Orland Park, IL – Finance Director

The Village of Orland Park, a dynamic, progressive, growing community seeks a public finance professional to oversee all financial functions of the Village, as well as to provide leadership for the day-to-day operations of the Finance Department.  The Finance Director is an integral member of the village’s executive leadership team and will propose, implement, and maintain all policies affecting the finances of the Village.

OUR VISION is to be a distinctive and innovative community that is committed to building strong families and strong businesses that contribute to the place we are all proud to call “Home.”

OUR MISSION is to enhance the quality of life to those who live in, work in, and visit Orland Park.

The Community

Orland Park is a premier community located 30 miles southwest of Chicago’s Loop with a residential population of nearly 60,000 (full build-out expected to peak at 75,000) and is the commercial and retail hub of the Chicago south suburban region. Orland Park continues its wave of growth and prosperity from a historic, rural community to a dynamic corporate and commercial center.

Orland Park has a unique blend of residential and business communities in the midst of more than 700 acres of parks and open lands. In 2014 and 2022, Orland Park was named one of Chicago Magazine’s “Best Places to Live.” Important factors for this recognition include Orland Park’s low crime rate, exceptional amenities, and access to downtown Chicago.  The Village Comprehensive Plan, located on the Village’s website (www.orlandpark.org) provides an overview of the Orland Park community, economic development, culture, and more.

The Village of Orland Park operates under the Council-Manager form of government, with legislative oversight provided by an elected Mayor and Board of Trustees. The corporate authorities include the Village President (Mayor), the Village Clerk and six (6) Village Trustees, each of whom is elected at-large to a four-year term.

The Village of Orland Park is a full-service community employing approximately 279 full-time employees, as well as 650 part-time and seasonal employees. Departments include Information Technology, Development Services, Finance, Human Resources, Public Works, Mayor’s Office, Recreation & Parks, Police, Communications & Marketing, Engineering Programs & Services, and the Village Manager’s Office. The organization’s strategic plan goals include economic development, downtown development, quality of life, fostering an environment that focuses on customer service, continuous delivery improvements, and efficiency enhancements.

The Village is a home rule community with a very stable financial standing. The Village of Orland Park has excellent bond ratings of AA+ from Standard and Poor’s.  The Village’s current GO Debt to EAV ratio is 3.93% and the Village’s property tax levy has remained flat for the past thirteen (13) years.

The overall expenditure budget is just over $233 million, and the general fund budget is approximately $54 million. Additional information, including the Village’s annual budget documents, ACFRs and PAFRs, can be found on the Village’s website at www.orlandpark.org.

Key Responsibilities

The Finance Director serves as the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer of the Village and the Treasurer of the Orland Park Police Pension Fund.  This position formulates and administers policies, procedures and regulations affecting the financial management of the Village, and forecasts the long-term financial strategy of the Village, facilitates capital planning, and provides financial analysis of economic development projects.

The Finance Director directs complex accounting and financial matters including but not limited to cash, investment and debt management, the annual budget process, long term financial planning, financial analysis and reporting, auditing, payroll, purchasing, revenue collection and utility billing.   The Village is a recipient of the GFOA ACFR, Budget and PAFR awards.  This position supervises a department of twelve (12) full-time and two (2) part-time employees.

The Finance Director attends Village Board meetings and Orland Park Pension Board meetings.  This position works collaboratively with the Village Manager, the department directors and their staff.

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills

A successful candidate for this position will have a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.  A master’s degree in accounting, public administration or business is preferred along with a CPA designation.  The position also requires a minimum of at least ten (10) years of experience, preferably in a community of comparable complexity, and strong knowledge of municipal finance practices, including GASB principles and accounting practices.  Experience must include significant fund accounting, investment, cash management, budget, and pension fund experience.  The ability to prepare and present informative financial statements, reports, and analysis along with a high degree of computer literacy and strong analytical skills are required.

Familiarity with enterprise financial management systems is a must and extremely strong Microsoft Excel skills are required.

The ideal candidate will have high standards of performance, productivity, and initiative, and will take a strategic approach to innovation and process evaluation and will consistently embrace the philosophy of continuous improvement.  The ideal candidate will also have leadership, management, and interpersonal skills that promote team spirit and enhance the department’s service delivery.

The selected candidate will share a dedication and commitment to the Village of Orland Park’s employee values which include integrity, communication, teamwork, professionalism, and quality of life.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $128,505 – $179,906 depending on qualifications.  The Village of Orland Park offers a comprehensive employee benefits program which includes medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and an employee wellness program. Retirement benefits through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) are provided along with the option to voluntarily participate in a 457(b) plan through Nationwide.  The Village of Orland Park also provides for paid vacation, personal, sick days, and holidays.

The recruitment for this position will remain open until the position is filled, with the initial review of submitted applications scheduled to begin in mid-April 2024.