Accountant III

Accountant III

The City of Oakland is an equal opportunity employer that values workforce diversity, inclusion, and equity. Oakland has a long history of activism around issues of justice and equity. Both oppression and this resistance to oppression have shaped the city's historical roots and the lives of its residents to this day. As public servants in one of the most diverse cities in the nation, we strive to develop employees who understand the harm and impacts of systemic inequity to create lasting, meaningful outcomes for everyone. Oakland strives to establish an environment that embraces the richness of culture, community, and individualism of employees. The City of Oakland is looking for Accountant IIIs to fill multiple vacancies. This is a citywide classification, and there are current vacancies in the Oakland Fire Department, Finance Department, and Department of Transportation. The resulting eligible list will be used to fill vacancies citywide for the duration of the eligible list. Why join the Oakland Fire Department? As an Accountant III in the Oakland Fire Department (OFD) Fiscal & Administrative Services Division (FASD), you will play a critical role in the fiscal operation supporting the public safety of the Oakland Community. Under the direction and supervision of the Fiscal & Administrative Services Division Manager, the Accountant III is part of a fiscal team alongside two Accountant II's, an Administrative Analyst II, and a Budget & Grants Administrator, and provides procure-to-pay services, grant and project management, and fiscal administration for an annual department budget of $234 Million. As lead fiscal support for one or more divisions of the Fire Department, the Accountant III will develop and refine fiscal oversight skills, including key tasks in all phases of purchasing, budget change requests, project and award creation, financial reporting, grant reconciliation, Labor Distribution, and other accounting journal adjustments. This position has supervisory responsibilities for Accountant II's within the fiscal team and provides an opportunity for professional development of management and supervision skills in the applicant's career path as a finance professional. Why join the Finance Department? As an Accountant III in the Controller's Bureau of the Finance Department, you will be responsible for the day-to-day accounting function and year-end closing activities, including cash reconciliation, labor distribution adjustments, and general ledger adjustments. The Controller's Bureau plans and coordinates the year-end audit process and prepares the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), the Single Audit Report, the State Controller's Report, the Oakland Redevelopment Successor Agency report, and several legislative-mandated measure audits. The Bureau also provides fiscal monitoring and financial and specialized reporting for all City departments. As an Accountant III in the Controller's Bureau, you will act as a gatekeeper and play a critical role in assuring the City's financial reporting is timely and accurate in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). This position is generally a step to a long and successful career as a finance professional with the City of Oakland. Why join the Department of Transportation? The Department of Transportation (DOT)'s mission statement is to "Envision, plan, build, operate and maintain a transportation system for the City of Oakland—in partnership with local transit providers and other agencies—and assure safe, equitable, and sustainable access and mobility for residents, businesses, and visitors." The DOT is responsible for planning, designing, delivering, and maintaining the transportation safety of Oakland's residents, businesses, and visitors, using multiple funding sources, each with its own focus on improving and maintaining streets, sidewalks, roads, right-of-way, traffic signals & signs, and parking enforcement. As an Accountant III, you will be an integral part of planning and delivering solutions to meet Oakland's transportation needs. In this role, you will be responsible for aligning transportation operations with budget plans and accurately reporting accounting and financial results. You will be exposed to the multiple and varying rules and regulations of these funding sources, enforcing their compliance, and assisting transportation engineers and professionals, as well as financial professionals, to match the most appropriate funding to meet the City's highest priority transportation needs. The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented and technically strong accounting professional who understands GAAP/GASB and the compliance and use of bonds and special measures funds, demonstrates sound judgment, adapts well to evolving accounting standards and organizational changes, and brings strong analytical, organizational, and independent work skills while taking direction effectively. If you have a passion for accurate financial reporting, problem-solving, monitoring, and enforcing compliance with the use of funds, and supporting strong internal controls in a dynamic public-sector environment, we encourage you to apply! We are looking for someone who: Can work independently while still functioning well in a team-oriented environment. Demonstrates diligence and a strong work ethic. Is knowledgeable of standard accounting and general ledger practices Is adaptable and flexible in responding to multiple priorities and deadlines. Is respectful to their co-workers and stakeholders. Is self-motivated and able to exercise a high degree of independent judgment. Has excellent time-management and organizational skills and is able to handle multiple tasks and