2. WELCOME!
There’s a lot of exciting stuff happening in
Hanover!
I recorded the four-minute video to the right
so I could share some of the reasons I recently
came to work here, and what we’re looking
for in our next Finance Director.
Hope to talk to you soon!
- Alex Torpey, Town Manager
This packet contains information on:
Living in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Working in Hanover | Town Finances and Budget Process | New Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Next steps
https://youtu.be/TL0cK6IGo8k
3. Hanover is a quaint, scenic, dynamic New England community located in west central New Hampshire on
the Vermont border, home to approximately 12,000 people. Nestled along the beautiful Connecticut River,
the town is home to Dartmouth College, numerous outdoor and recreation opportunities, local arts, food,
and culture, and much more. Hanover has consistently been voted a “top place to live” by a variety of news
sources. And we agree!
There are thousands of acres of preserved land for hiking (The Appalachian Trail runs through Hanover),
biking, skiing, and much more. You can catch movies, concerts, or art exhibits right downtown, and
accessing the the entire Upper Valley “Micropolitan area” by car or bus is easy, you’re within a quick drive to
dozens of points of interest (Just Google it).
Housing can be expensive in Hanover, and there are housing pressures in the region. The Town can assist
with help to find housing. The Hanover public school system is of the highest quality. Rankings consistently
reveal that Hanover’s schools are among the best in the bi-state region.
The community is a very safe place to work and to raise a family. Crime rates are low and community
policing is a priority of the Hanover Police Department.
Residency in Hanover, or even in New Hampshire, is not required
LIFE IN HANOVER AND
THE UPPER VALLEY
Learn more
The “Upper Valley” | A Place
of ‘Unexpected Discoveries’ |
Yankee Magazine
What is the Upper Valley? |
Upper Valley Arts
Visit Dartmouth College
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Town Finances | Budget Process & New Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
Creative Commons - Tuck School of Business
Creative Commons - Tuck School of Business
Creative Commons - TYankee Magazine Kindra Clineffs
4. The Hanover Selectboard consists of five members elected to three year terms. The Board holds some
legislative powers not typically granted to Selectboards in New Hampshire, but Town Meeting serves as the
legislative body for adoption of the annual budget, issuance of bonds, and zoning amendments.
The Hanover Selectboard has a well-earned reputation for being very stable, non-partisan and professional,
working extremely well together as a group and providing quiet, thoughtful, forwardlooking leadership for
the community, deferring and providing support to staff, while helping set our longterm vision.
The new Town Manager is Alex Torpey, who began his position in June of 2022. Alex was previously a (non-
party affiliated) mayor, town administrator, graduate professor, and consultant in New Jersey, where he is
from. Alex was hired after long-time Town Manager Julia Griffen retired earlier this year. Alex was brought
on to help adopt new technology, implement a wide range of new programs, provide a greater platform for
open communication and engagement with the community, create new collaborations with Dartmouth
College and other stakeholders, and ensure the Town is setting and meeting high-priority community goals,
such as with sustainability.
Alex is a forward thinking manager who values an open and collaborative work environment, strong work-
life balance, and supporting departments' agency and initiative.
WORK LIFE IN HANOVER -
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Learn more
- Take a listen to the new
“Hanover Happenings”
podcast
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Local Governement | Town Finances | Budget Process New Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
5. The Town of Hanover is in a generally financially stable position. In general, fund balances all meet or
exceed the 10% target set by the Hanover Selectboard, capital reserves are managed carefully to ensure
that the Town is setting aside sufficient funds for future capital purchases, and the Town’s bonding capacity
far exceeds its very modest outstanding debt.
As a result of the pandemic, Town staff were able to manage reductions in some revenue areas by freezing
a small handful of vacant positions and throttling back expenditures to focus on the most essential
purchases and projects with room to spare. Property values have held relatively constant. Annual growth in
the total assessed valuation (Grand list total for 2022: $2.7bn) ranges from a low of $8 million to a high of
over $40 million, the latter generally resulting from construction of a new Dartmouth dormitory or dining
facility. Residents have supported modest tax rate increases each year to ensure that service levels are
maintained and important capital projects are invested in. Hanover residents support a well-run local
government, and the Town’s operating departments enjoy stable support from the Hanover Select Board
and the voters.
The Finance Department oversees overall financial management, purchasing, accounts payable and
receivable, payroll, budget, and coordinates regularly with all other operating departments of the Town. The
office consists of two (2) full-time employees in addition to the Director, including the Finance Manager, and
the Accounting Assistant. The Director of Finance works closely with the Town Manager and other
departments, as well as external stakeholders.
