Senior Accountant
Senior Accountant
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$ 93352 - 114612
1 Vacancy
Job Description
Job Description
- Come Join Our Team!
THE CITY OF NOVATO IS RECRUITING
FORSENIOR ACCOUNTANTApplication Deadline: Open Until Filled*First Review of Applications on Monday March 24 2025*The City of Novato is seeking a highly skilled and detailoriented Senior Accountant to join our dynamic Finance team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced accounting professional to play a critical role in maintaining the Citys financial integrity and supporting key financial functions including general ledger management financial reporting and complex analysis.
We are looking for a proactive and analytical leader who thrives in a fastpaced environment and enjoys problemsolving. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in governmental accounting financial reporting and internal controls along with the ability to provide technical guidance to staff and collaborate with multiple departments. This position offers the opportunity to take on challenging projects contribute to process improvements and ensure compliance with accounting principles and regulations.
At the City of Novato we value professionalism innovation and teamwork. If you are passionate about accounting in the public sector and are eager to make a meaningful impact on our community we encourage you to apply!
Additional Benefits
- Flexible work hours with potential for scheduled telecommute days
- 9/80 work schedule every other Friday off
- City monthly contribution up to $2893.54 toward health premium
- Accrue vacation at a rate of 80 hours per year to start
- Provided with 40 hours of sick leave upon hire
- 14 paid holidays per year
- 108 hours of Administrative Leave per year
- Qualified Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Agency
- Free parking on site
- Office is within walking distance of terrific restaurants shopping and the downtown SMART station
THE CITY OF NOVATO
Novato residents enjoy a thriving and familyoriented community with abundant educational recreational retail and business opportunities. Residents are actively involved in important local quality of life decisions and the future direction of their City. The City Council encourages a high level of interaction between its citizenry and city government so that important issues are collaboratively explored and ideas are shared to develop the best possible outcomes. With a population of nearly 56000 the community continues to foster a smalltown atmosphere due to its low population density large open space areas and parks vibrant downtown and inclusive community. With an abundance of natural beauty a rich history comfortable neighborhoods a diversified economy a promising life sciences industry and passage of Measure M the City is wellpositioned to continue to thrive into the 21st century!
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications arenot intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
DEFINITION
Under administrative direction performs a wide range of advanced professional accounting work in maintaining the general ledger and in performing various complex analytical work; applies principles of accounting to analyze financial information; provides information on accounting practices procedures and the Citys computerbased financial system; prepares examines analyzes and verifies financial statements and records; prepares financial and statistical reports; may provide lead supervision to other accounting staff; provides highly responsible staff assistance to the Finance Director in a variety of fiscal and administrative assignments; and performs related work as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is an advanced journeylevel class in the accounting series. The Senior Accountant is expected to perform the full range of professional accounting work; have a thorough knowledge of accounting systems and procedures and have the ability to exercise independent judgement and analytical skills within established systems and procedures under the direction of the Finance Director. This class is distinguished from the Accountant II and Accountant I class by the complexity of the work assigned and the addition of lead responsibilities.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from the Finance Director. May exercise lead direction over other accounting department staff. Example of Duties
- Depending on assignment essential duties may include but are not limited to the following:
Essential Functions- Performs advanced professional level financial accounting duties including general accounting cash management accounts payable accounts receivable and other accounting functions.
- Prepares financial and statistical statements fiscal reports and financial reviews in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)
- Provides technical assistance lead direction training and work review to assigned staff engaged in such activities as accounts payable and receivables investments revenue collections business licensing and cashiering; organizes and assigns work sets priorities and follows up to ensure coordination and completion of assigned work.
- Maintains and supervises the maintenance of general ledger and subsidiary ledgers of various funds; performs yearend review of accounts prepares adjusting and closing entries and prepares yearend financial statements; reconciles information produced by automated financial reporting systems with accounting records.
- Analyzes and reconciles expenditure and revenue accounts; processes transfers of expenditures and appropriations; prepares analyzes and verifies statements of financial condition including schedules of balance sheets investments cash balances fund balances revenue expenditure and statistical reports.
- Assists with the annual financial audit coordinates with auditors and prepares audit schedules.
- Implements new Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncements.
- Responds to special requests for financial data and analysis provides information to other local state and federal agencies as requested.
- Prepares financial analyses cost studies and other special financial projects; may oversee the work of consultants.
- Participates in financial and cost analysis activities related to matters that fall within the scope of bargaining.
- Oversee direct and participate in grant administration compliance reporting and reimbursement.
- Assists City departments/divisions with evaluating City financial controls.
- Attend provide reports agenda materials or support for City Council meetings as necessary.
- Oversees prepares coordinates and participates in the audit process with external auditors and other auditing agencies; assists outside auditors and explains City policies and procedures.
- Provides or arranges for the provision of necessary audit schedules deadlines reports data and information; establishes and assigns deadlines for City operating departments to submit needed data.
- Gathers analyzes and interprets audit data and prepares audit documentation.
- Performs internal control auditing of departmental revenue collections and petty cash funds.
- Participates in the investment of City funds; formulates recommendations and maintains financial records concerning City investments.
- Assists accounting department staff with debt management and Successor Agency reporting activities.
