Salary: $139,769.00 - $184,496.00 Annually
Location : City of Thornton; City Hall, CO
Job Type: Regular Full-Time
Job Number: 26143
Department: Finance
Division: Finance
Opening Date: 06/04/2026
Closing Date: 6/30/2026 5:00 PM Mountain
FLSA: Exempt
WORK HOURS: STANDARD 40 HOUR WORKWEEK
PROBATION: None, not career service
STATUS 2: FLSA EXEMPT/EXCLUDED
BENEFITS: SEE BENEFITS TAB

Under administrative direction, the Controller manages all general accounting functions for the City.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
(Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.)

Manages accounting functions in the city including general accounting, financial reporting, internal audits, customer service, fixed assets, project accounting, and intergovernmental accounting. Coordinates debt service, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and grant accounting.

Prepares various budgetary, financial, and statistical reports, including routine periodic reports such as monthly expenditure and revenue reports; coordinates financial matters and issues with other city departments. Supervises the preparation and distribution of the city's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Assists external auditors in the annual audit.

Performs internal financial audits to ensure proper recording and reporting in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards. Coordinates, oversees, or participates in special accounting projects.

Responsible for financial software program, including determining appropriate business processes, business policies and internal controls, training end-users, resolving problems, and ensuring the integrity of information.

Assists in the development and implementation of accounting systems, control systems, and reporting procedures. Recommends, implements and monitors internal controls for receipting revenues, tracking expenditures and disbursing funds.

Assists with preparation of the budget, collecting data, organizing material, conducting research, and making recommendations.

Assists Finance Director with financial planning and projections.

Manages, supervises and directs the activities of assigned staff and functions; makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline, termination or advancement of employees. Schedules employees, assigns work, and monitors progress; guides, trains and develops employees in the accomplishment of their duties and professional growth; evaluates performance.

Communicates with staff through staff meetings and employee briefings; resolves issues and problems associated with accounting division.

Prepares and presents staff reports and other necessary documents or correspondence to appropriate boards, groups, and/or committees.

Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field from an accredited college or university; five years' experience in progressively responsible financial accounting, including two years' supervisory or lead experience. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered.

Licensing/Certification Requirements:
Registration as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred.

May need the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as the job requires.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Knowledge of the policies, procedures and goals of the city of Thornton and the department.
Knowledge of and ability to apply theory, principles, practices, and methods of governmental accounting, including GAAP and GASB statements and pronouncements.
Knowledge of state and local statutes, ordinances, resolutions, and charter requirements relating to municipal finance and budgeting.
Knowledge of the theories, methods, and practices of financial auditing and automated accounting.
Skill in developing and maintaining detailed, accurate financial records, reports and statistical analyses of municipal projects and funds.
Skill in performing standard and more complex mathematical computations.
Ability to interpret, understand, and follow complex laws, statutes, ordinances, regulations, standards, and guidelines relating to municipal finance and budgeting.
Ability to monitor municipal budgets and to make appropriate decisions and recommendations.
Ability to demonstrate consistent exercise of discretion and independent judgment.
Ability to supervise and perform internal financial audits, special accounting projects and complex accounting tasks.
Ability to coordinate financial matters and issues with other city departments; ability to prepare and present staff reports and financial documents.
Ability to supervise, direct and train employees.
Ability to use standard office equipment and computer software including personal computers, automated financial systems, electronic mail, word processing, spreadsheet applications and data base management.
Ability to research, develop and lead formal and informal presentations and discussions with diverse groups.
Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city employees, other agencies, and the public.

Physical and Mental Requirements:
While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to finger, talk, hear, and make repetitive motions. This position is mostly sedentary work; exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. The employee is required to have close visual acuity.

TESTING PROCEDURES
Examinations may include but are not limited to application screening beyond minimum qualifications; written, oral, practical exercise or any combination thereof or other job related assessment deemed appropriate by Human Resources.

Your application will be used as a screening tool. Completeness and accuracy are important! Any false or untrue statements or material omissions in the application and related paperwork or during the selection process could disqualify you from consideration.

The City of Thornton offers employees an outstanding benefits package. Benefit eligibility is based on the status of the position. Please email [email protected] to receive a copy of our current Benefits Guide.

Benefits offered may include the following depending on the job type/status of the position:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Life, Dependent Life & Supplemental Life Insurance Options
• Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment Policy
• Flexible Spending Plan
• Post Employment Health Plan
• Retirement & Deferred Compensation Plans
• Short & Long-term Disability Plans
• Paid Holidays
• Vacation & Sick Leave
• Multilingual Incentive Pay
• Recreation Pass
• Wellness Program
• In-House Training Opportunities
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program

01

This position requires at least a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a related field and five years of experience in progressively responsible financial accounting. Do you meet this minimum qualification? (Your application must support your response to this question.)

• Yes
• No

02

This position requires at least two years of lead or supervisory experience. Do you have at least two years of lead or supervisory experience? (Your application must support your response.)

• Yes
• No

03

Do you hold a current CPA certification?

• Yes
• No

04

How many years of experience do you have in financial accounting roles with increasing responsibilities?

• 0-2 years
• 3-4 years
• 5-6 years
• 7 years or more

05

Are you proficient in GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles)?

• Yes
• No

06

Are you familiar with GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) rules and regulations?

• Yes
• No

07

How many years of experience do you have preparing or overseeing financial statements?

• 0-2 years
• 3-4 years
• 5-6 years
• 7 years or more

08

Have you ever implemented financial policies or procedures to improve team efficiency?

• Yes
• No

09

If you answered "yes" to the question above, please describe your work experience implementing financial policies or procedures to improve team efficiency.
10

Do you have experience auditing financial records or working with external auditors?

• Yes
• No

11

How many years of experience do you have supervising or mentoring a team?

• 0-2 years
• 3-4 years
• 5-6 years
• 7 years or more

12

Have you worked in a role requiring collaboration with various departments across an organization?

• Yes
• No

13

Do you have experience in implementing financial reporting software or ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar)?

• Yes
• No

14

If you answered "yes" to the question above, please describe your work experience implementing financial reporting software or ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar).
15

Do you have experience managing banking and credit card processes?

• Yes
• No

16

If you answered "yes" to the question above, please describe your work experience managing banking and credit card processes.
Required Question