WORK LIFE IN HANOVER -
TOWN FINANCES
Learn more
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Town Finances | Budget Process New Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
Selectboard budget goals
from 2015
Town reports
6. The Town is on a fiscal year
WORK LIFE IN HANOVER - BUDGET
PROCESS NEW GOALS
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Town Finances | Budget Process New Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
Giving department heads a greater and interactive role in setting their own budgets
Reorganizing accounts to ensure charges are placed in the appropriate account, not wherever there are
funds
Following up on that, we intend to improve reporting and tracking over time, including both internally
and externally
To continue to use and improve upon an existing detailed capital improvement plan and process
Implement MOUs and a new reporting and budget request process with external service providers
In the longer term, study the use of different municipal funds and potentially reconcile/reorganize
Discuss the pros/cons of department chargebacks
Have a public discussion about bonding capacity and pros/cons of debt
Connect municipal finances to policy discussions about rateable development
And more
Like many towns, we are at the beginning of a large changeover of our department heads and staff due to
retirements. Although this is of course a challenge, it also is a significant opportunity to create new
processes and programs, and reshape aspects of the organization that need it.
For this budget year, we anticipate discussing or making changes such as:
7. The Town is looking for a motivated, dynamic, highly-skilled finance professional who is excited to work with a new
and engaging Town Manager to help shape the financial future for Hanover. This includes:
1. Technical Skills. Someone who has managed similar-sized municipal budgets in New Hampshire, or is able to be a
fast self-study and who has managed budgets elsewhere. This position will have limited or no transition time, and
although will have full access to existing full-time finance staff and a supportive Town Manager and team, they will
need to be confident in getting up to speed quickly, addressing and correcting technical issues as they become known
while working on the FY 23-24 budget.
2. Management Skills. The Director of Finance is a somewhat new position created after re-organizing various
departments related to elections and administrative services. They should be confident and competent managing two
full-time staff, and interfacing in a professional way with all departments.
3. (Inter)personal skills. The Town government functions well as an organization. We would hope that the new
Director of Finance is enthusiastic about cultivating positive working environments, pursuing professional
development, and providing ongoing financial reports to various key stakeholders, as well as working collaboratively
within a tight-knit but informal team of Department Heads.
The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor’s degree, and ideally, an advanced degree in a finance-related field.
Additionally, professional licenses or certifications in related financial fields (CFO, CPA, etc) are highly desired.
WORK LIFE IN HANOVER -
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
Learn more
View the full job description
here
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Town Finances | Budget Process New Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
8. Residency. Residency either in Hanover, or the State of New Hampshire, is not required. We anticipate candidates
residing within approximately 30 - 45 minutes of Hanover.
Compensation. The salary range is $94,085.89 - $142,602.82, depending on qualifications and experience. This
range represents the start and end points of a 22 step pay schedule.
Benefits. The Town’s “flex benefits” are excellent. They include health, dental and prescription plans, short and
long-term disability, life insurance, plus supplemental coverage options. Most candidates will find the benefits
package comprehensive and generous by public sector standards.
Work schedule. The position is predominantly a Monday - Friday 8:30 - 4:30pm, with opportunity for remote work
and other scheduling benefits.
Application Timing. Candidates will be screened and interviewed on a rolling basis starting in October 2022. An
appointment will be made as soon as the right candidate is found, with an expectation by the end of November/
December 2022.
Other Important Information. The Town of Hanover is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity. We
strongly encourage people of color, women, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities to apply. The Town is a drug-free,
smoke-free workplace. All offers of employment are contingent upon the results of a pre-employment criminal
background check. Criminal conviction does not necessarily disqualify candidates from consideration for this or
other Town positions. Each case is considered separately
Advancement
opportunities
may be
available
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
POSITION DETAILS
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Town Finances | Budget Process New Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
Per New Hampshire Law, public records of a personal nature may be kept confidential. As such, if a candidate so requests, the Town may keep their application confidential until an appointment
Extraordinary
benefits, even
based on public
sector standards
Access tons of
professional
development
and support
9. Thanks for reading!
If you’re interested, or have more
questions, please see instructions
provided to the right.
Hope to see you soon!
- Alex Torpey, Town Manager
Interested in applying?
Application, cover letter, and resume must be submitted via the
Town’s online recruiting system. No paper applications accepted.
Have more questions?
Contact Human Resources Director David Stewart at 603-640-3208
APPLY NOW
NEXT STEPS HOW TO APPLY
Life in Hanover or the Upper Valley | Work Life in Hanover | Town Finances | Budget Process New Goals | Candidate Qualifications | Position Details | Next steps
www.hanovernh.org/employment
