Finance Director - Peoria, IL | City of Peoria, IL

Peoria, IL (population 110,417).  GovHR USA is pleased to announce the recruitment of candidates for the next Finance Director for the City of Peoria, Illinois. The current Finance Director is retiring after 23 years of service to the City.  Peoria is located midway between Chicago and St. Louis in central Illinois on the Illinois River. Greater Peoria strikes the perfect balance between big-city life and small-town atmosphere. The neighborhoods are safe, ethnically, culturally and racially diverse. The City has a strong base of residential, commercial and educational properties.

A four-time All-America City, Peoria and the surrounding metro area are among the top regions in the country for cost of living, about 13 percent below the national average. Attractive to all ages and demographics, a 2016 survey had the Peoria metropolitan area ranked 26th out of 190 communities surveyed around the country, the highest ranking of any Illinois region on the list. Outstanding park districts offer unique art activities and recreational options for every member of the family. By cultivating and embracing a culture of well-being, Peoria’s leaders of government, business, education, healthcare, faith, and the arts embrace the philosophy that improving the well-being of its people is a vital aspect of serving the community.

The City of Peoria is a full-service community with 615 FTEs and a total budget of just over $200 million, including a $100 million General Fund.  The City is a home rule municipality and operates under the Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of the Mayor (elected at-large) and ten council members, who are elected for four-year terms. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council and serves as the chief administrative officer of the City. All Department Heads, including the Finance Director, are appointed by and directly report to the City Manager.

About the Position   

Under the direction of the Finance Director/Comptroller, the Finance Department consists of 14 employees in the following divisions: Finance Administration, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Budget Office, and Purchasing. Finance Administration is responsible for general accounting and financial reporting, as well as debt management, banking services, Labor Management Healthcare Committee participation, and preparation of the annual audit. The Budget Division coordinates the development of the annual operating budget, capital budget, and multi-year capital improvement program, and writes all budget amendments, tax levy ordinances and tax abatement ordinances.  The Purchasing Division is responsible for coordinating the City’s bidding process, purchasing City supplies and equipment, maintaining inventory, City auctions, in-house printing and duplication, out-going City mail, disposal of fixed assets, and vehicle registration. 

The City has been awarded the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for over 10 consecutive years. The City also holds an ‘AA-/Stable’ bond rating with Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings and an ‘A1/Negative Outlook’ rating with Moody’s Investor Services.

Opportunities and challenges for the Finance Director include helping the City manage through the impacts of the pandemic which led to reductions in the City’s 2021 budget in revenues, workforce (50 positions), and capital spending and the restructuring of debt service payments. Additional employees will leave the organization by July 31 due to the offering of an early retirement incentive.  The position will play a key role in helping the City to allocate $45 million in American Recovery Plan Act funds, restructure its staff, rebuild organizational morale and respond to the challenges of meeting the community’s ever-changing needs for City services.  The new Finance Director will begin by selecting two important members of the Department’s team, the Assistant Director and the Purchasing Manager.

Position Requirements

The City is seeking an experienced and collaborative Director to lead the Finance Department.  The successful candidate will have:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field. 
• Master’s degree in one of the above fields and/or a CPA is desired, but not required.
• A minimum of seven years progressively responsible experience in municipal finance or closely related field, with at least five years of management experience.  
• Strong organizational leadership, with excellent strategic management and personnel skills.
• Knowledge of rules and regulations governing municipal financial management in Illinois, including generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
• History of collaboration within and outside of the organization, intergovernmental cooperation and relationship building.
• Clear and concise verbal and written communication skills, able to present complex technical information to any audience.
• A commitment to budget transparency and experience in implementing new technology that helps to achieve that goal.
• Excellent reputation and a demonstrated high level of honesty and integrity. 

Compensation and Benefits    

The anticipated starting salary range is $150,000 – $180,000 +/- DOQ.  A comprehensive benefits package includes participation in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), health insurance including medical, dental, and vision coverage (also available to dependents), and life insurance. The City also offers paid vacation, holidays and sick leave.  Residency within city limits is required within one year of appointment.