Senior Accountant - Central Accounting

City of Fort Lauderdale, FL

$69K — $107K *
Legal & Accounting
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance or a related field
  • 3 to 5 years of accounting and/or fiscal management experience
  • 2 years of governmental accounting or auditing experience
  • Experience with budget review and fiscal analysis
  • Veterans Preference candidates must provide documentation

Responsibilities

  • Perform financial and administrative functions according to GAAP
  • Prepare reports for management and external agencies
  • Conduct monthly account reconciliations and maintain ledgers
  • Assist with audits by providing documentation and explanations
  • Prepare journal entries and account adjustments for accuracy
  • Monitor accounts receivable and follow up on overdue balances
  • Participate in developing and overseeing departmental budgets

Benefits

  • Six additional Management Vacation Days
  • Vehicle Allowance of $250/month
  • Participation in Florida Retirement System (FRS) with investment and pension options
  • Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program
Full Job Description
Salary: $69,302.27 - $107,424.51 Annually
Location : City Hall, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301, FL
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: FP032-15
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 07/07/2026
Closing Date: 7/22/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

POSITION SUMMARY
Performs responsible financial, administrative and supervisory work of considerable difficulty assisting the Chief Accountant, Controller or Treasurer. Responsibilities include professional level accounting duties, including general ledger reconciliation, financial reporting, audit preparation, grant reporting and payroll. Work is reviewed through conferences, study of regular and special reports, success in achieving established objectives, periodic external audits, a variety of internal checks, and by general observation.

This job classification is included within the bargaining unit represented by Federation of Public Employees and therefore is subject to the terms and conditions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the City of Fort Lauderdale and Federation of Public Employees.

This is a Management Category III position which includes six (6) additional Management Vacation Days and a Vehicle Allowance of $250/month.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential functions are the basic job duties that an employee must be able to perform, with or without reasonable accommodation. The list of essential functions, as outlined herein, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. The omission of a function does not preclude management from assigning essential duties not listed herein if such duties relate to the position.
  • Performs various administrative functions and accounting work according to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), established procedures, departmental guidelines and applicable regulatory requirements
  • Prepares and reviews financial reports for upper management, policymakers and other departments; prepares reports for internal and external agencies as required
  • Prepares monthly account reconciliations ensuring bank accounts are reconciled and revenue and expenditure transactions are recorded to the general ledger
  • Reconciles the accounting system with other city financial software to assure balances are recorded properly
  • Assists with internal and external audits, gathers and presents requested documents, and provides explanations of departmental policies and procedures
  • Prepares journal entries and account adjustments to ensure quality, accuracy, and completeness
  • Monitor accounts receivable aging and follow up on past-due balances
  • Prepares complex financial statements and supporting audit work papers, statistical information and notes for the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
  • Researches and provides solutions to financial discrepancies and other financial inquiries
  • Makes timely payments of employer and employee payroll taxes
  • Participates in the development of citywide budgets, the departmental budget, and monitors citywide and capital expenditures during the fiscal year
  • May be responsible for project management of new financial management systems
  • Analyzes organizational structures and systems to develop and recommend procedures, controls, and forms that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of fiscal operations
  • Performs related work as required

JOB REQUIREMENTS, PREFERENCES & WORK ENVIRONMENT

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS
  1. Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance or a closely related field
  2. Three (3) to five (5) years of professional accounting and/or fiscal management experience, including two (2) years governmental accounting or auditing.
  3. Additional qualifying experience or completion of coursework at an accredited college or university in a job-related field, may substitute on a year-for-year basis for the required experience or education.
  4. To claim Veterans' Preference, candidates must attach to the application a copy of military separation papers (DD214) and service-connected disability documentation (if applicable) to meet eligibility requirements as stipulated by Florida Statues. For additional information, please refer to the
Preferences:
1. Local government accounting or fiscal management work experience

As public servants, employees may be required to work immediately before, during, and/or after an emergency. All employees must be available and able to work assigned shifts as determined by their Department Heads.

PHYSICAL STANDARDS REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
The position is generally sedentary. Employees sit most of the time but may walk or stand for brief periods of time.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
HOW TO APPLY & SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The City of Fort Lauderdale receives a high volume of applications, so not every applicant who meets the minimum qualifications will be guaranteed an interview. Candidates are selected for interviews based on how closely their education and work experience match the specific requirements of the position.

Applicants will be subject to an extensive selection and screening process, which may include, but not be limited to evaluation of training and experience; written; oral and performance-based testing; skills assessment; interview; employment check, background investigation; medical examination; and drug screen. For Public Safety positions, the process additionally includes polygraph examinations and psychological evaluations. The expected duration of the selection process varies by position.

All applicants, including current City of Fort Lauderdale employees, need to fully detail their work experience on the employment application. Applicants must ensure that all required documents submitted are in a format that is acceptable, clear, and legible. It is the applicant's responsibility to update their online profile with accurate personal information, work history, education, and certifications each time they submit a new application. Incomplete applications may result in disqualification.

The City of Fort Lauderdale offers a comprehensive benefits package to all regular full-time employees including vacation, holiday, and sick leave as well as medical, dental, vision, life and short-term disability insurance.

Click for an overview of employment information including our benefits package.

Say "Hello" to the City of Fort Lauderdale and Say "Goodbye" to Your Student Loan! Under the U.S. Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, the remaining balance on your student loan may be forgiven after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments while working full-time at the City of Fort Lauderdale. Click for more information or to see if you qualify.

In addition to the competitive benefits package and salary, the City of Fort Lauderdale participates in the Florida Retirement System (FRS) which offers an investment option and a pension option and requires a 3% contribution from employees. All new City of Fort Lauderdale employees are automatically enrolled in FRS. Click to view additional information on the Florida Retirement System.

01

What is the highest level of education you have completed?
  • High School or Equivalent
  • Associates Degree
  • Bachelors Degree
  • Masters Degree or higher
  • None of the Above

02

How many years of paid work experience do you possess in in professional accounting or other phase of fiscal management, including preparing monthly account reconciliations and ensuring revenue and expenditure transactions are recorded to the general ledger? (This experience must be demonstrated in your application).
  • No experience
  • Less than 1 year
  • 1-2 years
  • 3-4 years
  • 5-6 years
  • 7 or more years

03

Thoroughly describe your experience as it relates to Question #2
04

Do you have experience with budget review and analysis? Please provide a brief summary of your experience.
  • Yes
  • No

05

Have you ever prepared or assisted with the preparation of an Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR)
  • Yes
  • No

06

Describe in detail your experience in ACFR preparation. Include the portions(s) for which you were directly responsible. If no experience, enter "None".
07

Describe your experience using Governmental Financial Software (e.g., PeopleSoft, Lawson, ERP etc.) - include the software used, your skill level, and number of years using it. If none, enter "None".
08

Describe your experience in Governmental accounting. Include your role(s), position(s) and the number of years of work experience.
09

Describe in detail your experience implementing financial policies, procedures and internal controls. Provide an example that best illustrates your level of expertise.
10

Please indicate your skill level with Microsoft Excel.
  • Beginner (General Spreadsheet Entry, Formatting)
  • Intermediate (Pivot Tables, Basic Formulas, Lookups)
  • Advanced (Mixed Range Reference, Multiple Layers of Nested Functions with Logic)
  • No Experience

11

Are you a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA), or CGFO, or CPFO?
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

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