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Controller (RPU)

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Controller (RPU)

Salary

$124,372.00 - $182,902.00 Annually

Location

Rochester MN 55906, MN

Job Type

Regular FT

Job Number

2026ERP3

Department

Rochester Public Utilities

Opening Date

12/10/2025

+ Description

+ Benefits

+ Questions

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The City of Rochester invites applications for:

Controller

Rochester Public Utilities

www.rpu.org

RPU, a division of the City of Rochester, MN, is the largest municipal utility in the State of Minnesota.

RPU serves over 5 7 ,000 electric customers and 42,000 water customers in a 60 square mile service area and has revenues nearing $161 million annually.

Vision- "We Will Set the Standard for Service"

Our vision is based on six core values which are Safety, Integrity, Service, Stewardship, Accountability, and Skill.

Limited Term Appointment:

This position anticipated to last 18 - 24 months to support the City of Rochester's implementation of a new Enterprise Recourse Planning software. This role is contingent upon the availability of allocated funds, as well as favorable performance by the incumbent.

Nature of Work

Reporting to the Director of Corporate Services, the Controller will lead all day-to-day operations of the Finance Department, including budget development and analysis, accounting for investments, accounts payable and receivable, billing and collections, general ledger accounting and reporting, relationship management with banks and other vendors, regulatory accounting and reporting, rate analysis and implementation and audit preparation. This position is responsible for the development, implementation and monitoring of accounting internal control practices, financial policies and metrics, and assists in the development of utility strategy and objectives, and the plans to achieve those objectives.

The Controller is charged with identifying new opportunities to improve efficiencies, eliminate backlogs, and respond proactively to other division's needs. S/he will need to analyze the existing processes and systems and work closely with the Director of Corporate Services and other administrators to streamline current systems, leverage new information technology, and establish standard operating procedures that provide maximum benefit to all parties involved.

2026 Starting salary is $124,372 to $146,318, depending on qualifications with advancement to $182,902.

To have your application considered in the first round of application review, apply before December 29th, 2025.

The City of Rochester will not sponsor or transfer visas for this position including F1 OPT STEM.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

*Staff Leadership

+ Provide overall direction and supervision for the Finance and Accounting Division including delegation of tasks and work assignments.

+ Establish procedures and guidelines and monitor workloads.

+ Provide training and identify training requirements.

+ Evaluate job performance. Provide coaching and recommending staff actions when necessary.

*Business Services Leadership

+ Deliver business leadership that includes developing, promoting and implementing effective solutions to provide support to the changing demands and expectations facing the business units and functional areas of the organization.

+ Monitor the effectiveness of the business unit to ensure that Finance and Accounting is trusted and perceived to be an approachable organization resource.

+ Actively support and promote RPU's mission, vision and values.

+ Align business unit goals with the goals, objectives and strategies of the utility.

*Annual Budgeting Process

+ Be responsible for coordinating the annual budgeting and planning process.

+ Administer and review all financial plans and compare to actual results with a view to identify, explain, and correct variances as appropriate.

+ Develops the budget process and makes process improvements.

*Accounting Practices

+ Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) standards and regulatory requirements.

+ Maintain internal control and safeguards for receipt of revenue, costs, and program budgets and actual expenditures.

+ Monitor transactions for compliance with established internal control practices and accounting standards

+ Coordinate all audit activity, which consists of both a financial audit and regulatory Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) audit.

+ Consistently analyze financial data and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner. Clearly communicate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.

+ Monitor progress and changes and keep senior leadership abreast of RPU's financial status.

+ Support the Director Corporate Services in engaging the board's audit and finance committees around issues and trends in financial operating models and delivery.

Other Finance Accountabilities

+ Manage organizational cash flow forecasting. Continuously collaborate with senior leadership to assess the financial reserves targets.

+ Manage and track the performance of invested assets in keeping with policies and investment guidelines.

+ Provide for the day to day management of RPU's debt program. Assist the Director Corporate Services in debt issuance and refunding issues, which includes managing the relationships with financial advisors, underwriters and rating agencies.

+ Provide oversight to consultants preparing the cost of service studies and rate development.

+ Supports the Director Corporate Services in engaging the board's finance committee around rate setting issues and trends to appropriately set rate methodology.

+ Manage the utility billing and collections functions to ensure timely and accurate billing occurs and provide customers with multiple secured methods of making payments. Ensure that collections practices comply with applicable statutes and regulations. Confirm amounts are collected when due or appropriate follow-up action occurs when balances become overdue.

Perform other duties as assigned or necessary.

*ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

A Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance or closely related field from an accredited four-year college or university AND seven (7) years of full-time employment experience in general and/or governmental accounting, cost/project accounting, auditing and internal controls, financial cost analysis, financial reporting, and budgeting; with at least three (3) years of supervisory/management/leadership experience directing professional and support accounting staff.

Licenses and Certifications

Valid driver's license

Desirable Qualifications

+ Masters in Accounting (MA), Master of Business Administration (MBA) or other related degree.

+ Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO), or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designations.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the following represents the physical and environmental demands for this position. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions with or without accommodation.

