Controller

City of Marco Island; Marco Island (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

City of Marco Island seeks a senior accounting leader to direct day-to-day operations, ensuring accurate reporting and strong internal controls for the City’s finances. The role oversees AP/AR, reconciliations, grants and project accounting, and supports the ACFR preparation and audit readiness.

The position collaborates with the Finance Director to improve financial systems, policies, and processes, and supervises professional accounting staff and related financial administration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required or equivalent experience.
• CPA or CPFO preferred for leadership in government accounting.

Responsibilities

• Direct day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring timely financial reporting and strong internal controls.
• Oversee accounts payable/receivable, bank reconciliations, grants and project accounting.
• Coordinate with external auditors and prepare ACFR components.
• Lead financial systems improvements and training for staff.
• Support budgeting, treasury management and compliance with GASB/GAAP.

Skills

Governmental accounting

Internal controls

Financial reporting

Supervisory experience

Grants accounting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA or CPFO preferred

Tools

Munis

Job description

Responsible for directing the City’s day-to-day accounting operations, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, strong internal controls, and compliance with all applicable laws and standards. Oversees accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, grants accounting, and project accounting. Serves as a key member of the Finance leadership team, supporting the Finance Director in developing financial policies, improving business processes, and advancing the City’s financial systems and reporting capabilities. Reports to the Finance Director and supervises professional accounting staff.

The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. It is not necessarily descriptive of any one position in the class. The omission of an essential function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.

• Plans, directs, assigns and supervises the work of professional accounting and administrative staff engaged in maintaining the City’s general and subsidiary accounting ledgers and systems, monthly and annual closings, trial balances, accounts payable, accounts receivable, budgetary control, project accounting, grant financial management, and financial reporting.
• Oversees grants accounting and supports departments in ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Ensures timely month-end and year-end close processes.
• Primary accounting contact with the external auditors. Coordinates audit schedules, responds to auditor inquiries, and ensures corrective actions are implemented. Leads preparation of key components of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), ensuring accuracy, completeness, and audit readiness.
• Serves as functional lead for the City’s financial systems, ensuring data integrity, system optimization, user training, and coordination with IT on upgrades and enhancements.
• Collaborates with the Finance Manager and Budget Manager to monitor the budgets versus actual expenditures (including capital projects). Supports the monthly and quarterly financial reporting to City Council.
• Coordinates with Finance Manager on treasury, cash management and investment reporting activities.
• Collaborates with the Procurement Manager to support procurement compliance by ensuring proper financial documentation, adherence to purchasing policies, and alignment with grant and FEMA requirements.
• Maintains and enhances internal control systems, accounting procedures, and financial workflows to ensure compliance, efficiency, and risk mitigation.
• Establishes and ensures compliance with GASB and GAAP standards and requirements as well as with local, state and federal regulatory laws. Reviews new legislation and recommends the establishment of new funds, accounts, policies, procedures, and systems as needed to ensure compliance.
• Maintains collaborative and effective working relationships with auditors, banking institutions, and state regulators.
• Works with the Finance Director to align departmental priorities, implement policy changes, and support long-term financial planning. Participates in the development and administration of the departmental budget.
• Provides guidance to departments on financial procedures, budget monitoring, and compliance with City financial policies.
• Selects, trains, mentors, and evaluates accounting staff; fosters a culture of accountability, professional development, and continuous improvement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or CPFO preferred. Minimum six years progressively responsible governmental accounting experience, including at least two years of supervisory experience. Experience with fund accounting, capital project accounting, grants compliance, and preparation of ACFR required. Experience with enterprise financial systems (e.g. Munis) required. Maybe required to have or obtain formal industry certification(s) based on area of assignment. Regular in office attendance is required.

Candidate is subject to interview(s), medical testing (including drug screening), and a comprehensive background investigation.

In addition to meeting the minimum qualifications listed above, an individual must have the following knowledge and abilities to be able to perform this job successfully.

• Knowledge of the principles, practices, and method of governmental accounting, including GASB, GAAP and the COSO framework for internal controls.
• Knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, policies, procedures and processes applicable to government accounting.
• Knowledge of grants compliance (Uniform Guidance).
• Knowledge of procurement compliance requirements and municipal purchasing regulations.
• Knowledge of FEMA cost-tracking and reimbursement requirements preferred.
• Knowledge of financial system administration.
• Knowledge of administrative management procedures and techniques.
• Knowledge of modern office practices and procedures and standard office and accounting equipment as well as information technology equipment and applications applicable to accounting and finance.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective and cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to identify potential issues, modify processes, and resolve conflict as the need arises.
• Ability to analyze and define problems, identify alternative solutions, estimate consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Ability to regularly attend work and arrive punctually for designated work schedule.
• Ability to use critical thinking skills to suggest improvements to processes.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to prepare and submit clear and concise written reports.
• Ability to lead and motivate to achieve goals.
• Ability to organize work for timely completion.
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

Tasks involve the ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, which may involve some lifting, carrying, pushing and/or pulling of objects and materials of light weight (up to 20 pounds). Tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and extended periods of time standing and/or walking. Tasks are regularly performed inside.

SENSORY REQUIREMENTS

Some tasks require manual dexterity, in addition to visual and hearing acuity. Some tasks may involve identifying and distinguishing colors. Some tasks require the ability to communicate orally and in writing.

EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND ESSENTIAL EMPLOYEE STATEMENT

Every City employee has emergency response responsibilities, though not every position will be considered an essential employee during an emergency event. All employees are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the normal work location, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official job description. Assignments in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature, with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically and operationally challenging conditions. During emergency events, the Controller may support financial documentation, procurement compliance, and cost-tracking activities required for FEMA or other reimbursement programs. Preference shall be given to eligible current city employees. All vacancies are open until filled unless otherwise specified. The City of Marco Island is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of Marco Island is a drug free and smoke free workplace.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

The City of Marco Island is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and applicable state and federal laws. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions of the position, unless doing so would create an undue hardship for the City. Applicants requiring accommodation during the recruitment or selection process should notify the Human Resources Department.

Preference shall be given to eligible current city employees. All vacancies are open until filled unless otherwise specified. The City of Marco Island is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The City of Marco Island is a drug free and smoke free workplace.