- Coordinates activities with the Information Technology Division to develop modify and assist in problem resolution relative to the Citys automated financial management systems; advises users on Citys automated financial system.
- Advises departments on the interpretation of policies and guidelines related to the Citys financial services and fiscal management.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Additional Duties:
In addition to the duties listed in the Essential Duties section employees in this classification may perform the following duties:- Assists in the preparation of the annual City budget and midyear review.
- As needed reviews payroll information; assists and participates in payroll and employee benefit payment activities including maintaining associated wage salary payroll tax pension and benefit payment records; participates in the preparation of quarterly tax returns W2s and various mandated reports in compliance with Federal and State requirements.
Typical Qualifications
- Knowledge of:
- Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) statements governmental audit procedures and their application to governmental accounting systems accounting transactions financial analysis financial reporting financial statement preparation and research techniques.
- Municipal accounting and budgetary principles practices operations and procedures.
- Knowledge of applicable Federal State and local laws regulatory codes ordinances and procedures affecting municipal finance administration.
- Complex statistical research and analysis techniques.
- Principles and practices of fund accounting.
- Project management principles and practices.
- Confidential record keeping methods.
- Effective time management principles and practices.
- Principles of payroll processing management and reporting.
- Principles and practices of governmental cost and budgetary accounting and analysis.
- Approved principles and standard practices of centralized computerbased accounting auditing treasury management and revenue administration.
- Current computer systems and application programs such as Microsoft Office Suite and Enterprise Resource Planning systems.
- English grammar vocabulary syntax spelling and punctuation at a level sufficient to perform the duties of the position and communicate and write in a clear concise and understandable manner for staff and the public.
- Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public vendors contractors and City staff.
Ability to:- Perform a wide variety of complex professional accounting work.
- Apply accounting theory and expertise to work assignments.
- Interpret and explain accounting policies and procedures.
- Analyze fiscal data and draw logical conclusions.
- Use critical thinking and sound logical principles to identify and resolve problems and issues relating to fiscal and/or administrative operations.
- Review and verify the accuracy of financial data.
- Analyze post balance and reconcile financial ledgers reports and accounts.
- Communicate clearly and accurately both orally and in writing.
- Create and maintain complex spreadsheets used for tracking and analysis.
- Maintain confidentiality as required.
- Prepare accurate financial reports.
- Understand interpret and apply all pertinent laws codes regulations policies and procedures and standards relevant to work performed.
- Understand and support program objectives in relation to departmental goals and procedures.
- Work independently with minimal supervision using sound judgment in the course of work.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal staff and external customers and contacts.
- Interpret and successfully carry out instructions in a timely manner furnished in written oral diagram or schedule form.
- 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.
- Review the work of other accounting and administrative personnel in specified work areas.
- Calculate figures and amounts such as but not limited to discounts interest commissions proportions percentages area circumference and volume; apply concepts of basic algebra.
- Develop and present complex information to City Council boards and commissions as necessary.
- Attend state regional or local meetings and training opportunities as deemed necessary.
- Operate common office machines including telephone computer and copier.
- Use tact initiative prudence and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Education: Possession of aBachelors degree from an accredited fouryear college or university with major coursework in accounting finance or a closely related field.
Possession of an advanced business or public administration degree or certification as a Public
Accountant (CPA) is desirable.
Experience: A minimum of three 3 years of progressively responsible accounting experience at a professional level preferably in a public agency; experience in a municipal environment and in a lead or supervisory role is desirable.
License or Certificate
Possession of or ability to obtain a valid California drivers license and proof of automobile liability insurance as required by the position. Additional Information
- Working Conditions and Environmental Conditions:Work in a typical office environment utilizing computers. Duties require positions to on a continuous basis sit at a desk for long periods of time; intermittently twist to reach equipment surrounding desk; perform simple grasping and fine manipulation; use telephone write or use a keyboard to communicate through written means; and lift or carry weight of 10 pounds or less.SELECTION PROCESSIt is important to complete all required application materials including the supplemental questionnaire and any required additional documents. All applications will be screened for completeness and possession of minimum qualifications. Qualified applications will be reviewed in detail to identify the most qualified candidates to continue in the selection process which may consist solely of an application screening or may include a written examination skills assessment oral appraisal interview assessment center or other activity selected by the Human Resources Department and the hiring department. As a result of the selection process an eligibility list of qualified candidates will be established to fill current and future vacancies as long as the eligibility list remains active. Candidates who score the highest in the selection process will be required to pass a reference and background exam prior to receiving a conditional job offer. Candidates receiving a conditional offer of employment will be required to pass a preemployment medical and drug screen examination prior to receiving a final job offer.APPLICATION PROCEDUREOnly Online Applications will be accepted. To be considered for this exciting opportunity candidates must complete an online application and the required supplemental questionnaire. The supplemental questionnaire is part of the application; please provide sufficient detail to enable your answers to be rated.APPLICATION DEADLINE: Open Until Filled*First Review of Applications on Monday March 24 2025*Accommodation:Applicants who may require special assistance in any step of the selection process should advise Human Resources by emailing upon submittal of application.
The City of Novato is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Required Experience:
Senior IC
Employment Type
Full-Time
