Senior Accountant

About the role

The City of La Mesa invites you to apply for the position of Senior Accountant. This is an in-person position located in La Mesa City Hall. The position works a 9/80 schedule: Monday-Thursday 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. and alternating Fridays 7:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. La Mesa City Hall is closed on alternating Fridays.

Responsibilities

• Supervise, plan, train, and review the work of staff responsible for general accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and other functions of the Finance Department.
• Perform advanced professional accounting duties.
• Participate in performing the most complex work of the department.
• Prepare and process accounts payable, accounts receivable and payroll.
• Verify the work of assigned employees for accuracy, proper work methods, techniques, and compliance with applicable standards and specifications.
• Set up and maintain controls, journals, ledgers and supporting financial records necessary to comply with accounting procedures, laws, ordinances, agency reporting requirements, and other regulations.
• Prepare, enter, review and update monthly journal entries and budget adjustments; prepare various reconciliations and reports including Investment Report, state and federal financial status reports, City bank reconciliations, special revenue fund reconciliations, investment earnings reconciliation, and other financial reconciliations and reports.
• Aid in the analysis of the financial information needs of City departments and development of financial systems to fulfill those needs; evaluate and make recommendations to improve the effectiveness of current systems and procedures.
• Coordinate and act as liaison with City and other agency auditors for various year-end audits; prepare records, schedules, work papers, and worksheets in support of the audits; assist with the preparation and review of financial statements, required supplementary information, and notes to the financial statements.
• Prepare various financial reporting to other government agencies, including Annual State Controller's Report, Annual Street and Road Report, and Annual Government Compensation Report.
• Assist with preparation of City-wide budget; prepare assigned division budgets; prepare and enter City-wide equipment reimbursement schedules.
• Respond to public inquiries in a courteous manner; provide information within the area of assignment; resolve complaints in an efficient and timely manner.

Requirements

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, business administration or a related field AND Experience At least four years of increasingly responsible and recent professional level experience in accounting, finance, or auditing work, including supervisory experience.
• Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is desirable.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience Guidelines: Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be: Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in accounting, business administration or a related field AND Experience At least four years of increasingly responsible and recent professional level experience in accounting, finance, or auditing work, including supervisory experience.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Knowledge Of Operational characteristics, services, and activities of a municipal finance administration, particularly in the areas of municipal accounting, budgeting, recordkeeping, investing, debt finance, auditing, and data processing. Principles and practices of financial management and accounting. Principles and practices of program development and administration. Methods and techniques of budget preparation, program analysis, and revenue forecasting. Principles and practices of municipal budget preparation and administration. Principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation. Generally accepted accounting principles. Fund accounting standards as set forth by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. Modern office practices, procedures, methods and equipment. Modern principles and practices of purchasing and stores. Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.
• Physical Demands and Working Environment: Standard office setting. Physical: Incumbents require sufficient mobility to work in an office setting; stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; operate office equipment including use of a computer keyboard; ability to verbally communicate to exchange information. Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens, printed documents, and overhead presentations and to operate assigned equipment. Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.