Rockdale, Texas Finance Director PositionCast™
Recruiting Rockdale’s Next Finance Director
Episode Summary
Episode 17 of The Clear Voice features a PositionCast™ conversation focused on the Finance Director opportunity in Rockdale, Texas. This episode gives candidates a direct look at the role, the city’s financial operations, major projects, grant activity, growth outlook, and the leadership expectations for this important municipal finance position.
In this conversation, James Groom is joined by Kelly Kuenstler, Vice President at Clear Career Professionals, and Tim Kelty, City Manager of Rockdale. They discuss the Finance Director role, utility billing, grants, capital projects, accounting systems, budget challenges, community growth, council support, and the type of finance leader who can help Rockdale prepare for its next chapter.
This opportunity is especially relevant for Finance Directors, Assistant Finance Directors, municipal finance professionals, accountants, and local government leaders interested in serving a growing Central Texas community with significant infrastructure, development, and financial planning needs.
Why This Matters for Municipal Finance Leadership
The Finance Director role is one of the most important leadership positions in a city organization. Tim describes the position as the heart of the city because everything flows through finance.
That comparison matters. The Finance Director helps make sure resources move where they need to go, departments can operate effectively, projects can move forward, and elected officials have reliable financial information for decision making.
For candidates, this is an opportunity to lead municipal finance in a city that is growing, managing major projects, and preparing for a future that may look very different from its past.
A Growing Central Texas Community
Rockdale is a city of about 6,000 residents with a long history and a bright future. The community recently celebrated the 150th anniversary of its incorporation, but much of the episode focuses on what comes next.
Tim discusses growth projections, industrial development, new residential subdivisions, and increased development pressure. One outside projection referenced in the episode suggests the city could grow significantly in the future, which creates major planning and finance implications.
Rockdale is also regionally positioned near Round Rock, Temple, and Bryan College Station. That location gives the city small town character while keeping it connected to larger regional economies.
Finance Department Structure and Responsibilities
The Finance Director will play a central role in city operations. Rockdale currently has about 55 employees, and utility billing is located under the finance department.
The Finance Director currently has three direct reports, primarily connected to utility billing. The adopted budget also included another finance position, though the city is still evaluating timing and financial structure before moving forward with that hire.
The role includes oversight of municipal finance operations, utility billing support, budget work, accounting, reporting, and coordination with other city departments. The successful candidate will need to understand both daily finance functions and larger strategic needs.
Grants, Projects, and Capital Planning
Rockdale has been very active in securing grants and project funding. Tim notes that he has never worked in a city as active in grant activity as Rockdale.
The city is managing two large Texas Water Development Board funded projects, including an approximately $9 million wastewater treatment plant improvement project and an approximately $9 million waterline relocation project. The city also has a home program for new housing for low to moderate income residents whose homes were dilapidated and replaced.
Other projects include Texas Department of Agriculture funded work, a lift station replacement project, a downtown sidewalk project, a Texas Parks and Wildlife grant application, planning grant activity, and a generator project funded through emergency management.
For finance candidates, this creates meaningful work involving grant accounting, project tracking, capital planning, debt, match requirements, reporting, and coordination across departments.
Streets, Security, Utilities, and Future Infrastructure
The city is also moving forward on several locally funded initiatives. Tim discusses a tax note intended to help increase street rehabilitation funding, with a goal of moving from a much smaller annual street allocation toward approximately half a million dollars per year.
Other planned or active efforts include security camera systems for city facilities and parks, water and sewer master planning, and groundwork needed for future impact fees.
Those issues matter because growth will increase pressure on Rockdale’s infrastructure. The next Finance Director will need to help connect growth, service demands, capital planning, funding tools, and long term financial sustainability.
Financial Systems and Challenges
Rockdale uses Tyler Technologies’ Incode 9 for finance, payroll, court, and financial activity.
The episode also addresses current financial management challenges. Tim explains that Rockdale has been behind the curve in some areas and currently has 24 bank accounts that the city would like to consolidate through more effective pooled accounting.
He also notes that the city needs to rework some budget numbers related to fund balance and continue improving financial management practices. For the right candidate, those challenges create an opportunity to bring structure, clarity, and improvement to the city’s finance operations.
Council Support and Community Engagement
One of the strongest selling points of this opportunity is council and community support. Tim describes the City Council as diverse, cohesive, and supportive of staff, city projects, and the direction of the organization.
That support matters for a Finance Director. Strong financial leadership is easier to provide when elected officials are engaged, respectful, and willing to listen to professional recommendations.
Tim also encourages directors to have frontline visibility with council and the public. He wants department leaders to explain their work directly, communicate successes, and receive credit for what their teams accomplish.
