting and finance experience, preferably municipal accounting and finance experience, including supervisory responsibility. Master’s degree preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary for this position is $9,439 – $13,151 per month.

Compensation is negotiable based on education and experience.

The City of Norfolk provides a competitive benefits package, including:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Competitive retirement plan with City matching contributions up to 7% of 401(k)
• Generous paid leave package, including vacation, sick time, two personal days, and 10 observed holidays

Full benefit details available upon request.