Senior Accountant

The City of Dana Point is seeking a talented, highly motivated, and customer-oriented individual to join the Administrative Services Department.

The ideal candidate will be a proactive team player with strong communication skills and a commitment to providing excellent service in a positive and collaborative work environment. Candidates with governmental accounting experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

First Review of Applications: Wednesday August 12, 2026

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Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job. 

DEFINITION
Under general direction, performs advanced professional accounting work in support of the City’s financial operations, including preparing journal entries; auditing, analyzing, and reconciling financial transactions and general ledger accounts; preparing financial, statistical, and regulatory reports; researching and implementing GASB pronouncements; participating in month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes; assisting with preparation of the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) and annual audits; accounting for complex financing transactions and capital projects; providing technical guidance to lower-level staff; serving as a lead on major accounting projects and assignments; and performing related duties as assigned.

CLASS CHARACTERISTICS
Incumbent performs advanced professional accounting duties requiring independent judgment and a thorough understanding of governmental accounting principles, financial reporting requirements, and applicable laws and regulations. Work is performed with minimal supervision and involves responsibility for complex reconciliations, financial analyses, audit support, and preparation of specialized financial reports and journal entries. Incumbents may provide technical and functional guidance to lower-level accounting staff and may serve as a lead on major accounting projects and assignments. General supervision is provided by assigned supervisory or management staff.

This position is at-will and exempt under FLSA standards. Essential job functions may include, but are not limited to, the following: (Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job).

1. Perform advanced professional accounting work including preparing and posting journal entries; preparing financial, statistical, and regulatory reports; reconciling bank accounts and general ledger accounts; and preparing cash control and other financial analyses.
2. Audit, analyze, and reconcile a variety of accounting transactions and financial records, including accounts payable and receivable, payroll, fringe benefits, fixed assets, investments, and revenue accruals.
3. Assist with the preparation of the City’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR), annual audit, agreed-upon procedures, and other required financial reports and schedules.
4. Participate in month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closing activities, including preparing working papers, reconciliations, accruals, and supporting schedules.
5. Research, interpret, and implement applicable GASB pronouncements, accounting standards, laws, regulations, and City policies and procedures.
6. Maintain and oversee the administration of the City’s capital asset program, including related accounting, reporting, and reconciliation activities.
7. Analyze and reconcile City revenues, including property tax, transient occupancy tax, sales tax, and investment earnings; prepare interest allocations and related revenue accruals.
8. Monitor, reconcile, and maintain various financial accounts and records; research discrepancies and recommend corrective actions as needed.
9. Assist in the development, implementation, and improvement of accounting systems, internal controls, financial processes, and reporting procedures.
10. Prepare and maintain a variety of periodic, special, and year-end financial reports, records, schedules, and supporting documentation.
11. Coordinate and assist with bank reconciliations, cash flow monitoring, fiscal agent activities, and investment reconciliations.
12. Provide technical guidance and training to lower-level accounting staff and may serve as a lead on major accounting projects and assignments.
13. Attend and participate in professional meetings and training programs; remain current on developments and best practices in governmental accounting and finance.
14. Provide assistance and respond to inquiries from City staff, auditors, regulatory agencies, and the public regarding accounting and financial matters.
15. Perform other related duties as assigned

The following generally describes the knowledge and ability required to enter the job and/or be learned within a short period of time to successfully perform the assigned
duties.
Knowledge of:

• Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), governmental accounting standards, and professional accounting practices.
• Principles and procedures of financial recordkeeping, reporting, and governmental fund accounting.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards related to public finance and accounting, including GASB pronouncements.
• Principles and practices of auditing, internal controls, financial analysis, and account reconciliation.
• Methods and techniques of automated financial systems, accounting software, spreadsheets, and database applications, including advanced Microsoft Exce functions and financial reporting tools.
• Principles and practices related to accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, investments, and revenue accounting.
• Modern office procedures, methods, and equipment, including computer applications related to assigned work.
• Records management principles and practices.
• Safe work principles and practices.

Ability to:

• Perform advanced professional accounting duties with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Analyze, reconcile, and interpret complex financial data, records, transactions, and reports.
• Prepare complex financial statements, reports, schedules, reconciliations, and journal entries.
• Research, interpret, and apply accounting standards, laws, regulations, and policies related to governmental accounting and financial reporting.
• Participate in month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes, including preparation of supporting schedules and audit working papers.
• Identify issues, evaluate alternatives, and recommend effective solutions and process improvements.
• Organize and prioritize multiple assignments and meet established deadlines.
• Operate computers and applicable financial, spreadsheet, word processing, and database software applications.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Provide technical guidance and training to lower-level staff.

Education and Experience - Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field, and four years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, preferably in governmental accounting, including financial reporting and audit support experience.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.

Physical Requirements:
Position requires the ability to perform light to moderate lifting and carrying of items such as computer hardware; sitting for prolonged periods of time; frequent walking and occasional standing and/or bending. Continuous hand use and finger dexterity needed to use computer keyboard and operate standard office equipment; and occasional pushing and pulling. This position also requires the ability to have near vision for reading correspondence, reports, contracts and other records. Good hearing is required when communicating on the telephone or in person.

Work Environment:
Primarily office environment with controlled temperature conditions and exposure to environmental factors and hazardous physical substances are minimal and pose little to no risk of injury.  Occasional driving to meetings and/or events may be required.

Note: All employees of the City of Dana Point are designated by both State law and City ordinance to be “Disaster Service Workers.” In the event of a declared emergency or an undeclared emergency or natural disaster that threatens the life, health and/or safety of the public, employees may be assigned to assist rescue and relief workers. Such assignments may be in locations, during hours and performing work significantly different from the employees’ normal work assignments and may continue through the recovery phase of the emergency.