Accountant ll

Position Description

The ideal candidate will be an effective communicator that is approachable and friendly and enjoys working with and fostering a team environment. Strong candidates will possess one or more years of professional accounting experience. The ideal candidate will possess outstanding attention to detail and have strong analytical and organizational skills. Strong candidates have the ability to multi-task in a busy work environment while providing excellent customer service and have the ability to communicate effectively between departments. Strong candidates are confident in suggesting and implementing process improvements.


DEFINITION

Under general supervision, analyzes financial information and prepares reports and records pertaining to the City's financial activities.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Accountant II is an Advanced Journey level classification in the Professional Accounting series. The employee is expected to exercise independent judgment to perform a full range of governmental accounting duties. Work is performed within a framework of established procedures and with only occasional instruction or assistance. The employee requires professional accounting training and experience, has broader decision-making authority, and performs difficult and complex statistical and financial work that involves discretion and independent judgment.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from the Director of Finance or his/her designee.

May provide lead supervision to assigned staff.

Examples of Duties

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

• Coordinates and prepares postings, balancing, and monthly/quarterly/annual reconciliation of the General Ledger and subsidiary accounts; prepares bank reconciliation statements

• Assists in the preparation of quarterly financial statements, including the analysis of expenditure and revenue variances from budget.

• Research, interpret and apply Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and other professional accounting standards

• Reviews, analyzes, and audits financial records and transactions to ensure completeness and accuracy of information and calculations; prepares journal entries for adjusting and correcting records as necessary

• Analyzes, reconciles, and maintains records of various financial accounts; verifies availability of funds and classification of expenditures; researches and analyzes transactions to resolve problems and ensure adherence to budget

• Prepares a variety of financial reports, statements, and schedules for internal use and as required by county, state, and federal agencies; assists with the preparation of financial statements for the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR); conducts research and analysis of financial information; reconciles related data for submission; prepares notes, tables, and charts for inclusion in reports

• Performs comprehensive financial activity studies as directed; provides analysis of various funds upon management request

• Provides technical guidance and training to technical and clerical accounting staff

• Serves as a technical resource to City staff; provides advice and technical assistance related to accounting procedures and financial system processes

• Analyzes financial documentation processes to ensure accuracy of financial reporting and recommends changes as necessary

• Participates in the coordination of the month-end and year-end closing and audit processes, provides technical support for audits; conducts research, provides analyses, and prepares workpapers and audit schedules for independent auditors

• May develop, monitor, and maintain records on the City’s fixed assets; records asset additions and deletions; determines value of assets; calculates and records depreciation schedules, periodically reconciles fixed asset schedules to general ledger

• Performs routine technical accounting work in the administration and maintenance of special fund accounts; balances and reconciles expenditures against invoices; monitors and prepares periodic reports on special funds and expenditures

• May participate and review the work of staff responsible for providing customer service involving the issuance of business license certifications and cashiering. Assist with the processing of business licenses, research and respond to customer’s inquiries.

• Identifies and researches issues, errors and problems and develops and provides recommendations to ensure issues are fully resolved

• May participate in the preparation of the City payroll and the maintenance of payroll records and reports

• May participate in departmental budget preparation and administration; analyzes expenditures and revenue transactions against budget projections and historical data; prepares worksheets and summaries of budget data

• Prepares and writes a variety of reports and documentation, including detailed Risk Management incident reports

• Performs other duties of a similar nature

Minimum Qualifications

A combination of education, experience, and training that has provided the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities is required for entry into the classification. The City of Temecula utilizes equivalencies to substitute two years of applicable experience and similar responsibility for one year of college in order for a candidate to meet Minimum Qualifications. A typical combination of education, experience, and training for this classification includes:

EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college/university in Accounting, Business Administration, or related field; and three (3) years of accounting experience; including two (2) years of governmental accounting is desirable.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Principles, practices, and methods of modern accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting
• Federal, state, and local laws and regulations pertaining to governmental accounting
• Specialized accounting and report writing software, Microsoft Excel/Word software
• Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
• Occupational hazards and safety measures appropriate to work performed

