Description
STRAFFORD COUNTY
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE JOB DESCRIPTION
Revised May 2026
TITLE Director of Finance
SUPERVISION
RECEIVED General supervision from the County Administrator and Board of County Commissioners
SUPERVISION
EXERCISED Human Resources/Payroll Coordinator, Nursing Home Billing Coordinator and Finance Clerks
MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS Education: Minimum of Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or Accounting or an equivalent combination of work experience and education.
Experience: A minimum of three to five (3-5) years in governmental accounting and/or auditing is required. Experience in New Hampshire government is an additional advantage, although not required. The government experience should indicate a clear understanding and working knowledge of governmental GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles): full-fund accounting and reporting, and GAAP-based budgeting. The governmental experience should encompass dealing with large governmental units, preferably $50,000,000 or more, with multiple discipline departments within the major unit. A background check will be required.
DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Coordinate, instruct, and assist all Department Heads and Elected Officials to independently prepare and present appropriate departmental and line item budgetary information in a coordinated, systematic, and rational manner that results in an “all funds, GAAP-based” budget for Strafford County.
2. Establish and maintain a Chart of Accounts for all funds, which will be both in accordance with available regulatory guidance of the New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration and will result in a detail of all transactions and balances of Strafford County that provides for the preparation of GAAP-based financial statements on a periodic basis as required.
3. Establish and maintain a GAAP-based financial reporting system that provides for the reporting of the General Purpose Statements of Strafford County on a monthly basis. The financial reporting system should be documented in written form and include accounting and reporting procedures at the central business office and the account procedures that are the responsibility of the decentralized activities of the County (i.e., various Elected Officials and Department Heads).
4. Provide for the development of a system of internal controls for Strafford County. Such an “internal control structure” should address the control environment, accounting systems, and control procedures of Strafford County. The control structure should be maintained so as to provide reasonable assurance that Strafford County has ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information consistent with Management’s assertions.
5. Coordinate the development and maintenance of a system of internal controls over compliance with laws and regulations (Federal, State, and County) for Strafford County. Such an “internal control” structure” over compliance should address the “general” and “specific” compliance requirements of OMB Circular A-128, the General Accounting Office (with regard to Federal financial assistance, when applicable), Statutes of the State of New Hampshire, and County administrative and regulatory law.
6. Develop and maintain an integrated information reporting system for the central business office, plus an interface to include all other components with independently Elected Officials; including responsibility for all hardware, software, support and training decisions. Coordinate the development and maintenance of a County-wide information reporting system in accordance with the general and specific needs identified by Management.
Strafford County
Director of Finance Job Description
Revised May 2026
Page 2
DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES
7. Director of Finance Responsibilities: Such duties include direct supervision of central business office accounting personnel, providing for establishment of written detailed job descriptions of employees under authority, and developing written accounting policies and procedures (including period-end accounting closing checklists).
8. Provide coordination and assistance to all County officials and Management levels on accounting and finance reporting matters.
9. Supervise and direct County efforts in year- end accounting procedures and preparing GAAP-based financial statements in the timely and accurate manner for year-end audits by outside auditors. Assist outside auditors by providing the requested detailed general and subsidiary ledgers that support the GAAP-based financial statements of the County.
10. Monitor all insurance accounts for the County including medical, dental, life & disability, property and liability, costing options, and monitoring expenses.
11. Monitor all costs for the County’s four (4) bargaining units, assist County Administrator with costing options and scenarios for negotiations. Oversee the implementation of cost items of the union contracts.
12. Monitor all existing and updated GASB (Government Accounting Standards Board) pronouncements to ensure that County is in compliance and up to date.
13. Supervise the billing and collection of all County revenues including Riverside Rest Home’s Medicaid, Medicare, insurance and resident and the Strafford County House of Corrections. Manage aging of receivables.
14. Manage the financial documentation and compliance of all private, State, and Federal grant programs as described in OMB Circular A-133, Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. Responsible for all grant applications, reimbursement requests and financial reporting of Grant programs.
15. Monitor the County cash flow and make recommendations to the County Administrator and County Commissioners on borrowing timelines and needs.
16. Work with County Treasurer and County’s banking institution on securing various financing for the County in terms of Tax Anticipation Notes, Bond Anticipation Notes, Capital Improvement Bonds and General Obligation Bonds. Also work with County Treasurer on the proper investment of proceeds from borrowings.
17. Monitor changes and updates to Federal and State legislation as it pertains to County finances and operations to ensure County compliance.
SPECIFIC
DUTIES 1. Monitor financial reports, budgeted expenditures and revenues and alert County Administrator and/or, Department Heads, of problems or potential over-expenditures.
2. Maintain complete knowledge of the computer system’s data entry process, program capabilities, and operations, able to trouble-shoot problems and train clerks in computer use; liaison with computer system vendors. Load computer information, monitor progress of an on-line system, and ensure related software and equipment is functioning (i.e., printers, scanners, back-up systems)
3. Oversee the accounts payable process and ensure the timely and accurate payment of invoices each week.
4. Maintain the General Ledger to include preparation of journal entries, account analysis and reconciliation, closing books, report preparation, setting up new accounts, etc.
5. Work with and assist County Treasurer with their duties, as required. Keep Treasurer informed of the County’s financial status at all times to determine monies available for investment.
6. Ensure the timely processing and dispersal of weekly payroll checks and deposits for all departments, oversee the processing of all necessary payroll reports, and maintain accuracy of all employees’ payroll withholdings and weekly federal and state tax deposits in conjunction with each payroll cycle.
7. Oversee the process of cash receipts for all departments, as well as the preparation of deposits.
8. Maintains all County bank accounts through monitoring physical and electronic deposits, ACH transactions, manifest, accounting of cash accounts, as well as in-house and on-line security features.
9. Program necessary computer reports.
10. Process year- end tax statements i.e., Forms W-2, Forms 1099, Forms 1095.
11. Produce reports due to State, i.e., Nursing Facility Quality Assessment, MS-42, MS-45, and MS-46.
12. Produce annual Medicaid and Medicare Cost Reports.
13. Work with various County departments to apply for Federal and State grants. Responsible for the financial reporting and accounting of all grant awards.
14. All other duties as assigned.
