Director of Finance

Please click on the link below for a pdf brochure of the position:

AHA Director of Finance Brochure

The Opportunity

The Director of Finance works directly with the Executive Director to direct and administer the fiscal operations and activities of the Housing Authority of the City of Alameda (“AHA”). The program areas of Finance include treasury, budgeting, investments, financial transaction processing, record-keeping and reporting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable; grants compliance management, purchasing, billing, and customer service. The Director of Finance receives direction from the Executive Director and employs sound financial principles and utilizes management best practices to develop, implement, and manage the AHA’s financing and investment plans set forth by policy, and Board direction.

The Community

The AHA is located in the City of Alameda, California, which lies just across the Bay from San Francisco.  The City of Alameda is a charming Bay Area island community with a small town feel known for tree-lined streets and Victorian homes, low crime, a clean/green focus, natural beauty, abundant recreational opportunities, an excellent quality of life, and high standard of living.

The Bay Area, home to 7.15 million people, encompasses the metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas. The Bay Area is renowned for its entrepreneurship and diversity. The region’s natural beauty is enhanced by a rich commercial, retail, cultural, intellectual, artistic, and street life. In addition to professional ballet, symphony, opera, and theater, there are outstanding restaurants, museums, healthcare, schools, universities, and teams from all professional sports leagues.

The Organization

The AHA is an independent agency governed by a seven member Board of Commissioners.  The City Council of the City of Alameda appoints the commissioners. Two of the commissioners must be tenants of the AHA.  The agency employs 53 FTE staff with an annual operating budget of $34 million. The AHA has a strong operating history and significant reserves to cover future development activities.

The AHA administers the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8) to provide rental assistance payments to property owners on behalf of eligible families and individuals.  This program serves about 1600 families and individuals and provides millions in federal dollars annually to rental property owners.

The AHA owns and manages 572 housing units. The properties range in size from a four-unit complex for families to a 186-unit complex for seniors. There is no conventional public housing but the projects are subject to various regulatory agreements and many units are under a Project Based Voucher contract or are   occupied by Housing Choice Voucher holders. AHA has further ownership or land interests in four existing low income housing tax credit properties.

The AHA is a small but very diverse organization with a strong, cohesive team.  In addition to the above services, the AHA administers the City’s CDBG HOME and other affordable housing programs, and is in the process of developing two new tax credit properties. Finally, the AHA is continuously trying to improve service delivery and is moving strategically towards automating its processes and providing online, web-based interaction with its tenants.

The Ideal Candidate Will

• Utilize a competent, proactive management approach and demonstrate personal integrity to lead the Finance Department and its three staff to be a high-performing team.
• Work confidently and collaboratively with the Executive Director, make well-informed recommendations, and carry out the Executive Director’s and Board’s direction.
• Lead the implementation of the AHA’s financial strategic work-plan and establish measurements for the achievement of goals, objectives, and priorities, as well as ensuring continuous productivity of routine activities.
• Function as a mentor, facilitator, and team player; set performance standards that can be applied across the department; and lead and advise AHA’s management team regarding financial matters.
• Create a strong performance ethic and establish high standards by assisting staff to accomplish their goals and to be accountable for their work product.
• Encourage initiative, creative problem-solving and innovation; exhibit adaptability when implementing change; share information to foster improvements; support program improvements with outcome reporting and effective automation.
• Develop positive interpersonal relationships with all levels of staff, and other stakeholders.
• Exercise effective, clear, and honest communication that respects the interests of stakeholders and the goals of the department and AHA.
• Utilize strong technical knowledge and professional conduct to the advantage of the AHA, i.e., services required of finance as needed in a public environment, including federal HUD funding.
• Utilize a strong sense of financial accountability and budgetary decision-making skills.

Key Responsibilities – the Director of Finance:

• Coordinates the development and administration of the entire AHA annual Operating, Section 8, Property Management, Capital Improvement and Personnel budgets; performs financial forecasting and planning; tracks the adopted budget and prepares periodic budget revisions for Board approval.
• Establishes central budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting practices; evaluates accounting procedures and financial controls; responds to and implements audit recommendations; ensures compliance with Federal, State, local government and HUD accounting and financial reporting standards and controls.
• Coordinates agency-wide fiscal and cash flow analysis; reviews agreements and contracts issued by the AHA to ensure budgetary authority; manages existing debt obligations; participates in the issuance of new bonds or other debt.
• Administers, manages and adapts to increasingly diversified and changing revenue streams and funding sources related to the Section 8 Voucher programs; administers and manages Housing Successor Agency funds, and fees received through development activities.
• Oversees all activities related to the accounting function, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, grants allocations, including financial transaction processing, record keeping and reporting, housing assistance payments processing, issuance of checks, and cash receipts.
• Implements and maintains online accounting, payroll, and customer service systems.
• Prepares and submits voucher management system data for all Section 8 units; annual financial reports, unaudited and audited financial data, and audit notes to HUD; and financial statements to mortgage servicing companies.
• Represents the department to elected officials, and outside agencies; explains and interprets programs, policies, and activities; negotiates and resolves significant and controversial issues.
• Participates in and makes presentations to the Board; performs financial review of matters pertaining to various committees.
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; networks with industry professionals; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of HUD finance; remains up to date on HUD funding formulas, and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program subsidies; monitors changes in laws, regulations, and technology that may affect AHA and departmental operations; implements policy and procedural changes as appropriate.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, economics, business or public administration, or a related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in a public agency finance and or accounting setting; including four (4) years of supervisory experience; several years of experience at another housing authority or affordable housing non-profit is strongly preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• CPA is highly desirable.
• Specific experience with Yardi or similar housing/HUD-related system is highly desirable.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary is $124,514 – $151, 346 annually.

Retirement Program:  The AHA’s defined benefit pension is administered by the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS). 

Health Insurance: The AHA participates in CalPERS Medical, which offers a wide range of health provider selections.  Some premiums are 100% paid by the AHA.

Dental Insurance: The AHA pays for a dental insurance program for the employee and eligible dependents.

Long Term Disability: The AHA provides a long term disability program for the employee, which provides 2/3 of salary to a maximum of $1667 per month.  100% paid by the AHA.

Life Insurance: The AHA provides term life insurance in the amount of $100,000. 100% paid by the AHA.

Voluntary Benefits:  The AHA provides several optional benefits that include a 457 plan for retirement investing, flexible spending plans for medical expenses, dependent care and commuter expenses, and VSP vision. AHA offers a flex work schedule that allows for one Friday off every 2 weeks.

Vacation: 15 days per year with additional days as years of service increase.

Sick Leave:  

90 hours per year.

Holidays: 

13.5 days per year.

AHA does not participate in social security.

Important Application Information

To apply for this opportunity, please submit a cover letter, resume, completed application, and supplemental questions by email to infokoff@koffassociates.com.  As an alternative, you can mail the completed application materials to:

Koff & Associates
2835 7^th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710

The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m., June 5, 2015.

The Housing Authority of the City of Alameda is an Equal Opportunity/ADA Employer.

Female, Minority, and Disabled Candidates are Encouraged to Apply.