Senior Accountant

Senior Accountant

Under general direction, performs professional accounting duties in the design and maintenance of complex financial records and systems to support one or more City departments, special funds, revenue and investments and/or budgets; provides lead direction and technical expertise; conducts special studies.

This is the advanced journey/lead classification in the Accountant series, characterized by the responsibility to apply professional accounting principles and practices in the development and maintenance of complex manual and automated financial control and information systems and the review and analysis of financial data within the boundaries established by federal, state and local law and regulation. Incumbents may be assigned responsibility to provide lead supervision to other staff and/or to lead the work of a service team for one or more City departments with the most complex budgets and financial reporting systems, in addition to preparing ongoing and special financial reports. Work assignments and objectives are discussed in general terms and work is accomplished within the framework of policy and professional and administrative standards; work product is measured by total results.

• Provides accounting and financial support services to one or more City departments with complex budget and reporting systems.

• Creates new and reviews established financial systems, processes and procedures.

• Reviews Council agenda/minutes for approved appropriation transfers or additions.

• Prepares journal vouchers to effect transfers or additions.

• Reviews transactions and account balances for compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations, and for completeness, accuracy.

• Prepares monthly transaction reports.

• Participates in the mid-year review.

• Analyzes and forecasts revenues and expenditures for the balance of the fiscal year.

• Responds to questions concerning transactions and account balances.

• Establishes new accounts.

• Prepares journal entries to close books at the end of the fiscal year.

• Reviews compliance with legal regulations and indentures.

• Prepares reports for bond issuance.

• Prepares bond amortization schedule.

• Computes and posts interest allocations.

• Leads the work of other professional and clerical staff and assigns and reviews work.

• Provide technical expertise, regarding government accounting standers.

• Oversees staff development.

• Provides input into performance evaluations.

• Provides input into and oversee the implementation of discipline.

• Designs, coordinates and participates in the implementation of new/changed financial reporting systems.

• Coordinates with other City staff to determine necessary report information and design report format.

• Coordinates implementation of new/changed reports with systems support staff or consultants.

• Coordinates accounts, interdepartmental training in financial management systems.

• Coordinates activities related to the annual audit and preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report.

• Supervises the preparation of and review a variety of specialized reports and claims, such as the fixed asset report, State Controller's Reports, reports for grant programs, the Redevelopment Agency, the Para transit program and claims for grants and other funds due to the City.

• Provides technical assistance to outside auditors.

• Maintains/reconciles general ledger control accounts for funds/receivables and outstanding debt held by the City.

• Participates in the preparation of the City budget.

• Participate in debt administration and investment activities.

• May act as Assistant Finance Director or Revenue and Treasury Manager in the latter's absence.

Knowledge of: The principles and practices of general accounting, cost accounting, internal control mechanisms, fixed asset accounting and budgeting; financial information and reporting systems; financial control systems and methodology; written and verbal communication techniques; governmental accounting systems; laws, rules and regulations that apply to local government fiscal operations; principles and practices of public administration including budgeting, program planning and evaluation; automated financial information systems; principles of investment and debt administration in a local government environment; group dynamics; automated financial information systems including spreadsheet applications; the principles and practices of supervision; group dynamics; meeting management; word processing.

Ability to: Work independently; review, understand and apply complex laws, regulations, policies and procedures and reports; explain complex technical concepts and information; develop and maintain effective working relationships; plan, organize and administer financial services; analyze financial information and draw logical conclusions; develop and implement complex financial systems and procedures; develop cost related fee structures; understand and use an automated accounting system; conduct cost analysis studies; prepare financial statements and technical reports; communicate effectively with individuals from a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds; research regulations, procedures and technical reference materials.

Incumbents must possess the physical and mental capacity to work under the conditions described in this document and to perform the duties required by their assigned position.

Any combination of education and/or experience that has provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to satisfactory job performance would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required knowledge, skills and abilities would be education and/or experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance or public administration and four years progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance or budget administration.

This classification requires the ability to travel independently within and outside City limits.