Senior Accountant

GENERAL PURPOSE
 
Under direction, performs a full range of complex, professional accounting, and financial analysis in the preparation and maintenance of the District's financial records, reports, and systems; provides a basis for sound operational and financial planning through financial review, analysis, monitoring, reconciliation, and maintenance of assigned financial accounts, programs, and activities; and performs related duties, as assigned.
 
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
 
Senior Accountant is the advanced professional journey-level classification of the finance/accounting job family that serves as an experienced resource to District managers and administrators. This classification performs professional accounting and financial work of moderate difficulty up to the most complex. Assignments require the use of professional judgment and a thorough knowledge of accounting principles and financial management practices.
 

• A Senior Accountant may be assigned lead responsibility for cross-functional projects and may guide the work of lower-level professional and technical accounting staff.
   
• A Senior Accountant is distinguished from an Accountant in that employees in the former class perform more complex accounting and analyses of greater significance and impact on the operations and management of the District.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
  
 The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this class.
 

1. Performs complex and technical accounting work in the maintenance and analysis of records of revenues, expenditures, and special program/project funds; prepares analyses, schedules, journal vouchers, and reconciliations to produce accurate periodic financial reports in accordance with GAAP and the State Accounting Manual; makes recommendations and calculates allocation of costs to District departments and other entities; analyzes cost data and prepares project accounting reports; reconciles major postings to source documents; audits and processes a variety of accounting documents.
    
2. Prepares projections of revenues, budget estimates, and supporting schedules; monitors and reports on budget and revenue account status; reviews and processes requests for budget adjustments; prepares multi-year cash flow analysis; develops databases and analyzes financial information; answers questions and compiles special reports for departmental use in budget tracking and reporting.
    
3. Participates in preparation of monthly and special periodic financial reports and statements to the Board of Education and management; conducts special analyses required by the Board.
    
4. Performs the more technical and complex accounting work in the maintenance of accounting records of revenue, expenditures, and special funds; accumulates and analyzes cost data and prepares cost accounting reports; balances and reconciles asset and liability accounts; calculates and prepares various tax reports; performs accounting for bond, construction, and other special funds; monitors and prepares periodic reports on special funds; conducts special expenditure analyses and audits to ensure full reimbursement of District costs in connection with construction and special fund expenditures.
    
5. Provides technical expertise, assistance, and guidance to management and other personnel in the analysis of budget, payroll, receivables, expenditures, compliance of program requirements and other financial issues and discrepancies; coordinates accounting activities across District departments and sites; provides communication with auditors, county personnel, IRS, State Franchise Tax Board, and other governmental agency representatives.
   
   
6. Prepares or assures the preparation of a variety of accounting and other statistical and narrative reports/statements required by federal, state, and local agencies and management; assures that funds are budgeted, controlled, accounted for, reconciled and audited according to acceptable accounting practices and legal requirements; reviews financial transactions to assure conformance to district, county, state, and federal policies, rules, regulations and codes.
    

OTHER DUTIES
 

1. Provides guidance to Accountants, Accounting Technicians, and other accounting support staff in performing accounting entries; works directly with staff from other departments to resolve technical accounting issues and problems.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Knowledge of:

1. Generally accepted accounting principles applicable to school district finance.
    
2. Principles and practices of general fund and governmental accounting, including financial planning/forecasting, financial statement preparation, and methods of financial control and reporting.
    
3. Principles and practices of cost accounting.
    
4. Internal control and audit principles and practices.
    
5. Principles and practices of public agency budgeting.
    
6. Laws and regulations relating to the financial administration of school districts.
    
7. Principles and practices of business data processing particularly related to the processing of accounting and financial information.
    
8. The operations, requirements and codes of the District's general ledger computer system.
    
9. Public purchasing and contracting principles and practices, including competitive bidding procedures.
    
10. Practices of training and work direction.
     
11. Applicable district, county, state, and federal laws, regulations and reporting requirements affecting school districts, including provisions of the California Education Code, State Franchise Tax Board, Internal Revenue Service, and the State Accounting Manual.

Ability to:

1. Plan, organize and carry out assigned accounting functions.
     
2. Operate a computer and spreadsheet software and other standard office equipment.
    
3. Analyze and make sound recommendations on complex financial data and operations.
    
4. Plan and evaluate financial systems and practices and make sound recommendations for improvement.
   
   
5. Understand, interpret, explain, and apply Board of Education, state, and federal requirements regulating District financial accounting, reporting, and record-keeping.
    
6. Develop and implement financial procedures and controls.
    
7. Perform complicated mathematical calculations and analyses.
    
8. Prepare clear, concise and comprehensive financial statements, statistical reports and narrative materials.
    
9. Exercise sound professional judgment within general policy guidelines.
    
10. Serve as a team leader.
     
11. Train and provide work direction to others.
     
12. Communicate effectively.
      
13. Maintain confidentiality and discretion with sensitive materials.
     
14. Establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels of District management, employees and others encountered in the course of work.

Education, Training, and Experience:

• Graduation from a recognized four-year college or university with a major in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field, and;
   
• Four (4) years of progressively responsible professional accounting, budgeting, or finance experience, preferably in a school district or governmental agency.

Equivalency Provision: A Master’s degree or higher in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field may substitute for one year of the required work experience.
 
Licenses; Certificates; Special Requirements:
 

• A valid California driver's license.
   
• Proof of automobile liability insurance.
  
  

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DEMANDS

The physical requirements indicated below are examples of the physical aspects that this position classification must perform in carrying out essential job functions.

• Lift, carry, push, pull, bend, twist, stoop, kneel, walk, run, and crawl.
• Perform light physical exertion.
• Lift and carry 15 pounds.
• Reach in all directions.
• Stand, sit and walk for extended periods of time.
• Work at a desk, business office, conference table, or in meetings of various configurations.
• Read, interpret, and apply rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
   

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this class with reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis and depend, in part, on the specific requirements for the job, the limitations related to disability and the ability of the selection authority to accommodate the limitation. .

Examination Information: 

After the evaluation of minimum qualifications, examination parts for this recruitment may include, but are not limited to the following: scored supplemental questionnaire, written exam, performance exam, oral appraisal interview, physical ability test, oral presentation, project assignment, etc. 

Applicants must submit a full application. Failure to submit a complete application will result in disqualification from this recruitment.