Senior Accountant chez City of Benicia, CA

About the Department

Interviews for qualified candidates will be scheduled once a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received or the closing date, whichever occurs first.  It is recommended that candidates submit their application as soon as possible as the recruitment may close at any time.

Are you a skilled accounting professional ready to take the next step in your career? The City of Benicia is currently accepting applications for the position of Senior Accountant—a vital role within our Finance Department that plays a key part in maintaining the City’s financial health and transparency.

As a Senior Accountant, you will work under the general direction of the Accounting Manager to plan, coordinate, and perform a wide range of complex accounting duties, including supervising staff, developing and evaluating accounting systems, and preparing financial reports and budgets. You’ll also support the City’s budget and audit functions, deliver timely and accurate financial data to both internal and external stakeholders, and may be called upon to make public presentations.

This position requires strong leadership, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of governmental accounting principles. The ideal candidate is highly organized, collaborative, and committed to upholding the City’s core values of integrity, collaboration, respect, responsiveness, and teamwork.

If you’re ready to bring your expertise to a dynamic and supportive team dedicated to public service, we encourage you to apply today!

Position Duties

Under general direction from the Accounting Manager, incumbents in this classification manage, plan, perform and coordinate the daily routine and complex accounting activities of the Finance Department; exercise direct supervision over assigned staff; provide highly responsible technical staff assistance to all city departments; perform specialized and complex accounting and financial duties as assigned; develop, implement, monitor and evaluate computerized accounting systems and applications, budgets, reports, policies and procedures; provide accurate and timely accounting information to internal and external users including making public presentations on such information, assist in managing the City's budget and audit functions and perform related work as required.

This is a professional level classification in the Finance Department. It is distinguished from the Accounting Manager in that the incumbent is directly responsible for managing and supervising accounting personnel in the daily operational functions of the Finance Department as delegated by the Accounting Manager. The Senior Accountant works independently, under the general direction of the Accounting Manager and performs highly complex and difficult duties pertaining to major financial and accounting functions of the City. The Senior Accountant is responsible for organizing and supervising the recording, processing and accounting of financial transactions for City operations. Incumbents typically possess highly specialized knowledge, abilities, skills, and experience in governmental accounting and financial reporting; and should exercise independent judgment in the performance of their duties.

Minimum Qualifications

The representative duties listed include essential and marginal functions that vary by position.   Individuals with disabilities will be considered for placement into positions in this class based upon an assessment of the essential functions of the particular position.

Duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:
 

• Assist in the planning, organizing, and supervision of personnel engaged in performing analysis of financial and accounting transactions and financial reporting
• Reviews workload, schedules, status of projects, and availability of personnel for assignments; 
• Trains and conducts performance evaluation for subordinate staff. 
• Review and/or prepare financial and statistical statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and governmental accounting standards; 
• Assist in auditing of City funds and accounts; 
• Compiles and prepares financial statements, general and subsidiary ledgers, supporting schedules, and other financial and statistical reports; 
• Establish and maintain complete files and records related to assigned functions; 
• Participates in the maintenance of various computer files and records; input and retrieve a variety of fiscal and statistical information. 
• Assist with coordination and supervision of audit activities; 
• Evaluate financial systems and internal controls to ensure records are accurate and controls conform to best practices; 
• Analyze and reconcile subsidiary systems to general ledger accounts; 
• Assist departments in developing budgets and provides monthly financial reports relative to budget versus actual comparisons of revenue and expenditures; 
• Assemble and analyze data for the budget development process, and serve as the primary department contact to the Finance management team when verifying and compiling City budget data; 
• Assist in the development, implementation, oversight, and maintenance of computer programs, spreadsheets, and databases in which the City's accounting records reside. 
• Supervise and perform specialized accounting and recordkeeping duties within the City accounting system including but not limited to: payroll, general ledger, utility billing, permitting and licensing, accounts receivable, accounts payable, purchasing, and budgeting; 
• Makes recommendations regarding organization and operation of assigned areas of responsibility and recommends changes in policies and procedures related to City accounting and reporting functions.
• Provides information and assistance to other City staff, policy makers, or the public as it relates to the accounting activities of the City including written or oral documents/presentations for internal and external customers as necessary 
• Performs complex accounting related special assignments and prepare and present reports as required; 
• Performs related duties as assigned.

