Senior Finance Analyst

Finance Position

Do you enjoy turning numbers into insights and solving complex financial puzzles? In this role, you'll be at the center of the organization's financial operations, helping shape budgets, analyze trends, and support strategic decision-making.

Working under general direction, you'll take the lead on a wide variety of high-level administrative and financial responsibilities, including budget development and preparation, implementation of budgeting systems, advanced accounting functions, and creating compelling financial justifications that help drive organizational success.

You'll dive into financial and statistical analyses, track and report financial transactions, prepare detailed financial statements, conduct special financial studies, perform auditing activities, and help oversee payroll operations. No two days are exactly the same, making this an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives on variety, challenge, and continuous learning.

As a trusted partner to the Finance Director and Assistant Finance Director, you'll provide expert-level support on complex financial matters, contribute to important organizational initiatives, and help ensure the organization remains financially strong and well-positioned for the future.

If you love spreadsheets, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and making numbers tell a story, this could be the perfect role for you.

Supervision Received and Exercised: Receives general direction from the Finance Director and Assistant Finance Director. May provide lead direction to technical and/or administrative support staff.

Class Characteristics: This classification is distinguished by the highly responsible and complex budgeting and accounting work performed with minimum direction. The incumbent works with independence on work projects, in meeting deadlines and with confidential and privileged information.

Examples of Duties:

• Assist the Finance Director in planning and coordinating the installation of budgetary and work measurement systems. Prepare reports involving complex cost and statistical analyses, as directed, in response to specific requests of the Finance Director.
• Research, analyze and prepare reports with recommendations on a variety of matters pertaining to the Finance Department.
• Develop short-and long-term forecast for City revenues and operating expenses for the annual budget and the City's strategic plan.
• Coordinate the preparation of the City's annual operating budget and fiscal forecast; process budget amendments and transfer of funds; review budget expenditures and revenues.
• Assist in the investment of vital funds, reconciliation and investment earnings and the preparation of the monthly investment report.
• Administer the cash management program including performing cash transfers, as needed, and reconciling bank accounts.
• Ensure compliance with accepted governmental accounting practices, Council direction, and City procedures.
• Gather, tabulate and maintain a variety of financial and statistical data and records.
• Plan, assign, direct and review the work of budget staff; allocate staff and other resources to various tasks.
• Prepare complex internal and external financial reports.
• Reconcile subsidiary accounts to general ledger.
• Identify and resolve complex budgetary and financial issues and problems; provide timely, accurate, and informative financial analysis and make recommendations for improvements.
• Participates in all activities related to the City's accounting function, including the accounting system, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, processing and issuance of checks and warrants, and cash receipts.
• Maintains and reconciles a variety of ledgers, reports, and accounting records; examines accounting transactions to ensure accuracy; approves journal vouchers to post transactions to accounting records; performs month-end, fiscal year-end, and calendar year-end accounting system processing.
• Prepares and analyzes a variety of complex financial reports, statements, and schedules; assists with the preparation of mid-year, year-end and special reports, including the State Controller's Report and Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; stays abreast of new trends and innovations in the field of public agency finance and accounting; researches emerging products and enhancements and their applicability to City needs.
• Prepare confidential cost analyses for labor negotiations and related matters.
• Receives, investigates, and responds to difficult and sensitive problems and complaints in a professional manner; identifies and reports findings and takes necessary corrective action.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications:

• Knowledge of: Principles and practices of best accounting and budget practices, budget development and financial reporting programs for public sector entities.
• Federal, State, and local laws, rules, and regulations governing municipal financial systems, financial reporting, revenue sources, and budget administration.
• Financial management concepts and applications and contemporary modeling methods related to revenue and expenditure projections.
• Research methods, report writing techniques, and financial concepts and applications
• Principles and practices of modern financial record keeping, report writing, and project management
• Computer technology and software related to financial analysis, modeling, data management, and manipulation
• Advanced principles, practices, and applications of public agency financial analysis
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer services by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff, analysis, and evaluation of programs and operational needs of the assigned division.
• Recent and on-going developments, current literature, and sources of information related to the operations of the assigned division.
• Federal grant compliance and reporting requirements.
• Investment, debt financing, actuarial, and payroll administration practices.
• Cash handling practices and controls, budget preparation, revenue forecasting, computerized financial systems, and spreadsheet applications.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.

Ability to:

• Perform complex accounting, budget and financial analyses, reports and projections.
• Understand, interpret, and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures, contracts, best budget practices, budgets, and labor/management agreements.
• Analyze proposed capital, personnel, operating and maintenance expenditures; manage the tracking and monitoring of budget expenditures, including contracts.
• Prepare multi-year financial historical and forecast models.
• Prepare financial reports and statements in accordance with predetermined requirements.
• Manage and monitor complex projects, on-time and within budget.
• Communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Prepare comprehensive reports and correspondence.
• Analyze situations, identify problems, and recommend solutions.
• Interact professionally with various levels of employees and outside representatives.
• Exercise judgment and creativity in making conclusions and recommendations.
• Meet critical deadlines.
• Effectively represent the department and the City in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.
• Operate modern office equipment including computer equipment and specialized software applications 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.

The City of Westminster offers a comprehensive benefit package to full time employees, including:

Retirement Benefits: The City participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). The City's contract provides for the following retirement tiers: Tier 2 (Classic Members hired on or after July 28, 2011): 2.0% @ 60 formula; employees contribute 7.0% of salary towards retirement costs. Tier 3/PEPRA (New Members hired on or after January 1, 2013): 2.0% @ 62 formula; employees contribute 8.25% of salary towards retirement costs. The City of Westminster does not participate in Social Security.

Insurance Benefits: Effective January 1, 2024, the City's cafeteria benefits plan provides $1,600 per month toward the purchase of health, dental, vision and life insurance, as well as additional voluntary products. Employees who participate in the CalPERS health insurance program and are enrolled in a Family plan will receive an additional $400 per month towards the purchase of medical benefits (total of $2,000 per month). Medical insurance is provided through the Cal-PERS health insurance program. Unused cafeteria plan dollars may be received by the employee as taxable income. A pre-tax flexible spending account is also available for health care and dependent care expenses. The City also provides a City-paid Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefit of 66.6% of salary to a maximum of $10,000 per month; the City also provides a paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

Vacation: Employees earn 120 hours of paid vacation during their first year