Serves as a finance and accounting consultant providing professional advice and technical assistance in the area of municipal financial management to cities in Tennessee. Services are provided regardless of size, on a broad range of issues and problems, to Tennessee municipalities and to various State agencies, Tennessee Municipal League staff, to individual state legislators, as well as various state associations of municipal officials. In addition to providing direct client assistance, this position researches, develops, and maintains timely technical reports and publications on critical financial issues. This position also develops and teaches municipal training courses, teaches CMFO program courses, and assists other consultants in the agency in the performance of individual and team projects. Performance of other special project work as assigned may be required. This position requires extensive travel.
General Duties - Provides professional advice and technical assistance primarily to appointed and elected municipal officials. Provides advice and assistance for non-city clients such as elected and staff members of the Tennessee General Assembly, employees of state agencies, staff of the Tennessee Municipal League, and officers of associations of municipal officials. Professional advice and technical assistance covers a broad range of issues and problems at the request of the officials. A project may be as complex as comprehensive utility rate studies, capital budgeting, creating a purchasing department, long range financial planning, identification of new sources of revenue, or as simple as providing the answer to a question or assistance in completing a form. Develops and maintains close working relationships with both appointed and elected city officials for assigned cities. This includes time at city hall, phone calls, emails, research, travel and writing time. Develops, updates, and instructs training courses for city officials. Teaches CMFO program courses. Maintains an area (or areas) of specialization and serves as the in-house expert to MTAS staff in areas - such as chart of accounts, capital budgeting, purchasing, liaison with state agencies, or utility rate studies. Often serves as official MTAS representative to an association of city officials.
Researches, drafts, and maintains publications on critical issues that are geared to various reader levels of financial sophistication and expertise, including articles for the Tennessee Municipal League's newspaper, Tennessee Town and City, technical reports, and publications for municipal officials, and employees.
Reference Material Update - Maintain and update agency databases which are utilized by internal staff as well as external clients.
Administration and Professional Development - Includes team meetings, agency meetings and retreats, IPS meetings and retreats, maintaining records on all relevant activities, including the agency databases for work products from projects. Includes activities related to keeping current in the fields of expertise. This involves time at professional meetings and conferences, seminars and training classes, professional reading, and computer training.
Required Qualifications:
Education:
Bachelor’s in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (Master’s Preferred)
Experience:
With a bachelor's degree, this position requires eight years of work experience in a financial related position with five years of governmental accounting experience.
With a master's degree, this position requires five years of work experience in governmental accounting.
Skills:
Requires knowledge and understanding of issues dealt with by city officials. Must have the skill and knowledge of municipal financial operations to establish credibility and effective working relationships with local officials. Must have the ability and knowledge to adapt from simple financial and accounting tasks to high level and complex financial and accounting issues. The consultant must possess the following skills: 1) managerial 2) analytical 3) conceptual and 4) interpersonal. These skills are used on a daily basis in identifying a specific city's financial problem and providing the advice and assistance to resolve the problems. A high level of cognitive or intuitive skills are needed to fully understand and implement successful solutions to financial problems. Must have knowledge of GAAP. Ability to facilitate classes with diverse students
Behaviors:
Unquestioned integrity and trustworthiness.
Commitment to MTAS’ mission and strategic plan
Ability to make good, consistent, and fair decisions (based on fact and data).
Ability to work with cross-functional teams and to foster teamwork
Location:
Nashville, TN
Applicants are encouraged to review all position requirements prior to applying. Salary is based on a combination of professional experience and qualifications.
For best consideration, applications should be submitted by February 6, 2025. Applicants must submit a cover letter and a resume with a minimum of three references. Position is open until filled.
With over 225 years dedicated to education and research, and as one of the 100 largest employers in Tennessee, there is endless potential to discover at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This advanced academic center comprises 17 degree-granting colleges and schools, 900+ programs of study, 547 graduate programs, and is home to over 7,500 employees statewide who support the continued growth of the state’s flagship land-grant university. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Anthropological Research Facility, Space Institute, and the UT Institute of Public Service are acclaimed entities of the UT system and with nearby affiliate, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Rocky Top is a university on the rise. UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset and with values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovative leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices that attract and retain a diverse community and that support a culture where everyone matters and belongs. Apply today and join the Vol Family for life!
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