Rev. 8/97
City of San José
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT (1235)
CLASS PURPOSE
Under general supervision, is responsible
for professional accounting work of considerable difficulty
supervising an accounting unit and providing supervision over
other professional accountants. Performs related work as
required.
TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESULTS (Any one position may not
include all the duties listed, nor do the examples cover all the
duties which may be performed.)
Supervises the City's central payroll system, producing a
timely and accurate payroll with the ability to control the
accuracy of the accounting for labor charges.
- Supervises the City's equipment fixed asset system,
including the maintenance of a record of equipment
inventory transactions; supervising and training
departmental property clerks; and capitalizing land,
building, and infrastructure costs.
- Develops fiscal reporting systems that are reflective of
complex operational costs and provides accurate and
timely management information for use in the management
and administration of the Finance Department and other
City departments.
- Supervises the balancing and control activities in the
keeping of the City's general ledger, prepares periodic
financial statements including the City's annual
financial statements, and maintains compliance with the
requirements of the City Charter.
- Assists in the preparation of the City's annual financial
reports and other State and Federal reports to insure
compliance with existing statutes and generally accepted
accounting principles.
- Coordinates with external CPA firms and government audit
agencies to implement changes, as necessary, to
accounting procedures and methods to ensure compliance
with generally accepted accounting procedures.
- Assures compliance with a variety of regulations and
procedures which control the timely flow of funds and
grant monies supporting capital expenditures, contracts,
operating costs, or other financial obligations.
- Participates in the preparation of various budget
documents that validate that funds are available from
appropriate sources to pay approved expenditures.
Typical End Results
- Ensuring a timely and accurate payroll.
- Ensuring an up to date and accurate record of the City's
fixed assets.
- Ensuring accurate and timely management information.
- Ensuring that the general ledger and financial statements
comply with the requirements of the City Charter and that
the annual financial reports comply with existing
statutes and accepted accounting principles.
- Ensuring timely flow of funds and grant monies supporting
capital expenditures, contracts, operating costs, or
other financial obligations.
- Ensuring the availability of funds to satisfy approved
expenditures.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Incumbents of this class
perform difficult and complex work in accounting and related
aspects of financial management. This class is distinguished from
Accountant II, the next lower class, in that incumbents of the
latter perform accounting work of moderate difficulty and
generally do not supervise other professional accountants. This
class differs from Supervising Accountant, the next higher class,
in that incumbents at that level supervise City-wide accounting
systems.
QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of the principles, methods, and techniques of
public administration and governmental accounting.
- Knowledge of accounting theory and practice, cost
accounting, and accounting systems and procedures.
- Knowledge of data processing application and principles
and modern office methods.
- Ability to supervise, train, and evaluate other
employees.
- Ability to deal and effectively with departmental
officials, City employees, the general public, and other
agencies.
- Ability to analyze complex accounting, fiscal, and
technical information.
- Ability to prepare clear and comprehensive fiscal
analyses and reports.
- Ability to develop and document detailed technical and
more generic, Citywide fiscal procedures.
Competency Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and
practices, including governmental accounting as
established by the AICPA and GASB.
- Knowledge and application of local government procedures
and systems.
- Ability to plan and organize responsibilities so that
fiscal matters are dealt with appropriately and correctly
and reports are produced in a timely and accurate manner.
Education
Completion of a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited
college or university in Accounting, Business Administration, or
related field, including at least 18 semester units in accounting
subjects.
Experience
Four years of experience at the working level of a
professional accountant.
Acceptable Substitutions
- Additional years of experience at the working level of a
professional accountant may be substituted for the
education on a year-for-year basis.
- There shall be no substitution for the 18 semester units
in accounting subjects.
Licenses/Certificates
Possession of a valid California driver's license may be
required.
(3/80), (Rev. 12/83), (Rev. 11/86), (Rev. 8/97)1235s001.doc