Leadership Expectations for the Next Finance Director
Tim describes his own leadership style as hands on, but also collaborative and flexible. He wants to hire people who know more than he does in their areas of expertise and values directors who bring strong professional judgment.
The next Finance Director should be comfortable taking ownership of projects, offering input, making recommendations, and keeping the City Manager informed. Tim is open to changing his mind when directors make a convincing argument, which creates room for professional influence.
The successful candidate should be technically competent, communicative, proactive, and willing to help build stronger systems.
Professional Development and Peer Networks
Professional development is another important part of the role. Tim is a strong supporter of peer network development and expects the Finance Director to become involved with organizations such as the Government Finance Officers Association of Texas.
He also encourages relationships with finance professionals in neighboring cities. That network can help the next Finance Director share ideas, ask questions, and avoid recreating the wheel when facing common municipal finance challenges.
For candidates still growing in the field, that support matters. The role offers both responsibility and access to mentorship, professional networks, and practical support.
Living and Working in Rockdale
Rockdale offers small town character, affordability, local events, and regional access. Tim describes housing prices as extremely affordable compared with many cities near Austin.
The community also has active local traditions and events, including Rocktoberfest and the Rockdale Fair and Rodeo. It is a tight knit community where people know one another and still connect in local places like grocery stores, restaurants, and the post office.
For candidates and families, Rockdale offers a chance to live in a smaller community while remaining within reach of larger job markets and regional amenities.
What Success Looks Like in the Role
Success in this role will mean helping Rockdale strengthen financial management, consolidate accounts where appropriate, improve budget practices, support grant and project accounting, and help the city prepare for growth.
The next Finance Director should help the city manage major infrastructure projects, support utility billing, build better financial systems, and provide reliable information to the City Manager and City Council.
This is a strong fit for a candidate who wants to make a visible difference in a growing city and help build a stronger financial foundation for the future.
What Candidates Can Learn from This PositionCast™
This PositionCast™ gives candidates a clearer understanding of the Rockdale Finance Director opportunity than a job posting alone can provide. The episode explains the role, department structure, grants, projects, growth pressures, financial challenges, leadership style, and community context.
For municipal finance professionals considering a Texas Finance Director role, Rockdale offers a ground floor opportunity in a city with active projects, strong council support, and significant growth potential.
The right candidate will be a strong financial professional, clear communicator, project partner, and practical municipal leader who can help Rockdale prepare for what is coming next.
More Information
For more information about the Finance Director position in Rockdale, Texas, including job details and application materials, visit the Career Opportunities section at Clear Career Professionals.
About The Clear Voice Podcast
The Clear Voice is a dedicated platform for transparency and expert led dialogue within the professional and public sectors. The show serves as a vital resource for leaders who want to move past surface level discussions and dive into the real world mechanics of governance, management, and organizational growth. James Groom is the host of the program. As the Vice President of Clear Career Professionals and a retired Police Chief, James brings a unique, high stakes perspective to every conversation. His background in public service and executive leadership allows him to extract practical, actionable insights from industry experts that help modern organizations function with total clarity.
Our Core Focus Areas
Executive Leadership: Exploring the transition from technical competence to high level strategic management.
Organizational Transparency: Discussing the importance of open communication and accountability in public and private leadership.
Governance and Strategy: Breaking down the complex decision making processes that drive successful communities and organizations.
Professional Development: Insights on coaching, culture building, and high performance team management.
About Clear Career Professionals
Clear Career Professionals is a specialized recruitment and strategic consulting firm focused on the public sector. We believe that the strength of any municipality or school district lies in the quality of its leadership and the cohesion of its teams.Our team is comprised of former practitioners and retired executives who understand the nuances of public service. We provide organizations with more than just a list of candidates; we provide the strategic oversight and expertise necessary to navigate transitions, maximize taxpayer funds, and implement long term solutions.
Our Strategic Services
Executive Search and Recruitment: A tailored approach to identifying top tier talent for leadership roles in cities and school districts.
Interim Leadership: Providing experienced professionals to guide organizations through critical periods of transition.
Governance and Board Training: Specialized sessions designed to strengthen board relations and help leadership teams function as a unified School Board or City Council & Executive Team.
Shared Solutions Initiative: A program focused on fostering collaboration between municipalities and schools to address shared community challenges.
Connect With Us
Visit our official website to explore current job opportunities or to learn more about our leadership services: clearcareerpro.com.
Follow us for more updates:
Career Opportunities: https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities/
Recruitment Services: https://clearcareerpro.com/recruitment/
Services: https://clearcareerpro.com/all-services/
Clear News: https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news
The Clear Voice Podcast: https://clearcareerpro.com/the-clear-voice/
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro
Facebook:Clear Career Professionals @ClearCareerPro
