Employment Opportunity

Finance Director/ CFO

City of Flint

MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE FINANCE DIRECTOR/ CFO

City of Flint The City of Flint, MI (Pop. 96,500) is seeking a seasoned, municipal finance professional to join the administrative team of newly elected Mayor Sheldon Neeley. This position is ideal for the professional who is committed to making a difference. The CFO will play an important role in building and maintaining a highly motivated workforce dedicated to the continuing revitalization of the City and will have plenty of opportunities to demonstrate leadership and innovation in concert with other like-minded professionals.

Flint is a mid-sized, mid-western city with an economy built on industrial manufacturing, kayakers along the Flint River, joggers, runners and continuing education and medical research. Located bicyclists which gather on regular schedules. on the Flint River, the City is the regional hub of Genesee County (Pop. 400,000) and home to Venues offering cultural events are plentiful along businesses and colleges which significantly with other amenities typically only available in increases the daytime population. Its challenges are much larger communities. well-publicized (i.e. Flint Water Crisis which is being addressed with State Federal and The City of Flint is in the process of filling key philanthropic dollars) but overlook the strength, department head positions as part of the plan to passion and heart of the community. build a strong management team that will provide stability and long term sustainability in the Flint is a place that has changed the world. organization. Repeatedly. It is the birthplace of both General Motors and the UAW. It is the community that The Finance Director position is one of the key developed the very concepts of community department head positions to be filled and foundations, land banks and community schools -- oversees and directs all aspects of the city’s all of which became national models. Innovative finances, including preparation and administration work now is underway here to prove the value of of the city strategic plan, budget, and oversight of universal access to early childhood education (birth accounting, payroll, grant reporting and purchasing. to five) and how planning can help a city evolve and The position also supervises a staff of 12 employees flourish after significant population loss. including the directors of treasury, purchasing, assessing, and fleet management. The Finance Flint is located about 60 miles north of Detroit and Director is a mayoral appointment who reports to about 60 miles south of the forests and lakes of the City Administrator. rural Northern Michigan. It is intersected with three major highways, including US-23 as well as A bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, and Interstates 69, which stretches from Canada to Public Administration, Mexico, and Interstate 75, which continues from Accounting, or a related Michigan all the way to Florida. Air service and field and five years of travel is provided by Bishop International Airport financial management POPULATION with connections to major US cities. The City also experience is required. 96,500 contains an extensive railway system which includes A CPA credential is SIZE Amtrak service. Internally, the City consists of 500 highly desirable. The miles of road and 1,500 miles of underground starting salary range for 34.11 sq. miles water and sewer lines. the position is $95,000 STARTING SALARY - $110,000. $95,000—$110,000 Those with active and social life styles will enjoy the many opportunities to recreate in revitalized Downtown Flint including organized groups of

MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

 THE COMMUNITY

Flint was established in 1855 along the banks of the Education is recognized as a critical component in Flint River and came to be known as the “Vehicle revitalizing Flint. Early childhood education is free

City.” It has roots in the booming carriage industry for all children in a facility built with funding from of the late 19th century, followed up by the auto the Charles Stuart Mott Foundation. In addition, industry of the 20th century. That spirit of the “Flint Promise” provides scholarships covering reinvention is alive today as Flint again adapts to college tuition costs for all Flint residents who the changing climate of business. Flint is not only graduate from a Flint high school, including private still a significant base for industrial manufacturing and charter schools. but has also grown into a college town as well as a hub for medical education and pharmaceutical Drawing people into Flint is an ever growing research. It has a robust entrepreneurial spirit lineup of activities and year-round events. The filled with fashion designers, artists, and inventors downtown has many attractive restaurants and as well as multiple community support systems to shops and is host to some of the most popular help them thrive. Flint is home to two of the three events including the Crim Festival of Races and the hospitals in Genesee County as well as an Back to the Bricks car cruise and festival. extension of the Michigan State University School Just a few blocks away from downtown is the Flint of Medicine. Cultural Center, a real treasure to the community. Located on its grounds are the Flint There are three major college campuses in Flint, Institute of Art, the Flint Institute of Music, including Mott Community College, Kettering the Flint Public Library (soon to undergo a $27.6 University (formerly General Motors Institute) and million renovation and expansion, the Longway the University of Michigan-Flint. Planetarium, Bower Theatre, the Sloan Museum (also undergoing $26.5 million renovation), under extensive state-of-the-art renovations), and the Buick Automotive Gallery and Applewood, the historic estate and gardens of GM founder and philanthropic leader Charles Stewart Mott. The Cultural Center also serves as home to the Flint Youth Theatre, Flint School of Performing Arts, and the Flint Symphony Orchestra.

