ABOUT THE ROLE & THE DEPARTMENT:

The Community Development Department (CDD) is the planning agency for the City of Cambridge. Comprised of the Community Planning, Economic Opportunity & Development, Transportation Planning, and Zoning & Development divisions, and supporting the Housing Department and Office of Sustainability, CDD’s mission is to foster a livable, sustainable, just, and equitable community. Under the direction of the Chief Fiscal Officer, the Assistant Fiscal Officer will expand the team’s analytical and management capacity, with a focus on tracking & reporting.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Assistant Fiscal Officer will develop a deep knowledge of the City’s fiscal requirements to provide financial oversight of CDD’s programs and activities. Specific duties include the following:

Reporting

Coordinate with the Chief Fiscal Officer and Housing staff to prepare affordable housing trust reports and reconcile to funds and records; may monitor and prepare reports for other Housing funds.
Oversee accounts receivable for Bluebikes mitigation and donation funds; identify receipts for appropriation and prepare financial status reports.

Fiscal Management

Assist Chief Fiscal Officer to update and establish financial controls that track revenue and expenditures, including operating, capital, and grant funds.
Review and reconcile department expenditures via PeopleSoft inquiries and reports; research and resolve errors and/or discrepancies.
Assist in the review and preparation of the department's operating budget, capital and grant roll forward schedules, and year-end close-out. Complete special projects as needed.

Management

Supervise the work of fiscal staff to ensure that fiscal transactions are completed accurately and timely; provide guidance and feedback.
Work with the Chief Fiscal Officer to develop and maintain procedures for fiscal processes, including reporting requirements; provide training as needed.
Advise staff concerning procurement regulations and purchasing processes. Respond to staff and other inquiries related to fiscal transactions.

Purchasing & Payables

Coordinate with Housing Department staff and Chief Fiscal Officer on affordable housing development payables and special requirements.
Assist with the preparation of departmental accounts payable schedules and/or approve purchase order requests; respond to inquiries from the Auditing and Purchasing departments.

Payroll & Personnel

May review payroll document for accuracy and completion, edit as needed, and approve weekly payroll submission.
May monitor staff benefits and oversee submission of accruals, increases, and special payments to payroll.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance or a related field; plus 5-7 years of financial experience; an equivalent combination of education, training and experience may be considered. A master’s degree in a related field may be substituted for 2 years of work experience.
Experience overseeing staff who perform fiscal transactions, preferably in a municipality or nonprofit organization.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Working knowledge of financial software applications; knowledge of PeopleSoft Financial/HR is a plus.
Exceptional organizational and analytical skills; strong attention to detail and ability to work independently.
Ability to identify priorities and manage multiple simultaneous tasks and deadlines.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly MS Excel and Word is required. Familiarity with Smartsheet is preferred.
Ability to think analytically and creatively about processes, systems, and issues, and propose solutions
Ability to handle confidential information with judgement and discretion.
Effective and professional written and verbal communication skills.
Commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Familiarity with Peoplesoft Financial and HR systems
Knowledge of the Cambridge community
Experience with grant administration

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Ability to access input and retrieve information from a computer. Ability to operate office equipment including copiers, printers, and scanners. Execute multiple tasks involving keyboarding, telephones, writing, bending, reaching, and lifting of books and boxes of large files and documents (up to 10 lbs). Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:
Standard office environment, which includes fluorescent lighting and air conditioning. Moderate noise level, which can elevate with phone calls and walk in members of the public. A busy office work environment characterized by multiple work demands from department staff and customers. This position may be eligible for hybrid work under the City’s Telework Policy depending on operational needs.

HOURS:
Monday 8:30am-8:00pm, Tuesday-Thursday 8:30am-5:00pm, Friday 8:30pm-12:00pm.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
Please upload the below documents to complete your application:

Resume
Cover Letter