Job Description
BID/JOB ANNOUNCEMENT
LEAD ACCOUNTANT
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Bureau of Finance
Number of Positions: 1
(additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
Starting Salary: $87,516.00
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CST on 12/03/2026
Department of Planning & Development Website
This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City’s collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) – BARGAINING UNITS 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.
BID INSTRUCTIONS: To bid on this position, CLICK HERE and
1. Check the box on your profile titled “Currently employed by the City of Chicago”
2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled ‘payee/employee number’)
3. Select your correct bargaining unit, upload your resume, and complete the application
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION
Under general supervision, performs professional accounting work of the most complex nature, typically requiring the application of advanced accounting knowledge, and/or functions as a working supervisor over a small accounting staff while maintaining own accounts, and performs related duties as required
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Performs and supervises the work of professional accountants engaged in management of financial accounts
Develops and accesses new or existing computer applications or spreadsheets and records, verifies, and analyzes journal entries for assigned accounts and those managed by subordinates
Develops work standards and conducts staff performance evaluations
Conducts audits of financial documents (e.g., internal accounting records performed by private audit firms) and reviews those conducted by subordinates to ensure entries are accurate, appropriately allocated to accounts, and comply with contract and funding guidelines, and documents errors and reconciles accounts, as required
Monitors the balances of assigned accounts and those of subordinates and adjusts spending levels and fund re-allocations to ensure the availability of funds to cover expenditures
Prepares various reports (e.g., program and operating budgets with tiered funding structures, financial statements, balance sheets, financial reports) of a complex nature and reviews those prepared by subordinates
Coordinates the analysis of historical records and anticipated economic trends and forecasts future expenses and revenues
Coordinates the compilation of complex financial schedules and reports
Interprets general accounting principles and financial procedures for management
Trains staff on accounting procedures
Functions as a liaison on accounting-related issues to the Office of Budget and Management, City Comptroller’s Office, and government and delegate agencies
Assists in designing and implementing computerized accounting systems and internal controls
Processes and reviews invoice payments and purchase orders for various parties (e.g., refunds and payment voids, accounts payable issues, status of purchase orders, and payment vouchers)
Calculates and prepares grant/project revenue collection reimbursement
Reviews grant/project applications and awards
Examines sub-grant agreements for any fiscal related requirements
Reviews departmental requests for appropriating funds, authorizing grant/project obligations, monitoring and reporting grant/project expenditures, recording receivables and collections, and closing out grant/project awards
Coordinates and submits final close-out reports to various grantors
Additional duties may be required for this position
Location: 121 N LaSalle Street
Days: Monday – Friday
Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm
THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, plus at least three (3) years of professional accounting experience, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in a directly related field including at least 15 semester hours in Accounting, plus at least three (3) years of professional accounting experience, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in Accounting, plus at least two (2) years of professional accounting experience, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in a directly related field including at least 15 semester hours in Accounting, plus at least two (2) years of professional accounting experience
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a skills assessment as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.
For information about City of Chicago employee benefits, please click here
For information about City of Chicago salaries and job titles, please click here
APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on the information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow all required employment/hiring plan provisions, federal, state, and local laws, and collective bargaining agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA), and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. The learn more about our hiring processes, please click here.
ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.
The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.
City of Chicago
Brandon Johnson, Mayor
Job Posting: Nov 12, 2026, 12:01:00 AM | Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External: Dec 3, 2026, 11:59:00 PM
BU: 04 | Salary: $87,516.00 Pay Basis:Yearly
LEAD ACCOUNTANT
DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT
Bureau of Finance
Number of Positions: 1
(additional vacancies possible pending budget approval)
Starting Salary: $87,516.00
Applications for this position will be accepted until 11:59pm CST on 12/03/2026
Department of Planning & Development Website
This position is open to the public and all current City employees covered under the City’s collective bargaining agreement with AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, AND MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES (AFSCME) – BARGAINING UNITS 1, 3, 4 & 5. Only employees in City job titles in this bargaining unit are eligible to bid.