deadlines. Is a fast learner and can quickly adapt to new systems and processes. What you will typically be responsible for: Reconciling subsidiary balances to the general ledger. Understanding Internal Service Revenue rules and regulations. Local, State, and Federal grants, including reporting, drawdowns, and integration with grantee platforms. Assisting with procurement of goods and services. Preparing timely invoice payments, including the needed requisitions. Bond measures and lease payments. Creating master fee schedules. Performing service and equity analysis. Aiding in the preparation of comprehensive fiscal reports. Compiling and submitting reports in a timely and accurate manner. Assisting non-accountants with budgeting and planning the use of funds, and understanding the accounting results of their operations. Creating new reports that support budgeting, forecasting, expenditure tracking, and departmental information requests. You will collaborate and work with a team of colleagues and supervisors who bring decades of experience and are eager to support and train you. This is a stimulating job with great pay and benefits. You will have daily challenges and variety that keep things exciting. You will have opportunities to grow professionally within the City, as your experience in this position will qualify you for a range of fiscal positions across the City. You will be expected to work independently and manage your assignments with limited day-to-day oversight. You will work in an ever-evolving environment that can be demanding and require you to manage multiple tasks and priorities simultaneously. You will navigate a complex financial system that requires thoroughness, strong problem-solving skills, and a methodical approach. You will be responsible for meeting data and reporting deadlines while managing multiple priorities, which can be stressful. Competencies Required: Adaptability: Responding positively to change and modifying behavior as the situation requires Analyzing & Interpreting Data: Drawing meaning and conclusions from quantitative or qualitative data Attention to Detail: Focusing on the details of work content, work steps, and final work products Building & Maintaining Relationships: Establishing rapport and maintaining mutually productive relationships Coaching & Developing Others: Supporting others in stretching and expanding their capabilities Decision Making: Choosing optimal courses of action in a timely manner Delegating: Sharing responsibility, authority, and accountability Displaying Ownership and Accountability: Holding self and others accountable for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results Innovative Problem Solving: Identifying and analyzing problems in order to propose new and better ways of doing things Legal & Regulatory Navigation: Understanding, interpreting, and ensuring compliance with laws and regulations Mathematical Facility: Performing computations and solving mathematical problems Professional & Technical Expertise: Applying technical subject matter to the job Professional Integrity & Ethics: Displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability Project Management: Ensuring that projects are on time, on budget, and achieve their objectives Teamwork: Collaborating with others to achieve shared goals Writing: Communicating effectively in writing This recruitment will produce two eligible lists. The restricted list will be for full-time, permanent part-time, or part-time City and Port of Oakland employees who maintain employment for the duration of the recruitment and pass all stages of the recruitment process. The open list will be for all other applicants who pass all stages of the recruitment process. Any combination of education and experience that is equivalent to the following minimum qualifications may be acceptable: Education: Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in accounting, business administration, or a related field. Experience: Three (3) years of professional accounting experience. Desirable Qualifications: Experience in governmental accounting Possession of a Certified Public Accountant license The Recruitment Process: The City of Oakland works with a Civil Service system. Applicants apply online, and HR staff reviews their experience, education, and training listed on the application against the "minimum qualifications" listed for each position. Candidates who demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements are then invited to participate in an assessment process (or testing) to measure their knowledge, skills, and abilities in job-related areas. Candidates who do not demonstrate that they meet the minimum qualification requirements will have an opportunity to request a final review. Candidates must request a final review within 5 business days of being notified that they did not meet the minimum qualifications. In the final review, candidates may clarify information already provided on their application. No additional work history, education, or certifications will be accepted. Any decisions made during this review process will be final. For this recruitment, all qualified applicants will be invited to take an online multiple-choice test (weighted 100%). You'll have 7 days to complete the test once the link is sent to your email. This is tentatively planned to launch the week of July 6th, 2026. Candidates requesting reasonable accommodations for the examination process must request accommodations no later than one week before they are scheduled to take the exam; otherwise, it may not be possible to arrange accommodations for the selection process. Please complete the Request for Reasonable Accommodation in Testing form by clicking on this link or by copying