Senior Director - Financial Services/Controller

Salary: $148,616.00 - $297,232.00 Annually
Location : Headquarters: 2800 U.S. Hwy 281 N., San Antonio, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number:
Department: Financial Services
Opening Date: 11/13/2026
Closing Date: 12/13/2026 11:59 PM Central

This position is open until filled, but resume review will begin as soon as possible with scheduled interviews to follow.

Interested applicants should apply online and include a cover letter and resume

Job Description

JOB SUMMARY
The Senior Director - Financial Services/Controller provides strategic and operational leadership for the San Antonio Water System's (SAWS) accounting, payroll, and accounts payable functions and is accountable for the integrity, accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of accounting records. The position directs financial close and reconciliation processes, establishes accounting policies and internal controls, and serves as the organization's principal technical accounting resource. Working with the SVP - Chief Financial Officer and the Senior Director - Treasurer, this position resolves complex accounting matters, strengthens financial processes and systems, and ensures timely delivery of reconciled accounting records and supporting schedules.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
• Directs monthly and year-end financial close processes; establishes close calendars, reconciliation standards, documentation requirements, and review procedures; and ensures account balances are supported, and reconciling items are investigated and resolved within established deadlines.
• Selects, supervises, trains, develops, and evaluates assigned staff.
• Interprets and applies applicable accounting standards, laws, and requirements, including Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards and generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidance where applicable. Provides technical accounting guidance and coordinates accounting conclusions affecting financial statements with the Senior Director - Treasurer.
• Establishes, maintains, and monitors internal controls over assigned financial processes, including transaction authorization, segregation of duties, account reconciliations, and financial system access in coordination with Information Systems. Identifies control deficiencies, directs corrective action, and escalates significant risks.
• Directs payroll and accounts payable operations to ensure accurate, timely, properly authorized, and appropriately documented payments, compliance with applicable requirements and organization policies, and effective controls over payroll changes, vendor records and disbursements.
• Oversees the general ledger and chart of accounts; ensures transactions are accurately classified, recorded, and supported. Researches accounting pronouncements and complex transactions, documents accounting conclusions, and directs implementation of required changes within assigned functions.
• Develops, recommends, implements, and maintains documented accounting policies and procedures that promote consistent application of accounting requirements, reliable records, effective controls, and clear accountability across assigned functions.
• Manages the payment of wages and distribution of payments in accordance with federal, state, and local regulations, as well as organizational policies.
• Leads improvements to accounting processes and systems in coordination with Information Systems and affected business functions. Ensures system changes and interfaces are tested, reconciled, documented, and communicated before implementation to preserve data integrity, internal controls, and operational continuity.
• Assists in efforts to communicate the necessity for rate adjustments to stakeholder groups including business and community groups, the Board of Trustees, the City Public Utilities Office and City Council.
• Serves as a technical resource to external auditors, organizational leadership, and the Board of Trustees on accounting matters within assigned functions.
• Directs audit readiness for accounting, payroll, and accounts payable; ensures timely and complete supporting documentation and responses to internal and external audit inquiries; and oversees corrective action for findings within assigned functions.
• Forecasts, allocates, and monitors the human, physical, and financial resources for the assigned areas.
• Develops and implements measures to analyze and improve divisional efficiencies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

DECISION MAKING
• This position receives limited supervision; reports to the SVP - Chief Financial Officer.
• Exercises independent professional judgment in interpreting accounting requirements, resolving complex accounting matters, establishing procedures, and directing financial close and control activities within delegated authority. Advises the SVP - Chief Financial Officer on significant accounting judgments, proposed adjustments, and control deficiencies.
• Ensures accounting records supporting $1 billion in annual revenues and $10 billion in assets are complete, accurate, reconciled, and available within established financial reporting deadlines.
• Supervises assigned staff.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Licensed as a Certified Public Accountant.
• Eight years' experience in accounting administration and financial reporting or auditing of those functions; including experience with designing, evaluating, implementing and/or auditing computerized financial systems and internal controls related to financial transactions, including five years' supervisory experience in the accounting or auditing field.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Master's Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Experience in enterprise accounting, complex capital asset accounting, and providing reconciled accounting records and supporting schedules for financial statement preparation and audits.
• Experience in Public Accounting.

