Accountant (Full-Time)

Salary: $80,736.00 - $98,124.00 Annually
Location : Bellflower, CA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 26-042001
Department: Finance
Opening Date: 04/20/2026


Description
Join our collaborate workforce at the City of Bellflower!

This recruitment process is open on a continuous basis and may close at any time. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply immediately. The first review of applications will be completed on Monday, May 11, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Applications received after May 11, 2026 , may not be considered. Filing is subject to closure without prior notice.

A resume and compelling cover letter addressing your education, your accounting or auditing work experience , degree and licenses you hold, must be submitted with your online application to be considered complete. Applicants appearing best qualified based upon a review of the application and responses to supplemental questions will be invited to participate in the testing process.

Under general supervision, performs professional accounting work, including auditing, analyzing, and verifying fiscal records and reports, preparing financial and statistical reports, providing information to City staff regarding accounting practices and procedures, and reconciling general ledger accounts; assists in preparing the City's annual budgets; prepares year-end audit reports and schedules; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general supervision from the Finance Manager. Exercises no direct supervision over staff. May exercise technical and functional direction to and provide training to lower-level staff.


CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
This is a single-position classification that performs the full range of professional accounting work in all of the following areas: accounts payable, accounts receivable, business licensing, cash receipting, cash management, and payroll. Positions at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work unit. Incumbents use independent judgment and decision-making authority in identifying, evaluating, adapting, and applying appropriate accounting/auditing principles, guidelines, references, and procedures to resolve accounting and financial issues. Work is typically reviewed upon completion for technical soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements and the methodology used in arriving at the end results are not reviewed in detail. This class is distinguished from Finance Manager by the latter's full management and supervisory authority in planning, organizing, and directing the full scope of accounting and finance operations.

Examples Of Duties

• Provides responsible professional and technical assistance in the administration and implementation of financial auditing, and accounting programs for the City, Public Facilities Corporation, Financing Authority, and Successor Agency.
• Prepares a wide variety of financial and statistical reports, including year-end reporting, budgetary reports, assisting in the preparation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), grants reporting, and preparing other legal documents and management analysis.
• Monitors expenditures, revenues, cash flows, and budget allocations to determine the City's financial status and prepares custom reports, graphs, and schedules as needed.
• Prepares journal entries and reconciles general ledger and subsidiary accounts related to postings from payroll, accounts payable, cash receipts, and accounts receivable; prepares monthly bank reconciliations; prepares a variety of monthly financial reports.
• Interprets, explains, and applies general and governmental accounting/auditing principles and procedures, laws, and regulations affecting the financial operations of municipal government.
• Analyzes and reconciles expenditure and revenue accounts, including bond accounts; reviews and processes appropriation transfer requests between accounts; reconciles bond statements and bank statements to the general ledger.
• Participates in and assumes responsibility for various departmental programs including financial statements, financial analyses and auditing, general ledger, grants accounting, and special project accounting; conducts and prepares special studies and reports.
• Participates in the compilation and preparation of annual budgets, including assisting other departments with budget preparation, providing revenue and expense projections, monitoring expenditures, and preparing and updating cash flow and projections.
• Maintains and monitors the City's grant funds and ensures compliance with rules and regulations governing the use of each grant.
• Reviews quarterly and annual federal and state payroll tax returns; ensures tax returns are filed in a timely manner.
• Maintains adequate internal controls over the City's revenues; handles daily cash management by securing revenues collected by the City; verifies accuracy and completeness of funds collected; performs periodic audits of revenues and cash management processes.
• Reviews purchases to ensure compliance with budgetary and contractual requirements.
• Participates in the preparation of audit schedules and reports for external auditors and assists the Finance Manager and Director of Finance during the annual auditing process.
• Assists with investments, portfolio management, cash management, debt management, new financing, and revenue and expense projections.
• Researches and analyzes technical transactions to resolve questions and validate data: ensures fiscal accountability and fund integrity for transactions and supporting documentation.
• Attends meetings, conferences, workshops, and training sessions, and reviews publications to remain current on principles, practices, and new developments in the field of accounting.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Modern principles, practices, and methods of accounting and finance, including budgeting and auditing and their application to municipal operations.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Principles and practices of fund accounting and public agency budgeting.
• Business arithmetic, financial, and statistical techniques.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and computer applications related to work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.