 
QUALIFICATIONS:
 
Knowledge of:
 

• Principles of fiscal accounting and financing; practices of governmental accounting, auditing, and budgeting of City financial and accounting records. 
• Appropriate Federal, State, and local laws, rules and regulations with regards to municipal finance administration and reporting. 
• Principles and practices of personnel and budget management, supervision, training, discipline and performance evaluation. 
• Advanced computerized financial management, data processing, spreadsheet and word processing applications. 
• Modern office practices, procedures and equipment. 
• Mathematics and statistics as applied to area of assignment.

 
And
 
Ability to:
 

• Analyze, manage, plan, organize and direct the work of staff involved in finance administration. 
• Analyze, interpret and apply complex accounting and financial guidelines. 
• Prepare clear and concise routine and complex administrative and financial reports, correspondence, and other written documents. 
• Prepare accurate financial and statistical reports; maintain detailed records. 
• Analyze, interpret and explain department policies and procedures. 
• Analyze, identify customer service issues and define appropriate and effective resolutions. 
• Perform routine and complex accounting procedures related to assigned functions. 
• Communicate clearly and concisely, orally and in writing to customers, departments, finance department staff and police makers. 
• Develop and maintain cooperative working relationships with the general public, City officials, employees and representatives of various public and private agencies. 
• Operate a variety of financial and word processing computer software at a proficient level.

 
EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION:
 
Any combination equivalent to experience and education that could likely provide the required knowledge and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to acquire the knowledge and abilities would be:

Experience: 

• Six years of progressively responsible experience in the maintenance of financial, fiscal, and statistical records which includes at least two years of supervisory responsibilities in accounting or finance administration. Experience in a public agency is highly desirable.

AND

Education: 

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, preferably with a major in Accounting, Business or Public Administration with an emphasis on Finance. A CPA certificate is highly desirable.

 
LICENSE OR CERTIFICATE:
 

• Must possess a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment.

 
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to attend special City events including weekends, evenings and holidays, as required.
• Ability to attend night meetings and work extended hours, as needed and/or required. 

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Willingness and ability to work the hours necessary to accomplish the assigned duties; attend evening meetings following a normal work day; travel out of town to attend meetings, workshops, conferences and seminars during working and non-working hours.
 
Essential duties require the ability to:
Work, and move around, in a standard office environment; drive a vehicle or provide suitable transportation; read fine print and information on a Video Display Terminal; operate a computer keyboard; analyze complex information and make sound recommendations; converse by telephone, electronic communications, or in person, and be clearly understood.

Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to remain in a stationary position for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; to travel to other locations using various modes of private and commercial transportation; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.

 

Other Qualifications

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Individuals interested in being considered for the position must submit an application and responses to the required supplemental questions by the final filing date.  It is preferred you apply through the NeoGov system by using the link: APPLY HERE

Individuals wishing to file a paper application in lieu of the on-line application process should contact the City of Benicia Human Resources Department at 250 East "L" Street, Benicia, CA 94510.  Business hours are Monday – Friday from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, and from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
 
Applicants are expected to accurately document their related experience and any training, education, and/or skills relevant to this position.  Applicants should respond to all supplemental questions, even if the information is also contained in the application.  

SELECTION PROCESS:

Application materials will be carefully evaluated; applicants who document possession of experience and education which most closely meet the requirements of the position will be invited to participate in the next phase of the selection process, which may include an assessment center and interview process.  

Prior to appointment, candidates must pass a background investigation and a pre-placement medical screening, including a drug screen.

Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an invitation to future steps in the process.

If, due to a disability, you need accommodations at any point during the application or testing process, please contact the Human Resources Department at (707) 746-4766.

The position of Senior Accountant is a part of the Benicia Supervisors & Professionals Association (BSPA) Bargaining Unit.

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