DOR Accountant IV, Bureau of Accounts

Project Manager, Financial Management Resource Bureau

About DLS:

The Massachusetts Division of Local Services (DLS) works with cities and towns to promote sound municipal finance management practices by providing guidance, training, and oversight. DLS is responsible for interpreting state laws related to municipal finance and local governance; ensuring fairness and equity in local property taxation; overseeing local accounting and treasury management; distributing local aid; and maintaining a comprehensive municipal finance database.

Position:

The DLS Financial Management Resource Bureau seeks an experienced, innovative professional to advise cities and towns on financial management and governance. Working in conjunction with other team and division staff, the project manager analyzes complex financial and operational conditions and writes in-depth reports that provide guidance on municipal financial management best practices. The incumbent also creates and delivers trainings and tools as a subject matter expert. The successful candidate for the position will have a working knowledge of municipal finance operations, strong interpersonal skills and excellent writing ability, and be detail-oriented, well-organized, and comfortable presenting information in public forums.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct in-depth interviews with municipal personnel to understand local financial practices and managerial structure
• Analyze collected information, including annually required reports to DLS, financial statements, audit reports, budget documents, policies, procedures, contracts, charters, and bylaws/ordinances
• Write comprehensive, narrative reports summarizing financial conditions, operational and structural observations, analyses, and recommendations
• Create high-quality spreadsheets, charts, graphs, and visualizations using Excel, Infogram, and PowerBI
• Prepare detailed financial analyses and guidance on municipal financial policies, long-range forecasts, capital improvement plans, governing structures, budgets, and other deliverable documents as required
• Conduct enterprise fund/utility costing analyses
• Provide instruction and training to local officials, employees, and professional municipal associations
• Review and understand existing, proposed, and newly enacted legislation and regulations pertaining to municipal governments or finance
• Gather and examine town meeting/council minutes
• Travel periodically throughout the state for assignments

Minimum knowledge, skills & abilities:

• Strong interest in local government and the desire to improve municipal operations for cities and towns across Massachusetts
• Ability to work simultaneously on multiple, complex projects while maintaining acute attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, in collaboration with others, and in a telework environment
• Strong time-management and organizational skills
• Writing, analysis, and presentation skills
• Ability to troubleshoot and find resolutions to issues for internal and external stakeholders
• Proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

Preferred quali