In consideration of the overall amount of physical effort required to perform this position, the work is best described as Sedentary Work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and all other sedentary criteria are met.

Physical demands that may be required continuously (2/3 or more of the time), frequently (1/3 to 2/3 of the time), and occasionally (up to 1/3 of the time) are noted below:

Continuous demands: sitting; fine dexterity

Frequent demands: walking, standing

Occasional demands: reaching, handling, kneeling, bending

Sensory requirements necessary in the performance of the essential functions of this position include sight.

Environmental conditions that may exist in the performance of the essential functions of this job include: NONE (not substantially exposed to environmental conditions)

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT AND RETIREMENT SUMMARY (https://www.rochestermn.gov/home/showdocument?id=36371&t=637988555643816877)

01

The following supplemental information may be used as a scored evaluation of your knowledge, skills and experience. Be certain that the choices you make correspond to the information you have provided in your application and resume. You must be honest and accurate in answering the supplemental questions and do not type "see resume". You may also be asked to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a work sample or during an interview for this position. By completing this supplemental questionnaire you are attesting that the information you have provided is true and accurate. Any information provided may be reviewed by the hiring manager. Any misstatements or falsification of information will eliminate you from consideration or may result in dismissal. Do you understand and agree with this statement?

+ Yes

+ No

02

What is your preferred name?

03

Will you now or in the future require sponsorship for employment visa status (e.g., H-1B visa status)?

+ Yes

+ No

04

Do you have a valid driver's license?

+ Yes

+ No

05

Which of the following best describes your level of education?

+ High school diploma or equivalent G.E.D.

+ Less than 2 years post-secondary training

+ Completion of a 2 year program or degree

+ Completion of a 4 year program or degree

+ Completion of a Master's degree

+ Completion of a Doctorate degree

+ None of the above

06

Other than your High School diploma/GED, which of the following best describes the field of study for your major/degree?

+ Business Administration

+ Accounting

+ Finance

+ Economics

+ A field of study closely related to the above

+ My degree is in an area NOT RELATED to any of the above

+ N/A - I do not have a degree

07

Which of the following accounting-related certifications/designations do you currently possess? (Select all that apply)

+ Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

+ Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

+ Certified Financial Manager (CFM)

+ Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)

+ Certified Financial Planner (CFP)

+ Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)

+ Enrolled Agent (EA)

+ Certified Government Financial Manager (CGFM)

+ Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO)

+ Other (List below)

+ N/A - I do not possess any accounting-related certifications/designations

08

Which of the following best describes your years of full-time employment experience in governmental accounting, cost/project accounting, auditing and internal controls, financial cost analysis, financial reporting, or budgeting?

+ No experience

+ Less than 2 years

+ More than 2 years, but less than 5

+ More than 5 years, but less than 7

+ More than 7 years, but less than 9

+ More than 9 years, but less than 12

+ 12 or more years

09

Tell us how your professional, educational and lived experiences would help you be successful in this role.

10

Which of the following best describes the size of the organization, in terms of total annual revenues where you obtained a majority of your years of fulltime accounting and/or finance experience?

+ Less than $500,000

+ More than $500,000, but less than $2,500,000

+ More than $2,500,000, but less than $10,000,000

+ More than $10,000,000, but less than $25,000,000

+ More than $25,000,000, but less than $50,000,000

+ More than $50,000,000, but less than $100,000,000

+ More than $100,000,000

+ N/A - None of the above

11

Which of the following best describes the size of the organization, in terms of total number of customers or citizens, where you obtained a majority of your years of fulltime accounting and/or finance experience?

+ Less than 2,000

+ More than 2,000, but less than 5,000

+ More than 5,000, but less than 10,000

+ More than 10,000, but less than 20,000

+ More than 20,000, but less than 50,000

+ More than 50,000, but less than 100,000

+ 100,000 or more

+ N/A - I do not have any experience in this area

12

Did your years of full-time employment experience in governmental accounting, cost/project accounting, auditing and internal controls, financial cost analysis, financial reporting, or budgeting include performing any of the following? (Select all that apply)

+ Perform monthly variance analysis for financial statements and provide explanations to senior management or governing organization.

+ Manage or perform the entity's billing, collections and cash flow forecasting activity.

+ Recommend and implement needed process improvements and automation of financial operations, software systems and analysis to improve productivity and internal control

+ Perform monthly controls reviews of reports, journal entries and purchase authorizations to ensure that items produced are authorized, timely and accurate

+ Assist senior management or the operating departments by performing detailed analysis for more complex operational issues with financial impacts.

+ Plan and monitor processes, such as monthly financial closings, and reconciliations to ensure that routine daily, weekly, monthly and/or annual activity is completed on a timely and accurate basis

+ N/A - None of the above

13

Does your professional accounting-related employment experience include working with any of the following? (Select all that apply)

+ Annual Budgets

+ Multi Year Budgets

+ Long Term Financial Projections

+ Fund Accounting

+ Financial Statement Reporting for Fund Based Entity

+ Financial Reporting for a Publicly Traded Entity

+ Financial Reporting for a Non Public Entity

+ Bond Issuance and Bond Reporting

+ Compliance Based Reporting

+ Cost of Service Rate Base Calculations

+ Internal Controls Implementation

+ Job Cost Accounting

+ Purchase Process Controls

+ Capital Assets Accounting, Unitization

+ Payroll processing and reporting

+ Inventories

+ Sales and Use Tax calculations

+ Accounts Receivable

+ Collections

+ Accounts Payable

+ N/A - None of the above

14

Which of the following best describes your years of full-time employment experience in a supervisory/management/leadership role directing professional and accounting support staff?

