Financial Services Department

The Financial Services Department is responsible for overseeing the fiscal operations of the Village, which includes efforts related to accounting, budgeting, payroll, accounts payable, utility billing, accounts receivable, and management of the Customer Service Center. The Department provides the framework for financial planning, participates in the development of sound fiscal policies, monitors and helps manage finances, analyzes budgetary trends, and provides financial advisement.

• Assists with preparing the Village’s annual operating and capital budgets which encompasses 17 funds and 12 General Fund departments.
• Administers and monitors the Village’s purchasing process in a manner that derives the highest value to the Village at the lowest cost.
• Maintains accounting records in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Coordinates the annual financial statement audit; provides information, resources, and review in working with auditors.
• Manages timely payments for goods and services received and prompt billing for amounts owed the Village.
• Provides for the account setup, maintenance, and billing of water and sewer services; accepts and processes payments.
• Administers the Village’s business licensing and registration programs.
• Provides guidance on building permit requirements and the application process.
• Coordinates the Village’s commuter parking program, providing guidance on regulations and processing payments for quarterly and daily parking permits.
• Provides information, guidance and directory assistance to residents, businesses, and visitors.
• Plans for, acquires, and maintains information technology equipment and software to support operational needs. Strategically plans for technological advances including the development of and maintenance of the Village's Geographic Information Services (GIS) system.

• Implemented the Financials and Budgeting/Reporting modules in the Village’s new Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) cloud software, OpenGov.
• Updated Village vendor information.
• Analyzed and updated Chart of Accounts prior to transition to OpenGov to maximize reporting functionality.
• Utilized OpenGov functionality to streamline and modernize processes throughout the organization, including introducing paperless documentation storage, transitioning from manual paper-based requisition and invoice approvals to electronic workflows.
• Developed an online budget book utilizing the OpenGov Budgeting and Reporting module.
• Implemented an automated accounts payable solution that offers flexibility for various payment methods.
• Implemented a mobile payment solution for daily commuter parking.
• Developed a long-term financial plan that identifies the Village’s financial capacity and provides a framework for future financial prioritization and decision-making.
• Prepared quarterly financial and monthly Treasurer’s reports regarding the Village’s finances.
• Successfully onboarded the Accountant position.
• Received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the third consecutive year.
• Received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the nineteenth consecutive year.
• Received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) Award for the first time.

• Develop and initiate a process to address delinquent utility billing account collections.
• Prepare account records for, and implement the OpenGov Utility Billing module.
• Redesign utility bills to provide customers a concise view of billing information and trends.
• Utilize the capabilities of OpenGov Utility Billing to enhance the experience of our customers, including providing a self-service portal and increased payment options.
• Review and update the utility billing section of the Village Code.
• Analyze commuter parking operations and recommend changes to increase convenience and efficiency of back-end processing.
• Continue to evaluate, improve, and modernize organizational processes to utilize the full functionality of OpenGov.
• Provide training opportunities for Financial Services staff to support staff growth and ensure cross-training aimed at uninterrupted service delivery.
• Formalize and update documentation of department procedures, including the development of comprehensive manuals.
• Evaluate and recommend changes to the Village’s fees and fines schedules.

• Adjust Village Hall building hours due to efficiencies gained through the implementation of OpenGov and the daily parking application.