Flint is a city of rich diversity, deep history and passionate people. It is a city that has seen many ups and downs throughout the years and has proven a willingness to adapt. The City exemplifies the spirit of a survivor and its leaders draw on the energy and community dedication of involved citizens, employees, and advocates to continue rebuilding and improving the quality of life for City residents.

The challenges here are not small, but they do represent the potential for significant growth and development for anyone ready and willing to face them and share in our success.

MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

THE ORGANIZATION Flint operates under the strong mayor form of At one time, the City was one of the largest government and has a legislative body consisting automotive manufacturing centers in the world. of nine City Council members, each elected by and Years of decline in the U.S. auto industry led to a representing the City’s nine Wards. Elected shrinking economy as well as population loss. The officers of the City serve four-year terms. years following this decline left Flint facing a decreasing tax base, increasing operational costs The Mayor appoints a City Administrator to be the and a significantly reduced workforce. These chief administrative officer of the City, overseeing factors along with questionable management the day-to-day operations of the government. The practices led to varying levels of State control. This Mayor also appoints the principal officials State control ended in April 2018 with the removal responsible for budget, personnel, planning, legal of the Receivership Transition Advisory Board, counsel, and administrative services. Mayor Neeley which had been was put in place to oversee and appreciates and respects the work of department approve City operational decisions. The heads having spent 13 years on the Flint City organization, supported by a talented and Council and the last five years as state innovative management team, is now positioned to representative. rebuild its own administrative capacity and financial management. Currently, the City operates on a General Fund budget of approximately $55 million with a total The City is positioned for recovery. Property tax workforce of 501 people. The City provides services taxable values continue to rebound. Values went including police, fire, street maintenance, and from $714 million in taxable value in 2017 to traffic engineering, building safety and inspections, roughly $734 million in taxable value in 2018. The planning and economic development, customer city is experiencing new industrial development, service, park maintenance and contracted waste including a Lear plant employing 1,500 people, and collection service. The City also operates and serious prospects for additional major maintains its water, wastewater and storm sewer development. An updated Master Plan is in place to systems through the Department of Public Works. facilitate economic development and Six unions represent most City employees. redevelopment along with housing and neighborhood development. Progress continues to be made to address the institutional deficiencies that led to the City’s challenges, but much more work is required.

The City Treasurer is functioning as the Interim Finance Director and will be very helpful in assisting the new CFO. Progress has been made in addressing the financial and institutional deficiencies which have led to the City’s challenges, but much more work is required. The CFO will play a key role in developing and updating financial policies and procedures to move the City forward.

MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

The incoming Finance Director will find the following challenges and opportunities awaiting their attention in City of Flint, in no particular order:

OPPORTUNITIES • Opportunity to build a culture and team including filling the position of Deputy Finance Director • Helpful and caring staff who are looking forward to new leadership • Funds from State and Federal Sources • Working with philanthropic foundations in the City • Support for exploring shared services with neighboring communities

CHALLENGES • Significant unfunded legacy costs for retiree pensions and health care • Staff size has been reduced resulting in lack of institutional memory • Overcoming a level of distrust in the community • Pending lawsuits regarding retiree health care and water system rate refund • Expired labor contracts with the City’s six bargaining units

MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE The City is seeking motivated and experienced The new CFO/Finance Director will be a leader local government financial managers and will only and a partner using his or her drive and dedication consider applicants qualified who possess the to move the City and its government forward. He following knowledge and experience: or she ideally possesses the following qualities and

character traits:

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, • Thrives on challenges, wants to make a Accounting or related field difference • And: Master’s degree in Business • Creative thinker – understands challenges Administration or Public Administration or can become opportunities CPA is desired • Inclusive personality • And Five years of financial management in • Handles stress well complex organizations and previous • Numbers first, but approachable management experiences at supervisor or • Dedicated, willing to do what it takes for director level the management team to succeed • Team builder Among the skills and experience desired in highly • Ability to balance business decisions and qualified candidates are:

politics • Strong finance, accounting and budgeting • Integrity background • Good presentation and listening skills • Considerable knowledge of computerized financial applications and spreadsheets • Experience with State and Federal Grant Administration • GFOA Certificate of Achievement • Labor negotiations • Relationships with State and Federal Government officials • Functions well as a working supervisor

MICHIGAN MUNICIPAL LEAGUE APPLICATION PROCESS

APPLY BY: Applications accepted until the position is filled

Please submit resume, cover letter, consent form, and five professional references to: Email: [email protected], Subject Line: Flint Finance Director Search -OR- Mail: Michigan Municipal League, ATTN: Flint Finance Director Search 1675 Green Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Questions can be directed to MML Executive Recruiter Jerry Richards at [email protected] or (517) 719-7807.

Candidates desiring confidentiality of their interest, as allowed for and provided by Michigan law, must indicate such in a separate subject line above the body of the cover letter. This search is conducted by an Equal Opportunity Employer.