JOB DIMENSIONS
• Knowledge of professional standards including enterprise accounting and financial reporting standards, generally accepted accounting principles and generally accepted auditing standards.
• Knowledge of general ledger administration, financial close, account reconciliations, payroll, accounts payable, and accounting analysis.
• Skill in using enterprise financial systems, spreadsheet and data analysis tools, relational databases, and presentation software to reconcile records, investigate discrepancies, and provide reliable accounting information.
• Skill in using Microsoft software, including Word, Excel, and Access.
• Skill in providing effective and persuasive presentations on controversial or complex topics to executive management, community groups and/or Board of Trustees.
• Skill in analyzing and interpreting complex accounting data, documenting technical conclusions, communicating financial reporting implications, and recommending corrective actions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external customers, consultants, vendors, and local public agencies.
• Ability to communicate effectively, verbally and in writing.
• Ability to develop, implement, and assess internal controls, identify deficiencies, and direct sustainable corrective action.
• Ability to thoroughly understand complex data interfaces between various financial systems and identify changes to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of those interfaces as necessary.
• Ability to respond effectively to the most sensitive inquiries and concerns.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, meet close deadlines, and coordinate timely resolution of accounting issues across organizational functions.
• Ability to exhibit high standards of business and personal ethical conduct, leadership, teamwork, positive attitude, initiative and problem-solving skills.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING CONDITIONS
Working conditions are primarily in an office environment. Requires visual acuity, speech, hearing, and manual dexterity necessary to operate basic office equipment.

May be required to work hours other than regular schedule such as nights and weekends.
San Antonio Water System values the contributions of all its employees, providing them the best in compensation and benefits. The benefits package is designed to attract and retain a workforce of qualified employees who share a responsibility in providing quality water to 1 million consumers.
From an affordable medical and dental plan to life-sustaining retirement and insurance plans, we offer benefits that reward employees for their commitment to a challenging career at SAWS. Employee benefits include the following:

• Competitive, market-based salaries
• Performance-based incentives
• Medical benefits
• Dental benefits
• Life insurance
• Prescription drug program
• Vision care plan
• Two retirement plans
• Deferred compensation plans (457 plan)
• Disability income
• Paid leave (vacation, sick, personal)
• Education assistance program
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible, tax-deferred health and dependent care spending accounts
• Wellness programs
• On-Site Fitness Facilities
• Community service opportunities

Click on the link for additional information regarding benefits:
01

Do you have a Bachelor's Degree or higher level of education in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or related field from an institution accredited by a recognized accrediting agency?

• Yes
• No

02

Are you licensed as a Certified Public Accountant?

• Yes
• No

03

How many years of experience do you have in accounting administration and financial reporting or auditing of those functions; including experience with designing, evaluating, implementing and/or auditing computerized financial systems and internal controls related to financial transactions?

• No experience
• Less than 4 years of experience
• Between 4 and 6 years of experience
• Between 7 years of experience but less than 8 years of experience
• 8 years or more of experience

04

Describe the largest and most complex accounting operation for which you have had direct responsibility. Include annual revenues, total assets, and annual operating budget. If none, enter N/A.
05

Describe the most significant financial system implementation, upgrade, conversion, or integration you have led or supported. Explain your role in requirements, testing, data conversion, interfaces, reconciliations, internal controls, and post-implementation validation. If none, enter N/A.
06

How many years of supervisory experience do you have in the accounting or auditing field?

• No experience
• Less than 3 years of experience
• Between 3 years of experience but less than 5 years of experience
• 5 years or more of experience

07

Describe your supervisory experience, including the positions you have supervised, the number of direct and indirect reports, and list the departments you directly oversaw, include any experience with Payroll or Accounts Payable. If none, enter N/A.
08

Provide an example of a significant financial process improvement you implemented and the measurable impact on the organization. If none, enter N/A.
09

Describe the most complex accounting issue you have personally researched and resolved. Identify the applicable accounting guidance, how you reached and documented your conclusion, and the impact of your recommendation on the organization's financial statements. If none, enter N/A.
10

Describe your experience accounting for significant capital assets or capital improvement programs. Include the approximate value of the asset base or capital program and your responsibilities related to capitalization, construction-in-progress, depreciation, retirements, reconciliations, or related financial reporting. If none, enter N/A.
Required Question