Controller Jobs

General Purpose
The Controller is responsible for the accounting and financial operations of the Burlington Electric Department (“BED”), including general accounting, grants and contracts accounting, treasury and cash management, payroll, and financial reporting and compliance. This position oversees the Department’s financial information and meter-to-cash systems and their associated business processes and is a key member of BED’s leadership team.
Essential Job Functions
Culture of Excellence

• Work with Manager of Strategy & Innovation and other senior managers in creating an open, respectful culture where every employee feels comfortable sharing ideas and opinions. Help break Department silos, flatten hierarchies, and encourage dialogue between employees within and across teams. Help create a culture where employees have personal ownership for BED’s success and are encouraged to take responsibility, make decisions, fail without fear, and learn from mistakes.
• Instill in the organization an understanding that the customer is at the center of everything we do and that an exceptional customer experience is critical to BED’s strategy and performance.
• Champion an understanding that improving employee satisfaction is critical to creating an exceptional customer experience at BED. Ensure that empowering employees is considered in all key decisions.
• Provide high-quality leadership for BED to encourage innovation and creativity across the organization and to establish a culture of excellence and an environment that results in motivated, creative employees who exhibit the ability and desire to function as part of a well-functioning team to accomplish common BED goals.

Financial Reporting & Accounting

• Coordinate the annual financial audit and oversee the activities of independent auditors, including Uniform Guidance Single Audits as necessary.
• Oversee the Department’s activities as fiscal agent for the energy efficiency utility.
• Oversee monthly and yearly accounting close processes including journal entries, account reconciliations, and analytical review of operating results to ensure accurate accounting records are maintained.
• Ensure timely and accurate compliance with all relevant accounting standards and internal, external, and grant/contract expenditure and reporting requirements. Oversee the development of financial accounting and reporting systems to support compliance.
• Direct and oversee the preparation of all financial statements, including income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements for BED, the McNeil Generating Station, and any fiduciary activities.
• Manage and direct the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Department’s accounting, internal control, and financial reporting policies, procedures, activities, and performance measures in accordance with prudent utility practice and with applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
• Responsible for Continuing Disclosure and Arbitrage Rebate Analysis on bond obligations.

Financial Operations

• Guide and oversee the configuration and effective use of the Department’s financial information systems, including budgeting, general ledger, customer billing, payroll and time entry, accounts payable, treasury/banking, fixed assets, cash receipts and accounts receivables.
• Maintain the security of confidential information.
• Signatory on payrolls, payables, wire letters, and other banking transactions.
• Serve as tax compliance officer for Burlington Electric Department, maintaining responsibility for all tax matters.
• Manage and supervise the Supervisor of Billing and Analytics, who is responsible for BED’s meter-to-cash process, peak and energy forecasts, and monthly sales and revenue forecasts to support the Department’s annual budget.
• Oversee the collection of assets, bankruptcy processing, and account write-off.
• Coordinate with the City on the Department’s Deferred Compensation (“457”) Plan and ensure compliance with the Plan limits and other reporting requirements.
• Responsible for all treasury and cash management functions of the Department, including cash management policy, investment policy, line of credit authorization, leasing opportunities, and developing and maintaining contracts and positive business relationships with local and regional banks.
• Manage and supervise Finance and Accounting staff, including motivating, training, and evaluating employees; providing guidance and technical expertise; and leading and managing change.

Financial Planning & Analysis

• Support revenue requirement filings with the Public Utility Commission; may provide expert testimony.
• Support CFO and Manager of Strategy & Innovation in financial planning & analysis activities including annual and five-year operating and capital budget development, recommendations for cost containment and expense reduction, development of long-term capital and financing strategies, and decision support for major capital expenditures and new business ventures.
• Present the Department’s financial results to senior management and the Electric Commission.

Qualifications/Basic Job Requirements

• Demonstrated knowledge of accounting principles, internal controls, and financial accounting standards required; utility accounting experience preferred.
• Ability to actively support City diversity, equity, and cultural competency efforts within stated job responsibilities and work effectively across diverse cultures and constituencies.
• Experience with treasury/cash management and bond offerings preferred.
• Regular attendance is necessary and is essential to meeting the expectations of the job functions.
• Ability to interact and maintain cooperative relationships with employees, customers, Commissioners, City Councilors, other City Departments, legal counsel, regulatory agencies, other utility representatives, and members of the financial community.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as evidenced by ongoing trainings and professional development.
• Experience with grant and contract accounting or administration preferred.
• Demonstrated abilities in effective leadership, ethical behavior, and communication.
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing required.
• Experience with developing and implementing budgets and strategic and long-range financial plans preferred.
• Attendance at evening meetings, as well as occasional travel to conferences and workshops required.
• CPA license preferred.
• Successful criminal background check required.
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required, reasonable accommodations will be considered.
• Additional experience may be substituted for a degree requirement on a two-for-one year basis.
• A strong desire to improve service to internal and external customers and a high level of personal creativity, initiative, and enthusiasm to work in a constantly improving organization.
• Previous audit or audit management experience required.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred.
• High technical aptitude and proficiency with spreadsheet, complex data, and enterprise resource planning systems required.
• Eight (8) years of financial management and accounting experience required, including at least three (3) years of management or supervisory experience. Experience within an electric utility preferred.

Additional Information
Promoting a culture that reveres diversity and equity
The City of Burlington is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we are strongly committed to creating a dynamic and equitable work-force that mirrors the population and world that we serve. We do not discriminate on the basis of political or religious affiliation, race, color, national origin, place of birth, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, crime victim status, veteran status, disability, HIV positive status, or genetic information in employment or the provision of services.
In addition to being an equal opportunity employer we actively encourage applicants who can contribute to our growing diversity to apply.
Applications for our employment opportunities are only accepted online through our Government Jobs website.
For accessibility information or alternative formats, please contact Human Resources Department at 802-540-3057 or [email protected].