Accountant

Definition:

Under direction of a Division Manager, 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 and mid-year budgets; prepares year-end audit reports and schedules; trains and provides technical advice to lower-level accounting personnel, and performs related work as required.


Class Characteristics:
This professional-level Accountant class is assigned to the Finance Division of the central Administrative Services Department. The incumbent works with a high degree of independence in performing accounting and financial activities for the City, the Redevelopment Agency and the Public Financing Authority. Successful performance of the work requires good knowledge of governmental accounting practices and procedures, fund accounting and fiscal management. Responsibilities include direct contact with all City Department Directors, Division and Program Managers and other staff regarding monthly reports, revenue and expenditure accounts, the automated purchasing and financial reporting system and payroll activities. The class is distinguished from the lower level class of Office Specialist (Accounting), which is a technical support class not requiring the equivalent of a four-year professional degree and has responsibilities of a technical processing nature.


Examples of Key Duties: (Duties are illustrative and not inclusive and may vary with individual assignment.)
•Prepares journal entries and reconciles general ledger and subsidiary accounts; prepares monthly financial statements, including distributing monthly revenue and expenditure reports to departments.


•Analyzes and reconciles expenditure and revenue accounts, including trustee accounts and investment reports.


•Makes wire transfers and journal funding transfers and reconciles monthly bank statements.


•Monitors grant revenues and expenditures, ensuring data is recorded in the City’s financial accounting system.


•Calculates and prepares reimbursement billings and tracks receivables; reconciles monthly accounts receivable.


•Prepares audit schedules for external auditors and acts as a liaison between the City and auditors.


•Prepares and files annual financial statements for the City, Redevelopment Agency and Public Financing Authority.


•Assists with the preparation of the annual and mid-year budgets.


•Assists with the fiscal year-end and fixed asset accounting.


•Provides training in the use of the City’s computerized financial system and assists departmental personnel with budget questions, proper expenditure coding, document processing and other accounting related activities.


•Performs other duties of a similar nature or level.


Qualifications:
Education and Experience:


Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, economics or a related field and one year of general fund accounting experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the job as listed above.


Licenses:
None Required.


Physical Requirements and Working Conditions:
Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and to use standard office equipment, including a computer, stamina to maintain attention to detail despite interruptions, strength to lift and carry files weighing up to 10 pounds; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen, and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone.


Knowledge of: (at entry)
•Generally accepted accounting practices and principles;


•Fund or governmental accounting practices and principles;


•Auditing practices and principles;


•Public agency budgeting practices and principles;


•Computer applications related to the work;


•Standard office practices and procedures;


•Applicable laws, codes and regulations; and


•Techniques for dealing with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, in person and over the telephone.


Skill in: (at entry)
•Maintaining accurate financial records and preparing clear and accurate reports for informational, auditing and operational use;


•Reconciling accounts, records, reports and journals;


•Preparing financial and/or auditor statements, schedules and reports;


•Interpreting, applying and explaining complex laws, codes, regulations and ordinances;


•Reviewing and verifying accuracy of data;


•Maintaining accounting records for special accounts and projects;


•Making sound, independent judgments within established polices and procedures;


•Organizing own work, setting priorities and meeting critical deadlines; and


•Communication to interact effectively with co-workers, managers, subordinates and the general public sufficient to convey information and to receive work direction.
 
Love,
eleena