Finance Director

The City of Mason City is accepting applications for the position of Finance Director. This position is responsible for the overall management and oversight of the City’s financial operations. This role provides organizational leadership, supports strategic planning initiatives, and serves as Acting City Administrator in the Administrator’s absence.

About Mason City
Known as “River City,” Mason City is a thriving community of 27,000 residents that blends small-town charm with big-city amenities. With a rich cultural heritage, vibrant arts scene, and strong economic development efforts, the community offers an outstanding quality of life. Residents enjoy beautiful historic architecture, a thriving downtown, excellent public services, and a strong sense of community pride. Ideally located in north central Iowa, Mason City serves as a regional hub between Minneapolis and Des Moines.

Salary Range: $125,632 - $161,491 annually
Application Deadline: May 14, 2026
Apply Online: www.masoncity.net or call 641-424-7132 for assistance

Key Responsibilities

• Oversees financial services activities, centralized management information system activities, GIS activities, grant administration activities, and water utility billing activities.
• Serves as chief financial advisor to the City Administrator, makes presentations and attends meetings of the City Council and other meetings as directed by the City Administrator.  Negotiates highly complex agreements and contracts on a variety of fiscal matters, as authorized by the City Administrator.  Performs a broad variety of strategic financial analysis.
• Directs, supervises, evaluates, trains, and disciplines assigned staff.
• Coordinates City budget and capital improvement program processes including development of budget planning documentation, compilation of budget figures, performance of budget analysis, and preparation of budget documents.  Communicates with City Administrator and City Council on annual budget.
• Coordinates the issuance of bonded indebtedness including assisting in bond rating meetings, conducting debt analysis, and producing debt reports and summaries.  Works with financial advisor on yearly debt repayments and continuing disclosure.
• Supervises the collection of taxes, fees and receipts, and manages the City’s tax increment financing incentive and rebate programs, including annual reporting requirements.
• Manages City’s treasury including cash flow analysis, banking operations, investment of excess funds, and merchant card services.
• Oversees internal controls of City financial policies and procedures, and develops and monitors internal controls over City financial operations assuring that state and national standard accounting procedures are maintained.
• Coordinates and supervises financial year-end closing in accordance with City financial policies and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles including year-end reports, in-house preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), and coordination of annual audit.
• Oversees the preparation of a variety of financial reports summarizing revenues and expenditures as well as budget and fund balances for City Administrator’s office, City Council, and City departments.
• Provides information and works with actuary on state required health insurance reports (509) and prepares necessary documents for health insurance requirements under the Affordable Care Act.  Supervises preparation of required State and Federal reports including sales tax submittals, grant drawdown filings, budget reports, tax increment reports, financial reports, and other related reports
• Coordinates and manages financial accounting software, implementation, updates, and departmental training.
• Supervises City-wide purchasing through management of purchase order and encumbrance system; coordinates City-wide purchasing opportunities; manages purchasing policies and purchasing systems.
• Develops financial studies and plans.  Forecasts, estimates, and monitors the financial condition of the City to assure the fiscal well-being of the City.  Performs cost-of-service studies for utility rate considerations.
• Assists/advises City Administrator with risk management program.
• Serves as Acting City Administrator in the absence of the City Administrator.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business, public administration, or a closely related field
• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in municipal finance
• Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) designation preferred
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Special Requirements

• Valid driver’s license (or ability to obtain prior to appointment)
• Must be bondable
• Residency within Mason City corporate limits required within three (3) months of hire
• Membership in GFOA and IMFOA required within one year of appointment

Why Join the City of Mason City?

• Competitive salary and excellent benefits package
• Opportunity to serve in a key leadership role within a forward-looking organization
• Collaborative leadership team committed to service excellence
• Engaged community with strong civic pride and quality of life

Applications will be accepted until 4:30pm, May 14, 2026

Equal Opportunity Employer