City Controller Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $90,716.54 - $119,456.35 Annually
Location : 810 Union Street, Norfolk, VA
Job Type: Unclassified
Job Number: 14268
Department: Finance
Division: City Controller
Opening Date: 07/30/2026
Closing Date: 8/10/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Description
Norfolk, Virginia is America's most authentic and urban waterfront city. Home to the world's largest naval station and the business, arts, and cultural center of Coastal Virginia, Norfolk has been rated a top place to live, work, play, and raise a family by numerous publications. Working for the City of Norfolk is an opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. With our commitment to competitive pay and a strong retirement package, you can do good for your community and do well for yourself. Join a caring workplace that proudly celebrates uniqueness, authenticity, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our residents.
The Department of Finance provides centralized structure and support for the City of Norfolk's financial operations, including financial reporting; debt and cash management; payroll; procurement; risk management; financial system administration and support; accounts payable; collections; retirement and parking financial operations. Finance's Financial Reporting division oversees the City's annual external audit, prepares the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), and ensures the integrity of the general ledger, while collaborating with every department to provide expert guidance. We foster a culture of hard work, camaraderie, and care for our people - making Finance an excellent place to build a career.
The City Controller oversees the Financial Accounting and Reporting division within the Department of Finance, ensuring adherence to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as established by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and compliance with federal, state, and local requirements. The role offers robust resources, training, and support, requires independent work with regular management updates, and expects proactive improvement initiatives with management buy-in and implementation. Overtime may be necessary during peak periods and to meet federal and state deadlines; while we strive to minimize extra hours and build a strong Financial Reporting team, fulfilling essential City obligations remains our top priority.
Essential Functions

• Directs all City accounting, auditing, and financial reporting functions, with a focus on accuracy and transparency.
• Manages Senior Accounting Managers to maintain balanced workloads and optimize team performance.
• Evaluates division processes to implement efficient workflows and drive continuous improvement.
• Mentors senior staff through structured training and oversight of independent projects.
• Establishes division goals aligned with broader City strategic initiatives.
• Leads coordination of the annual external audit process.
• Ensures Citywide compliance with GAAP and government accounting standards set by the GASB.
• Reviews and ensures the accuracy of financial documents and reports.
• Oversees financial reporting for all federal, state, and local grant awards.
• Assists in providing Citywide oversight of fiscal processes and the monitoring of internal controls.
• Develops internal controls, guidelines, and procedures for regulatory activities like cash management and accounting.
• Offers executive recommendations to enhance financial practices, regulatory compliance, and policy controls.
• Reviews financial software and system capabilities to maximize efficient use of financial resources.

Education/Experience
Required:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
  • Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in government or fund accounting.
• Minimum 5 years of direct supervisory experience managing municipal finance operations.

Additional Information & Requirements

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) preferred.

Work Schedule:

• Monday - Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm

Signing Bonus:

• This position is eligible for a $5,000 signing bonus.

• Regular full-time and permanent part-time employees may receive paid holidays, vacation and sick leave, employer paid pension plan, basic life insurance, voluntary participation in medical and dental, Section 457 deferred compensation, long-term disability, optional life insurance for self, spouse and children, medical and dependent care reimbursement plans, access to membership in credit union and employer provided parking.
  
• Special project/grant employees are generally eligible for the same benefits of regular full-time employees; however, retirement, life insurance and participation in health plans vary depending upon funding and authorization.
  
• Temporary/seasonal and part-time employees are generally only eligible for employer provided parking and access to membership in credit union.
  
• Retirement

If you are hired October 5, 2010, or after to a position with City of Norfolk Retirement System benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.
If you are hired January 1, 2022, or after to a position with Virginia Retirement System (VRS) benefits, you will be required to contribute five percent (5%) of your salary toward your retirement benefit. This will be a pre-tax payroll deduction.

• The Tuition Assistance Program is established to encourage employees toward continued self-development and education. Permanent full-time and permanent part-time classified, unclassified permanent, full-time special projects, and constitutional employees who have completed six months continuous service will be eligible to apply. The applicant's school of enrollment must be an accredited institution.

NOTE:
The benefits described above are broad generalizations. The specific benefits that an employee may be eligible for are governed by City regulations, as applicable to job type.
Non-City
Positions listed with a job type designation of "Non-City" are not subject to the benefits descriptions above. Refer to the content of the job posting for information regarding these positions.
01
The following Supplemental Questions are specific to the position for which you have applied to assist the hiring manager in screening applications for specific experience being sought. Please be specific in answering these questions as they will be used to evaluate which applications will be given further consideration in the process. Do not answer "see resume" or "see application" as these are not valid answers. Please note that if you are invited to be interviewed by the department, your responses to the following questions may be subject to verification.

• I understand and will answer the following supplemental questions completely and thoroughly.

02
If you were referred for this position by a current City of Norfolk employee, please provide the employee's full name, department, and job title, and your relationship to the employee. If not, please indicate by typing "N/A."
03
Please select the highest level of education you have completed.

• High School Diploma/GED
• Some College (6 months or more)
• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or higher

04
Do you have a bachelor's or master's degree in accounting or finance?

• Yes
• No

05
How many years of experience do you have in accounting and/or finance?

• Less than 7 years of experience
• 7-10 years of experience
• 11-14 years of experience
• More than 15 years of experience

06
Describe your experience adopting and implementing new accounting standards (e.g., GASB or GAAP updates), including your role and the outcome. If you do not have this experience, please enter "N/A."
07
Describe your experience supervising, managing, and leading a team, including the size and function of the team.
08
Describe your experience developing and implementing strategies to improve processes, efficiency, and effectiveness in the workplace. If you do not have this experience, please enter "N/A."
09
Describe your experience with federal, state or local grants.
10
Describe your role in preparing the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) or other audited financial statements.
11
Describe your experience with financial reporting for capital projects, including your involvement with note disclosures and fund accounting.
12
This position is classified as Essential and may require 24-hour shifts during inclement weather or emergencies, possibly from the Emergency Operations Center. Are you able and willing to accept this scheduling requirement?

• Yes
• No

13
Do you have the legal right to work in the United States and, upon employment, can you provide documentation to verify this?

• Yes
• No

14
Please provide an explanation of any periods of unemployment that are 30 days or longer. Indicate N/A if you have not experienced any periods of unemployment.
15
Are you a current or previous City of Norfolk employee?

• Yes - I am a current City of Norfolk Employee
• Yes - I am a previous City of Norfolk Employee
• No - I am not a previous or current City of Norfolk employee

16
Please indicate your veteran status. (A copy of your long form DD-214 may be required)

• I am not a Veteran
• I am a Veteran
• I am a Disabled Veteran

Required Question