JOB TITLE: Controller

AGENCY: Metropolitan Water District

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA

FILING DEADLINE:  October 11, 2024

SALARY RANGE:  $209,997 - $274,997 Annually

The Position

The Controller is responsible for managing and supervising all accounting functions. Areas of responsibility include payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cost and financial reporting, accounting, plant and property accounting, general ledger accounting, and ensuring the timely and accurate reporting of the District’s financial information and compliance with all applicable administrative, accounting and financial standards. The position manages a staff of 36 with five direct reports and is mandated by the Metropolitan Act, Section 80, and signs all bonds issued by the District.

Duties include but may not be limited to the following:

• Develop the section’s business plan consistent with the CFO’s Business Plan, including milestones and performance metrics; develops and monitors section budget.
• Direct the preparation of the monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports, including the Annual Financial Report and the Annual Comprehensive Financial report.
• Direct the development and modification of District’s accounting and reporting systems in conformance with governmental GAAP, and management requirements to provide a timely, accurate and consistent basis for recording and reporting the District’s financial activities.
• Direct accounts payable and payroll activities, including evaluating controls, process improvements, and assuring appropriate resource allocations for timely and accurate processing.
• Select and assign staff, ensuring compliance with all hiring and promotion policies and procedures; respond to employee grievances and concerns; coach and mentor employees; prepares, review and approve performance evaluations; identify employee development and training requirements.
• Perform duties reserved to the Controller under the Metropolitan Water District Act; accept declarations of intent from public agencies to make payment in lieu of taxes, prepare the annual statement of tax rates and signs District bonds; act as the official liaison between the District, the county auditors and the state.
• Direct the accounting and reporting functions for federal grants and the Center for Water Education Foundation and certain other organizations where MWD serves as trustee.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will be a resilient, collaborative, and confident leader with excellent supervisory skills; a strong communicator able to write reports with clarity and verbally articulate fiscal concepts to all levels of audiences. The Controller will work with and supervise a solid team and should have a willingness to delegate, and be a mentor, willing and able to develop staff. The selected candidate will be detail-oriented, but still able to see the bigger picture; a responsible steward for the District, partnering agencies, and leadership, who aligns decisions in support of the goals and needs of MWD’s customers. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in implementing efficiencies, allowing the District to assist the organization in achieving its financial goals.

The successful candidate will be a team builder, problem solver, and have demonstrated expertise and a solid track record performing all accounting and reporting functions, and will be a single point of contact as necessary. Excellent interpersonal skills are important to build and maintain solid working relationships based on open and respectful dialogue. The incumbent should understand the needs of staff, be supportive and be willing to roll-up their sleeves to meet deadlines. 

Key Attributes and Characteristics

• Experience with unique and complex fixed and capital assets, debt, cost allocation, grants, and strong in internal controls. Water billing is a plus.
• A customer service-oriented leader able to give clear and accurate assistance to MWD’s 26-member agencies.
• Be a sounding board to business partners, staff, and leadership, providing guidance and direction. Solutions-oriented while still maintaining compliance to the governing rules and regulations. Adhere to codes, policies, and procedures to ensure District is on safe grounds.
• Good skills in public speaking and relationship building.
• An organized professional able to prioritize and provide accurate and timely data.
• An effective manager with a work history of working with a large, diverse staff in a large public sector organization.

About The Metropolitan Water District

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) is a first class, state established cooperative of 26 member agencies – cities and public water agencies – that serve nearly 19 million people in six counties. As an innovative industry leader, Metropolitan imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to supplement local supplies and helps its members develop increased water conservation, recycling, storage and other resource management programs. MWD maintains an annual operating budget of nearly $2 billion, ensuring the vast water system runs smoothly, and it meets Southern California’s water demands for generations to come.

To learn more about MWD, go to: https://www.mwdh2o.com/

For more details about this opportunity, please visit the job brochure at: https://koffassociates.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Rev9-Metro-Water-District-Controller.pdf. 

To be considered, please electronically submit your resume, cover letter and a list of five professional references (references will not be contacted in the early stages of the recruitment) to: https://koffassociates.com/mwd-controller/. Resumes should reflect years and months of positions held, as well as size of staff and budgets you have managed.

For additional information please contact:

Frank Rojas

Phone (510) 495-0448

frank_rojas@ajg.com

Website: https://koffassociates.com/