Director of Finance Palm Beach County Public Defender's Office
West Palm Beach, FL
Full Time
Public Defender’s Office, 15th Judicial Circuit
Senior Manager/Supervisor
Organization Description:
Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office, 15th Judicial Circuit (PD-15), is a constitutional entity, which works to ensure justice for the poor in Palm Beach County, Florida. Known for its client-centered approach, the office represents indigent people who are charged with committing a criminal offense and unable to hire an attorney to represent them when their life or liberty is at stake. The office also handles appeals to the Fourth District Court of Appeal from the 15th, 17 th, and 19 th judicial circuits.
The office’s mission is to protect, defend, and uphold the constitutional rights of indigent persons to high quality legal representation, fair treatment, and equal justice.
The office handles approximately 30,000 cases per year and has approximately 200 employees including lawyers (120), investigators, social workers, and support staff. The main office, which houses the trial and appellate divisions, is in downtown West Palm Beach and there are four branch offices in other areas of the county. PD-15’s divisions include: County Court, Felony, Mental Health, Major Crimes, Serious Crimes, Youth Defense, and Appeals with Investigative, Forensics, & Social Services Units.
Responsibilities Include:
This an opportunity to maximize and strengthen the internal capacity of a well-respected, high-impact organization. The Director of Finance works closely with, and serves as an advisor to, the Palm Beach County Public Defender and senior leadership to translate financial data into actionable insights and help them understand the impact of hiring new employees and implementing other consequential budgetary decisions.
A hands-on participative manager, the Director of Finance leads and develops an internal team to support the following areas: finance, financial planning, accounting, and budgeting. Given the size of PD-15, this individual also focuses on accounting operations and represents PD-15 at key State of Florida Judicial Administrative Commission’s finance and budget meetings and trainings.
Specific responsibilities for the role include, but are not limited to, the following:
Required Skills:
To be successful as a Finance Director, one must possess strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills, as well as a deep understanding of financial management and accounting principles. A solid understanding of business operations, risk management, and regulations is also important.
Specific skills required for the role include, but are not limited to, the following:
Required Background:
Palm Beach County Public Defender’s Office, 15th Judicial Circuit (PD-15), is a constitutional entity, which works to ensure justice for the poor in Palm Beach County, Florida. Known for its client-centered approach, the office represents indigent people who are charged with committing a criminal offense and unable to hire an attorney to represent them when their life or liberty is at stake. The office also handles appeals to the Fourth District Court of Appeal from the 15th, 17 th, and 19 th judicial circuits.
The office’s mission is to protect, defend, and uphold the constitutional rights of indigent persons to high quality legal representation, fair treatment, and equal justice.
The office handles approximately 30,000 cases per year and has approximately 200 employees including lawyers (120), investigators, social workers, and support staff. The main office, which houses the trial and appellate divisions, is in downtown West Palm Beach and there are four branch offices in other areas of the county. PD-15’s divisions include: County Court, Felony, Mental Health, Major Crimes, Serious Crimes, Youth Defense, and Appeals with Investigative, Forensics, & Social Services Units.
Responsibilities Include:
This an opportunity to maximize and strengthen the internal capacity of a well-respected, high-impact organization. The Director of Finance works closely with, and serves as an advisor to, the Palm Beach County Public Defender and senior leadership to translate financial data into actionable insights and help them understand the impact of hiring new employees and implementing other consequential budgetary decisions.
A hands-on participative manager, the Director of Finance leads and develops an internal team to support the following areas: finance, financial planning, accounting, and budgeting. Given the size of PD-15, this individual also focuses on accounting operations and represents PD-15 at key State of Florida Judicial Administrative Commission’s finance and budget meetings and trainings.
Specific responsibilities for the role include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Developing long-term financial plans and forecasts
- Overseeing budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting functions
- Overseeing and leading annual budgeting and budget planning processes
- Ensuring compliance with accounting procedures
- Monitoring expenditures and cash flow
- Evaluating financial risks and determining how to minimize them
- Analyzing and presenting financial reports in an accurate and timely manner
- Clearly communicating monthly and annual financial statements
- Establishing internal controls to prevent fraud, including access controls for financial information
- Overseeing all financial, project/program, and grants accounting
- Coordinating and leading the annual audit process, liaising with external auditors and the Public Defender
- Managing and executing payroll
- Implementing a robust contracts management and financial management/reporting system
- Updating and implementing all necessary business policies and accounting practices
- Implementing new processes and technology to increase efficiency
- Directing and coordinating the activities of the finance team
- Managing and mentoring employees in the finance departments
- Establishing and maintaining strong relationships with vendors, auditors, and State of Florida personnel
Required Skills:
To be successful as a Finance Director, one must possess strong leadership, analytical, and communication skills, as well as a deep understanding of financial management and accounting principles. A solid understanding of business operations, risk management, and regulations is also important.
Specific skills required for the role include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Excellent communication and relationship building skills
- Ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders
- Multi-tasking ability including wearing many hats in a fast-paced environment
- Integrity, credibility, and dedication to the mission of PD-15
- Familiarity with financial regulations and best practices
- Proven experience leading and mentoring a finance team
- Proficiency in creating long-term financial forecasts
- Technology savvy with knowledge of accounting and reporting software including in-depth knowledge of Microsoft X-cel and its applications
- Commitment to training programs that maximize individual and organization goals
- Keen analytic, organizational, and problem solving skills which support and enable sound decision making
Required Background:
- At least seven to 10 years of overall professional experience; ideally six-plus years of broad financial and operations management experience
- Master's degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related field
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation
- Extensive experience with enterprise financial and accounting software
- Experience in a similar role in a state agency is desired
- $90,000 to $100,000 depending on experience
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