Senior Accountant

DEFINITION

Under general supervision the Senior Accountant performs professional level accounting duties, including maintaining, developing and analyzing fiscal statements and record. Incumbents will prepare financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and governmental accounting standards and perform other related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Senior Accountant is the advanced journey-level class in the professional accounting series. Incumbents at this level assume responsibilities of a more complex nature and work independently. They are well versed in advanced governmental accounting practices and procedures, fund accounting, fiscal management and public sector technical and functional requirements. This classification is distinguished from the next higher classification of Principal Accountant in that the latter has supervisory responsibilities.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED/EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the Accounting Manager, Finance Director or designee, depending upon area of assignment. Exercises functional and technical supervision over lower level Accountant personnel.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Include but are not limited to the following:

• Reviews accounting documents to ensure accuracy of information and makes correcting entries as required; examines supporting documentation to establish proper authorization and conformance with agreements, contracts, and federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; maintains daily cash book.
• Assists and leads in the preparation of annual audits; provides documentation to auditors; assists in budget preparation, analysis, development and implementation; participates in debt service administration, including bond amortization schedules and wire transfers.
• Participates in the operation of automated financial management systems; identifies, develops, and implements new applications as needed; reconciles postings from accounts payable, cash receipts and accounts receivable to the general ledger; prepares journal entries; prepares a variety of financial and statistical reports, including month-end, quarterly, and year-end reporting.
• Compiles and prepares financial statements, general and subsidiary ledgers, supporting schedules, and other financial and statistical reports; prepares work papers, financial statements and various reports for federal and state agencies as well as for internal accounting; prepares month-end and yearend reports; performs grant accounting and prepares and submits required annual financial reports; maintains complete accounting records on federal, state and other funding sources.
• Participates in the posting, balancing and reconciliation of general, grant and subsidiary accounts; maintains expenditure and budgetary control accounts; prepares cash ledgers and supporting schedules; researches and analyzes transactions to determine available funds and resolve budget problems; may direct the work of assigned financial support staff on a project by project basis.
• Maintains and updates asset records; calculates and records capitalization of expenditures and deletion of fixed assets for appropriate funds; calculates depreciation expense; performs cost and rate studies and analyzes cost factors; administers the CalCard system and trains employees on use.
• Establishes positive working relationships with representatives of community organizations, state/local agencies and associations, City management, staff and the public.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING CONDITIONS

Position requires prolonged sitting, standing, walking, reaching, twisting, turning, kneeling, bending, squatting and stooping in the performance of daily activities. The position also requires grasping, repetitive hand movement and fine coordination in preparing statistical reports and data using a computer keyboard. Additionally, the position requires near vision in reading correspondence, statistical data and using a computer. The need to lift, drag and push files, paper and documents weighing up to 25 pounds is also required.

KNOWLEDGE/ABILITIES/SKILLS

The following are a representative sample of the KAS's necessary to perform essential duties of the position.

Knowledge of: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Basic principles of Accounting as applied to Governmental Accounting Standards (GASB); principles and practices of municipal government accounting, auditing and budgeting; principles and practices of automated financial systems; basic billing and collection procedures; applicable federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations; methods and techniques of scheduling work assignments; standard office procedures, practices and equipment; modern office practices, methods and equipment, including a computer and applicable software; methods and techniques for record keeping and report preparation and writing; proper English, spelling and grammar; occupational hazards and standard safety practices.

Ability to: Examine and verify financial documents, reports and transactions; prepare a variety of budgets, financial statements, reports and analyses; analyze, post, balance and reconcile financial data, ledgers and accounts, ensure proper authorization and documentation for disbursements and other transactions; direct and review the work of assigned financial support staff; read, interpret and record data accurately, organize, prioritize and follow-up on work assignments; train individuals or groups on financial topics; work independently and as part of a team; make sound decisions within established guidelines; analyze a complex issue, and develop and implement an appropriate response; follow written and oral directions; observe safety principles and work in a safe manner; communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships.

Skill to: Operate standard office equipment including a computer and variety of word processing and software applications, including financial and accounting programs.