City Controller - Open until filled

This position is exempt from Civil Service and is an "At Will" position. It serves at the discretion of the hiring authority, subject to the City of Portland Human Resources Administrative Rules and the Portland City Charter and Code.

Under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the City Controller plays a critical role in managing the City’s financial operations. The Controller oversees the City’s Accounting Division, ensuring accurate financial reporting, compliance with accounting standards, and efficient transaction processing.

• Leadership and Management:
  • Plan, organize, and manage the activities of the City’s Accounting Division.
  • Direct a large staff responsible for both centralized and decentralized professional accounting operations.
  • Provide guidance and supervision to bureau accounting staff.
• Financial Reporting and Standards:
  • Establish and maintain Citywide accounting standards.
  • Monitor transactions related to accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, general ledger, and capital assets.
  • Ensure compliance with accounting principles and regulations.
  • Stay informed about state and feral securities and tax laws and regulations.
• Financial Analysis and Reporting:
  • Track and report the financial condition and results of City operations.
  • Perform complex financial accounting analyses.
  • Provide insights to support decision-making and resource allocation.
• System Management:
  • Manage the City’s corporate accounting systems and processes.
  • Collaborate with bureaus to review and enhance financial systems.
  • Evaluate and recommend changes to improve efficiency and accuracy.
• Policy and Rule Enforcement:
  • Recommend and enforce accounting policies, practices, procedures, and rules.
  • Serve as an authority for interpretation of City accounting and financial reporting policies.

The City Controller’s role is pivotal in maintaining financial integrity, transparency, and accountability within the City administration. By ensuring accurate financial records and effective systems, the Controller contributes to the City’s overall success.

The Budget and Finance Service Area provides centralized financial services, revenue collection, business regulation, financial reporting, and compliance to all City bureaus. The bureau includes six divisions including Accounting, Debt Management, Grants Management, Revenue, Risk, and Treasury. The Accounting division within this bureau provides quality support to help customers achieve their goals and meet the City’s fiduciary responsibilities. As stewards of public funds this bureau and division have been key in maintaining the City of Portland’s triple-A bond rating. This Aaa bond rating allows the City of Portland to attain the most advantageous borrowing costs available, ensuring that we can continue to invest in the community and infrastructure to make Portland a vibrant city.

City of Portland voters approved a new form of government and organizational structure in November 2022 with an effective date of January 1, 2025. City leaders are currently heavily engaged in the transition to the new form of government. Under the new form of government, a City Administrator will oversee the City’s day-to-day operations including six service areas, one of which is the Budget and Finance Service area to which the Controller reports. The Deputy City Administrator assigned to the Budget and Finance service area will act as the City’s CFO.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 10:30 AM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position. Applicants must specifically address and demonstrate in their application materials how their education, training and/or experience meets each of the following minimum qualifications:

1. Certified Public Accountant certification from any state of the United States.
2. Advanced knowledge and experience of governmental accounting, including relevant accounting standards such as Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Federal Accounting Standards Board, and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants Auditing Standards.
3. Experience in legal and regulatory adherence, including Oregon’s Local Budget Law, City Code, ordinances, fiscal policies, administrative rules, and relevant guidelines.
4. Experience in interpretation and application of legal and regulatory requirements to ensure adherence across accounting, procurement, and contracting processes.
5. Experience applying superior communication skills with strong attention to detail to influence and be persuasive to internal and external stakeholders.
6. Experience managing a multicultural workforce and applying equitable program practices within a complex organization.

• Ability to obtain an Oregon State Board of Accountancy Certified Public Accountant (CPA) certification within 18 months after appointment, if CPA is from state other than Oregon.

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Management experience working for a public agency.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Answer to the three (3) Supplemental Questions (click on the Questions tab to preview the questions)

• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD-214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

• Salary Range/Equity Pay Analysis: Please note per the Oregon State Pay Equity Law your salary is determined based on the experience and education listed in your resume/application. It is strongly encouraged to include any transferable experience (paid or unpaid regardless of how recent) to ensure your offer is reflective of all directly related and equivalent experience.
• Do not attach any additional documents.
• Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
• All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
• E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

• An evaluation of each applicant's training, paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their cover letter, and resume, weighted 100%.
• Your cover letter and résumé will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information.
• Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection

• This recruitment is “Open Until Filled”: This recruitment has multiple review periods and can be open for up to 3 months. Open Until Filled recruitments may close earlier than the posted closing date. The selection process will happen periodically throughout this recruitment. If you are placed on the eligible list, you do not need to reapply. You will be contacted by the bureau when being considered for the selection process.
• If you apply and are notified you meet minimum qualifications/placed on the eligible list, please do not reapply. Any applications received after being placed on the eligible list will not be reviewed and will be rejected as a duplicate application.
• If you apply and are notified you do not meet qualifications and the recruitment is still open, you may reapply and update your materials.

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

• City of Portland Core Values
• Recruitment Process - Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations