Chief Accounting Officer

ABOUT THE ROLE This is accounting management work directing all sections and activities of the City's central accounting agency through subordinate managers and supervisors. The employee provides high-level strategic thinking to the Director of Finance, advocates for key outcomes and strategies to improve the city's financial health, and provides oversight, leadership, and direction to central Finance accounting staff. The role involves establishing and implementing City-wide accounting policy, setting overall goals, objectives, and priorities within the Accounting Bureau, and overseeing comprehensive financial reporting for the City. The employee reports to the Director of Finance. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES - Direct all sections and activities of the City's central accounting agency through subordinate managers and supervisors - Provide high-level strategic thinking to the Director of Finance and advocate for key outcomes to improve the city's financial health and recordkeeping - Provide oversight, leadership, and direction to central Finance accounting staff - Set policy and direction for, and give guidance on, all accounting matters to departmental accounting staff citywide and high-level city officials - Establish and implement City-wide accounting policy and set overall goals, objectives, and priorities within the Accounting Bureau - Implement financial mandates set forth by the Director of Finance and oversee all comprehensive financial reporting for the City - Work with administrative, legislative, and departmental officials to implement fiscal policies - Testify at City Council and before other boards and hearings - Provide information on the financial state of the City to media, legislators, government agents, and representatives of the financial and economic community MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - Presently employed by the City of Philadelphia with permanent Civil Service status in the Finance Department with a performance rating of Satisfactory or higher - Completion of a bachelor's degree program at an accredited college or university with major coursework in accounting - Nine years of accounting experience, five of which includes supervisory accounting experience - One year of managerial accounting experience as the Accounting Director - Any equivalent combination of experience determined to be acceptable by the Office of Human Resources that has included the bachelor's degree with major coursework in accounting and specific experience described above SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS - Candidates who meet all eligibility requirements within 6 months of the application deadline will be admitted to the examination - Candidates must submit a copy of their official college or university transcript(s) indicating completion of the educational requirement and all required licenses, registrations, or certifications at the time of application - Candidates with a degree from foreign colleges or universities must submit proof of degree as certified by a professional evaluation service - Preference for Philadelphia residents who have maintained a bona fide residence in Philadelphia for at least one year prior to the date of the civil service examination SELECTION PROCESS - Departmental-Only Promotional eligible list for the City of Philadelphia's Department of Finance will be established - Candidates will be evaluated and scored based upon their training and experience credentials (90% weight) and seniority rating (10% weight) - An Eligible List will be established the week of 09/21/2026 - Candidates who pass the exam and are placed on the civil service list will be retained on the list for a minimum of one year and a maximum of two years - Candidates may review their answer sheets and other test papers within 30 days after results have been mailed to determine if they have been scored correctly HOW TO APPLY - Only an online application will be accepted; paper applications will not be accepted - Closing Date: 8/30/2026 11:59 PM Eastern - Candidates MUST submit a copy of their official college or university transcript(s) and all required licenses, registrations, or certifications at the time of application - Documents can be uploaded into the account and attached to the application, or submitted as paper copies to: Melanie M Chalmers, City of Philadelphia - Office of Human Resources, 1401 JFK Blvd., Room 1530, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1675 - Contact: Melanie M Chalmers, Phone: 215-686-2690, Email: Melanie.M.Chalmers@phila.gov - For all other inquiries contact Customer Service at 215-686-0880 or email hrhelpdesk@phila.gov EMPLOYMENT DETAILS - Employer: Philadelphia, City of (PA) - Department: FIN Finance - Job Type: Full-Time - FLSA: Exempt - Bargaining Unit: N - Competition: Department Only Promotional - Residency Waiver: No Waiver - Certification Rule: Rule of List - The City of Philadelphia is a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer