Under the direction of the Director of Finance, the Comptroller is responsible for leading the City’s accounting and financial reporting functions. This position ensures the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial data in accordance with GAAP, GASB standards, and GFOA best practices. The Comptroller oversees internal controls, coordinates the annual audit, supports long-term financial planning, and maintains compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and City policies.

Union Affiliation: Non-Union
Pay Grade 25: $101,538.92 - $113,381.74 Annually
Remote Tier 2: Up to one (1) day remote/week
Financial Reporting and Accounting

• Manage preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and monthly/annual closings.
• Maintain the City’s general ledger and subsidiary systems; review journal entries, account reconciliations and financial schedules.
• Coordinate and provide schedules for all audits (external, internal, federal and state).
• Oversee the State’s annual cash-flow report and tax distributions to the Burlington School District; allocate property taxes among the general fund, Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and dedicated tax funds.
• Serve as tax compliance manager for all city tax matters—excluding debt compliance and bond covenant requirements—ensuring adherence to IRS, state and federal regulations.

Capital Projects, Debt, and Financing

• Monitor and review major capital expenditures, including analysis of financial impacts, funding sources and control procedures.
• Prepare projections and budgeting tables needed for bond official statements; maintain and reconcile the debt database and provide support for dedicated debt taxes.
• Manage the City’s fixed asset accounting by maintaining the fixed asset ledger, coordinating periodic inventories with departments, ensuring capitalization policies and depreciation schedules are applied correctly, and preparing reports that comply with GASB requirements.
• Assist with multi-year capital planning and ensure that accounting and controls for bond proceeds and TIF funds are consistent with GAAP and GASB standards.

Internal Controls and Compliance

• Design, document and monitor internal controls, policies and procedures to mitigate risks and prevent material misstatements.
• Ensure that system controls produce accurate postings to the general ledger and sub-ledgers.
• Develop and implement corrective actions in response to audit findings and continually assess opportunities to strengthen internal control systems.
• Provide regular reports to the Mayor, City Council and department heads on control environment and compliance issues.

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Cost Allocation

• Support the City’s Chief Administrative Officer, Director of Finance, Budget Manager, and department heads to develop the annual budget and long-range financial forecasts.
• Perform financial analyses for both new and ongoing initiatives; prepare cash-flow projections and scenario analyses.
• Maintain and improve direct and indirect cost-allocation models; collaborate with the insurance carrier to track changes in fixed-asset costs, payroll expenses and staffing levels to estimate insurance premiums for departmental allocations.

Payroll Division Oversight

• Supervise the Payroll Manager and payroll team to ensure accurate and timely processing of all City employee compensation and benefits.
• Oversee payroll systems, ensuring integration with the City’s ERP and accounting systems; implement upgrades and process improvements as needed.
• Ensure compliance with federal and state wage laws, IRS and Department of Labor regulations, and City policies; monitor and reconcile payroll tax filings and remittances.
• Review and approve payroll reconciliations, staffing forecasts, and reports comparing actual costs to budgeted amounts; identify and implement corrective actions where necessary.
• Collaborate with Human Resources on benefit programs and compensation policies; oversee the production of annual benefit statements for employees.
• Coordinate payroll-related aspects of financial audits and management letters, and execute corrective plans to address any findings.

Tax Administration

• Manage tax compliance for all City revenues (excluding debt-related taxes), ensuring timely filing and payment of sales, use, payroll and other taxes.

Technology and Innovation

• Act as an administrator for the City’s ERP and/or financial system of record (e.g., Tyler New World).
• Lead implementation of new software modules for general ledger, accounts receivable, property tax billing and/or other finance functions.
• Identify opportunities to automate processes and improve reporting accuracy through the use of technology, including the use of artificial intelligence.

Leadership and Staff Development

• Supervise senior accounting staff and provide ongoing coaching and performance evaluation.
• Foster a culture of ethics, integrity and collaboration in accordance with GFOA’s emphasis on leadership and trust.
• Conduct training, at least annually, on accounting policies, procedures and internal controls; ensure staff adhere to City policies and professional standards.

Collaboration and Communication

• Work closely with the Mayor, City Council, department heads, auditors and external stakeholders to provide financial insights and promote transparent communication.
• Support public engagement efforts by presenting financial reports in a clear and accessible manner, reinforcing accountability to taxpayers and building trust.

Non-Essential Job Functions:

• Performs other duties as required.

• Ability to actively support City diversity, equity, and cultural competency efforts within stated job responsibilities and work effectively across diverse cultures and constituencies.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as evidenced by ongoing trainings and professional development.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Public Administration or a related field is required. A master’s degree, CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CGFM (Certified Government Financial Manager) or CPFO (Certified Public Finance Officer) designation is strongly preferred.

Experience:

• Seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in governmental accounting or financial management, including at least four (4) years of supervisory experience. Experience preparing annual comprehensive financial reports and coordinating external audits is essential.

Technical Expertise:

• In-depth knowledge of GAAP, GASB pronouncements and internal control frameworks; ability to interpret and implement accounting standards in a municipal environment.
• Demonstrated experience in governmental fund accounting, capital project accounting, debt management, cost allocation planning and cash-flow forecasting.
• Proficiency with enterprise resource planning (ERP) and accounting systems (e.g., Tyler New World or similar), along with strong skills in spreadsheets, databases and reporting tools.
• Familiarity with federal and state grant compliance and other relevant regulations, including payroll and taxation laws.

Leadership and Communication:

• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop a diverse team; commitment to ethical conduct and transparency consistent with GFOA’s emphasis on trust and public accountability.
• Excellent problem-solving, organizational and project-management skills; ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines and balance multiple priorities.
• Strong written and oral communication skills; capable of explaining complex financial information to a broad audience, including elected officials and the public.

Professional Attributes:

• High level of integrity, accuracy and attention to detail.
• Initiative, flexibility and a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion through professional development and the ability to work effectively with people from all backgrounds.
• Ability to adhere to City standards, safety rules and personnel policies, and to maintain regular, reliable attendance.