HybridHybrid, with a minimum of three days per week in the office.
AccountingFinancial Accounting
About the job
Requirements
A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business, Finance, or a related field is required; a master's degree is preferred.
At least seven years of applicable, progressively responsible public sector accounting, finance, or budgeting experience.
A minimum of three to five years of direct supervisory or team leadership experience managing professional-level accounting or fiscal staff.
Demonstrated experience applying 2 CFR Part 200 and FTA and/or FHWA post-award grant requirements, including grant financial reporting, expenditure monitoring, indirect cost allocation, internal controls, and audit compliance.
Proven experience with post-award grant administration, governmental fund accounting under GASB, and managing the federal Single Audit process.
Skilled in applying principles and practices of public sector fund accounting, financial compliance, budget preparation, and performance auditing.
Skilled in analyzing, interpreting, and correcting complex financial records, grant expenditures, payroll registers, and ledger transactions, and recommending effective solutions.
Skilled in applying post-award grant accounting and reporting principles, internal control practices, and required record-keeping techniques.
Skilled in implementing policies and procedures in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards related to auditing and governmental accounting.
Skilled in managing financial information systems, enterprise resource planning systems, and other fiscal applications.
Skilled in preparing clear, concise, professional technical reports, grant reimbursement submissions, financial statements, and administrative correspondence.
Able to apply independent analytical and evaluative judgment to solve complex, non-routine financial, procurement, payroll, and grant accounting compliance problems.
Able to exercise sound judgment to make critical decisions.
Able to explain and simplify complex laws, regulations, policies, or procedures.
Able to maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries.
Able to manage multiple projects with competing timelines effectively.
Able to organize and coordinate multidisciplinary teams with diverse stakeholders.
Able to plan, develop, implement, and assess strategic goals and objectives.
Able to coach, mentor, and build a cohesive team environment focused on productivity and accurate performance.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including building and auditing complex financial models, using advanced formulas, managing large datasets via Pivot Tables, and ensuring data integrity across cross-functional workbooks.
Functional fluency or hands-on configuration experience with Workday Financials, particularly General Ledger, Grants Management, Procurement, and Payroll modules; experience with other large ERP systems is also valuable.
Responsibilities
Oversee day-to-day fiscal operations and drive team performance through targeted training, coaching, and personnel development.
Process transactions, manage multiple accounting closes, approve and post journal entries, and prepare or review complex reconciliations.
Manage GAAP-compliant financial reports and statements, lead the annual external audit, and prepare federal indirect cost allocation plans and annual Form 990 tax returns.
Oversee agency-wide grant financials, monitor revenues, expenditures, and milestones, ensure SEFA compliance, and resolve Single Audit findings.
Maintain functional fluency and provide technical guidance, oversight, and backup processing for payroll operations and organization-wide procurement activities.
Direct annual and biennial budget development and long-range financial plans, partnering with executive leadership to analyze variances, assess financial health, and align strategies with organizational goals.
Lead the development, testing, implementation, and maintenance of major financial technology and Enterprise Resource Planning systems.
Establish and evaluate internal controls to safeguard public assets and ensure operations, procurements, and grant expenditures comply with applicable laws and funding requirements.
Provide financial insights and support long-term financial strategies through optimization, resource allocation, and identification of cost-saving and efficiency-improvement opportunities.
Take ownership of fund accounting, budget preparation, performance auditing, and post-award grant compliance.
Use financial systems, particularly Workday Financials and advanced Excel, to support accurate fiscal operations.
Build positive working relationships with internal staff, division directors, external auditors, grantors, and other stakeholders, and organize team efforts to meet competing project timelines.
Desired Qualifications
Experience migrating, implementing, or optimizing modern cloud-based ERP systems such as Workday is a plus.
Prior experience within a municipal government, county government, or regional planning agency (COG/MPO) is highly preferred.
A master's degree is preferred.
Company:
Maricopa Association of Governments
Closes:
The position is open until filled.
Status:
Full time
Pay Rate:
Salary
Title Range:
$99,138.02 - $148,707.03
Why Join MAG:
MAG is a great place to work. We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a hybrid work environment that supports flexibility, with a minimum of three days per week in the office, along with a collaborative culture where employee contributions make a real impact.
About MAG:
The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is a group of local governments working together on issues that touch the lives of every resident. We are a regional planning agency that develops solutions in areas such as transportation, environmental and air quality, and human services. MAG serves a thriving region of 5 million people. Our members include 28 cities and towns, three Native nations, and Maricopa and Pinal counties. Our planning area encompasses more than 10,000 square miles. MAG is the council of governments and the designated metropolitan planning organization for transportation planning for the greater Phoenix metropolitan area.
Your Team MAG’s Fiscal Services Division is responsible for safeguarding the organization’s financial integrity, ensuring regulatory compliance, and driving strategic fiscal health. Operating under the direction of the Finance Director, the division manages all core financial functions, including complex technical accounting, budgeting, grant compliance, procurement, and payroll.
The Position MAG is seeking a team-oriented Finance & Accounting professional to lead a team in the Fiscal Services Division. This is a hands-on, working manager opportunity that not only supervises seasoned fiscal staff, but actively performs complex technical accounting, financial reporting, and analytical tasks. The Finance Manager requires an all-encompassing operational knowledge of all public sector fiscal areas—including those outside of direct daily oversight, such as procurement and payroll—to ensure organizational continuity, cross-functional support, and the maintenance of internal controls. The Finance Manager is a critical member of the team and serves as a key financial advisor to executive leadership and division directors, optimizing the organization's fiscal health, grant compliance, and overall administrative workflows.
