Workshop
07/25/23 01:30 PM
City Manager Department
Willie A Hopkins
Personnel
Doc ID: 5426
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
APPROVAL OF FINANCE DEPARTMENT ORGANIZATIONAL AND SALARY CHANGES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Due to the difficulty in recruiting the position of Finance Director and the increasing workload assigned to the City's Finance Department, approval of changes associated with the Finance Department's organizational structure and salary grade amendments are requested.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Barstow has been actively recruiting for the position of Finance Director since 2019. During this time, the City has received few qualified applicants. Since the vacancy of the Finance Director position in 2019, the functions of the position have been the shared responsibility of an Interim Finance Director and current Finance Staff. As of late January 2023, the Interim Finance Director position was vacated. The City ramped up solicitation of the Finance Director recruitment, focusing on finding a candidate utilizing professional governmental financial organizations, as well as soliciting finance professionals who are experienced in working for government agencies to fill the vacancy. To date, there have been few qualified candidates that have applied with no applicant being successfully recruited.
Based upon the review of the Finance Department’s workload and its current staffing level, and the continued likelihood of a prolonged time span to recruit a Finance Director, the recommendation to changes in the Finance Department's organization and salary grades are presented for Council's consideration in order to improve the efficiencies and workload distribution within the Finance Department. Currently, the Finance Department has a total of 8 funded positions which include five (5) Accounting Technicians (one (1) position currently vacant), one (1) Accountant, one (1) Administrative Services Manager, and one (1) Finance Director (currently vacant). The proposed organizational change to the Finance Department would be to defund the vacant Accounting Technician/Sr. Accounting Technician position and replace with one (1) Principal Accountant position. The proposed salary range for the Principal Accountant position is 11810/11870 ($8,650.93-$11,720.27 per month). The addition of one (1) Administrative Analyst is requested at the salary grade 11520/11580 ($6,482.50-$8,782.49 per month). The proposed changes to staffing levels within the Finance Department will assist in the increased workload due to the vacancy of the Finance Director position and staff attrition, the implementation of various city projects in the last several years, and for the preparation of the additional workload associated with upcoming city-wide development projects.
FISCAL IMPACT:
An estimated appropriation of $60,000 is needed to cover the difference of the funded Accounting Technician position to the Principal Accountant position. The Administrative Analyst position is estimated at $110,000, which includes all associated salaries and benefits for the position. A portion of necessary funding will result from the cost-savings of the vacant Finance Director and Accounting Technician positions in FY 24. Future funding will be made from general fund revenues and/or available fund balance.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Workshop
07/25/23 01:30 PM
City Manager Department
Willie A Hopkins
Personnel
Doc ID: 5426
COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the transfer of funding of the vacant Accounting Technician position to the Principal Accountant position.
2. Approve the Principal Accountant job description (Attachment A).
3. Approve the addition of one (1) Administrative Analyst position within the Finance Department.
4. Approve the salary grade for the Principal Accountant position of 11810/11870 and approve the amendment to the City’s Employee Classification / Compensation Program (publicly available salary schedule) for FY 2023/2024 (Attachment B).
5. Allocate $151,000 (salaries) to account 100.120.210.01.101, $10,000 to account 100.120.210.01.109 (insurance offset), and $9,000 to account 100.120.210.02.201 (retirement).