Senior Accountant

Definition: Under general direction, performs complex and responsible professional accounting duties 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; reviews, prepares, and maintains accounting reports and schedules; supports management in areas of expertise; and performs related duties as assigned.

Distinguishing Characteristics: This is advanced professional level classification in the Accountant series that exercises independent judgment on diverse and specialized accounting operations with accountability and ongoing decision-making responsibilities associated with the work.  Incumbents are responsible for planning, organizing, supervising, reviewing, and evaluating the work of assigned staff and for auditing, analyzing, verifying, and preparing financial records and reports.  Incumbents are responsible for providing professional level support to management in a variety of areas. Performance of the work requires the use of independence, initiative, and discretion within established guidelines.  

Examples of Typical Job Functions: The typical job functions of the classification may include, but are not limited to, the functions below and are subject to changes in operational necessity.

• Plans, schedules, assigns, reviews, supervises and participates in the work of Accounting staff in the Finance Department; trains staff in work procedures and safe work practices; evaluates employee performance, counsels employees, and effectively recommends initial disciplinary action; assists in selection and promotion.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, work plans, policies, and priorities for the division; recommends within division policy, appropriate service and staffing levels; recommends and administers policies and procedures.
• Monitors activities of the accounting work unit; identifies opportunities for improving service delivery and procedures; provides recommendations concerning process changes; reviews with appropriate management staff; implements improvements.
• Provides complex professional and technical assistance in the administration and implementation of the City’s accounting and auditing programs, including financial statements, and reporting, general ledger, and assessment districts accounting; conducts and prepares special studies and reports.  
• Compiles, reconciles, analyzes, prepares, and reviews a variety of financial and accounting statements, analyses, and reports; prepares supporting schedules; works with City departments on projections; assists with staff reports for Council presentations.   
• Prepares complex journal entries for expenditures, budgets, and revenue reporting; reconciles subsidiary ledgers to the general ledger; reviews various accounting transaction reports to ensure accuracy of information and calculations and makes correcting entries.  
• Reviews accuracy of invoice payments to vendors and service providers; reviews associate agreements, account coding and compliance requirements; ensures compliance with the City’s Purchasing Policy and approves invoices for processing.  
• Monitors grant compliance and documentation; prepares and submits related quarterly and annual financial reports and requests for reimbursement; researches and resolves discrepancies and provides compliance recommendations to staff.  
• Administers the City’s long term debt program by preparing and processing payments and maintaining debt, accrued interest, bond discount/premium, and issuance costs spreadsheets and journal entries; tracks and assists in preparing disclosure requirements; assists with debt refinancing, as necessary.  
• Performs treasury functions including cash flow analysis, transferring of funds, account reconciliation and monitoring available funds and investment portfolios; maintains bank account access and lists of authorized signers.  
• Records and maintains appropriate controls for fixed assets; tracks additions, deletions, and transfers to departments of fixed assets for all funds; calculates depreciation expense based on asset type; modifies and implements changes in procedures in accordance with new standards and regulations. 
• Performs monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closing activities, including journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and variance analysis; assists with coordinating the annual audits; provides technical support to outside auditors and governmental program auditors; and
• For more detailed information about this job classification, visit Senior Accountant.

Experience and Education Guidelines: Any combination equivalent to experience and education that would most likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain knowledge and abilities would be:

Education: Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.

Experience: Three (3) years increasingly responsible professional accounting experience equivalent to an Accountant II with the city of San Leandro.