Controller, Finance & Banking, Financial Manager

Job Description

This position works under the general guidance and direction of the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer to formulate, implement, and enforce accounting policies, procedures, internal controls, and ensure the integrity of the city’s financial operations.

The Controller works independently to develop and provide accurate and timely financial reports for both internal and external users in accordance with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) and professional standards. In the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer’s direction, the Controller is responsible for preparation of documents used in the City’s annual external audit, preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), and other financial reporting.

This position is given wide latitude in performing its responsibilities and exercising independent professional judgment. It supports accounting management, internal controls, and financial reporting. It manages journal entries, reviews accounting information for accuracy, and assists with budgets, forecasting and compliance. The Controller works closely with the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer to ensure compliance with regulations and accounting guidelines and oversees the accounting team, enforces internal controls, implements accounting policies, practices, and procedures.

It also works closely with an external auditing team on completing the financial audit and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, manages accounting team work schedules, and oversees the reconciliation of cash on a daily and monthly basis, as well as the Treasurer’s Report for Council meetings. The position also oversees the development of the annual Service Level Report, assists with the preparation of the city’s annual budget and budget digest, including interfund and transfer charges, assists in salary projections, and trains staff on the development of the projection report and presentation of information required by City Council.

The job requires attention to detail, demonstrated ability to conduct detailed financial analysis and prepare periodic financial reports and projections, an attitude of cooperation, and the ability to work harmoniously with all levels of City employees, the general public, and other organizations. This job reports to the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer and provides oversight to other staff in the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer’s absence.

The work is conducted in a general office environment with stable temperatures and a moderate level of noise.

The Controller is responsible for preparing the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the summary schedules with the assistance of staff; coordinating the conduct of the annual independent audit of the City’s financial records between the City’s staff and the independent auditor and resolving auditor requisitions; planning and executing the preparation of the annual comprehensive financial report as required by Government Accounting Standards Board and bondholder covenants.

This process involves all year‑end procedures for closing funds in preparation to complete the financial statements. The Controller may delegate selected funds to other finance department staff for preparation, retaining overall responsibility for the final product.

The Controller oversees all accountants, assisting with workloads, training, cross‑training, and providing necessary support to all accountants within the Finance Department. They provide day‑to‑day supervision of accounting clerks, involvement in hiring, employee coaching and feedback, assignment of day‑to‑day duties, input on disciplining and terminating employment, exercising independent judgment to direct others’ work, and utilizing people skills to communicate, motivate, and direct or oversee staff.

The Controller assists the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer in the development of the City’s budget, including building and maintaining the personnel budget database, compiling and analyzing financial data, creating reports for publication, and assisting in developing budget instructions and formats. They conduct detailed financial analysis of budgeted and actual citywide or departmental costs and revenues on behalf of city departments and/or other budget staff, including complex cash reconciliation for multi‑fund/multibank accounts, creating interfund and transfer charges, creating budget worksheets (such as the budget digest), and producing the salary projection report.

The Controller is also responsible for overseeing all bookkeeping and any audits under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer.

The Controller assists departments with budget preparation, analysis, and composition. They analyze user and operational needs and business requirements in order to develop or modify budgets.