Controller

Position: Controller

Pay Grade: 46

Union Affiliation: EPPMTEA

Reports To: Director of Finance

Summary: Under the supervision of the Director of Finance, the Controller performs professional, administrative, and technical work in planning, coordinating, and managing the financial operations of the City. The Controller oversees daily activities in accounting, budgeting, procurement, treasury, and financial reporting and ensures compliance with federal, state, and municipal financial requirements. The Controller manages the City’s financial systems and internal controls and leads preparation for annual audits. The Controller assists in the development of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and maintains required records, accounts, and actuarial data for the City’s Policemen’s and Firemen’s Pension System. The Controller performs related duties as assigned.

Responsibilities: The following serve as examples of the responsibilities of the position and is not intended to be a comprehensive and limited list.

• Manages the daily financial operations of the department, including accounting, budgeting, procurement, and treasury.
• Supports the Director of Finance during the City’s budget process.
• Supervises the Senior Accountant, Budget Analyst, and other finance staff.
• Monitors revenues, expenditures, cash flow, and financial trends.
• Oversees state and federal grants and required reporting.
• Coordinate the annual financial audit and assist with audit preparation.
• Maintains the City's fixed asset records and inventory processes.
• Support financial software implementation and system improvements.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly financial reports for City leadership.
• Manages all budgetary requirements and financial reporting for City bond issuances
• Oversees the general accounting systems for the City and each of their respective offices, departments, divisions, and agencies.
• Oversees the disbursement of all municipal funds and exercises control over all expenditures to ensure that budget appropriations are not exceeded.
• Monitors and updates financial controls and policies and procedures within the City and coordinates with auditors, department heads, and the Director of Finance to implement changes and best practices.
• Retains custody of all public funds, bonds, notes, and the investment of idle funds.
• Oversees the bid process, including posting, analysis, recommendations, and execution.
• Ensures that reporting between the City and all utilities (telecommunication, water and electric) is accurate and timely and analyzes utility provider performance.
• Working with vendors, the Department of Information Technology (IT), and other related departments to implement finance related software services.
• Maintains a computerized Fixed Asset system.
• Analyzes financial data, revenue collection trends, cash flow projections and periodic budget-to-actual departmental reporting and makes recommendations to the Director of Finance and department heads.
• Manages data reported to the Rhode Island Department of Revenue’s Financial Reporting Portal.
• Maintains required records, accounts, and actuarial data for the City’s Policemen’s and Firemen’s Pension System, including the preparation of accurate periodic and annual financial and investment reports, the processing of monthly benefit payments, and the fulfilment of duties assigned by board directives and statutory requirements.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills, and Experience:

• Experience in municipal finance in a supervisory role.
• Effective leadership and interpersonal skills used in the management of people and systems.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Professional certifications or degrees such as CPM, CPA, or MBA.
• Experience in the writing and management of grants.
• Proficiency with office productivity software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, and Teams.
• Experience using financial software used in municipalities such as MIP, QDS, Vision, Harris, Infinite Vision, and OpenGov.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Attention to detail, accuracy and timeliness.

Minimum Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree in finance, business administration, accounting, or a finance related field.
• Five years of professional employment in an administrative capacity involving the supervision of budget development, accounting, auditing, purchasing, investment, collection, and grant accounting.

Examination Weight: Oral 100 %

Application Procedure:  Apply on the City of East Providence Employment website on ADP Workforce Now. 

Application Deadline: April 30, 2026