+ Less than 1 year

+ More than 1 year, but less than 2

+ More than 2 years, but less than 3

+ More than 3 years, but less than 4

+ More than 4 years, but less than 5

+ More than 5 years, but less than 7

+ More than 7 years, but less than 10

+ 10 or more years

+ N/A - I have no employment experience supervising other staff

15

Which of the following best describes the number of staff that you oversee or direct:

+ 1 to 2 staff

+ 3 to 5 staff

+ 6 to 8 staff

+ 9 to 10 staff

+ More than 10 staff

+ N/A - I do not direct or oversee any staff

16

Did your years of full-time employment experience in a supervisory, management, or leadership role directing professional and accounting support staff include performing any of the following? (Select all that apply)

+ Hiring, selecting or promoting employees

+ Conducting performance appraisals

+ Disciplining or reprimanding employees

+ Adjusting employee grievances

+ Scheduling employees and time off requests

+ Approving timecards

+ Employee development and/or training

+ Assisting in the analysis and direction of the work of personnel who were not direct reports

+ N/A - I have no formal supervisory experience

17

Did your years of full-time employment experience in a supervisory, management, or leadership role include any of the following? (Select all that apply)

+ Leading organizational culture, communicating mission, vision, core competencies and how your team advances the organizations goals.

+ Leading or participating in a strategic planning process including development of desired outcomes and implantation of short- and long-term goals.

+ Collaborating with vendors, elected officials, governmental and regulatory agencies, municipalities and counties.

+ Effectively evaluating and implementing new ideas, policies, and procedures to improve service, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability.

+ Continuously monitoring and evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of service delivery to your customers.

+ Planning, coordinating, leading, and monitoring complex projects, preparing work plans, developing protocols and standards, and defining and appropriately measuring results.

+ None of the above

18

Which of the following best describes your overall employment experience managing or leading projects?

+ N/A - I have no experience in this area

+ Limited - I have been responsible for managing project(s) with a predetermined scope and timeline, involving a single process or functional area.

+ Moderate - I have been responsible for managing complex project(s) with a broader scope and undefined timeline, providing work direction to internal resources, and involving multiple functional areas. I have had training in project management techniques and best practices.

+ Extensive - I have been responsible for initiating, designing and executing individual project plans; defining the scope and establishing the timeline; monitoring the project budget; providing work direction to internal and external resources; and involving multiple functional areas and/or entities.

19

Which of the following best describes your overall employment experience leading or as a team member of a financial software system implementation project?

+ Limited - I have been responsible for assisting with a financial software system implementation project by testing system results during implementation.

+ Moderate - I have led the implementation of one or more modules of a financial software system involved in the design, testing, training, implementation, and post-go live stabilization of those module(s).

+ Extensive - I have been responsible for initiating, designing and executing financial system software implementation project plans; defining the scope and establishing the timeline; monitoring the project budget; coordinating the work of internal lead personnel responsible for individual software modules, coordinating the contracting for and use of external software consultants; and updating/involving executive project sponsors as needed.

+ N/A - I have no experience in this area

20

Which of the following best describes your experience appearing before and providing information to executive teams and entity boards/councils?

+ Limited - I have attended executive team and/or entity board/council meetings and/or hearings

+ Moderate - I have presented information at executive team and/or entity board/council meetings and/or hearings

+ Extensive - I regularly appear before and provide information to executive team and/or entity board/council meetings

+ N/A - I have no experience in this area

21

Please indicate the accounting software programs that you are experienced in using. (Select all that apply)

+ Oracle

+ PeopleSoft

+ JD Edwards

+ SAP

+ Lawson

+ OTHER - List below

+ N/A - None of the above

22

Please indicate the current versions of software that you are PROFICIENT in using: (select all that apply)

+ Microsoft Office Excel

+ Microsoft Power BI

+ Microsoft SharePoint

+ Microsoft Access, SQL or other similar database software

+ Cognos, Cetova or other similar report writing/budget/forecasting/analytic systems

+ ImageNow, Laserfiche or other Enterprise Document Management System

+ None of the above

23

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT: City policy requires that finalists are required to undergo a background investigation which may include, but not limited to: verification of employment and educational records, identification verification, driver's license record and a criminal history. Please note that a criminal conviction does not automatically disqualify an applicant from consideration for employment with the City of Rochester. If selected as a finalist, are you willing to undergo a background investigation?

+ Yes

+ No

Required Question

Employer

City of Rochester

Address

201 4th Street SE Rochester, Minnesota, 55904

Phone

(507) 328-2555

Website

https://www.rochestermn.gov/employment

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