Finance Director

Job Details

Under the general guidance and direction of the Tribal Council/Tribal Administrator, the Finance Director is responsible for overseeing the government and enterprises financial operations (except Casino), including budgeting, forecasting, and reporting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Work closely with the Tribal Council and Tribal Administrator to provide financial insights and guidance that support the organization’s goals and objectives.
2. Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local financial regulations while managing risk and identifying opportunities for cost savings and revenue growth.
3. Perform professional-level governmental accounting and supervisory work, preparing financial data for internal and external reporting related to Cocopah tribal fiscal policies.
4. Develop work methods and policies to achieve desired results; coordinate with external auditing agencies; advise the Tribal Council and Administrator on budget matters, and monitor the budget on a government-wide basis.
5. Instruct and train employees in the finance department to ensure effective financial operations and continuous improvement.
6. Safeguard and monitor funds through procedures that ensure accurate documentation of all transactions.
7. Verify accuracy of bookkeeping entries, payments, purchases, expenditures, and balances.
8. Review and process purchase orders and check requests for all departments and enterprises, ensuring compliance with procurement policies.
9. Provide technical assistance to government directors in preparing budget proposals, purchasing policies, travel requests, and other finance-related matters.
10. Assist auditors by providing requested financial data and implementing corrective action plans for audit findings, ensuring compliance with regulations.
11. Manage tribal payroll in accordance with federal regulations, maintaining payroll files and monitoring the tribal benefits program.
12. Assist directors in developing budgets and monitoring all department contracts and grants for fiscal responsibility.
13. Prepare and submit program reports for all tribal grants and contracts, ensuring timely submission and compliance with funding requirements.
14. Oversee the full life cycle of grants and contracts, including application, budgeting, tracking, and reporting.
15. Conduct regular budget-to-actual analysis to track fiscal activity, recommend budget adjustments, and ensure resource availability.
16. Update procurement policies to align with federal regulations and verify contractor eligibility through systems such as SAM.gov.
17. Manage high-value financial transactions, including bank wires and vendor purchases, ensuring compliance with payment authorization procedures.
18. Monitor and analyze daily fiscal activity to prevent discrepancies and recommend financial adjustments as necessary.
19. Prepare and supervise the annual Profit-Sharing process, ensuring all required documentation is received and assist in creating individual invoices for qualifying tribal members.
20. Conduct daily reviews of cash flows and bank account balances to identify and analyze any major variances.
21. Assist in departmental meetings, administrative meetings, and meetings with federal, state, and local agencies regarding grant reporting and monitoring.
22. Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Advanced knowledge of accounting principles for governmental programs and general business accounting principles.
2. In-depth knowledge of accounting software, corporate principles, and financial analysis.
3. Use, analysis, and implementation of automated accounting systems and Microsoft Office.
4. Knowledge of laws and regulations relating to tribal financial administration; budget preparation and control.
5. Ability to plan, direct, and control the work of others.
6. Knowledge of preparing comprehensive financial reports for various uses, including preparation of financial statements.
7. Ability to maintain effective working relationships with and among employees, tribal members, and the public.

Qualifications

1. Must have excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
2. Detail and results-oriented.
3. Expert level problem solver and analytical.
4. Experience managing a company’s cash flow.
5. Outstanding leadership skills.
6. Must be able to pass DPS/FBI background check.
7. Must be COVID-19 vaccinated or must obtain prior to the completion of the first 120-day training period.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor's degree in a related field. 5 years of specialized work experience, including 5 years in a related field, management, or director position.