Senior Accountant

Senior Accountant

Are you a dedicated financial professional who thrives on innovating and streamlining processes, problem solving, and training and mentoring staff? Are you ready to become a stakeholder within an agency that values your input and welcomes you into the decision-making process? If this describes you, then the City of La Mesa invites you to apply for the position of Senior Accountant and serve as a member of the management team in the Finance Department. Come advance your professional journey with a team that values your contributions and supports your growth!

This is an in-person position located in La Mesa City Hall. The position works a 9/80 schedule: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and alternating Fridays 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. La Mesa City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays.

This recruitment is open until the position is filled, so interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately. First review of applications may occur the week of September 7, 2026.

About the Department

The Finance Department is a collaborative and service-oriented team comprised of the Finance Director, three managers, and six professional staff members dedicated to supporting the City's financial operations and long-term financial health. The department provides a wide range of high-quality services to internal City departments, City employees, and members of the public, with a strong commitment to responsive and excellent customer service. Core responsibilities include accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, purchasing, business licensing, general accounting, budget monitoring, financial planning and forecasting, preparation of the City's annual operating and capital budgets, and preparation of the annual comprehensive financial report.

About the Position

The Senior Accountant is responsible for general ledgers, journal entries, state/federal/agency reporting, month-end close, year-end close, and working directly with auditors for all audits, including the single audit. The incumbent will supervise an Accountant and an Accounting Technician in the accounts payable unit.

The ideal candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced accounting professional who demonstrates strong ethics, advanced technical skills, and excellent analytical abilities. This person should be committed to public service and have a solid understanding of governmental accounting principles, financial reporting, internal controls, budgeting, and relevant regulatory requirements, including GAAP and GASB standards. Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial management systems is also essential. This person should have strong problem-solving skills and be ready to contribute to problem solving, streamlining and automating processes, training and mentoring staff, while exercising the autonomy to take ownership of their unit as part of the decision-making team.

The candidate should hold a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university. Previous supervision and coaching of staff in a financial services setting is desired. A Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license is highly desirable.

Key Responsibilities

To supervise, plan, organize, and participate in the most complex and difficult work of staff responsible for general accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other functions of the Finance Department; to perform advanced professional accounting duties; and to participate in budgeting and other technical finance work.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management staff. Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical and clerical personnel.

Representative Duties

The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or maybe required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Supervise, plan, train, and review the work of staff responsible for general accounting, payroll, accounts payable, cash receipts and accounts receivable; participate in performing the most complex work of the department.
• Direct the preparation and processing of accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll; train assigned employees in their areas of work including acceptable methods, procedures, and techniques; verify the work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable standards and specifications.
• Set up and maintain controls, journals, ledgers and supporting financial records necessary to comply with accounting procedures, laws, ordinances, agency reporting requirements, and other regulations.
• Prepare, enter, review and update monthly journal entries and budget adjustments; prepare various reconciliations and reports including Investment Report, state and federal financial status reports, City bank reconciliations, special revenue fund reconciliations, investment earnings reconciliation, and other financial reconciliations and reports.
• Assist in the analysis of the financial information needs of City departments and development of financial systems to fulfill those needs; evaluate and make recommendations to improve the effectiveness of current systems and procedures.
• Perform fiscal year end closing and reconciling entries including accruals, infrastructure, pension and other post-employment benefits liabilities, compensated absences, fixed assets, and encumbrances.
• Coordinate and act as liaison with City and other agency auditors for various year-end audits; prepare records, schedules, work papers, and worksheets in support of the audits; assist with the preparation and review of financial statements, required supplementary information, and notes to the financial statements.
• Prepare various financial reporting to other government agencies, including Annual State Controller's Report, Annual Street and Road Report, and Annual Government Compensation Report.
• Assist with preparation of City-wide budget; prepare assigned division budgets; prepare and enter City-wide equipment reimbursement schedules.
• Perform analysis and research of CIP and Grant Funded project expenditures and revenues; prepare related reconciliations and reports; coordinate and assist with outside audits of grant funded projects.
• Assist in the development and implementation of goals, policies, and priorities relating to the accounting, budget and financial management activities of the City.
• Respond to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provide information within the area of assignment; resolve complaints in an efficient and timely manner.
• Perform related duties as required.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience Guidelines

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be Education/Training: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, business administration or a related field. AND Experience: At least four years of increasingly responsible and recent professional level experience in accounting, finance, or auditing work, including supervisory experience. License or Certificate: Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is desirable.

Note: Additional years of experience as described above may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.

For your education and/or certifications to be considered, you must attach a copy of your degree, transcripts, diploma, foreign equivalency report and/or certifications to your application.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time in order to successfully perform the assigned duties.

Knowledge of:

• Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a municipal finance administration, particularly in the areas of municipal accounting, budgeting, recordkeeping, investing, debt finance, auditing, and data processing.
• Principles and practices of financial management and accounting.
• Principles and practices of program development and administration.
• Methods and techniques of budget preparation, program analysis, and revenue forecasting.
• Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.
• Generally accepted accounting principles.
• Fund accounting standards as set forth by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
• Modern office practices, procedures, methods and equipment.
• Modern principles and practices of purchasing and stores.
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.

Skills and Abilities to:

• Supervise, organize, and review the work of staff.
• Independently perform the most difficult and complex accounting and financial reporting functions.
• Interpret, explain, and enforce department policies and procedures.
• Prepare financial statements, reports and analyses.
• Design and install new and improved accounting and record keeping systems.
• Examine and verify financial documents and reports.
• Use various computer applications to perform job functions.
• Work independently in the absence of supervision.
• Interpret local, state, and federal legislation and regulations as it relates to municipal finance.
• Understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly and concisely