Skill to:

• Operate various types of standard office equipment, including a personal computer and related software
• Operate a motor vehicle in a safe manner

Ability to:

• Evaluate situations, identify problems, and exercise sound independent judgment within established guidelines
• Effectively and accurately analyze data and information using established criteria in order to determine consequences, identify alternatives, and draw logical conclusions
• Prepare accurate, comprehensive, and precise financial statements, reports, and analyses
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Establish and maintain courteous, cooperative, and effective working relationships with those encountered in the course of work
• Interpret, explain, and apply pertinent policies, procedures, and standards
• Plan, organize, and prioritize projects and tasks in order to meet strict deadlines
• Use proper English, spelling, grammar and punctuation
• Serve as emergency services worker in the event of an emergency

LICENSES AND/OR CERTIFICATES

Possession of a valid California Class C driver's license and an acceptable driving record may be required depending upon assignment.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Satisfactory results from a background investigation and administrative screening. The administrative screening may include a pre-employment drug screening for positions which are designated as safety sensitive or security sensitive, including but not limited to being responsible for the care and custody of children and operating heavy equipment.

Supplemental Information

WORKING CONDITIONS & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical and mental demands described here are representative of those that must be met by employees to successfully perform the essential functions of this class. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand and sit; talk or hear both in person and by telephone; use hands to finger, handle, feel or operate equipment needed to carry out duties of the position; and reach with hands and arms. The employee frequently stands or walks, and lifts and moves records and documents or objects weighing up to 50 pounds alone, and up to 100 pounds with assistance. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

The employee is regularly required to use written and oral communication skills; read and interpret data; use math and mathematical reasoning; analyze and solve problems; learn and apply new information; perform highly detailed work on multiple, concurrent tasks; meet intensive and changing deadlines and interact with City staff, customers, vendors, contractors, and the public.

The employee typically works in office conditions; the noise level is frequently quiet or moderately quiet, at or below 50 decibels.

This recruitment will establish an eligibility list which may be used to fill future vacancies in the same classification or below in the same classification series for both project and authorized positions.

Note: A Project employee is an employee who is hired to work a specific period of time in a Fiscal Year. Project employees are: scheduled at the convenience of the City; not eligible for City sponsored benefits (e.g., health, dental, or vision insurance) unless otherwise specified; serve at the pleasure of the City Manager; and, specifically excluded from the Discipline policy (i.e. may be terminated at any time with or without notice). Typically, project positions do not exceed 1,000 hours in a fiscal year.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are a CalPERS annuitant, please be advised that this position does not meet the statutory criteria for post-retirement employment because the incumbent will be performing regular staff duties for an undetermined duration. Employment in this capacity would require you to rescind your retirement and reinstate as a current member of CalPERS.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION :
Flexibly Staffed: Yes
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Conflict of Interest: Not Required
Department: Finance
Bonding Required: No

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, mental condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, or military and veteran status. If you require a reasonable accommodation to assist with the application, examination or interview process, please contact our Human Resources Department at 951-694-6490 as soon as practicable.

Benefits for Project Employees

Employees who are hired in a temporary or "project" position do not receive benefits other than those mandated by state and federal law. These benefits include paid sick leave(PSL)as well asparticipation in Medicare, Worker's Compensation,OBRAand/orCalPERSRetirement System.

Sick Leave
In accordance with California State Law, all non-regular, temporary and seasonal employees will receive 40 hours of paid sick leave (PSL) upon hire. PSL will be available for use beginning on each employee's90thday of employment. Thereafter, in each pay period that includes July 1, employees will receive a new 40-hour lump sum of PSL. Any unused PSLhours will not carry over.

Closing Date/Time: 5/2/2025 11:59 PM Pacific

• 

• City of Temecula

• 951-302-4152

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