Main responsibilities include:
Staff Supervision & Development: Oversees day-to-day fiscal operations and drives team performance through targeted training, coaching, and personnel development.
Direct "Working" Fiscal Operations: Processes transactions, manages multiple accounting closes, approves and posts journal entries, and prepares or reviews complex reconciliations.
Financial Reporting & Auditing: Manages GAAP-compliant financial reports and statements, leads the annual external audit, prepares federal indirect cost allocation plans and annual Form 990 tax returns.
Post-Award Grant Management: Oversees grant financials across the agency, monitoring revenues, expenditures, and milestones while ensuring SEFA compliance and resolving Single Audit findings.
Cross-Functional Fiscal Support (Procurement & Payroll): Maintains functional fluency and provides technical guidance, oversight, and backup processing for payroll operations and organization-wide procurement activities.
Budgeting & Forecasting: Directs the annual and biennial budget development process and long-range financial plans, partnering with executive leadership to analyze variances, ensure financial health, and align strategies with organizational goals.
Systems & Major Initiatives: Provides leadership in the development, testing, implementation, and maintenance of major financial technology and Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
Internal Controls & Compliance: Establishes and evaluates internal controls to safeguard public assets, ensuring all operations, procurements, and grant expenditures strictly comply with all applicable laws and funding requirements.
Strategic Planning- Provides financial insights and supports the development of long-term financial strategies through optimization, resource allocation, identifying opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
The Candidate As our next Finance Manager, you are a strategic public sector accountant who shifts fluidly between high-level division management and hands-on, detailed technical financial work. In this role, you will take full ownership of our fund accounting, budget preparation, performance auditing, and post-award grant compliance. You will use your deep analytical judgment to untangle complex ledger transactions, resolve non-routine payroll or procurement issues, and ensure strict compliance with governmental laws. Daily, you will leverage your expertise in financial systems particularly Workday Financials and advanced Excel to ensure seamless and accurate fiscal operations.
You are a natural collaborator who builds cohesive, proactive team environments focused on high productivity. You excel at breaking down complex laws or regulations into simple, understandable terms for diverse, multidisciplinary stakeholders and executive leadership. By establishing positive working relationships with internal staff, division directors, external auditors, and grantors, you will organize team efforts to meet competing project timelines effectively. Your strategic vision, backed by your extensive, progressively responsible public sector finance experience, will directly elevate MAG's strategic goals and financial integrity.
If this sounds like you, we invite you to read on to learn more about the specific skills, knowledge, and experience required for this role.
Skilled in:
Applying principles and practices of public sector fund accounting, financial, compliance, budget preparation and performance auditing
Analyzing, interpreting, and correcting complex financial records, grant expenditures, payroll registers, and ledger transactions and recommend effective solutions
Applying post-award grant accounting and reporting principles, internal control practices, and required record-keeping techniques
Implementing policies and produces in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards related to auditing and governmental accounting
Managing financial information systems, enterprise resource planning systems, and other fiscal applications
Preparing clear, concise, and professional technical reports, grant reimbursement submissions, financial statements, and administrative correspondence
Establishing and maintaining positive, cooperative working relationships with staff, management, auditors, grantors, external agencies, and the public
Ability to:
Apply independent analytical and evaluative judgment to solve complex, non-routine financial, procurement, payroll, and grant accounting compliance problems
Exercise sound judgement to make critical decisions
Explain and simplify complex laws, regulations, policies, or procedures
Maintain the confidentiality of information and professional boundaries
Manage multiple projects with competing timelines effectively
Organize and coordinate the efforts of multidisciplinary teams with diverse stakeholders
Manage financial information systems, enterprise resource planning systems, and other fiscal applications
Plan, develop, implement, and assess strategic goals and objectives
Coach, mentor, and build a cohesive, proactive team environment focused on high productivity and accurate performance
Technology Skills
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including the ability to build and audit complex financial models, utilize advanced formulas, manage large datasets via Pivot Tables, and ensure data integrity across cross-functional workbooks
Functional fluency or hands-on configuration experience with Workday Financials, specifically across core modules such as General Ledger, Grants Management, Procurement, and Payroll. Other large ERP systems are valuable as well, Workday is preferred
Experience and Education
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Business, Finance, or related field; master’s degree preferred
At least seven years of applicable experience demonstrating progressively responsible public sector accounting, finance, or budgeting experience
A Minimum of 3 to 5 years of direct supervisory or team leadership experience, specifically managing professional-level accounting or fiscal staff
Demonstrated experience applying 2 CFR Part 200 and FTA and/or FHWA post-award grant requirements, including grant financial reporting, expenditure monitoring, indirect cost allocation, internal controls, and audit compliance
Proven experience with post-award grant administration, governmental fund accounting (GASB), and managing the federal Single Audit process
Experience migrating, implementing, or optimizing modern cloud-based ERP systems (e.g., Workday) is a plus
Prior experience working within a municipal government, county government, or regional planning agency (COG/MPO) is highly preferred
The Maricopa Association of Governments is an Equal Opportunity Employer. During the selection process, any applicant requiring accommodation for a disability should advise the Human Resources Division at [email protected] or by calling (602) 254-6300.