Senior Accountant
The City of Jurupa Valley is seeking an experienced Senior Accountant with strong municipal budgeting and financial analysis skills. The ideal candidate will support citywide budget development, collaborate across departments, and bring hands-on experience in fund accounting, grant reporting, and bank reconciliations.
This is the advanced-level class in the professional Accountant series. Positions at this level are distinguished from the Accountant II by the significant level of professional governmental accounting work performed; the level of responsibility assumed; and the complexity of duties assigned. This class is further distinguished from the Finance Manager in that the latter class assumes responsibility for managing all accounting activities in the Finance Department and exercises supervision over assigned staff. Incumbents at the Senior Accountant level work independently, exercise a high level of judgment and initiative, and are expected to perform the most difficult and complex statistical, financial, budgetary, and analytical professional accounting work requiring thorough knowledge of governmental accounting systems and procedures.
Receives general direction from the Finance Manager and Director of Finance. Exercises technical and functional supervision over, and provides training to, lower-level staff.
Examples of Duties
Essential duties and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to, the following:
1. Assists the Finance Manager in planning the work of finance staff on assigned tasks and/or projects; reviews the work of staff for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with policies, procedures, and standards; participates in staff training activities; prepares drafts of new or revised departmental processes and procedures and submits recommendations for review and approval.
2. Assists in the development and administration of goals, objectives, policies, and procedures related to the area of assignment.
3. Provides lead direction, technical guidance, and training to professional, technical and clerical accounting staff; serves as a technical resource to City staff; provides advice and technical assistance related to accounting procedures and financial system processes.
4. Prepares a variety of complex financial reports, statements, transactions, and schedules for internal use and as required by County, State, and Federal agencies ensuring conformance with applicable policies, rules and regulations; assists with the preparation of financial statements for the City's Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR); conducts research and analysis of financial information; ensures that funds are budgeted, controlled, accounted for reconciled, and audited; prepares notes, tables, and charts for inclusion in reports.
5. Assumes a lead role in City-wide and departmental budget preparation and administration including preparation of all departmental personnel costs; assists in reviewing budget figures, compiling budget data, and related information; analyzes expenditures and revenue transactions against budget projections and historical data; prepares worksheets and summaries of budget data.
6. Prepares analyses on current and historical data and detailed reports for ongoing Capital Improvement Projects; prepares and provides detailed funding and expenditure analysis and year-end estimated carryovers by fund of all Capital Improvement projects.
7. Prepares, monitors and reconciles CDBG budget; analyzes and tracks expenditure activities; prepares and initiates drawdown reimbursement requests of grant monies and submittal to funding agency.
8. Establishes and monitors accounts, and prepares statistical analysis of revenues and expenditures of all Landscape and Lighting Maintenance Districts LLMD's) and Community Facilities Districts (CFD's), including year-end adjusting entries and carryover analysis by Fund and Zone.
9. Coordinates and prepares postings, balancing, and reconciliation of the General Ledger and subsidiary accounts; prepares bank reconciliation statements; reviews work of others performing these tasks.
10. Researches, interprets and applies Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and other professional accounting standards.
11. Reviews, analyzes, and audits financial records and transactions to ensure completeness and accuracy of information and calculations; prepares journal entries for adjusting and correcting records as necessary.
12. Analyzes, reconciles, and maintains records of various financial accounts; verifies availability of funds and classification of expenditures; researches and analyzes transactions to resolve problems and ensure adherence to budget.
13. Performs comprehensive financial activity studies as directed; provides analysis of various funds upon management request; analyzes financial documentation processes to ensure accuracy of financial reporting and recommends changes as necessary.
14. Provides complex technical support for audits; conducts research, provides analyses, and prepares audit schedules for independent auditors.
15. Develops, monitors, and maintains records on the City's fixed assets; records asset additions and deletions; determines value of assets; calculates and records depreciation schedules.
16. Prepare and review City Council agendas and staff reports for Council approved budget and funding appropriations; prepares and enters budget adjusting entries and establishes new accounts as needed in the financial system.
17. Prepares and submits cost recovery invoices and supporting documentation to insurance companies, contractors, or individuals for departments seeking reimbursement of city property damage, personnel, and contracted service costs.
18. Prepares and writes a variety of reports and documentation.
19. Observes and complies with City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
20. Performs related duties and responsibilities as required.
Typical Qualifications
Knowledge of:
Advanced principles, practices, and methods of public and governmental accounting and financing, including program budgeting and auditing and their application to municipal operations.
Pertinent policies and procedures related to financial recordkeeping and cost accounting.
Specialized accounting and report writing software.
General principles and practices used in data processing and its applicability to accounting and municipal operations.
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).
Municipal accounting system requirements and procedures.
Operations and organizational structure of municipal government.
Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to municipal financial operations.
Principles and practices of business organization and public administration.
Record keeping principles and procedures.
Financial research and report preparation methods and techniques.
Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and computer applications related to work, including word processing and spreadsheet software.
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.
City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
Ability to:
Apply advanced knowledge of City ordinances, policies, systems, and procedures governing financial administration.
Apply advanced accounting principles to the reconciliation of accounts.
Apply critical thinking to complex projects and interpret detailed requirements.
Develop and accurately maintain a variety of financial and budgetary records and documents.
Prepare and maintain accurate and precise written documents such as ledgers, journals reports, forms, and correspondence.
Understand, interpret, explain, and analyze financial and statistical data and material.
Analyze data and draw logical conclusions.
Evaluate situations, identify problems, and exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines.
Train and review the work of clerical, technical, and professional staff.
Maintain professionalism and confidentiality of information.
Prepare a variety of highly specialized and complex financial reports and statements in accordance with predetermined requirements.
Understand, interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
Make accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
Enter and retrieve data from a computer with sufficient speed and accuracy.
Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
Understand and carry out a variety of complex instructions in a responsible and independent manner.
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.
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.
Demonstrate an awareness and appreciation of the cultural diversity of the community.
Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.
Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
Ensure