Senior Accountant

OPEN UNTIL FILLED 

Led by a Board of Directors made up of elected officials from each of the 24 cities and towns and the five county supervisorial districts, San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) staff is focused primarily on freeway, interchange, and transit enhancements to the region that first and foremost benefit the taxpayer of San Bernardino County.  Coupling that effort with various non-transportation related objectives from the Council of Governments role of the agency brings the mission of providing quality of life improvements to the residents, business operators, and commuters of our region to the forefront.

For more than four decades, SBCTA (previously known as SANBAG) has taken pride in delivering on its commitment to the voters through the implementation of Measure I.  This half-cent sales tax that generates transportation dollars that are from the region and for the region is a critical element in the agency's goal to keep people and goods moving effectively.  SBCTA calls the historic San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot home.  Our headquarters not only positions the agency in the heart of the county, but is symbolic of our longstanding commitment to transportation.   

Under general direction, performs a variety of complex professional accounting work, including auditing, analyzing, and verifying fiscal records and reports, preparing reimbursement billing for federally and state funded projects, preparing various financial and statistical reports, and reviewing and approving transactions prepared by accounting staff; provides information to SBCTA staff regarding accounting practices and procedures; and performs related duties as assigned.

Supervision Received and Exercised

Receives general direction from assigned supervisory or management personnel. Exercises no supervision over staff.

Class Characteristics

This is the advanced journey-level classification in the Accountant series. Positions at this level are distinguished from the Accountant by performing the most complex work assigned to the series. Incumbents regularly work on tasks which are varied and complex, requiring considerable discretion and independent judgment. Positions in the classification rely on experience and judgment to perform assigned duties. Assignments are given with general guidelines and incumbents are responsible for establishing objectives, timelines, and methods to deliver services and complete assignments. Work is typically reviewed upon completion for soundness, appropriateness, and conformity to policy and requirements. 

Management reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job.

• Prepares billing invoice packages for federally and state funded projects by analyzing and identifying billing expenses, current and past expenditures, and unbilled and retained retention; runs various reports and gathers project information from various sources; prepares and updates summaries, worksheets, and logs; creates invoices with supporting documentation and submits for management review and approval.
• Actively participates in or facilitates project meetings with SBCTA staff and management, consultants, and other projects stakeholders to review project funds, expenditures, and status.  
• Reviews and approves billing invoice packages prepared for locally funded projects; ensures availability of funds; recommends adjustments as needed; maintains internal control procedures and ensures accuracy and accounting standards are met.
• Researches and interprets cooperative agreement terms and conditions to comply with audit requirements and federal, state, and local funding guidelines; works with project managers to ensure compliance for projects with multiple funding sources.
• Records and posts accounts receivable, cash receipts, invoice adjustments, and journal entries in the financial system; prepares and processes checks; reviews and approves automated clearinghouse (ACH) deposits, transfers, and wires. 
• Prepares and posts journal entries or reviews and approves journal entries posted by other accounting staff.
• Researches and analyzes technical transactions to resolve questions and validate data; ensures fiscal accountability and fund integrity for transactions.
• Supports preliminary and annual audits by reviewing and updating audit reports based on previous findings, preparing audit schedules, footnotes, documentation, and reports, and/or coordinating staff and management review; provides information and works with auditors to resolve issues.
• Prepares year-end accruals, reconciliation, and tie-outs for federal and state projects including the Schedule of Expenditure and Federal Awards (SEFA); approves year-end estimates and reversals for local and other projects prepared by accountants.   
• Coordinates monthly and year-end general ledger closing; prepares journal entries with proper documentation; posts and balances general ledger accounts; ensures compliance and accuracy in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and procedures.
• Monitors processes and workflows in areas of assigned responsibility; identifies opportunities for improving processes and/or procedures; provides recommendations concerning changes; revises, maintains, implements, and ensures adherence to SBCTA accounting procedures.
• Performs various complex analyses and reconciliations of accounts/funds; researches and analyzes accounting and financial data from various sources and prepares financial reports and statements, including reports submitted to funding and/or government agencies and auditors.
• Researches, interprets, explains, and applies general and governmental accounting/auditing principles and procedures, laws, and regulations affecting financial operations.
• Organizes and maintains accurate and detailed databases, spreadsheets, files, and records; verifies accuracy of information, researches discrepancies, and records information; ensures compliance with established records retention policies, procedures, and schedules.  
• Attends and participates in professional group meetings; monitors legal, regulatory, technology and societal changes, and court decisions and stays abreast of new trends and innovations in accounting and finance.
• Receives, investigates, and responds to requests for information and/or questions in a professional manner; refers matters requiring policy interpretation to supervisor for resolution.
• Provides training and guidance to lower-level accounting staff as assigned. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge of:
 

• Advanced principles, practices, and methods of public and governmental accounting, finance, and auditing, including grants accounting and administration, reimbursement billing, financial analysis, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll, and fund and cost accounting and their application to public agency operations.
• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Governmental Accounting Standards Board Statements for public sector accounting. 
• Federal, state, local, and grantor funding sources, use, and reporting requirements applicable to SBCTA projects and programs. 
• Accounting source documents including budgets, contracts, expenditures, encumbrances, revenues, special ledger, general ledger, project cost, cash and investments, fixed assets, and related accounting procedures.
• Record keeping principles and procedures.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations as well as industry standards and best practices pertinent to the assigned area of responsibility. 
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service, by effectively working with the vendors and SBCTA staff. 
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present financial information and data in an effective manner and draw sound conclusions.
• Research, analyze, interpret, and apply federal, state, local, and grant funding and audit requirements.
• Prepare clear, complete, and concise financial statements and reports.
• Control receipt and disbursal of special funds and grants.
• Record and post accounts various accounting transactions, adjustments, and journal entries.
• Make accurate arithmetic, financial, and statistical computations.
• Understand, interpret, apply, and explain applicable federal, state, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record keeping, and tracking systems.
• Use tact, initiative, and independent judgment within general policy and procedural guidelines and legal requirements.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, using appropriate English grammar and syntax.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. 
• Effectively use computer systems, software applications relevant to work performed, and modern business equipment to perform a variety of work tasks.

• Requires possession of a valid California Driver’s License, a satisfactory driving record, and a properly registered and insured vehicle, to be maintained throughout employment.

Physical Demands

Environmental Conditions