Accountant I/II - Department of Finance (Payroll)

About the role

The City of San José is seeking to fill one (1) full-time Accountant I/II vacancy in the Accounting Division. The Finance Department manages, protects, and reports on City of San José financial resources to enhance the City’s financial condition for residents, businesses, and investors.

Responsibilities

• Aid Payroll Accountants and Accounting Technicians with payroll processing in the Oracle PeopleSoft Payroll System while supporting continuous improvement of payroll operations.
• Review payroll-related accounting entries prepared by Accounting Technicians to ensure proper GASB classification, accuracy, completeness, and timely recording in the City's general ledger.
• Maintain the retirement expense tracking worksheet, analyze retirement costs, recommend rate adjustments, and approve journal entries related to prepaid retirement expense accounts.
• Administer executive special pay programs, including relocation reimbursements, moving expense payments, and vehicle allowances for the Mayor, City Council, and executive staff.
• Prepare and maintain bi-weekly executive compensation comparisons for Payroll Management review.
• Administer the annual vehicle take-home imputed income program.
• Process and reconcile Workers' Compensation payroll adjustments and resolve related payroll issues.
• Review and validate individual retroactive payroll payments for accuracy and compliance.
• Reconcile payroll liability accounts, research discrepancies, and prepare recommendations for adjusting journal entries.
• Assist the Senior Accountant with military leave reconciliations and related payroll accounting activities.
• Prepare, reconcile, and submit CalPERS payroll reporting in accordance with established requirements.
• Respond to payroll-related inquiries from City employees and provide guidance regarding payroll policies, procedures, and transactions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Accountant I: Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Accounting or related field, which must include twelve (12) semester units in accounting subjects.
• Accountant II: Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Business, Accounting or related field, which must include eighteen (18) semester units in accounting subjects AND two (2) years of progressively responsible accounting or auditing experience.

Acceptable Substitution: Accountant I experience in the maintenance of financial records, systems or transactions may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. There will be no substitution for the twelve (12) semester units in accounting subjects.

Qualifications

• Job Expertise: Demonstrates knowledge of and experience with applicable professional/technical principles and practices, Citywide and departmental procedures/policies and federal and state rules and regulations.
• Communication Skills: Effectively conveys information and expresses thoughts and facts clearly, orally and in writing; demonstrates effective use of listening skills; displays openness to other people's ideas and thoughts.
• Analytical Thinking: Approaches a problem or situation by using a logical, systematic, sequential approach.
• Problem Solving: Approaches a situation or problem by defining the problem or issue; determines the significance of problem; collects information; uses logic and intuition to arrive at decisions or solutions to problems that achieve the desired outcome.
• Reliability: Completes quality work assignments in a timely and efficient manner; fulfills responsibilities and maintains confidentiality as appropriate.
• Teamwork & Interpersonal Skills: Develops effective relationships with co-workers and supervisors by helping others accomplish tasks and using collaboration and conflict resolution skills.
• Social Awareness: Demonstrates the ability to read or sense other people’s emotions and how they influence the situation of interest or concern; demonstrates empathy and organizational awareness.

Skills

Not specified.

Benefits

Not specified.

Pay

The salary range for Accountant I is $91,990.08 - $111,908.16 annually; Accountant II: $100,442.16 - $122,063.76 annually. The actual salary shall be determined by the final candidates’ qualifications and experience.

Schedule

Not specified.