BID INSTRUCTIONS: To bid on this position, CLICK HERE and
1. Check the box on your profile titled “Currently employed by the City of Chicago”
2. Enter your employee ID (located on your pay stub labeled ‘payee/employee number’)
3. Select your correct bargaining unit, upload your resume, and complete the application
FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS WILL RESULT IN A REJECTED BID APPLICATION
Under general supervision, performs professional accounting work of the most complex nature, typically requiring the application of advanced accounting knowledge, and/or functions as a working supervisor over a small accounting staff while maintaining own accounts, and performs related duties as required
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
Performs and supervises the work of professional accountants engaged in management of financial accounts
Develops and accesses new or existing computer applications or spreadsheets and records, verifies, and analyzes journal entries for assigned accounts and those managed by subordinates
Develops work standards and conducts staff performance evaluations
Conducts audits of financial documents (e.g., internal accounting records performed by private audit firms) and reviews those conducted by subordinates to ensure entries are accurate, appropriately allocated to accounts, and comply with contract and funding guidelines, and documents errors and reconciles accounts, as required
Monitors the balances of assigned accounts and those of subordinates and adjusts spending levels and fund re-allocations to ensure the availability of funds to cover expenditures
Prepares various reports (e.g., program and operating budgets with tiered funding structures, financial statements, balance sheets, financial reports) of a complex nature and reviews those prepared by subordinates
Coordinates the analysis of historical records and anticipated economic trends and forecasts future expenses and revenues
Coordinates the compilation of complex financial schedules and reports
Interprets general accounting principles and financial procedures for management
Trains staff on accounting procedures
Functions as a liaison on accounting-related issues to the Office of Budget and Management, City Comptroller’s Office, and government and delegate agencies
Assists in designing and implementing computerized accounting systems and internal controls
Processes and reviews invoice payments and purchase orders for various parties (e.g., refunds and payment voids, accounts payable issues, status of purchase orders, and payment vouchers)
Calculates and prepares grant/project revenue collection reimbursement
Reviews grant/project applications and awards
Examines sub-grant agreements for any fiscal related requirements
Reviews departmental requests for appropriating funds, authorizing grant/project obligations, monitoring and reporting grant/project expenditures, recording receivables and collections, and closing out grant/project awards
Coordinates and submits final close-out reports to various grantors
Additional duties may be required for this position
Location: 121 N LaSalle Street
Days: Monday – Friday
Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm
THIS POSITION IS IN THE CAREER SERVICE
Qualifications
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, plus at least three (3) years of professional accounting experience, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s degree in a directly related field including at least 15 semester hours in Accounting, plus at least three (3) years of professional accounting experience, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in Accounting, plus at least two (2) years of professional accounting experience, OR
Graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in a directly related field including at least 15 semester hours in Accounting, plus at least two (2) years of professional accounting experience
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
This position requires applicants to complete an interview which will include a skills assessment as part of the interview. The interviewed candidate(s) possessing the qualifications best suited to fulfill the responsibilities of the position, based on the oral and written parts of the interview will be selected.
For information about City of Chicago employee benefits, please click here
For information about City of Chicago salaries and job titles, please click here
APPLICATION EVALUATION: Initial evaluation will be based on the information provided on the application and the documents submitted. Department of Human Resources staff will review applications after the final posting date. Staff will follow all required employment/hiring plan provisions, federal, state, and local laws, and collective bargaining agreements when applicable. Staff will apply hiring preferences as required by the municipal code. Placement on an eligibility list is not an offer or guarantee of an interview nor employment with the City of Chicago
COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY: To further our commitment to hiring applicants with diverse experience, the City of Chicago has adopted ordinances 2-74-020 and 2-74-075. The ordinances provide a preference to applicants who meet the minimum qualifications and who are veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States, residents of Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Areas (SEDA), and/or Chicago Public School (CPS) high school graduates. These hiring preferences do not apply to bidders. For positions covered by a collective bargaining agreement, bidders will be considered before external candidates. The learn more about our hiring processes, please click here.
ALL REFERENCES TO POLITICAL SPONSORSHIP OR RECOMMENDATION MUST BE OMITTED FROM ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS SUBMITTED FOR CITY EMPLOYMENT.
The City of Chicago in an Equal Employment Opportunity, Military Friendly, and Fair Chance Employer.
City of Chicago
Brandon Johnson, Mayor
Job Posting: Nov 12, 2026, 12:01:00 AM | Closing Date (Period for Applying) - External: Dec 3, 2026, 11:59:00 PM
BU: 04 | Salary: $87,516.00 Pay Basis:Yearly
💡 Quick Summary
Seeking a career-building opportunity? The LEAD ACCOUNTANT position is now open for candidates interested in the Accountant Jobs sector. This role in Chicago offers a professional environment and growth potential.
Requirement Snapshot: Candidates should possess basic communication skills, a proactive attitude, and the ability to work in a team. Experience in Accountant Jobs is a plus.
