Senior Accountant

Overview Senior Accountant role at County of Santa Clara. Under direction, to plan, organize and perform complex professional level accounting, budget, and fiscal work of significant impact to a department, agency or organization and may supervise and provide direction and daily oversight to professional, technical and support staff.

Responsibilities

Plans, organizes and directs the work of subordinate employees engaged in the preparation and maintenance of varied accounting and financial programs, including budgets, accounting ledgers, payroll, fixed assets systems and grant and program accounting;

Performs the more complex accounting work involved in maintaining budgets and accounting controls and preparing detailed financial reports in conformance with County, State, Federal and other reporting requirements;

Coordinates activities with representatives of other jurisdictions, County departments, internal and external auditors, vendors and others;

Coordinates activities such as development of procedures, fiscal year-end closing, and preparation of financial statements;

Serves as consultant by responding to inquiries concerning accounting methods and procedures;

Confers with department personnel on accounting questions and problems;

Prepares procedures manuals for the accounting system;

Develops and implements policies and procedures;

Recommends the selection of subordinate professional and clerical staff and evaluates their performance;

Provides orientation and training to subordinate employees as well as fiscal staff of other departments and special districts in accounting and system procedures;

Plans and allocates resources;

Prepares reports with recommendations;

Maintains and reconciles a variety of ledgers, registers, journals and other records necessary for the accounting activities of the assigned unit;

Reviews documentation submitted for accuracy and conformance to legal and procedural requirements;

Maintains accurate records and files related to areas of assignment;

Maintains current knowledge of accounting and reporting requirements, policies and procedures related to assigned unit; recommends accounting and reports changes to ensure compliance with governmental requirements and regulations;

Makes verbal presentations and conducts training on accounting policies and procedures;

Explains the implications of complex accounting matters to non-financial managers and decision makers;

May be assigned as a Disaster Service Worker, as required;

Performs related work as required.

Employment Standards Sufficient education, training and experience to demonstrate the possession and direct application of the following knowledge and abilities.

Training and Experience Note:

The knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform this function are acquired through possession of a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Auditing or a closely related field; and Four (4) years of professional experience in accounting or auditing work. Possession of a Master's Degree in Accounting, Master's Degree in Business Administration with emphasis in Accounting, or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license, may substitute for one (1) year of experience.

- OR -

Possession of sixty (60) semester units or ninety (90) quarter units of college, of which twelve (12) semester units or fifteen (15) quarter units must be in accounting and/or auditing; And six (6) years of professional experience in accounting or auditing work, at least four (4) years of which should be at a level equivalent to an Accountant III with the County of Santa Clara.

Special Requirements

Possession of a valid California Driver's License prior to appointment and the ability to obtain and maintain a County driver authorization.

Some positions may require Live Scan screening as part of the background check process.

Knowledge Of

Theory, principles and practices of accounting and auditing along with their application to governmental accounting and budgeting;

Laws and regulations governing the financial operations of the County, special districts and the assigned department;

Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and specifically Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statements, Interpretations, and Technical Bulletins;

County financial policies and procedures and applicable departmental policies and procedures;

Concepts, systems and terminology of accounting and budget systems;

Office management practices and procedures, including recordkeeping systems;

Principles and practices of supervision and personnel management;

Accounting systems, software applications and spreadsheets.

Ability To

Effectively communicate verbally and in writing with subordinates, co-workers, management, the public and others contacted in the course of work;

Plan, direct and evaluate the activities of the accounting function;

Identify, analyze and evaluate complex problems and propose solutions;

Prepare clear and concise reports;

Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work;

Plan and direct the work of others;

Exercise independent judgment;

Understand and apply relevant principles, laws, rules, regulations and procedures;

Audit, analyze and evaluate complex financial and statistical data;

Prepare, maintain and reconcile a variety of complex accounting and financial records, documents and reports;

Use various computer applications and software in support of accounting activities.

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