Ability to:

• Independently perform the full range of professional accounting functions.
• Analyze financial data and draw sound conclusions.
• Participate in and conduct accounting audits.
• Prepare clear, complete, and concise financial statements and reports.
• Perform mathematical, financial, and statistical computations with precision.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, procedures, and other written materials.
• Establish and maintain a variety of manual and computerized files and record keeping systems.
• Make sound, independent decisions within established policy and procedural guidelines.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and software programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy, procedural, and legal guidelines.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Education and Experience:
Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field and three (3) years of responsible professional accounting or auditing experience.


Licenses and Certifications:

• Possession of an appropriate, valid driver's license and insurability at regular rates for the City's automobile insurance.

Supplemental Information

Physical Demands
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate om person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.


Environmental Elements
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives and contractors in interpreting and enforcing departmental and City policies and procedures.
Each full time employee receives 80 hours of vacation their first year of employment increasing each year by 8 hours to a maximum accrual of 200 hours per year. Sick leave accrues for full-time employees at the rate of twelve days with pay for each calendar year of service. Twelve paid holidays are observed each year by the City of Bellflower.

Full time City employees are members of the CalPERS Retirement system. New members pay a portion of their salary towards their View email address on click.appcast.io retirement and Classic members pay 7% of their salary towards their View email address on click.appcast.io retirement. The City of Bellflower pays into Social Security. The City will match full time employee's contribution to a deferred compensation account, up to 4% of salary.

The City provides medical insurance through CalPERS, dental coverage through Delta Dental and Vision coverage through EyeMed Vision.
01


The information provided in the following supplemental questions will be used in conjunction with the application materials to determine whether the qualification requirements are met. The best qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the selection process. When applying for this position, I understand that I must thoroughly complete the Education and Work Experience sections of my application. A resume may not be submitted in lieu of completing the application and supplemental questions. This recruitment requires that a cover letter addressing your professional accounting and auditing experience and resume must be uploaded with the application to be considered complete. I have read the above statement and acknowledge that failure to provide sufficient detailed information may result in my application being rejected.

• Yes
• No

02


Describe, in depth, your experience as it relates to this position, responding specifically to the following areas: A. Government finance administration and reporting.B. Financial and management analysis.C. Preparation of the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).D. Audit and grant management.
03


Describe your experience with financial software, and standard office software (e.g. spreadsheets, word processing, presentation programs).
04


Please select the highest level of education completed:

• Master's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Associate's Degree
• Some college or Certification(s)
• High School Diploma or equivalent
• I do not have education equivalent to the 12th grade

05


Please select the field in which you were awarded your degree:

• Accounting
• Public Administration
• Business Administration
• Related Field
• I do not have a degree

06


If selected "Related Field" above, please list the field in which you were awarded your degree.
07


Please select your years(s) of professional level accounting and auditing experience:

• Three or more years
• At least two years, but less than three years
• Less than two years
• No experience

08


Please explain your professional experience in accounting and auditing. Please be specific in your response. If no experience, please type "N/A."
09


Do you now, or have you in the past, worked for a municipality (City)?

• Yes
• No

10


Do you have a valid California Class C driver license and evidence of insurance?

• Yes
• No

11


A copy of your resume and cover letter must be submitted for your application to be considered complete. Did you attach your resume and cover letter?

• Yes
• No

12


Do you understand that a copy of your Bachelor's or Master's Degree must be submitted along with your application to be considered complete?

• Yes
• No

Required Question